Bloodied yet unbowed, the group retreat through the room of the burning candles and, nursing their wounds, make their way back up the stairs towards the realm of the Automata. A soft ticking sound tells the returning adventurers that they are near the top of the stairs… and, turning a final corner, they arrive in the room where they previously rested. This time, there is no sign of the semi-mechanical man – instead two automata (one of which appears to be quite badly scorched) stand guard at the door to the south… if anyone approaches the door, they adopt a defensive stance yet do not attack.
"This should be sufficient though we must post a watch I think.
Dru, have you any spell which may shatter barriers, they seem to be a grater obstacle for us then we anticipated the second time around".
Dru shakes her head. "Nothing that would break them down, I fear."
If it were not so bright in there, perhaps I could sneak in and create a path for us to enter....stealth might be a way to get past them.", Symon says while cleaning his blade.
"Luther, can you pray to your God for darkness spells? Dru, do your people not summon forth Darkness at will? We may well be able to blanket the entrance in darkness to let Symon do his work".
"Yes, I can conjure a sphere of darkness."
"We have the horn of fog. We can use that if we want to get in close. I cannot see in the dark at all. We can make sure you fly Armitron with Brent longstriding."
"We have the horn of fog. We can use that if we want to get in close. I cannot see in the dark at all. We can make sure you fly Armitron with Brent longstriding."
Armitron nods, "Symon, does fog work well for you? Perhaps through the fog I can carry you across the barricade while flying and drop you at the far end whilst I attract their attention with a battle cry..."
Brent relaxed against a wall
I can see in low light, Brent taps his googles but absolute darkness, no.
He thinks for a minute.
I think sneaking isn't the answer. The big snake is a caster, and so not dumb. He would know what was happening, and counter it.
Whilst it is clear that the automata will not allow you access beyond the door, the presence of the mechanical devices does provide some level of reassurance that the group will not be disturbed during their recuperation… and indeed, with a watch maintained, everyone manages to get a good rest. Come the ‘morning’ (for it is nigh on impossible to tell whether the sun or the moon now hangs in the sky), talk turns to strategy and planning for getting past the serpentfolk’s barricade…
"He may Brent but that would also be something that would deplete his resources.
Based on his method of attacks, we should proof ourselves against fire if we can".
Leaving the automata behind, descending the stairs and forging past the candles - doing their best to avoid the worst of it when they inevitably flare - the friends move towards the barricaded room
...moving into the corridor beyond the candles, it appears that the doors through to the room beyond has been left slightly ajar... exactly as it was left. Cautious yet curious, Brent pushes the door open to discover that the room has not been reinforced. Indeed, the entire northern end of the level seems deserted...
Leaving the automata behind, descending the stairs and forging past the candles - doing their best to avoid the worst of it when they inevitably flare - the friends move towards the barricaded room
...moving into the corridor beyond the candles, it appears that the doors through to the room beyond has been left slightly ajar... exactly as it was left. Cautious yet curious, Brent pushes the door open to discover that the room has not been reinforced. Indeed, the entire northern end of the level seems deserted...
Luther channels twice, healing those who avoided the worst. Then he uses the healing wand.
"Symon, can you check for traps ahead? I find this newest greeting more disturbing then our last foray into this place..."
Luther heals his friends and begins to cast some spells to make things go better.
"The tactics are simple. You frontliners are now fast, strong and armored and need to engage the enemy as fast as possible. We find the naga and hit her hard and fast. Symon, that crossbow hasn't done much. You gotta get the enemy in a vulnerable spot when they are focusing on someone else."
He adds: "We have been beaten back twice. Third time is a charm. Dru I think you go with the scorching rays and hope to penetrate her resistances."
Armitron shrugs and speaks as the Cleric works his magic, "I suppose that plan is as good as any other without knowing what our foes intend for us. Is there any way to proof us against fire as well? The naga seemed to prefer that method of attack with her own spells".
"It takes considerable resources to protect just a single target from fire. Had I done that last time, the spells would have all been wasted because we got defeated before we got close to the naga. So, if you kill the naga, the fire will stop. Plus the naga had more than just fire spells. So I guess we will have to just suck it up."
With Armitron and Brent much faster, they can stay behind Luther and Symon as they move ahead.
Moving through towards the long corridor that travels past the forge, the friends cautiously proceed… looking and listening for signs of the serpentfolk… the search is quickly over as, turning the corner that leads southwards, an arrow slams into Symon’s thigh. There, right at the southern end of the corridor, a serpentfolk is hastily drawing a second arrow from a quiver…
Cursing at being shot, Symon quickly crosses the hallway into the forge-room.
"Well that is not good! Can we use one of those tables and hide behind it as we move down that long corridor? What do you think? Otherwise I think we might end up as pin cushions."
Luther advances blowing the horn of fog.
"Stay behind me. Armitron, heal Symon with your wand."
Armitron nods to Luther and smiles as the fog begins to fill the room, "A good plan".
Wand of Cure Light Wounds - Symon
Dru waits for an opening, priming a magic missile. If any unfriendly comes out of the fog, she will blast it.
With the corridor filling with fog, the group are - probably - protected from the bow-wielding serpentfolk... as the fog drifts southwards, it draws closer to where the reptile was...
Armitron whispers to Symon, "Shall I fly us forward?"
Luther moves 20' forward and describes what he sees before he blows the horn again.
Pushing forwards, using the fog to cover their advance, the group travel as far as the second door in the passageway... unmolested by arrows or other assault, they have a moment to consider the reinforced... and locked... door.
that looks solid. Shall I give it a kick?
"Here let me take a crack at it first."
Disable Device:
"Almost got it"
Disable Device:
Anticipating the battle to come, Armitron calls upon his power to give his blade a keen edge.
Luther gives both fighters protection from evil and he blows the horn on the threshold of the door. He prepares a flying celestial eagle as soon as the door is open.
Get to the Naga and hit it.
With a satisfying 'clunk', the lock opens and, gently, Symon pushes the door... Revealing a room that is clearly set up as a gaol - and worse; chains dangle from four iron rings set into the stone of this room’s eastern wall, and small knives and hooks hang from pegs nearby - Blood stains the floor beneath the chains. There are four doors to the north and four more to the south, each with a small, barred window - through the window of one of the northern doors, a whimpering sound...
...the sobbing is not the immediate concern though - that is reserved for the two serpentfolk... brutish, dark-scaled things... that turn and hiss at Symon as the door opens...
Armitron flies into the room swinging his sword at the serpent from a high angle to leave room for others to enter the fray on foot or shoot freely.
Activate Weal's Champion
Masterwork Longsword - Keen + Bull's Strength
Damage
Luther finished his summoning and his eagle appears between the serpentfolk. "Symon, take the flank of the eagle."
N Small celestial/fiendish animal
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 5 [7] (1d8+1) [1d8+3]
Fort +3 [+5], Ref +4, Will +2
SR 5
Celestial - Resist Acid, Cold, and Electricity 5
Fiendish - Resist Cold and Fire 5
OFFENSE
Speed 10ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee 2 talons +3 [+3] (1d4) [1d4+2], bite +3 [+3] (1d4) [1d4+2]
Special Attacks Smite evil/good
STATISTICS
Str 10 [14], Dex 15, Con 12 [16], Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB -1 [+1]; CMD 11 [13]
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +8, Perception +10; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Smite evil/good 1/day as a swift action (adds CHA bonus (+0) to attack rolls and damage bonus equal to HD (+1) against evil/good foes; smite persists until target is dead or the celestial/fiendish creature rests).
The eagle waits for Symon to arrive and rakes the serpent creature.
Luther attempts to help Symon hit.
Symon rushes into the room following Armitron and Luther. He attempts to dodge past the serpentfolk so he can setup a flanking attack with Armitron.
Acrobatic Dodge:
Attack-melee:
Confirm Crit:
Damage:
crit Damage:
Sneak Damage:
Brent moves over to serpent man 1 and hits.
power attack
and hits air
Rushing in, Armitron and Symon both land telling blows upon the serpentfolk... badly injured even before it draws its weapon, it staggers backwards when Luther's summoned eagle bites at it... Brent, with contrasting fortunes, misses with his attack.
With the protective auras exuding from Luther, neither serpentfolk is able to hit with their highly polished scimitars...
…and, as the fight rages, the ophidian face of another serpentfolk appears at the window of one of the northern doors…
The eagle shifts to attack the uninjured one and give flank to Brent.
Luther strikes with his Morningstar at the wounded one.
The eagle and Luther miss badly.
"Dru, have you a spell or two for the newcomer to the north?"
Armiton, still flying, keeps at the one he has already wounded.
Weal's Champion
Masterwork Longsword - Keen + Bull's Strength
Damage
"This new guy might not be hostile. Maybe he is a prisoner?"
Can't take the chance. If he moves in, kill him.
power attack and boar style
tearing damage
Whilst Luther and his summoned eagle are ineffective against the serpentfolk, both Armitron and Brent are equal to their opponents... Brent in particular badly wounding his attacker...
Symon again stabs with his rapier, using the creature's distraction with Armitron to help.
Attack-melee:
Damage:
Sneak Damage:
Symon, ducking and swerving, stabs at his foe... just missing his elusive foe...
Making a better account of themselves, the serpentfolk retaliate... the eagle is sliced clean from the air before both Armitron and Brent are dealt telling blows..
...all the while, the serpentfolk behind bars in the northern cell looks on... its tongue flickering out excitedly as blood is spilt...
Luther watches his eagle splatted with a single swipe, and resolves to keep things from getting out of hand.
Argh, damn serpent. Time to make some snake skin boots!