"Sometimes evil hides behind the blandest facade, Atma, to lull you to somnolence and a feeling of false security. Sometimes, evil is apparent. And other times, decency hides behind a facade of menace," Chandi whispers back, "Best to trust no one until they have proved themselves with their actions. Even cheery, friendly Mr. Yates was imprisoned for some reason, though he seems affable on the surface."
Atma blinks at the samsaran's use of some less familiar words, but otherwise doesn't display any sign of either confusion or comprehension.
"But Lady Blue," the young woman says, "It's not what is on the surface that I want from Ju Ju." She taps the back of Chandi's held hand where several prominent veins are located. The darker blue under the samsaran's lighter blue skin is a surprisingly pretty contrast. "That's the only thing of Ju Ju that needs to be affable for me."
"Fortunate and curious that there is no necromancer among us. This band of felons gets points for originality anyway. Necromancy is so passé.""Right you are, Cool Guy. I wouldn't want to romance any of your necks, anyway. Well, maybe if it was in a really dark room and I had my ears and nose plugged, but even then I'd give it even odds."
"And here I was thinking I had a chance," Kanir says with an eye-roll.
"Joke's on you, bud. It's counterfeit."
He snaps his fingers, then points between Myth and a few others.
"...or is it? Magic!"
"Looks real enough to pass off to a fool shopkeeper so keep them coming if such is your desire.
Certainly, your magics inspire great awe within us all..."
"I know, right? If you ask me, I'm pretty gosh-danged impressive."
"And here I was thinking I had a chance," Kanir says with an eye-roll."Fortunate and curious that there is no necromancer among us. This band of felons gets points for originality anyway. Necromancy is so passé.""Right you are, Cool Guy. I wouldn't want to romance any of your necks, anyway. Well, maybe if it was in a really dark room and I had my ears and nose plugged, but even then I'd give it even odds."
"It's OK, buddy. Hey, if it makes you feel better, I bet you could score with Flappy Bird over there."
Eddin jerks a thumb toward Indrana.
"I hear she's really into sarcastic weirdos."
The cavern has only one other passage than the one they entered from. A narrow tunnel leads out of the larger tomb/cave with its bizarre statue guardian
The cavern has only one other passage than the one they entered from. A narrow tunnel leads out of the larger tomb/cave with its bizarre statue guardian
Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
Don't peek
As Ash moves towards the narrowing cavern, he notes that the grave holes are now only on the eastern wall. He stares at the western wall in suspicion, and just manages to see a large eye blink rapidly. A weird abberant-looking form hides among the shadows and rock face, using its coloring to blend in almost seamlessly with the stone
Geygar smoothly continues his silent, smooth walk and scan of the area, never once pausing to indicate that he has spotted anything amiss.
Geygar has almost reached the tunnel entrance, when he swiftly turns on his heel and heads for the eastern wall, pulling his hood up to obscure his bright hair as he fades even deeper into darkness,...
The others who actually care enough to watch the elf scout ahead, see him suddenly turn and become one with the darkness of the burial holes on the eastern wall.
Before he was just showing off. Now? It is obvious that for some reason, he does not want to be seen.
Ash fades into the shadows, and whatever the monster is, it doesn't seem aware of him. It's form is similar to a stalagmite, some three meters in height. Ash can just make out several tentacular appendages arrayed against the walls
Perception
Myth pauses as Ash "disappears". "Something is wrong or our sneak thief is looking to make an escape. Either is a I suppose a possibility".
Geygar slips through the shadows of the crypt like a ghost himself, making his way past the burial niches back to the others. He draws near in time to overhear Myth's comment.
"IF I was to make an escape, you'd hear about it from the town criers before you'd realized it had happened." Ash's smirk can be heard before it can be seen, as he steps out of the shadows behind Myth.
"Nothing's wrong. I just thought you might wanna know that there is something very big and very ugly hiding over there, along that wall."
Ash shrugs. "Hey, If you wanna know anything about locks, or defenses both magical and mundane, and how to bypass them? I'm your guy. But I'm a people person. When it comes to non-humanoids all I know is 'Big & Ugly' equals 'NOT my problem!'. I was thinking the big guys could give it a shot. Mr Big Muscles and Mr Big Mouth." Ash smirks, pointing at Mareth & Eddie respectively.
Then Geygar looks thoughtful.
I was also thinking, with all of THIS magical talent we have here, there has got to be a better way for me to inform you of possible hazards other than having to hike ALL the way back to tell you about it. Ah well. One problem at a time. Speaking of,..." Geygar smiles pleasantly at the others, plainly waiting for one of them to do something about 'Mr Very Big & Ugly' over there.
Atma eyes widen a bit, but her face remains curiously blank. She looks in the direction Ash indicates.
Looking back at him, Atma does not give any indication if she saw the Big & Ugly the elf had mentioned.
"Atma has much magic. If JuJu lets her take a little nip and enjoy a tiny sip, Atma will know where JuJu is at all times and be able to communicate directly through his juiciness."
The young woman's expression never changes and her voice is toneless. Her usual crazed excitement at the idea of elven blood is nowhere in evidence making her statements seem sane for once. She might even be telling the truth.
Myth sees and studies what he can see of the beast.
The beast looks like an Ondo-Uvamino, a predator of the Underdark. In the Common speech it is unimaginatively known as a 'Roper'
"Uh-oh, buddy, looks like that statue back there has some competition if she still plans on being your new girlfriend."
"Huh. Maybe we can hook her up with THIS thing? He looks,... grabby. Maybe she's a hands-on kinda statue?"
"Or maybe THAT'S a her? And she just wants a hug? Why don't you go ask her Ed?"
Geygar replies smoothly.
Atma frowns and her eyes narrow.
She looks up at the taller samsaran woman holding her hand.
"I don't like being ignored, Lady Blue. They keep ignoring me. Surely that means I can show them how void magic works up close. That's what your wheel of life teaches, right?"
Atma's free hand begins to crackle with the tears in reality her power represent. The bolts surge across her fingers, and her eyes take on a red glow.
Mareth comes to a halt when he loses side of Ash, his helmeted head turning from side to side, seeking, but failing to find the stealthy elf. When Ash does re-appear and points out the creature waiting in ambush, Mareth peers through the darkness trying to see it (and again, failing), his gauntleted hands tight on the haft of his earthbreaker.
Atma frowns and her eyes narrow.
She looks up at the taller samsaran woman holding her hand.
"I don't like being ignored, Lady Blue. They keep ignoring me. Surely that means I can show them how void magic works up close. That's what your wheel of life teaches, right?"
Atma's free hand begins to crackle with the tears in reality her power represent. The bolts surge across her fingers, and her eyes take on a red glow.
Geygar has the decency to look, nervous. Just a little.
Now Atma, I'd never ignore you. And not only because it's rude, but I figure that's a good way to wake up dead." Ash says with a roguish grin.
"I appreciate your offer, (I didn't hear anyone else providing any answers) but,... I'd rather find a solution that didn't require me donating a pint to the cause. I only have so much 'red juice', and I'd prefer to keep it inside of me. Where it belongs. I'm saving it,... for a special occasion. Yeah." Ash ends on a high note, giving Atma the full force of his most charming smile.
(At least, HE thinks it is his most charming smile. Others may think it resembles a rictus grin of fear. Opinions may vary.)
Myth sighs, "Talking the drow to death won't kill them either..."
Myth raises his hands and casts a spell at the creature.
Myth sighs, "Talking the drow to death won't kill them either..."
"Actually..."
Myth sighs, "Talking the drow to death won't kill them either..."
Myth raises his hands and casts a spell at the creature.
The two fiery rays lance out and strike the stony creature, melting its hide.
The creature howls and begins to move. Mareth suddenly sees it, like finally seeing the boat in those stupid wizard pictures the peasants were always gabbling about. Stupid peasants
At Chandi's side still clutching the warpriest's hand, Atma's appearance shifts as void energy surges through her once again shifting light and shadows and causing the magical tattoos which wrap around her torso and one leg to glow visibly even through her clothing.
"Mr. Big & Ugly...you should have just stayed a wall instead of bothering us," Atma's affect remains toneless and bored.
Atma raises her free hand, and a bolt of reality-tearing energy arcs from it attempting to make contact with the monster.
Initiative
"Well, looks like it's time for me to save the day again. I got this, don't you worry, everybody just get in front and distract it while I do the thing."
Eddin draws his sword, then fishes around in his belt pouch with his free hand, finally pulling out another flask of clear syrupy liquid.
The creature howls and begins to move. Mareth suddenly sees it, like finally seeing the boat in those stupid wizard pictures the peasants were always gabbling about. Stupid peasants ... not so easy to see now that I've taken your eyes is it?
Mareth doesn't bother unlimbering his bow, but grips his earthbreaker in both hands and waits for the thing to come to him.
Chandi drops Atma's hand and holds herself in readiness with both hands free.
Blades appear in Geygar's hands as if by magic,...
And he steps back, willing the shadows to re-envelop him. (Preferably BEFORE that creature gets too close!)
Kanir’s fine blade is quickly in hand as he looks for an opportunity to strike.
Roper Rodeo
Roper
Atma 18
Eddin 16
Ash 15
Mareth 14
Kanir 13
Chandi 9
Mythaniel 9
The beast makes a weird howling noise as its six tentacular arms lash out an astounding distance.
Kanir
Kanir
Eddin
Mythaniel
Atma
Mareth
The sticky thin tentacle adheres to Kanir. He suddenly feels very weak
STR Damage.
Indrana had been getting rather bored with the nigh endless trudging through the depths. Well alright, not endless but close enough sometimes. It seemed like it had been months instead of hours or days and it left her rather distracted. She was so distracted, in fact, that she felt the collar start to choke her as she had lagged too far behind.
Hurrying to catch up to Chandi and the rest Indrana arrived to see them fighting...a wall? She didn't understand what was happening here but she knew that it was something to fight and kill and that was enough for her. With a bellow of rage and hatred she grew to twice her size as she unlimbered her scythe and charged in to strike the thing that was reaching out and touching her companions.
Indara’s syche slices into the things stony carapace with a nails-on-chalkboard sound. A translucent green ichor reminiscent of snot begins to bubble from the thing
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fail
Eddin feels like it’s last call at the Mermaid’s Shell, and he’s been doing purple worm venom shooters all night
Geygar watches the tentacles strike out and latch onto some of the others.
He waits for the expected quip from Eddin, then realizes Eddin is one of those currently occupied with their new friend.
'Well, It's nice to know SOMEthing can shut him up. Temporarily' Ash smirks to himself in the shadows.
(The irony that he, himself, is usually just as chatty as the burly human is completely lost on him, apparently.)
Geygar takes a swift glance, and decides they need more sneaky. Fast. He steps forward to stand close to Kanir, and strikes at the tentacle holding fast to the fetchling.
Ash slashes at the tentacle twice with lightning fast strikes.
No, seriously, the blade literally crackles with electricity,...
Ash slashes the tentacle. His blades crackle with electricity and plunge into the sticky appendage . The animate stalagmite convulses, and it’s six long ropy tentacles go limp
The group is left with some dizziness and sticky goo on their skin
Mareth sags somewhat under the weight of his armour.
"Bleh... Atma says suddenly sluggish.
Geygar looks surprised, and glances at his sword as if seeing it for the first time.
"Wow." he mutters. "I was only trying to slice the tentacle."
Ash coughs and regains his usual swagger in an instant. "Yep. Went exactly as I planned. Thanks for the assist guys. Good idea Ed. Great distraction. Good teamwork." Ash smiles smugly.
Fortitude - Strength
Myth gasps and sags to his knees. "Stupid creature..."
He begins to call out the words to a spell, his chanting taking an almost ritualistic quality.
Myth stands and breathes, "Ah, much better". The wizard then stalks over to the Roper and uses his dagger to cut pieces off for use in spells or for future sales of components to others who may need it.
Mythaniel methodically dissects the fallen creature, pulling odd organs and lengths of tentacle from it and stashing them in jars . The cavern is quiet except for a dripping noise from the ceiling somewhere