Attacking a beholder, if this is truly such a monster, would be foolhardy. But how can one parley with an aberration, with their mysterious goals and thoughts.
Silfr will step into the room, sword at ease.
"Beholder! As a representative of the city of Cauldron and its environs, I, Silfr, request you revoke any promises of protection granted to this half-dwarf and allow us to take him to the surface to face the justice of the city. Alternately I propose someone of your exalted nature not interfere as we engage him and the remaining hobgoblins in trial by combat."
Diplomacy +10 -2 sicked by quill
This stupid quill!
Round 13, Initiative 14, Location Silfr
Weapon Equipped = Cudgel
Conditions = Blessed
Channel Energy Left: 1/7
Resistant Touch Left: 8/8
Strength Surge Left: 7/8
Cleric Spells Remaining:
0) Create Water, Guidance, Light, Purify Food & Drink
1)
Atol doesn't know what to make of the newcomer, but he doesn't like it. Still, for now he refrains from cudgeling it.
"Silfr, hold still."
Atol reaches over and plucks out the quill quickly and cleanly.
Heal vs DC 15
"There, that should make you feel better."
"Atol, you really are the best amongst us all."
Dungeoneering
"Oh, that's nothing. Probably some gaseous spore that will explode upon contact. No use taking chances, of course," Dyrant mutters under his breath before going through his mental checklist:
1) Is it evil? Probably.
2) Is it unrepentant? Can't tell if it's kneeling or not...no legs. Definite maybe.
3) Did it aid and/or abet the taking of children and/or Doctor Toffee? Unclear. Probably.
4) Is it being evasive in helping us recover the children? Unclear.
5) Would a good cudgeling mayhaps learn them something good? Yes.
6) Would St. Cuthbert smite it first, ask questions later? Yes.
6a) We are not St. Cuthbert, only his unworthy followers. Is it likely this evil crush us like a grape? Yes.
Conclusion: Negotiate or flee, come back with more Cuthbertines.
Dyrant nods to Atol and readies his cudgel just in case Atol wants to take on the many eyed monster.
* * *
If Kazmogen flees so readily, surely this creature is rule a deadly threat.
"I confess that my comrades here may have a different perception of the situation. For you see,I told Kazmogen that I did not care for the children's safety, in hopes that he would stop using your... Ward here as a shield. I truly believed he would snap its neck. Bruising the child with a blunt arrow seemed a necessary action, to demonstrate my point. I acted in haste, but with great care in ensuring the child was not wounded. Though events may appear otherwise, the truth is that I acted with the children's safety as my foremost consideration."
Female voice: I like this one, he is a clear thinker.
I don't understand.
Female voice: He pretended to hurt the child to get the dwarf to ignore them, thus saving the child's life.
Thus?
Male voice: Focus son.
I still don't get it.
Male voice: Always shoot the hostage.
That's evil!
Male voice: No no, you don't kill them, you make the other person think...forget it.
If you two aren't going to make sense then be quite so I can listen.
Finneas nods along with the Doctor's words. Sticking his tongue out a little as if thinking very hard, he leans over to Silfr and whispers.
Glimmil stands warily by Kazmojen, ready to strike the half-troll-man again should he try anything threatening or try to escape their justice.
He waits while the doctor and professor speak to the big round orby thing while looking for an explanation of how it appears to be floating.
The others seem wary, is a giant eyeball powerful?
Round 14
Kazmojen eyes the party as they move closer and appeals to the beholder. "He admits to it! I even offered to sell the children to them. They refused and attacked."
Kazmojen waves his hand over the bloody room. "They've killed everyone already. They won't keep the child safe. Destroy them and the child is safe."
Several of the eyes stalks turn to Kazmojen. "Your use has come to an end and I find your argument lacking substance. Just like you."
The central eye of the beholder closes and a single ray shoots from a small eye. Where Kazmojen once stood, there is nothing but a pile of ashes.
"There is one more lesson to be taught before I go." From another eye a ray shoots forth and hits Toffitt.
- Ranged touch
(DC 17 Will save for half damage)
"Remember! No harm must come to this child."
Glimmil stands in awe and shock as Kazmojen is incinerated.
"Well, guess we don't have to worry about him standing back up again?"
Glimmil will detect if the giant eye is evil and hope it leaves on it's own, lest he have to show it gnome heroism at it's best.
Glimmil will detect if the giant eye is evil and hope it leaves on it's own, lest he have to show it gnome heroism at it's best.
Spellcraft on Ashes Ray
Spellcraft on Toffee Ray
Dyrant grunts and tries to figure out what spells were cast.
Finneas reaches over and heals Dr. Toffitt so he does not die.
1d20+9 Spellcraft on Ashes Ray
1d20+9 Spellcraft on Toffee RayDyrant grunts and tries to figure out what spells were cast.
Finneas reaches over and heals Dr. Toffitt so he does not die.
Dr. Toffitt writhes in pain. He has not experienced such agony since the night of his first transformation. He has begged for and feared his own end, but now quakes in fear of it.
He slumps to the ground, body twisted in convulsions.
Dyrant's mind twists at the possibilities.
That was a powerful spell. Really powerful.
We should give it a good cudgeling.
That powerful spell...how many of those could it really have racked today?
It's only a gas spore...one hit and it explodes.
Those are a lot of eyes...I wonder if they all can do that? How would we find out?
Dyrant's hands tighten on his cudgel.
Dyrant tepidly inches closer to the smoking crater that is Dr. Toffitt, trying to ascertain the health of his companion.
"Doctor...are you there? Hello?"
If it's leaving, we should let it go...we have the children.
His brief dreams are filled with Lukhaj, his dearest companion and faithful servant of Olidamara. Shadows of jet black fur and burning yellow orbs. Blood and death and a deep, eternal hunger. He sees himself tending to Lukhaj next to a fire. A poultice of found herbs. An improvised lab. Belladonna, but how much?
Another night. The moon shines full above them as agony wracks them both. Lukhaj twists in pain, but remains himself. A beautiful face that becomes flesh and savor to Toffitt, who is all wroth and fang and death. Lukhaj is meat.
He wakes to the taste of his love's blood in his mouth.
He wakes again. Finneas, victim of a much lesser rage, stands over him. "I... Again? Why did you...? The children...?"
Glimmil shivers as he studies the giant floating eye.
He then realizes that he should check on poor Cog during the lull and rushes to his furry friend's aid.
"Not I friend Toffitt, that floating orb of eyes and teeth felt you needed to be taught a lesson about hurting the child."
"Oh my."
Atol rushes to the Doctor's side and administers healing from the wand.
He survived the blast while the evil one did not. Further the eye is concerned with the child's safety seemingly more than we. Perhaps he is good and righteous? If a little twitchy...
He's never known anything like it. But then, he has never known anything to write home about, so this is nothing to write home about.
Another beam from an eye stalk shoots out at the chains holding the boy and they too turn to ash.
"It is good you know you're place. You might be of use yet."
You then hear a female's voice casting a spell and the beholder, and the child, disappear.
They must be cudgeled and then brought to justice.
Dr. Toffitt gets up, still quite unsteady. He picks up his rapier and looks meekly at Atol and the others. "I thank you." He wipes clean the rapier and sheathes it before going over to the children.
"I am most sorry that you had to be witness to such brutality, young ones. But now you are safe, and we will take you back into the sunlight."
Finneas moves over the first hobgoblin and raises his sword in the air.
Male voice: Do it.
Female voice: Spare them.
"Finneas, I believe the good Atol wishes to practice some cudgeling..."
"I am most sorry that you had to be witness to such brutality, young ones. But now you are safe, and we will take you back into the sunlight."
The children sit in their chains and stare at the supersized Toffitt. There is a young male dwarf and two human girls that fit the descriptions provided to you of the missing orphans.
The children sit in their chains and stare at the supersized Toffitt. There is a young male dwarf and two human girls that fit the descriptions provided to you of the missing orphans.
"Oh. right, let me..." Dr. Toffitt spends a moment thinking himself smaller, and suddenly he is. "Strange and wondrous things. Tomorrow I shall show you how to turn blue and pink and orange! He does his best to make funny faces as he cartwheels about. If one knew him, one might suspect that he's trying to banish his own demons, not those of the children.
"Strange and wondrous things. Tomorrow I shall show you how to turn blue and pink and orange! He does his best to make funny faces as he cartwheels about.
The dwarf's stony face remains, but the two girls almost smile. The dwarf then spouts out, "Are those cartwheels going to cut these chains off?! I'm hungry!"
Glimmil shivers as he studies the giant floating eye.
He then realizes that he should check on poor Cog during the lull and rushes to his furry friend's aid.
Atol will use a charge on Cog so Glimmil doesn't have to walk.
"I suggest we kill these hobgoblins and take these children to safety. Then we can return and complete our search. I do not want to take another day and I think the place is largely empty - but we do NOT go any deeper. Agreed?"
"Oh, anyone else need any healing before we proceed? I do not wish to waste this wand, but it is why we bought it - so we could clear this nest today. I do have one more channel as well but I would like to save that for an emergency if I can."
Cure Light Wounds for on Cog.
Ahh, but should we take the hobgoblins to the surface to be tried? No. It is their time and we have more stolen people to save. But we will do it cleanly and quickly.
Finneas will proceed to kill all of the hobgoblins while Toffitt distracts them. He gives a most unhalforcish squee when the full plate is found.
"Atol, I have one more healing I can perform today, who is in need of it? I agree we should take the children and the cook to safety, then come back to this room by the doors we ignored before."
Glimmil, tears streaming from his face, checks Cog for signs of life.
"Please Garl... he was so brave. He was as faithful a servant to you as I..."
Lay Hands x2
That should take him up to -1HP from -10HP.
Glimmil, tears streaming from his face, checks Cog for signs of life.
"Please Garl... he was so brave. He was as faithful a servant to you as I..."
Lay Hands x2 2d6
That should take him up to -1HP from -10HP.
4 plus your lay on hands = 13
:D
Dr. Toffitt stops tumbling as the dwarf grouses at him. "Ah, good to see you haven't lost your spirits. One moment please." He goes to find some keys, or his favorite gnome with spoons.
Once the prisoners are free, he ensures that they get a bit of food and then brews up an elixir of healing for himself.
After Dyrant has finished tending to the children, he will attend to anyone else with a healing touch.
Healing for Cog
"Anyone else need my ministrations?" Dyrant is feeling a bit giddy.
We have survived! Dyrant thinks as he smiles at Finneas cudgeling the sleeping hobgoblins with the sharp and pointy ends of his sword.
"Keep up the good work, Finn!"
"Atol, Finneas, further healing would be most helpful, but only once we have ensured the good health of our new friends here.
When Dyrant has a free moment, he will approach the two half-elves(?).
"Greetings, I am Dyrant. I wanted to thank you for your timely intervention on our behalf. Now, something is bothering me: did Cuthbert himself ask you to come help us in our time of need? Or was it an angel? Or a divine scorpion?"
Dyrant resists hugging them both and maintains as much of his priestly air as possible.
When Dyrant has a free moment, he will approach the two half-elves(?).
Fellian, the cleric, answers first. "We were not sent by Cuthbert, but shared a common interest in solving the mystery of the kidnappings. When your church promised to find the children and you started asking questions we kept an eye on you and your progress."
Fario pipes in, "You didn't even see us did you. I had to keep Fellian from tripping over his own feet sometimes, though."
"How about the time you stubbed your toe and squeaked like a little girl? Fortunately, they must have thought it was just a rat."
"Oh yeah. I only have 9 fingers," Fario shakes his left hand in Fellian's face and you notice a pinky finger missing, "and I still put that arrow through that hobgoblins heart. We might still be in the hallway otherwise."
Dyrant seems more than mildly disappointed that the were not sent by St. Cuthbert or an angel, but his face brightens a bit but he resists the urge to yell into his backpack again.
It's another test! Of course they were sent by St. Cuthbert!! It's common sense!
Dyrant beams at again figuring out the machinations of the gods.
"I'm sure glad that you came even if it wasn't because of St. Cuthbert."
Dyrant winks knowingly.
"You came just in time. How can we repay you? Perhaps a blessing?"
"You came just in time. How can we repay you? Perhaps a blessing?"
Fellian looks oddly at Dyrant. "Is there something in your eye? Would you like me to check it for you?
"No payment is necessary. We will assist you in bringing these children to the surface and then must depart. We would rather our involvement not be noted."
After tending to his own, Atol walks over to the elves.
"Are you two OK? Do you need any healing? Thanks again for the assist. It was well timed to give us a nice boost."
After tending to his own, Atol walks over to the elves.
"Are you two OK? Do you need any healing? Thanks again for the assist. It was well timed to give us a nice boost."
"We're fine. The forces of this place were focused on you so we spent little time crossing swords with them.
"Very convenient." says Atol without guile.
"Could you take these children to the church of St. Cuthbert for us? We'd like to continue on with as little delay as possible. If that's OK with you that is."
"Very convenient." says Atol without guile.
"Could you take these children to the church of St. Cuthbert for us? We'd like to continue on with as little delay as possible. If that's OK with you that is."
Fellian replies, "I think that would defeat the idea that we were not noted as being involved."
Fario offers helpfully, "Perhaps we could just dump them on the doorstep of the orphanage. It might be nostalgic for them."
Finneas nods to the half elves as he finishes his bloody work.
"You must be the investigators we were told about. Thank you for saving us. There is a cook we need to free, then if you could take them topside we will finish clearing this place."
"You must be the investigators we were told about. Thank you for saving us. There is a cook we need to free, then if you could take them topside we will finish clearing this place."
"We saved you? Excellent! That will look good for us. Can I quote you on that? We could take them upstairs, but I'm not sure what we would do with them. I guess we could wait here with them. Hopefully nothing will eat you while you're finding the others."