Rahaal steps forward, shuddering. Master of the First Vault, please don’t let those spiders crawl all over me!
Calling up Abadar’s stern rebuke, she channels it out around her, being careful to shield her allies as best she’s able.
Tris just makes sure she's well back of those who have equipment and capability to deal with the swarm.
Esaul and Light retreat further away from the entrance, letting the others deal with this delicate task.
Devan throws another bomb into the swarms before retreating a short way.
Rahaal steps forward, shuddering. Master of the First Vault, please don’t let those spiders crawl all over me! Calling up Abadar’s stern rebuke, she channels it out around her, being careful to shield her allies as best she’s able.
The swarms disperse. And the giant spiders hiding in the webs evaporate.
Cautiously moving through the webbing and stepping on many spiders, you enter the main hall of the dwarven crypt revealing a large central chamber with four rows of sarcophagi at the center, and small antechambers on each corner of the room. The northeastern corner of the room has been collapsed by the earthquake.
At the farthest end is a large ornately detailed sarcophagus, upon which is a woman fighting against restraints that are holding her to the lid. Above her floats a large cloud of black vapors, from which extend numerous boney arms that are stretching forth to caress her face. Skulls ebb and flow through the vapors, a stream of cacophonous babble emanating from them. This malignant cloud of shadows boils in the air, its skeletal maw eerily babbling as the creature's claws manifest from the darkness.
A small robed figure, wearing a bloody bone mask standing behind large ornately detailed sarcophagus looks up from the captive girl with knife in hand. He calmly orders his undead horde surrounding the coffin to form a barrier between the coffin and you.
But the commotion disturbs the vaporous entity which briefly envelops the sarcophagus and the girl as it descends into the floor, its incorporeal form disappearing beneath the stone tiles. ”No! No! No! Look what you’ve done!” he screams in a rage.
The skeletons move and attack.
hit
hit can't confirm
miss
Unlike other dark folk, dark slayers embrace their evil impulses. Their pleasures extend more to murder and pain than to theft or mayhem. Dark slayers are obsessed with magical trinkets, covering them above all else. Sadly, their obsessive need to fiddle and tinker often leaves their pretties broken or depleted.
Dark slayers stand just short of 4 feet tall and weigh 50 pounds. Most have a persistent tremor visible in their hands, stilled only when fondling a newfound magic item. Their skin is dead white, dry, and hot to the touch; their eyes are dark and narrow. Dark slayers wear salvaged rags like dark creepers do, but they discard the rags when they grow too tattered or foul-smelling.
Not having a clear shot, Esaul draws his greatsword, invokes the spirit of the bull, which makes him stronger, and brings his weapon down upon the skeleton in front of him, trying to put it down immediately, but his strike seems childish for the skeleton's ability!
Without enough space to attack, Light delays.
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!
"Oh, great, boneheads," Tris mutters. But at least she can hit them.
She drops her rapier and draws her stout cudgel (an adapted belaying pin), taking a swing at the skeleton before her (#1).
"What in Golarion are those things? Nothing I ever studied in Absolom, but I bet they're evil!...And I know that with the weight of Justice behind us, in the name of Civilization, we will surely prevail!"
Raising her hands toward the sky, she calls out "Abadar, if it be your will, blind these evildoers with the radiance of your golden vault."
With that a burst of golden light floods the back of the room, searing the evil doers.
HP 27/27
10/11 rounds sermonic performance left
3/7 channels left
Spells spent today: n/a
The shadowy necromancer and his dark servants sizzle briefly in the searing golden light and then clutch at their eyes, unable to see.
Devan grimaces at the sight of the evil creatures. "Poor woman!" he exclaims, drawing the components of a bomb. He flings the explosive device at the rearmost skeleton, hoping to soften the "boneheads" up for his friends.
Arend meanwhile waits for a space to push through the others and go after the necromancer.
Thondrir mutters quietly ". . .an allip?" His train of thought interrupted allows an opening for one of the lesser undead. Its attack jostles Thondrir hard, and the dwarf refocuses and growls. "Careful o' tha black foggy'n! No tellin' wha vileness be accompanyin' its touch!"
His eyes locked on the minion that landed a worthwhile strike, Thondrir growls out a prayer to Angradd. The dwarf's axe begins to glow a soft white, runes along the axe's crescent head flaring a deep orange as the wrath of the forge channels through the weapon.
Not having a clear shot, Esaul draws his greatsword, invokes the spirit of the bull, which makes him stronger, and brings his weapon down upon the skeleton in front of him, trying to put it down immediately, but his strike seems childish for the skeleton's ability! Without enough space to attack, Light delays.
"Oh, great, boneheads," Tris mutters. But at least she can hit them. She drops her rapier and draws her stout cudgel (an adapted belaying pin), taking a swing at the skeleton before her (#1).
"What in Golarion are those things? Nothing I ever studied in Absolom, but I bet they're evil!...And I know that with the weight of Justice behind us, in the name of Civilization, we will surely prevail!" Raising her hands toward the sky, she calls out "Abadar, if it be your will, blind these evildoers with the radiance of your golden vault." With that a burst of golden light floods the back of the room, searing the evil doers. The shadowy necromancer and his dark servants sizzle briefly in the searing golden light and then clutch at their eyes, unable to see.
Devan grimaces at the sight of the evil creatures. "Poor woman!" he exclaims, drawing the components of a bomb. He flings the explosive device at the rearmost skeleton, hoping to soften the "boneheads" up for his friends. Instead, the skeletons burn into ash.
Thondrir mutters quietly ". . .an allip?" His train of thought interrupted allows an opening for one of the lesser undead. Its attack jostles Thondrir hard, and the dwarf refocuses and growls. "Careful o' tha black foggy'n! No tellin' wha vileness be accompanyin' its touch!" His eyes locked on the minion that landed a worthwhile strike, Thondrir growls out a prayer to Angradd. The dwarf's axe begins to glow a soft white, runes along the axe's crescent head flaring a deep orange as the wrath of the forge channels through the weapon.
The two zombies scratch at there eyes and stumble around.
The dark slayer rages at his blindness and casts Darkness on the sarcophagus.
Darkness is a tough thing to deal with, but not for a hunter and its companion. "Light, attack!" Esaul invokes the spirit of the wolf, and along with Light move forward to find their prey, hacking a large piece of a disgusting zombie they cannot see!
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!
Light flashes forward and avoids his partner's smell, finding two creatures at his current position, but he strikes the one to the left, hacking and slashing the since they hunt in pack!
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!
Cool. Never thought about the preview thing. OK high always hits!
"Throndrir, Arend: I know your eyes can pierce that darkness, as mine can. May Abadar guide your strikes!"
HP 27/27
11/11 rounds sermonic performance left
3/7 channels left
Spells spent today: burst of brilliance
Arend runs forward to a zombie, and bites it's head off.
Devan pulls out his pom-poms and begins doing a cheer routine for the rest of the Samaritans.
"Bugger this," Tris mutters as darkness overwhelms most of the room. Deprived of any target she can see, the sailor stands ready with her cudgel, prepared to brain anything that steps out of the darkness that isn't one of her friends.
Chugging forward into the black orb, Thondrir's weapon continues to glow with Angradd's favor, and the dwarf lets lose an unintelligible battlecry as the clink-clank of his plated boots carry him past Light and into the midst of the zombies. All of the color in the room is muted to shades of black, gray, and white, but that's all the dwarf needs. His axe sings as it cleaves through first air, then rotten flesh and bone. The glowing runes burn with divine light as they pass through the zombie's flesh, leaving a sizzling trail of disintegrated flesh where they pass.
Darkness is a tough thing to deal with, but not for a hunter and its companion. "Light, attack!" Esaul invokes the spirit of the wolf, and along with Light move forward to find their prey, hacking a large piece of a disgusting zombie they cannot see!
"Throndrir, Arend: I know your eyes can pierce that darkness, as mine can. May Abadar guide your strikes!" Rahaal inspires
Arend runs forward to a zombie, and bites it's head off.
Devan pulls out his pom-poms and begins doing a cheer routine for the rest of the Samaritans.
"Bugger this," Tris mutters as darkness overwhelms most of the room. Deprived of any target she can see, the sailor stands ready with her cudgel, prepared to brain anything that steps out of the darkness that isn't one of her friends.
Chugging forward into the black orb, Thondrir's weapon continues to glow with Angradd's favor, and the dwarf lets lose an unintelligible battlecry as the clink-clank of his plated boots carry him past Light and into the midst of the zombies. All of the color in the room is muted to shades of black, gray, and white, but that's all the dwarf needs. His axe sings as it cleaves through first air, then rotten flesh and bone. The glowing runes burn with divine light as they pass through the zombie's flesh, leaving a sizzling trail of disintegrated flesh where they pass.
The spots in the eyes of enraged dark slayer disappear allowing him to see his impending doom. He casts a spell causing his dagger and hand to glow blue and steps into the corner avoid flanking.
"Attack the last one Light!" Esaul takes a step forward, sensing the woman's scent, and tries to make contact with her after stabilizing her health. "Are you all right my lady? We're here to save you, be at ease!"
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The wolf, in turn, moves ahead of the Hunter, scenting its next target, and finally finds the small creature cowering in the corner, which he attacks, but fails to hit.
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!
Once again Rahaal draws on the just might of Abadar to guide Arend and Throndrir's attacks. Then she comes up beside Esaul and the bound woman, getting ready to unbind her.
Thondrir strolls around the altar, his boots scuffing the stone floor with each step. His axe continues to shed divine energy as it arcs into the masked villain's torso, hissing and popping as it burns out the very malignance of the wicked thing's soul.
Arend moves up as close as he can to the necromancer and tries to bite it around the corner. The wall is in the way, and Arend can't find an angle to get around it at the little creeper.
Miss
"Let me know if there's something I ought to be doing!" Tris yells, still avoiding plunging into the blinding darkness. "Sounds like you lot have it in hand!"
"Attack the last one Light!" Esaul takes a step forward, sensing the woman's scent, and tries to make contact with her after stabilizing her health. "Are you all right my lady? We're here to save you, be at ease!"
The wolf, in turn, moves ahead of the Hunter, scenting its next target, and finally finds the small creature cowering in the corner, which he attacks, but fails to hit.
Once again Rahaal draws on the just might of Abadar to guide Arend and Throndrir's attacks. Then she comes up beside Esaul and the bound woman, getting ready to unbind her.
Thondrir strolls around the altar, his boots scuffing the stone floor with each step. His axe continues to shed divine energy as it arcs into the masked villain's torso, hissing and popping as it burns out the very malignance of the wicked thing's soul.
Arend moves up as close as he can to the necromancer and tries to bite it around the corner. The wall is in the way, and Arend can't find an angle to get around it at the little creeper.
"Let me know if there's something I ought to be doing!" Tris yells, still avoiding plunging into the blinding darkness. "Sounds like you lot have it in hand!"
The enraged dark slayer blindly slashes out with his dagger.
Esaul moves after the creature, but hits the wall at one side of Light, and the sarcophagus at the other. So he delays.
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Light keeps trying to put the thing down, and aside from a nice gash at its tight, he trips the poor diabolic monster!
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!
Seeing that the battle is well in hand, Rahaal once again extends Abadar's guidance to Arend and Throndrir.
Meanwhile she turns to the woman and says "We will have you free momentarily. Meanwhile, you must not be able to see in this darkness but I am Rahaal, Cleric of Abadar. My allies and I are here to help. Who are you, and what happened here?"
Rahaal looks the woman over, trying to make sense of what's going on here? Does Rahaal recognize her from Fairhaven? How does she look? What is she dressed for? Can she read her expression?
Amid a chorus of huffs and growls, Thondrir continues raining blow after blow of righteous axey fury on the cornered creature. His swings are the regular interval of a smith at work, and each blow produces the clarion call of a hammer on steel and anvil—Angradd's favor and fervor made manifest in the form of the silver bearded dwarf that is bringing the wrath of his dwarven God to bear against the shriveled thing before him.
Tris continues to hang onto a stick and prepare to bean anything ugly that comes out of the darkness.
Esaul moves after the creature, but hits the wall at one side of Light, and the sarcophagus at the other. So he delays.
Light keeps trying to put the thing down, and aside from a nice gash at its tight, he trips the poor diabolic monster!
Seeing that the battle is well in hand, Rahaal once again extends Abadar's guidance to Arend and Throndrir. Meanwhile she turns to the woman and says "We will have you free momentarily. Meanwhile, you must not be able to see in this darkness but I am Rahaal, Cleric of Abadar. My allies and I are here to help. Who are you, and what happened here?" Rahaal looks the woman over, trying to make sense of what's going on here? Does Rahaal recognize her from Fairhaven? How does she look? What is she dressed for? Can she read her expression? The girl looks familiar, but Rahaal can't place her. She is an old teenager and dressed as a tomboy. Her clothes are well muddied. Your words seem to have no affect on her blank expression of fright, but she starts to awake with your touch. Then, she starts hysterically screaming for help.
Amid a chorus of huffs and growls, Thondrir continues raining blow after blow of righteous axey fury on the cornered creature. His swings are the regular interval of a smith at work, and each blow produces the clarion call of a hammer on steel and anvil—Angradd's favor and fervor made manifest in the form of the silver bearded dwarf that is bringing the wrath of his dwarven God to bear against the shriveled thing before him.
Tris continues to hang onto a stick and prepare to bean anything ugly that comes out of the darkness.
After a couple of minutes, the Darkness dissipates along with the girl's hysterical screaming. The girl says that she is Cherish Brayburn, the sister of Madam Ava and Cara from the Hammer’s Rest. She was exploring the fissure, against her sister’s advice, when Mr. Bones (the dark slayer) abducted her. She’s been held here for three days. She’s thankful to be alive and will take her chances climbing out of the fissure (it connects with the tunnel toward Q1). She’s a capable climber and won’t have trouble making her way slowly to the surface.
She mentions a curious creature she met when Mr. Bones would leave in search of the allip. On her first day of imprisonment, the creature came out of the wall over there (secret door), to explore the room. It took great care not to attract the attention of the skeletons and zombies. On subsequent visits, it worked up the courage to bring her some meat it had picked off a dead rat. When it brought her food, she noticed the bloody bands around its wrists and ankles. She asks the you to treat it gently should they chance upon it later.
"Did it had a name? And what Mr. Bones said he was doing to you? It looked like some kind of ritual, but what for?"
"Did the allip have a name? That's what Mr. Bones called it. No, Mr. Bones never reveled in my despair to explain what and why he was doing to me, like some dastardly villain in a story."
"Did yer Mr. Bones e'er 'ave any visitors other'n corpses?" Thondrir asks, his gruff voice sounding a bit hollow from the confines of his full helm.
"A... creature?" Tris asks skeptically, picking up her rapier again. "Can you describe it further-- did it have fur, or scales, or... walk on four legs like a beast, or more like a man? We'd hate to accidentally kill something that doesn't mean any harm, if we don't have to."
Tris moves to the body of the little creature. Strange to think that something so small could be capable of magics so dangerous. She shrugs away this philosophical thought and starts checking to see if the little corpse had anything of value on it.
"Sounded like you were cleanin' house, Grampa'," she teases Thondrir.
"Just the allip that he's been working to get in here," Cherish replies to the dwarf while rubbing the marks on her wrists.
"The creature had small, clawed hands that were kind of scaly," Cherish replies to Tris. "It's been pitch black in here, so I couldn't see anything." Her eyes have finally adjusted to your light sources.
Esaul tries to identify the creature with what he heard.
No creatures feels right to identify for Esaul. Probably not Knowledge (nature).
Tris thinks about the description with her brows furrowed. "Somethin' what lives in caves and has small, clawed, scaly little hands?" she echoes.
Might be a deep gnome, kobold, or ratfolk. Tough to tell with the blind description.