Serpentfang drenches the leader in acid, causing severe damage. The leader quickly heals himself of some of the damage.
With a good portion of his damage healed, the leader commands the thug, "Get them!" However, he doesn't realize the thug is under Krux's control.
As he dodges the spiked chain, the injured man cries out, "Not me, you fool!"
Uthred and Danu manage to combine their forces to put the group's leader down and out. Danu easily slips by the thug.
Despite being a simple goon, the last remaining Steel Wyvern withstands Krux's attempt to daze him. But it doesn't matter, as Marduk works to give himself a new nickname of 'Cleaver' as his guisarme nearly splits the poor man in two.
As the combat dies down, the door at the back of the sanctuary opens slowly as the Almsman pokes his head out. "Is...is everyone alright?" he asks timidly. Upon seeing the party has successfully held off the Steel Wyverns, the Almsman relaxes.
"Oh, thank you! You've helped us so much." He looks down at the men and spots one. "Oh, Randalan! Well, with him dead, you've sent quite the message to the Steel Wyverns, the wouldn't dare try and roust us out again!"
The Almsman then answers questions regarding the Prince. "I do not know about him for certain - I highly doubt he travelled through some kind of portal. But, though his mental capacity is somewhat diminished, I do not feel he was making things up. From his rantings, he must have come from the "Skytower". The basement is filled with all sorts of statues of strange creatures - so maybe he thought he traveled through some planar portal. That's where I would go if I were trying to suss out his story. You'll head east down the tunnels to a mossed-over door. It's clearly labeled 'Skytower.'"
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What sort of creatures are you talking about? Can you describe any of them to me, perhaps I may know what they are. Are there any troubles or other Wyverns along the way? Any traps we should know about on our way the the Skytower?
After he is able to answer her questions, she rummages through the dead thugs and leader's belongings for anything useful.
The Almsman waves off Jessique's question, "You know - statues of demons and stuff - but they're just effigies - meant to be burned to ward off evil."
He pauses in thought, "Naw, you shouldn't run into any traps between here and Skytower. The Wyverns aren't known for that - they prefer to use brute physical force - and I think we've seen you can deal easily with that."
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Krux hands the Alsmen a handful of coin. He nods when Jessique gathers Wyverns' possessions.
"Sounds simple enough. Alsman, please arrange proper burial rituals for the dead. Here is 20 gold to reimburse any funeral expenses. Pathfinders sometimes forget such things. Lead on my brave companion."
Krux detects magic and scans along the path to the Skytower door. If nothing found, he ponders subject matter.
The Almsman accepts Krux's charity with grattitude, "Well, I don't think the Steel Wyvern scum deserve it, but I shall honor your request, Pathfinder."
The Almsman’s directions lead to a heavy wooden door. A sign on the door is partially obscured by grime and moss, and the word “Skytower” is still barely legible.
As Krux ponders, he can think of no possible magical function of such a designation.
The door easily opens...
This room was once the basement of a building above, but the stairs in the far corner are now choked with charred rubble and seem to lead to a new stone foundation of the new building above. Odd furniture and knick-knacks of all description fill the remaining space, and strange winged effigies made of wood and broken pottery are arrayed in a bizarre diorama.
The focal point of this display is a pair of chairs standing on different-sized piles of old crates like thrones on a dais. A charred and shriveled corpse dressed in rotting and burnt finery and wearing a tin crown is propped up in one of the chairs while the other, lower chair, sits vacant.
Looking around, you see that some strange, yellow mushrooms seem to be growing on some of the shelves and walls of this basement.
Fairie effigies line the walls - also, you see a portal has been painted on the wall - a large circle of swirling patterns. On the floor, you spot an empty scroll case next to a slightly charred, blank piece of parchment.
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Serpentfang seems excited to be discovering and at the thought of unusual magic. "This appears to be the remnants of a used scroll. I concur with Uthred there are noises coming from the west, we should be on guard."
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The sounds of the creatures grow more pronounced, sensing danger, you ready yourselves for a fight. Suddenly, you spot some odd looking creatures weaving around the vaults.
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These creatures are drecthes, albeit they look to be weaker then the ones I read about. They are resistant to fire, acid, and cold. There is not much in my arsenal to easily combat these guys, Danu and Marduk your gonna have to simply use your brute strength on these guys.
She readies her crossbow, and if a clear shot opens up , she will take a shot.
Everyone prepares to bring death upon the dretches. Serpentfang moves forward and lets an arrow fly and it pierces the soft, fleshy hide of the yellow dretch - just managing to shoot through the narrow gap of the doorway.
The yellow dretch moves forward and tries to retaliate, dodging Marduk's prepared attack and swinging at Serpentfang with one of its claws.
The red dretch then points his hand at Serpentfang and babbbles. Suddenly, a dark cloud bursts forth, filling the enclosed space. The red dretch then rushes backwards from the cloud.
The blue dretch waits patiently outside the cloud.
Marduk's mighty attack of opportunity severely injures the yellow dretch, but it remains standing.
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Summoned Eagle attacks yellow dretch with a flank.
Krux moves closer, points his finger and casts Murderous Command (Will DC 18) on blue dretch.
*cough* "Your friend is your enemy." *cough*
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If yellow is still up ill hit him with an acid jet and 5 ft to cover, otherwise ill flee to cover and delay.
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Krux's eagle finishes off the yellow dretch that Marduk had severely injured before.
Danu, with a clear path towards the remaining dretches, rushes forward and slices the blue demon in half, killing it instantly.
Uthred and Jessique both heave their lunches up.
Serpentfang lobs a jet of acid at the last remaining dretch. The acid connects, but doesn't seem to harm the creature as much as would normally be expected.
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"Do not attack."
Krux moves out of the cloud and casts Forbid Action (DC 19) on Red Dretch. The summoned eagle flys overhead if someone is blocking the doorway and attacks it too.
The demon manages to ignore Krux's insistent command, however, his free will is cut short by the sword of Danu, who's powerful swing cuts open a gaping wound in the demon's soft flesh. Blood begins to poor profusely from the wound and the dretch collapses and softly moans as the life drains from his body.
The stinking cloud has dissipated and with the dretches killed, you are able to take a closer look around. In the far corner, you spot a dirty blanket and pillow with some various trinkets and treasures: a brooch of shielding , potion of enlarge person, screaming bolt, wand of shocking grasp , and a gold necklace worth 300 gp.
Upon returning to the Lodge, Gandros is happy to learn that his home is safe to return to. "Ah yes, thank you for making my royal abode safe once more!"
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After a long day and many battles, Serp follows Marduk and Uthred to the Tavern. "Mind if I partake in some strong drink with you? It seems the appropriate thing to do considering the events that conspired."
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