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As the skeletal snake construct fell under the cleric's blow, Murassa released the energy he gathered back into his mind, as we'll as releasing his weapon. As the mace dissipated, he looked over at the others and said, "Almost makes me wish I was back fighting off duty Hellknights." Shaking his head in mirth, he walked over to the skull and examined it. "You are one ugly mother, aren't you. Is everywhere in the Spire like this?"
This is normal for the spire...at least from what we have found. That was not a pleasant experience.
Rallos then looks around the room.
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Shaking his head in mirth, he walked over to the skull and examined it. "You are one ugly mother, aren't you. Is everywhere in the Spire like this?"
At Murassa's question, Gray thought back to all the weirdness they'd encountered in this ancient spire.
Well let's see, there was the goblin-automaton monster, man-sized spiders, undead skeletal lords holding long-dead grudges, multiple instances of dead come-to-life, a laboratory with giant spider parts and humanoid gore, a gibbering pile of roiling flesh covered in biting mouths, rainbow-prism gem-eating scorpions, walking-talking metal men who wield weapons with skill, a tower-worshiping group of stinky troglodytes, a swarm of flesh-eating crabs, long narrow fish that could electrocute you, an angry mud creature that tried to drown me, a mechanical shark-thing, a towering minotaur with brass plates seared into his skin, a crazed technomancer who conjured lightning from a handheld weapon, candles that filled whole rooms with searing flames -- and now, giant skeletal snakes with human skull heads that can mesmerize its foes with a dance...
"Yeah, pretty much par for the course at this point."
The door to the east is the only exit from this room, leaving the troglodytes and the skeletal abomination behind them, Rallos confirms the door is safe to open and the friends are able to move on… the corridor beyond heads into darkness – partially illuminated by the flames in the fire pit, it heads east for fifteen feet or so before turning to the south and into absolute darkness… At the corner where it changes direction, an iron door leads from the corridor… warm to the touch, the sound of clanging metal is clearly audible through the door…
Gray was still concerned. He looked at Ea's blood-caked wool padding under her mail shirt, seeing that some of the blood was wet from still-open wounds. Despite her prayers for healing, she was still not ready to enter battle.
Grayface halted in the hallway.
"Ea, use our healing wand. We need you, and we don't know what lay in the passages beyond this darkness. If this talk of demons is any indication, we may need to be at our best."
His tone was half-warm, half-scolding, much as an uncle might admonish a niece.
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Gray felt the heat radiating from the door and the clanging metal beyond set him on edge. More troglodyte vermin?
In typical fashion he held his sword and shield at the ready and nodded for a companion to open the door.
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As the others began to leave the room, Murassa bent down to the skull and yanked off a tooth, putting it in a pocket with a grin. "My first battle trophy," he said to himself.
Quickly catching up to the others outside a large metal door, he stepped close and listened to the sounds from the other side. "Sounds like it could be a forge of some kind," he told the others.
You're right, Grayface. But remember that, if Fate has decided that I will die today, or tomorrow, not there is nothing I can do, but I fully accept it. I can just try to slow my pace, but the final place will still be my grave.
Yasmin nods in agreement with Murassa. "Could be they're forging more clockwork beasts, like that snake we just met."
She looks for magic on the door, just in case.
- there are no magical auras coming from the door... and, when Rallos checks it, he doesn't find any traps...
Rallos nods to the rest of the group, signalling his readiness to enter the room. He counts down silently from 3 then opens the door. After opening the door quietly he moves to the right side of the door frame to clear the way for the rest.
I don't think so, Yasmin. There is no mechanism in a Necrophidius, it is animated by magics. Besides, the necrophidius fits the theme of snakes, while the automatons were more humanoid. Our foes will probably be more reptilians than human.
Ea’s words about reptilians ring true as Rallos silently opens the door and, without noise, slips into the room beyond…
…as the door is opened, a wave of heat floods out – inside the room, a huge stack of barrels is positioned in the north east corner whilst, towards the south, a hot glow of magma comes from a slowly moving pool – and, adjacent to it, a great anvil being worked at by a snake-bodied humanoid figure. Spines of crackling flame dance along the creature’s blackened, fiery-red scales…
Thus far, engrossed in its work, the opening of the door has not been noticed by the room’s occupant.
A salamander.... They live in the plane of Fire, usually. Even a forge would feel cold to them, and they have a fiery temperament, to say the least.
After the warm welcome of the flaring candles and the ever-so-friendly troglodytes, Grayface did not believe this...salamander creature Ea spoke of would take kindly to any interruptions by upstart surface dwellers. The fighter understood the value of diplomacy but saw little chance of it taking hold here. He waited a few moments for Rallos to position himself, then turned his friends. He whispered in hopes that the loud clanging of the salamander smith would cover the sounds of his whispers --
- "Ea, wanna use one or two of those fancy new wands on us? This guy looks tough."
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Peeking through the open door, Murassa took a look at the occupant. "A salamander, huh? Might be weak to cold attacks..." he said to himself. Concentrating on his weapon, a dark purple glow, hopefully hidden by the glare of the magma, surrounded his hand, a light blue glow in the center, before coalescing into his urumi.
"So are we gonna fight the thing or talk to it?" he asked the others.
"Let's take it out!" whispers the sorceress. As frost trickles from her fingers, Yasmin seems more than ready to lower the temperature of this room with her magics.
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Seeing the frost form on Yasmin's hands, Rallos seizes his opportunity to strike. He dashes forward and tries to sink his blade deep as the salamander in occupied otherwise.
Rallos, as silent as the void, moves behind the salamander... and strikes. His blade bends slightly as it pushes against the hard scales of his foe and then, with a hissing noise, it stabs through to flesh...
Roaring with fury, the serpentine coils of the creature start to unwind...
"You dare to strike a servant of mighty Kro’akoth?!?! The Fire Serpent... The Prince of Demons. This is his shrine, and you are fools to come here!”
"Hehehe..." Gray laughed to himself at Rallos' wonderful impudence when the salamander protested and pontificated. The rogue knew that his friends were right behind, but it was a bold move indeed for one without steel armor and a shield.
Rounding the corner into the super heated room, he ran up to help engage this fiery serpent, though he was admittedly cautious and unsure what to expect.
"Get 'em Rall! Save some for me!"
Rallos shifts his focus to another chink in the salamander's defenses.
You had best hurry then Gray.
The salamander, caught badly off-guard, is rocked by a series of heavy hits from Grayface then Rallos and, finally, Murassa… Surrounded, and already bleeding heavily, it slithers away from Grayface… towards the heat radiating from the magma pool.
It’s crimson eyes narrow – and its forked tongue flickers once in the air – as it steadies itself… and then thrusts forward hard with a jagged spear against Grayface. The tip of the spear punctures the warrior’s breastplate and then, as crimson blood pours out, is thrust deeper…
…as Grayface falls, the salamander jabs forward once more with his spear – but, fortunately for Grayface, misses…
…and, turning his attention towards Rallos, the salamander’s ophidian tail slaps towards the rogue… but Rallos ducks the attack easily.
Gray! No...!
Rallos' eyes flash with rage as he slashes at the creature, determined to finish the fight immediately.[/b]
Rallos then takes a 5' step back.
Yasmin, uses your magic on the salamander, I'll heal Grayface.
Ea goes near Grayface and cast an healing spell
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Grayface opened his eyes again to see Ea bending down over him. An intense pain like none he had ever felt still throbbed in his chest, and a quick glance down at the puncture in his breastplate left little doubt as to the cause. Saving his thanks for later, he gathered his wits to ready himself for battle, though he knew that without the priestess he would certainly be dead.
With his shield still strapped to his arm he reasserted himself into a defensive posture and stood upright.
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With his shield still strapped to his arm he quickly grabbed up his dropped bastard sword and moved away from the fiery monster that had damaged him so thoroughly.
"Gray! No!"
Yasmin hurries into the room toward the Salamander. "You'll pay for that, demon-spawn!" She unleashes a blast of ice at the serpent!
Rallos, clearly affected by Grayface falling, is dangerously sloppy with his attack... Stepping backwards, he catches nought but air with his stabs...
Whilst Murassa, a little more confident and wielding a weapon that burns cold anathema to the fire-loving creature, lands a blow that cuts deep... and, whilst Ea draws the fallen warrior back to consciousness, Yasmin unleashes a frigid torrent of ice...
...brought back from the brink, Grayface cautiously stands... and, showing too much unarmoured flesh, fall to another devastating spear thrust. With Grayface down again, the salamander turns its attention towards Rallos.
Despite the flurry of heavy blows, the salamander looks desparately injured...
Rallos moves forward and slashes at the creature.
Ea delivers a quick prayer to Pharasma to close Grayface's wounds, knowing that the stubborn warrior would once again try to fight if she cures his wounds, and very possibly die this time.
Not yet, please. Not yet, if Fate allows.
Inevitably, outnumbered and with it’s vulnerability to cold cruelly exposed, the salamander falls… Rallos drives his blade forwards as Murassa swings his conjured weapon in a bright arc – indecision from the salamander proves to be its downfall – unsure as to which blow to defend against, it defends neither… and, without words, crashes to the floor.
Looking around the room, it seems that the salamander was in the process of working on a number of falchions – all being forged to the same design as those used by the troglodytes… and none, in their current state, worth more than the material value of the metal used. More interestingly, by far, is a highly polished breastplate resting near the anvil; intertwined serpents are expertly etched into its surface and a cursory examination of its aura confirms that it is magical - a faint transmutation aura swirling around it…
Ea uses the healing wand on Grayface, and her own magic, to cure his wounds
The flame salamander again sent his wicked spear tip into the warrior's flesh, and again he fell to its brutal efficiency.
He awoke some time later, again with the priestess of Pharasma hovering over him. He didn't even recall hitting the floor. Reacting in tensed preparation for mortal combat, he quickly relaxed when he saw the elemental man-serpent laying unconscious -or dead- on the floor nearby. He saw Rallos' and Murassa's blades dripping in blood, and Yasmin's rapidly melting chunks of ice on the floor, indicating that once again his friends had won the day.
Embarrassed yet redoubtable, the fighter stood again with Ea's support."Great work everyone. He was a fierce opponent." Turning to Ea, feeling her continuing healing magic pulses from the wand and from her prayers, he held her arm with a firm friendly grip.
"My thanks to you, again you saved my life."
Grayface had never put much stock in fate. It was too abstract, too distant. Lately though, he began to wonder if he'd been too dismissive. Was it fate that had landed him at Fort Inevitable where he found his group of adventuring companions? Was it truly his fate to do battle with all the horrid monsters of the Emerald Spire? Was it his fate to die in battle with the salamander, and if so, did Ea just cheat fate??
The fighter shook his head, clearing away such metaphysical nonsense for another day. I'll leave such pondering to those with less skill with a blade. I have a job to do and I need a clear head to do it.
Gray removed his fine breastplate so that Ea could place her healing directly on the most grievous wounds, and so that he could hammer back into place some of the shorn steel. He pulled his hammer from his pack and began slamming away at the inward-facing barbs of steel left by the spear puncture, when suddenly his eyes caught the polished new breastplate resting against the anvil.
His eyebrow rose in stimulated curiosity.
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Murassa walked over to the breastplate, his eyes shining with a bit of greed. Here was something that could fetch a pretty penny, if none of his allies wanted it, of course. "So, are we going to continue on from here? I have to say, I don't think I was quite prepared for the rigors of the Spire," he said, looking at the others. "This is a bit tougher than I had imagined."
"Not the first time an enemy has landed a wicked cut. There's a minotaur that nearly took off Rallos's head! But we're all survivors here."
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"Don't sell yourself short, Murassa. Your skill and your magic have proven their worth, and by extension you have proven your worth. We're a team, and you're a member of it."
The fighter had indeed been satisfied with their new companion. He was quick with a blade, quick-minded, and packed an arcane punch that would be foolish to underestimate.
Grayface watched as Yasmin used her magic, watched as she studied every curve of the snake-decorated breastplate; he couldn't help but glance at some of her own curves that were so accentuated by her fine garment. Knowing the potent magic that pulsed in her veins made her that much more evocative.
He smiled at himself for a moment then turned away, looking at his other female companion, the priestess of Pharasma. She wasn't the raw beauty that the sorceress was but her tenacity and strength had an attraction all its own. Gray respected both of these women immensely; he had a soft spot for strong women who broke the mold of the damsel in distress. Having them for company suited him just fine.
Turning to the devil-blooded rogue, Grayface saw yet another stranger-turned-friend that had surpassed his expectations. The tiefling had come through time and time again with his battle prowess and his keen array of skills, and would surely do so before the day was through.
I think that breastplate would suit you Gray...seeing as yours has a couple of...imperfections, shall we say. And Yasmin, please stop bringing up the minotaur....I am just getting over the nightmares Rallos says with a wry grin as he unconsciously rubs his head where the axe hit. He then goes and examines the barrels
The breastplate’s function eludes Murassa yet Yasmin, maybe more in tune with the manner in which auras twist and swirl beneath the influence of the spire, is able to identify it –
Looking around within the room, Rallos finds that the barrels contain raw materials – scrap iron, leather strapping, buckles and suchlike… the only barrel not containing blacksmithing materials is half-filled with ice cold water. Tentatively searching the fallen salamander, Rallos finds another of the small green crystalline cylinders – highly polished, it seems to be the same design as the others that have been found during the exploration of the Spire.
These could be handy for the Godbox.
says Ea pointing to the bits of scrap metal
These could be handy for the Godbox.
says Ea pointing to the bits of scrap metal
"Good thinking, Ea. Though I'm beginning to wonder how much more we'll actually need to pay their toll. We now have three of these Spire gas cylinders, which supposedly allow us to transport magically. If what Royst said was true, we may be able to travel up and down the spire in the blink of an eye."
Grayface grew excited when Yasmin confirmed that the serpentine breastplate was indeed infused with magic.
"Magnificent! My own steel breastplate is of fine quality, but this one is exquisite in design and function!"
"Royst, a mage who has quite an interest in the spire, told us that we could use these cylinders to teleport to higher levels. The trick is to touch the spire, then pronounce the right word. Er, it's something like this..." says Yasmin, trying to mimic the sounds she learned from Royst. "Each cylinder might be enough for two people, so now that we have three cylinders, we could all give it a try."
Maybe I could use your previous breastplate, Grayface, but I'll be slower. I'm not used to heavy armor, and I don't have your muscles.