Magnus adds his own mystic light to the party, and when they stop to deal with Liam's wounds, he takes a few minutes to replenish his own magical powers. (regains 2-1st level spells)
Seneon picks up the gold.
Yay! Gold! Gold is good!!
He waits for the party to rest and heal, while he collects his arrows.
Elaris walks towards the others, humming a melody, then another, her eyes distant.
When they stop and Liam sits down, she frowns , realizing she hadn't realized how hurt he was.
"Sorry, Liam dear. I was working on my first composition based on our exploits so far, and got so distracted..." she says softly, waiting until the Freyian was finished before gently placing her hand against the side of Liams face and softly singing a Ethangian lullaby.
Bah! Aukan thinks Gold is just a shiny excuse for Glorious Battle! the half ogre booms.
Liam at first is rather appreciative of the healing. he tries to insist that he will be alright, but does not actually wave away any healing efforts.
but everything changes as Elaris touches his cheek. he closes his eyes and smiles at her touch. you would think that eve if there was no magic behind the touch he felt so much better.
he reaches up and touches her hand as the magic flows through him to close his wounds. thank you he whispers to her, in his mind the touch is so much more.
Seneon rushes over when he sees Elaris perform magic.
I wanna do magic too!
He screws up his face and holds his breath.
He passes out and wakes up
Did I do it?
Aukan chuckles at the silly little halfling
Silly Halfling! I too can do magic. Watch as I make this Beer disappear!!!!
Elaris smiles at Liam, then turns her head to watch Seneon's antics.
Standing she laughs, high and clear, "Keep that up Seneon, and my paean will become a comedy!"
She eyes the cave, "Shall we gentlemen?"
Magnus looks at the halfling in disdain.
"Do you really think that is all it take to wield magic? Years of schooling and training go into every spell. Dedication and perseverance are what is needed."
His visage softens a little as he remembers his own youth and the many failed attempts he himself had when trying to harness the power of magic.
"You do seem to have the will, if not the skill. Perhaps, if you are willing, I could teach you a little about magic, and we can see if your ability matches your willingness. What do you say to that?"
Karl smiles at the Halfling then lights up his symbol as he heads into the cave.
Liam laughs at the Halfling's attempt, patting him on the head. Not to worry, you should have seen me in my first sword fight. boy was I klutz back then. not as graceful and skilled as I am today. years of practice and hard training and you will get there.
Liam then takes a position beside Karl into the cave. sword drawn and ready for combat.
You able to approach and enter the cave. It is smaller than the previous cave that the manticore made its lair in: 20’wide and 10’high. After 30’, it narrows further to a square corridor that is obviously man-made. This corridor is 10’wide and 10’tall.
The corridor leads into a curiously circular room, which ceiling opens to the sky.
The entire floor of the room is covered with a 12 inch thick layer of grass.
Set in the centre of the cave is a large statue of the grotesque Cretia. Two greenish gems glitter in the statue’s eyesockets. Branching out from this chamber are a number of tunnels, set equal distantly and at the cardinal points of the compass.
While the room itself requires no light source you know that you will need at least one, if not several light sources to navigate these tunnels
Ooh... that's a lot of grass. Oh! A statute
Seneon runs a few steps then stops suddenly
Wait! There could be a trap!
Elaris' hand comes up in a warding gesture when the statue of Cretia appears, she calls out to Seneon "Leave those gems be, Seneon, Cretia is a jealous and greedy god. "
She edges to the side to look down the eastern corridor.
Seneon doesn't perceive a trap.
Elaris can't see much down the corridors. The natural light in this cave coupled with the darkness in the corridors is screwing up her vision.
Is anyone making any light sources?
Karl moves forward cautiously to illuminate the way ahead into the darkness. He will make his way to the entrance of each corridor and shine the light down for investigation.
Hah! Gems are but baubles compared to the wealth that is GLORY! Aukan booms, moving into the room.
He randomly chooses a corridor
Follow me! We have a Xanathon to defeat!
Allow me to light the way, my friend. Others don't see in the dark so well.
Magnus adds his Mage light to the group and follows Karl and the others down the corridor.
You push 20 feet down the corridor before it breaks into a 'T' junction. One heading left, and the other right. To the left you can see a door into one of the walls. Its dark but in the dim spaces beyond the light you'd hazard there are other doors.
To the right? The corridor comes to an end and swings south.
Come, let us check these doors.
Karl moves to the left, towards the doors.
Seneon, can you please come up here and check these for traps and to see if we need you to pick some locks.
Karl listens at the first door.
Seneon sulks
But the gems are sparkly... and shiny.... and worth a lot!
He moves to Karl, grabs his thieves tools and investigates for traps.
Map updated.
Karl listens but can hear nothing, Seneon finds the door is unlocked and untrapped.
Liam just follows along with the light source, no clue where he is going at the moment. looking for these corridors that people seem to be talking about. and still wondering what statue they all saw.
Actions any one?
Follow me! To Glory! Aukan boasts as he shoves the door open and barges in, not unlike a bull in a shop full of glassware.
Door sounds good to me! Onward!
I can see the map fine as well...sorry for the delay!
Karl follows in Aukan shining a beacon of light into the darkness.
No traps! Oh!
Seneon cries out when Aukan charges past.
He grabs his shortsword and runs in.
10 armed and armoured temple guards regard you with some but not total surprise. They are armed with Scimitars and shields and wear chainmail shirts.
Enough to give you all initiative but not enough for a surprise round. Elaris remains in the doorway, the rest of you have charged in by the sounds of it.
Party up...
RAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Aukan charges the closest enemy, heedless of the danger
The door opens and everyone starts to pour into the room. With Aukan's opening speech, the group's attentions are made clear, we have reached aggressive negotiations.
finding himself suddenly up close to one of the guards. Liam looks up and smiles, totally unsure of hi expression under that helm.
Liam gives his sword a twirl and chops at the guard, only to be rewarded with a "THUNK" as the sword simply bounces off the armor. with a grin of confusion Liam "punches" the guy with the side of his shield, hoping to throw off his 'rhythm'
Karl attacks the nearest enemy with his Mace.
Seneon darts in, attacking the person Karl tried to attack.
As the door is opened and Aukan rushes in, followed by the others, Elaris looks in and sees the group of Temple guards, "Oh my, she says, "I guess stupid can be interesting sometimes..."
She stays in the doorway, and brings up her bow, gauging the flow of battle and letting fly at one of the guards a bit more removed...
After the arrow has left her bow, she cries out to Liam, "Come now, Liam, you can do better than that! Perhaps the promise of a kiss will motivate you to greater heights of derring-do!"
Seeing the croud of guards awaiting them in the room, Magnus swiftly casts his sleep charm on the troops near the back of the room, shaping his spells so that it misses his allies.
Sleep spell: