Amir kips up skillfully, but it would take supernatural grace to avoid the pony-sized stone fist that pounds down upon him. His magic fortified skin proves equal in hardness however, and the blow is glancing. Amir strikes leaving deeper scorch marks as the fist impacts him. Karethas adds to the burns mounting on the stone colossus by summoning a rolling ball of flame as he shakes the dust from his eyes.
Kzrira shakes her head and rubs at her eyes finally clearing them from the glittering dust that still covers her. Varkata grows to shaitan size and gives the great stone hulk something to think about as her now much bigger sword shatters a rocky rib. The living monolith focuses its ire on the larger threat with a pair of pulverizing blows.
One shaitan steps into the stone and a moment later erupt through the surface beside Amir and Varkata. It is getting crowded on the top of the glowing cube with Karethas sandwiched between Amir and Kzrira and a shaitan and equally large Varkata between them and the great elemental. The sharp spikes that erupt from the elemental and the cube affect none of the stone skinned adversaries except perhaps Karethas.
A pair of stone ramps appear from behind the human-sized trio and a pair of shaitan charge up to flank them with the elemental! Obherak breaks free of the watery orb and sinks into the stone out of sight as more shouts in Terran are heard from chambers surrounding the great pyramid room!
Gritting her teeth as the blows land down around her, Kzrira turns her focus from the seeming impenetrable elemental to the shaitan. With Obherak going stone, she instead aims her bow at one of the shaitan flanking her companions.
Aiming at the one that can hit Karethas, if not, then the smaller of those flanking Varkata and Amir. Knowing that all force must be used, she fires only the adamantine arrows.
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage: <-- all adamantine
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
The shots land with solid impact.
Karethas waves the Stone Shape wand again and tells Gen, "Touch the ramp! The ramp reforms under one of Shaitan, leaving them back on the floor level. He turns around and directs the watery orb over to the other shaitan still on the floor. He calmly tells the others in a quiet voice, "I don't know if we are going to make it out of this, and there is nowhere to run."
HP 44 of 44
AC 13 Touch AC 13 Flat Footed 11
F/R/W 5/6/9
Conditions: -2 Chr & Dex
Gen
HP 22 of 22
AC 21 Touch AC 14 Flat Footed 19
F/R/W 2/4/7
Conditions:
Kzrira will 5' step toward Varkata, and then fire at S3, the only one on the same level as the party. Hopefully the dropping stone floor/ramp will eliminate the AoO from the other Shaitans.
Amir switches his attention to the smaller shaitan, hoping to make better progress. Swinging his swords in a complex series of arcs, the rogue hopes to throw off his foe to expose a weakness..
Maagiyawara is free Lahapraset. If we die this effort is for nothing. You spoke of alliance and aid. The time is now.
Varkata whistles at the blow, "We need more help! I'm not hurting it anywhere near as fast as it's hurting me.." She then closes her eyes for a moment concentrating, then begins to chant while trying to weave carefully, not exposing herself to attack as she completes the spell.
As she finishes chanting, Varkata points to an open space, where the ghostly image of a foppish man appears, brandishing a rapier.
for
Amir focuses on the nearby shaitan feinting for an opening and then hammering the spot with his keen blades. He wounds the alabaster genie leaving a crack that leaks dust. The golden shaitan below, Zulfikar, dodges the wobbling orb of water sent his way and the greatest elemental shies away momentarily from the orb of fire, but there is nowhere for the shaitan upon the ramp to go as Gen's touch causes it to droop like melted wax and drop the heavy granite genie to the ground.
Freed from one threat for the moment, Kzrira turns her attention to the alabaster shaitan threatening Amir and the volley of adamantine arrows cut through its stone skin as if it were mortal flesh. The great genie is sorely wounded.
Both Varkata and Amir call for help to whoever might be listening. Things certainly look dire as the heroes are surrounded by powerful genies that have sworn to destroy them. Varkata's call is answered immediately as a foppish swordsman floats behind the great elemental, but proves hardly any better at piercing the animated rock.
The alabaster shaitan retaliates against Amir dealing him horrible slashes with her large scimitar that has been transformed into adamantine to cut through his diamond hard skin. Fortunately, the amber female opposite her falters in her offensive as she is distracted by her granite companion's fall.
The great elemental pounds on Varkata with immense force. Zulfikar sinks into the stone floor away from the watery orb while Obherak appears some distance away on the opposite side of the cube as more shaitan skin glimmering in metallic and jeweled hues pass through the stones in the other corners. Kzrira, Karethas and Varkata are caught in a shimmering cloud.
Varkata winces as she feels the air expelled from her lungs, Even with the two rapiers that can cut through that thing's hide, I'm losing this was of attrition... And so is Amir. The weapon the Smith gave me to fight the Efreet isn't going to see its intended purpose at this rate... . She closes her eyes and draws on her link to Cayden Cailean, filling herself with the intoxicating, heady power ...this would be a wonderful time to give a girl a sip of the good stuff.. and then releases it, excluding the elemental and Amir's shaitan.
for
for
Gritting her teeth as she sees her companions take nearly fatal blows, Kzrira continues to fire at the same shaitan knowing that at least one of these monsters must be taken down or else they are doomed.
Firing at the same shaitan, and then at the next closest if the first falls.
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Confirm Crit:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
With luck, two of the arrows land home, one finding a crack in the stone carapace of the earthen genie causing torrents of sandy lifeblood to spill forth.
Keep hitting them. We don't have a choice. We will succeed as we always have before.
Kzrira, Karethas and Varkata are caught in a shimmering cloud.
Will:
Karethas cries out as he is again caught unaware by the cloud of dust. "Gen, come here! When she alights on his shoulder he waves the wand again. "Touch the other ramp!
Amir continues to press the attack on the Shaitan as before, hopping to thin the numbers
Two weapon feint on S3
Only Karethas succumbs to the blinding dust this time. Amir's twin blades dart and weave in a confusing pattern that leaves the alabaster shaitan unguarded. A pair of critical strikes nearly finish off the genie, who falls a moment later to one of Kzrira's arrows. The archer's next shot critically wounds the amber female.
Varkata calls upon divine grace to mend the lumps and bruises delivered by the immense elemental. It seems worse for wear now as divine blade and ally strike in tandem. Karethas blinks and wipes at his eyes, but manages to send Gen on a mission with magic granted by the wand.
The mortal heroes seem to be holding their own thus far, but with more of the powerful shaitan on the way, they wonder how much longer until they are overrun. Thankfully, the Protean have not betrayed them. The wild creatures of Limbo appear with a warping of reality overhead in the pyramid shaped chamber. When the nauseating movement stops, Lahapraset is seen floating with another pale elf-like form that could be her brother though he looks tired and wounded. This must be the newly released Maagiyawara.
A half dozen more strange and primal creatures encircle them; they are serpentine with confusing patterns and colors racing through their scales. Spines raise and sink all along their form from the great adder-like fanged head to a rattling tail. They are further armed with massive clawed hands and tentacles ending in vicious jaws rear from their shoulders.
Great disks of clashing colored light and shadow crash down upon the dispersed shaitan with a cacophony of thunder and roaring and shrieks. Several strike the top of the cube, but though the shaitan are nearly knocked to their knees and afterwards move as if pushing against unseen force, the heroes feel nothing. Zulfikar falls dead, crumbling into sand. A moment later, Lahapraset smiles and waves her hand over you and you are speeded by a haste spell.
Only the great elemental, Obherak and a pair of genies appearing through the wall across the room are unaffected. The elemental continues its deadly pummeling of Varkata and she is knocked unconscious by the force of the blows. . Though slowed, the amber shaitan manages to push Amir into a tight spot and deliver a powerful slash. . Obherak calls the unslowed shaitan to his side in the face of the Protean assault.
Karethas barely has the restraint to keep himself from an unseemly cheer of relief, but he cannot contain a wide youthful smile from his face. Seeing the tides shift, he presses to take advantage. He mentally directs the watery orb towards the closest remaining shaitan. Raising his hands, he tries to cast a spell without drawing the wrath of the towering elemental.
Varkata falls under the onslaught of the massive blows, lying motionless even as the blades of her faith continue to slash at the beast that felled her.
for
Cursing in an unladylike manner as she sees Varkata go down, Kzrira turns her adamantine arrows on the shaitan leader.
Attacking Oberon -- subtract 1 from all attacks/damage if Oberon is more than 30' away
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack:
Damage:
Attack-haste:
Damage:
Several of the arrows strike home while others ricochet off his stony flesh.
HAving no confidence that the large elemental is something he can deal with Amir works to press after the shaitan on the ramp...
Pinched between a rock and a harder place, Amir is fully on the defensive. Gen rushes to disband the second bridge, but the granite genie shows his obvious mastery of the medium by disrupting the spell. A moment later, he is swallowed by the roving water ball. The priestess lies unconscious upon the rune covered cube.
The great elemental is now dropping clods of dirt and rock as it continues to suffer from the spells arrayed against it. Karethas calls a thick green mist that surrounds the shaitan leader and his defenders. This has the unfortunate effect of obscuring the genie from Kzrira's shots.
The Protean assault spreads pell-mell throughout the room. Two of the bestial snake-men rush the greater elemental following missiles of acid that somehow miss the gargantuan hulk. A third rushes at the amber shaitan on the ramp and bites through stone skin to tear out her throat. She tumbles from the ramp in a cascade of sand.
Another disc of chaotic energy smashes down upon the genies in the stinking cloud where gagging sounds are now punctuated by groans. The remaining three snake Proteans rush into the cloud in a berserk fury. Though it is obvious that two of them are overcome as well. Maagiyawara sends a wavering beam at a shaitan and he grabs at his eyes now blinded.
The elemental clubs one of the snake-men mightily leaving it bloodied and dripping iridescent ichor. Obherak and his followers emerge from the foul cloud, but only Obherak is unaffected by the nausea that his comrades suffer. He gestures and the second ramp to the cube top is repaired and reinforced.
Seeing her arrows miss due to the fog, Kzrira instead focuses on the only genie she can aim at, Obherak. Once more she fires four arrows coated in the rare adamantine metal. While not all are perfectly aimed, several do strike home injuring the genie.
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-iterative:
Damage:
Attack-haste:
Damage:
Die you stupid rock head.
She then glances at Karethas, calling over her shoulder.
Can Gen use a wand on Varkata?
Sensing at least a momentary pause in his being assaulted the rogue yells out, Keep Gen on other things, I have Varkata.
Twisting and rolling as he moves, the rogue uses his dexterity to tumble to Varkata and slide to her on his knees, the bottle of blue priest being withdrawn from his magical haversash, Leave it to you to drink all the good stuff...
Gen comes to a standstill for a moment in mid air as the shaitan counters her spell. She stamps her foot in mid-air, but giggles as he is engulfed in the watery orb. She speeds off to land on Karethas' shoulder. Karethas again risks the wrath of the elemental and attempts to cast another spell. Four purplish bolts speed from his fingers and smash into the huge living stone.
Varkata opens her eyes, "Thanks, Old Man. I'll take that over an acrid, alchemical potion any day." She quickly scans the battlefield, looking for the smith's fine gift, seeing where it fell from her limp fingers, then checking the status of her companions. "You wouldn't have a trick to get a 12' girl on her feet without being flattened by an elemental on the way, would you?"
Amir weighs his chances of getting by the long and heavy reach of the elemental and holds back for the moment hoping that it is about to crumble. In fact, under the continuing assault of the ghostly fop, fire and a blast of arcane bolts, the great earth elemental finally succumbs. Boulders rain down upon the stone floor as the animating essence disperses.
No longer threatened, Amir rolls over to his ally and locates his safely stored bottle of healing spirits. Certainly a wise purchase. Varkata awakens, still bruised and battered, but spared death for the moment.
The aqueous sphere rolls to the foot of the ramp improbably carrying a large stone genie within it. Kzrira's question is unanswered, but she is busy targeting the shaitan leader anyway. He proves magically protected yet two of the arrows get through wounding him.
Two shaitan erupt from the surface of the cube, but suffer the slowing effect of the chaos blast. Varkata is on the offensive though and redirects the divine blade and swashbuckler as well as conjuring a chain to entangle and drag one off the cube. It does pull him to the edge, but not quite over.
The three remaining large reptilian Protean converge on the pair of shaitan on the cube. One smacks the tottering shaitan with his tail finishing the job and knocking him from his perch. The others swarm the remaining silvery genie and injure him further, biting and clawing and striking him with one of the strange tentacles.
Below, most of the shaitan and warrior Protean suffer from the stinking cloud. One of the Proteans hurls itself at Obherak sinking its fangs into his shoulder while the tentacles join in biting and tearing at the onyx giant. Obherak howls hacking at his attacker with a great flaming falchion. The pale elf-like Proteans floating above watch with undisguised joy as their minions rampage.
Hearing the pile of stones that was the huge elemental crumble into a cloud of dust, Kzrira refocusses her concentration on the shaitan standing upon the cube, once more using the adamantine arrows.
Great work all, now lets teach these stony annoyances a lesson.
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-iterative:
Damage:
Attack-haste:
Damage:
Crit confirm:
Damage:
Varkata watches skeptically, trying to gauge the distance between her and the Shaitan.... Here, this should keep it at least a little busy.... She quickly gets to her feet as the ghostly force weapons strike at the earth-genie. She takes a moment to adjust Ebon Flame in her hands, smiling as the magic that enlarged her flow through the blade, doubling its size. "Now, time to take out some frustrations...", she growls, ending in a cough. I may still be a bit too damaged to leap into the fray... Let's deal with that.
Amir moves on, hoping to catch the shaitan on the cube with them unawares with a pair of hasted blows.
Karethas sighs with relief now that the elemental is no longer towering over the party. He steps away from the shaitan and casts another spell and more purple shards of energy whip from his fingers, this time slamming into Obherak. With a thought he rolls the fiery sphere through the party and into the shaitan on the ramp. The watery sphere churns a shaitan for another round as it blocks the bottom of the ramp.
AC 13 Touch AC 13 Flat Footed 11
F/R/W 3/5/7
Conditions: -2 Chr & Dex
Hasted
Amir moves over to the shaitan besieged by Proteans and lands a blow though it does little damage to the stone-skinned genie. Karethas sends a volley of force shards at the leader and directs spheres of fire and water around the field of battle. Kzrira focuses on the injured shaitan on the cube and with a direct hit to the head slays it sending it tumbling off in a spray of sand. Varkata refortifies herself and readies to join the assault against the surviving shaitan.
Denied their target on the cube, the frenzied Proteans descend on the fallen shaitan and tear him to pieces as he struggles to rise. Lahapraset and Maagiyawara laugh as the shaitan fall one by one. Obherak is hit by one of Kzrira's shots and then mobbed by a hissing Protean beast. It strikes him with one of the fanged tentacles and the powerful shaitan is reduced to babbling incoherence. The nauseated pair of shaitan and Proteans regain their composure and rejoin the battle. The Proteans strike three blows for every one managed by the shaitan.
Amir pauses for a moment to take in the sudden shift in the tide of battle, it was ugly business and the rogue saw little need to pile on instead choosing to finish the bottle of Blue Priest...
The watery orb collapses into a pool leaving the shaitan on the floor gasping for breath. The flaming sphere rolls down the ramp as Karethas directs it with a simple gesture. It rolls over the coughing genie, searing his stony flesh. As he lowers his hand Karethas moves towards the edge of the cube closer to the fight. He glances up at Lahapraset and Maagiyawara warily, but keeps his thoughts to himself.
AC 13 Touch AC 13 Flat Footed 11
F/R/W 3/5/7
Conditions: -2 Chr & Dex
Hasted
Amir pauses to finish the ever useful bottle of fortifying ale. Karethas' flaming sphere rolls down the ramp and onto the prone shaitan releasing howls and steam.
With most of the shaitan away from the party, Kzrira turns her bow on the master of stone, Obherak.
You could have just let us go, but decided to tick us off. Well, we are going home soon, and you will be nothing but a dusty memory.
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-haste:
Damage:
Although not accurate, a few of the arrows manage to strike home.
Varkata smiles, "Aye, you brought it on yourself, Dirtborn.", then turns her attention to the nearest Shaitan with narrowed eyes, "Now, this will feel good," she growls, then lashes out quickly with the magical speed of Karethas' haste spell.
for
for
Kzrira sends a barrage at the shaitan leader. The first two deflect off his onyx skin, but the next two pierce the stone. Varkata's flying force fleet race toward the final knot of shaitan. One falls from the snaking chain around its legs. The priestess herself charges down the ramp and with a snicker-snack of the black fire blade sends the half-drowned, half-burned granite genie's head flying off.
Obherak continued to gibber as the big Protean sinks fangs into his arm. This seems to being him back to the moment and in a furious sequence of swings, Obherak slays the Protean and turns on another. The two remaining loyalist shaitan shake off the nausea of Karethas' green cloud and fight boldly, but one suffers a bite as he attempts to stand and the other succumbs to madness after being bitten by a weird fanged tentacle. The shaitan turns his scimitar on himself as the rest of the Proteans converge on the defiant earth genies.
"I told you I was running out of spells!" Karethas lobs a glob of acid at Obherak and cowers down to keep himself under some cover.
As she continues to unload the precious adamantine arrows at the leader of the shaitan, Kzrira shouts at the elemental.
Statues are not supposed to move stone head.
Attack-rapid shot: <-- I assume he is more than 30' away, add +1 to attack and damage if closer
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-iterative:
Damage:
Attack-haste:
Damage:
Confirm Crit:
Damage:
Most of the shots bounce off the shaitan's thick hide, but one does bury itself deeply into the monster.
Amir moves to take adavantage of the various impaired states of his foes, moving to aid the proteans to fell the outliers...
Varkata steps toward the closest Shaitan, watching as her force-weapons come back to float near her, Guess that means things are going well..., she chuckles, then swings her heavy, enlarged blade at the genie, smiling, "You're just lucky you were more than a single step away.".
for
Amir rushes into the fraying line stabbing at a genie, but is again frustrated as Sholeh is turned by the stony skin only leaving a slight burn where she touches. Karethas shouts something about being low on spells and lobs a glob of acid way outside.
Kzrira's shots grow erratic as she rushes to get a killing shot. Only one stricks and it is not a critical wound though the powerful shaitan staggers as the assaults are taking their toll. Varkata reached the shaitan nearly simultaneously delivering a great blow with a weapon nearly equal in size to his own. He staggers back yelling defiant curses before another hammering blast of chaos falls upon the battered knot of defending shaitan crushing them to powder.
The great hissing Proteans turn toward you still seemingly mad with blood lust, but a commanding word from Lahapraset halts them. She turns to the heroes. "Now we will destroy the other remaining shaitan. Stay near the Earth Cyst here. Once all the shaitan are gone, we will return the Enslaver's World to its elements. The Earth Cyst will serve as an anchor to the Scroll and return you to your world."
Kzrira looks toward Karethas:
Earth Cyst? What is he speaking of?