"Great..." Krovax says, sarcasm dripping from the word.
Ezra floats up about five feet above the ground when she hears the word 'swarm'.
As Shadow rushes back into the well bottom to rejoin you countless numbers of insects of all shapes and types pour out of small cracks and crevices all around you. Above your heads descend clouds of hornets and wasps while below beetles, worms, roaches and large red ants swarm towards your ankles.
Ezra focuses and begins a summoning.
Ezra, floating a few feet above the ground begins casting summon monster II. The centipede swarm undulates towards Aluria and begins to slowly bite and gnaw, climbing up her boots and into her armour. The spiders split apart and envelop Dreadmaul and Bigzy . The cockroaches move and attack Mordecai and Shadow . Reacting quickly Grim grabs a flask from his belt and tosses at the ants, the bottle smashes and the liquid ignites as soon as it touches the air burning away some of the swarm. The giant grub slithers over to Leon but can't bypass his metal armour.
x1.5
x1.5
Speaking in a strange lilting language, Ezra mutters to the elementals, and points in the general direction of her air elementals. The elementals move together to through the various piles of vermin.
Ezra focuses her mind, and repeats the same incantation as last time.
Whirlwind (Su)" Some creatures can transform themselves into whirlwinds and remain in that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD they have. If the creature has a fly speed, it can continue to fly at that same speed while in whirlwind form, otherwise it gains a fly speed equal to its base land speed (average maneuverability) while in whirlwind form.
The whirlwind is always 5 feet wide at its base, but its height and width at the top vary from creature to creature (minimum 10 feet high). A whirlwind's width at its peak is always equal to half of its height. The creature controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet high.
The whirlwind form does not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the creature enters the space another creature occupies. Another creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches or enters the whirlwind, or if the whirlwind moves into or through a creature's space. A creature in whirlwind form cannot make its normal attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than the whirlwind might take damage when caught in the whirlwind (generally damage equal to the monster's slam attack for a creature of its size) and may be lifted into the air. An affected creature must succeed on a Reflex save (DC 10 + half monster's HD + the monster's Strength modifier) when it comes into contact with the whirlwind or take damage as if it were hit by the whirlwind creature's slam attack. It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked up bodily and held suspended in the powerful winds, automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage but can leave if the save is successful.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move except to go where the whirlwind carries them or to escape the whirlwind. Trapped creatures can otherwise act normally, but must succeed on a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell. Creatures caught in the whirlwind take a –4 penalty to Dexterity and a –2 penalty on attack rolls. The whirlwind can have only as many creatures trapped inside at one time as will fit inside the whirlwind's volume. The whirlwind can eject any carried creatures whenever it wishes as a free action, depositing them in its space.
If the whirlwind's base touches the ground, it creates a swirling cloud of debris. This cloud is centered on the creature and has a diameter equal to half the whirlwind's height. The cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. Creatures 5 feet away have concealment, while those farther away have total concealment. Those caught in the cloud of debris must succeed on a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell.
Format: whirlwind (3/day, 10–30 ft. high, 1d6+6 damage, DC 15); Location: Special Attacks.
Small Air Elemental <-- Link to SRD
CR 1
XP 400
N Small outsider (air, elemental, extraplanar
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
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DEFENSE
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AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +0
Defensive Abilities: air mastery; Immune elemental traits
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OFFENSE
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Speed: fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee: slam +6 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks: whirlwind (DC 12, 10-20 ft.)
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STATISTICS
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Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 15
Feats Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +7, Escape Artist +7, Fly +17, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +11
Languages Auran
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Air Mastery (Ex)
Airborne creatures take a –1 penalty on attack and damage rolls against an air elemental.
The fetchling draws his sabers and attacks the cockroaches that have swarmed him.
Leon brings his hammer down on the giant vermin in front of him.
Shadow, Krovax and Dreadmaul swing at the swarms in a futile attempt to disperse them but manage to do no more than squish a few. Bigzy pulls away from the spiders and rolls a bottle into the midst of both groups of spiders, the bottle erupts and destroys them in a fiery inferno that catches Dreadmaul . The ants move and begin to devour Aluria alive. One of the wasp swarms attack Ezra while the other descends on Leon. With two swings Leon turns the giant grub into paste.
As she realizes the cyclonic force of the air elementals has failed to consume the swarms, Ezra focus on casting her spell defensively.
Again speaking in her lilting language, Ezra orders one of the elementals to stay on her, to prevent further swarms from advancing, and the rest of the the new small elementals to also whirlwind and devour the swarms.
Ezra again begins casting a spell . Completing the spell, Ezra vanishes, and flies straight up another ten feet.
Once she has left the area, Ezra orders her guardian elemental to also move through the swarms.
Leon strides forward until he is clear of his companions and slams his hammer on the ground, releasing a burst of entropic energy.
Mordecai steps forward and follows suit with Leon, holding his amulet and letting out a burst of black energy.
Dreadmaul tries to grab Krovax and fly up the pit, attempting to get the two of them out of the swarms.
The fetchling realizes his sabres are of little use to him with these pests.
He attempts to smash as bugs as he can by violently stomping on them.
End of last round Mordecai moves and channels negative energy damaging many of the swarms. Ezra manages to keep her spell and summons the air elementals.
Round two. Ezra's elementals fly through the swarms picking up thousands of bugs in their wake, holding many of them helpless while the ant swarm moves and overwhelms Leon and Shadow . ONe group of wasps continue to attack Ezra Leon Channels negative energy, but in his haste he catches everyone in his burst . The ant swarm is still intact as well as one wasp swarm
fail 15/31 damage
succeed 7/26 damage
fail 15/26 damage
fail 15/49 damage
succeed 7/31 damage
fail 15/31 damage
fail 19 damage +15/31 damage = dispersed
fail 19 +7/26 damage = dispersed
fail 19 +15/26 damage = dispersed
fail 19 +15/49 damage= 34/49
fail 19+7/31 damage = 26/31
fail 19+15/31 damage = dispersed
fail 10 damage
succeed 5 damage
succeed 5 damage
succeed 5 damage
fail 10 damage
succeed 29/31
X
succeed
X
X
X succeed
Leon and Shadow
Once at the top of the well, Krovax mutters some magic and touches Dreadmaul.
The fetchling realizing the futility of his efforts shrugs in frustration.
"I'm no use to use against these pests. It is best I move out of their damage so I can remain some use against whatever else we face within."
The fetchling stows his blades and moves to the rope to begin climbing out of the hole.
As the poison floods into her veins the constant buzzing and stinging causes her to lose her second summon spell.
At the beginning of round three Ezra's elementals destroy the last remaining wasps, leaving only a swarm of ants biting at Leon. "I can get em off ya but it'll hurt."
Ezra flexes her wrist, and the wand of Cure lIght wounds appears in her hand.
Not getting a reply the goblin waits. The ants continue to crawl around and bite at Leon . Mordecai unwilling to harm Leon at this point does nothing. Leon then moves away but many ants continue to cling to him he then cries "Do it now goblin!" and another small vial flies out and smashes into the swarm, the liquids rapidly ignite on fire as soon as the air touches it, burning the remaining ants to cinder.
At your feet are the countless crushed, burned, desiccated or smashed bodies of the insects. No wonder there were so many bodies picked clean to the point that the marrow was consumed. Unfortunately one of your number was not quick enough to escape the insects. Aluria's partially devoured body lies huddled against the wall where she died screaming, being eaten alive.
Do you dare the passages again?
Krovax returns to the bottom of the pit, along with Dreamaul, and says "Well, that was interesting."
He then pulls out his wand to heal any injured.
Ezra picks over Aluria's corpse, searching for anything of use, and packing the rest into her haversack. Once the bard is stripped naked, as Aluria would have liked, Ezra steps to Leon, and aims her wand at him.
"There, shall we carry on?"
Mordecai surveys the devoured corpse calmly and shakes his head. "Tsk. I thought her stronger than this. How sad it is when one encounters something beyond ones ability to control. And then fails utterly." His piece spoken, he turns and joins the rest of the party.
After returning to the well the fetchling says, "Well, I got about 60 feet in to the tunnel before my nostrils started to burn from some odor and the tunnel dropped off sharply."
Glancing at the dead swarms he says, "These pests showed up before I could investigate any further. How do you suggest we proceed?"
"Do we have the means to deal with more of these, should they be present? If not, I suggest we return topside and better prepare ourselves. Otherwise, we need to make sure to scour this place in case what we are seeking is here."
"All I have to deal with swarms is whatever was on Aluria's corpse, and a couple more elementals." Though if I were moved with kindness, I would summon a fire elemntal to consume her corpse. Then again, I like bugs, and they are hungry. Perhaps a snack is just the thing they need to calm down again.
"Well I can help with that. But you're the clients. The choice on what to do lies with you. Are we going back up or do you want to keep searching?"
Bigzy is an alchemist and can make most of the alchemical items in the books given time. Just lemme know what you want and I'll tell you wether he can make it out here. Prices he charges are base price in books
"Lets head back up and set up camp and prepare ourselves for more possible fights with these vermin."
"Just remember, we will not be the only creatures topside either."
"True, but I think we are better suited to deal with the possible random cyclops over more of these carnivorous vermin. You saw how easily Aluria was overwhelmed."
"Perhaps I misunderstood her comments about bathing in blood. I guess she wanted to bathe in bugs," the fetchling says with a smirk.
You all slowly climb back up the well, looking out upon the ruined city you notice something odd. The districts below look different from when you went down, almost like your looking out a different entrance despite there being only one entrance.
Are you heading out into the ruined city to look for a camp site or camping out at the top? Is there anything else you plan on doing over the course of the afternoon/evening?
"Dammit!" Leon curses, swatting at this armor, obviously having trouble dislodging the biting insects that had gotten inside.
Ezra flies up to the top of the well. "Well, that is a little . . . Odd." Casting Detect Magic, she flies back up and down the well, taking a the remainder of her minute of flight time, scanning for auras. Should she find one, she immediately alerts the group. Else, she just observes whether or not the second trip also yields a change of scenery.
Once back with the group, assuming she ends up back with the group, Ezra lies out all of Aluria's belongings so hastily striped from the bard's corpse.
Nine Section Whip +1 "Zephyrrat", Elven Chain, Heavy Steel Shield +2 , Belt of Giant Strength +2.
"Looks like a heap of junk to me. Shields, chain, whips. . . belt of strength. . . Meh. do what you will with it. I personally would just as soon hand it all over to our liaison and get a decent ring."
"Hmm... perhaps Aluria may be of better use to us in death than in life..."
There's no difference of views between trips and there are no auras.
But if you want to take the time and make the checks, Knowledge Engineering or Knowledge Geography may give you some info.
Yes i think that would be hilarious Mordecai but didn't you 'leave' your minion in the 'safehouse' with the armour pilfered from the guards in the temple? If you wanna switch or fluff it as using her body as a reagent to give your minion a form that would be fun too
Before the ascent back up the well, an idea occurs to Mordecai and he returns to the wretched remains of Aluria. Calmly gathering her up in a bag, he joins the group and ascends to the surface.
"Ezra- I believe I have the solution to what to do with this... junk. Might I take possession of it until daybreak?"