Dwarven
Pete leaves Alexis and takes his postition near Biter, ready to resume his scouting duties.
Rath returns to his rear-guard position...
"You whine like a mule.. you are still alive!"
"I'll be sure to remember your words, in do time" as he looks intensly towards Biter "I guess that is how things are sometimes" shurgs his shoulders
Um, Tracant suffered no damage. I just meant by him falling through the illusion is that he came at it from above, feeling around, not really knowing where it was, and then 'fell' through it into the corridor.
However, all the rest of that is certainly applicable.
Biter whips around and scrunches his face up, adopting a whiiney, mocking voice as he continues stalking through the tunnels, "Oh, have a headache… oh, you'sing leave my snake… oh, thatting not nice! BAAAA! This'ing not some sissy-boy field trip! Biter is'ing take his lumps when they comes, and they is'ing come often here in Far-Arcadia."
Um, Tracant suffered no damage. I just meant by him falling through the illusion is that he came at it from above, feeling around, not really knowing where it was, and then 'fell' through it into the corridor.
However, all the rest of that is certainly applicable.
Um, Tracant suffered no damage. I just meant by him falling through the illusion is that he came at it from above, feeling around, not really knowing where it was, and then 'fell' through it into the corridor.
However, all the rest of that is certainly applicable.
Um, Tracant suffered no damage. I just meant by him falling through the illusion is that he came at it from above, feeling around, not really knowing where it was, and then 'fell' through it into the corridor.
However, all the rest of that is certainly applicable.
Alexis smiles at Pete's words and nods in agreement. Her smile nearly turns to irritation at Burnsten's complaints before Biter's humor rescues them all from verbal scourging that would no doubt involve a profusion of long words.
"Mr. Woller," Alexis says in a droll tone as she brushes a dangling root aside, "we shall have to hire a domestic to keep you looking tidy. A princess mustn't be seen delving the depths of a strange continent in the company of shabby folk."
The party hears a low chuckle from Rath at the back. When Alexis glances back, Rath displays an innocent "Who, me?" look.
Pete glances over at the stoic monk, and gives him a grin of appreciation.
Alexis raises her chin and gives a quiet, "Hmmph!"
Rath smiles to himself and studiously plays rear-guard in the extraordinarily long and winding 100' long corridor.
Eventually, the winding corridor comes to an end, and you emerge into the sunlight. If you are going to cross back via the rope, then I do need swim or acrobatics checks from everybody, although I think with enough aid anothers, everybody can make their way across without danger of going for a ride down stream.
You return, quite cold and wet, to the row boat and then over to the Lady Iona to meet with Falcon Gray. He is quite interested in everything you've seen and takes the rubbing with almost youthful glee.
"It's Azlanti," he breathes, before casting a quick spell. His hands trace the rubbed runes.
"Danger! Undead Collection Zone Number Two. Do not enter!"
"Most strange. I shall have to return with you tomorrow to examine this place myself."
"Danger! Undead Collection Zone Number Two. Do not enter!"
"Most strange. I shall have to return with you tomorrow to examine this place myself."
"A collection zone is accurate. There were illusory walls in many places that kept the undead from leaving. However, I suspect that the device is either malfunctioning or compromised as it is drawing even living creatures there. Do you think it possible that the growth of the huge tree above might have disrupted wards tied to the place's very structure?"
"What concerns me is that when Ravarath climbed its branches, he spied a Skraeling community that appeared to be totally devoid of life. Judging by the large number of Skraeling I saw in the 'containment area', I fear they may very well be wiped out along with any who might have recollected you or my parents from the prior expedition..."
"Wonder where collection #1 is?"
"Wonder where collection #1 is?"
"With the way things are going? Probably right under our campsite."
"It is possible that the Skraelings simply moved on. They can be migratory. If all of the game were to vanish, they might simply move on in search of more to hunt. But, I fear it more likely that the opposite is true, and that they met with a grisly end. After we put down this monstrosity you describe, we shall have to explore the village as well."
"He he, 'n so true. Gregor, but th' question is who or what be behind this. Is it jes a magical effect, or did someone place th' artifacts thar? Those t'ings dinnae appear der by magic!"
Pete stares at Lord Brycen, but doesn't say anything, yet.
Sense Motive:
"Insofar as the zombie... amalgam... is concerned, I had a theory on how we might destroy it. The behemoth seemed to animate only when living creatures entered the chamber. It returned to its inanimate state when we left. I would venture that if we prepared multiple barrels of tar and oil, I could use telekinesis to sufficiently douse the area. I could then set it ablaze using alchemist's fire as a triggering agent. Thoughts?"
Pete strokes his scraggly beard thoughtfully, Aye 'tis might work, if'n we had enough oil n alchemist fire ta do th' job, 'n if'n that is enough breathable air ta sustain th' fire."
"That's a good point actually. I'm more accustomed with constructive engineering rather than subtractive, if you will. The passageway to that chamber leads downward however. Since hotter air rises and cooler air sinks, do you think the size of that tunnel would be suitable for two-way airflow if we were to burn one area at a time?"
"I never did think to ask Uncle Morgaard how the smiths in Highhelm stoke their vast subterranean furnaces," she muses aloud.
My companions tell you no tall tales Master Falcon, this behemoth was truly as large and imposing as they say. Infact it came very close to crushing mister Woller's companion with but one fell strike. That being said as Lady Alexis has stated, due to its large size it is trapped in its own chamber and we can use this to our advantage.
Hearing Abbas's tone, Biter turns a surprised face at Falcon, "Hunt-master notting to believe Huuc'Mar? Maybe Falcon is'ing to go see it himself! Maybe having some crafty plan to kill giant unliving?"
What about using a summoned creature to draw it towards the illusionary wall then using multiple priests holy energy to weaken it as well as other undead damaging spells and missle weapons? We just stay behind the wall and unleash hell on it?
"Peace, friend Biter!" Falcon says, holding up a hand defensively. "I have no doubt you saw what you...saw. All I meant is that I've been around the block a few times and have seen a few more things than you. If this creature is as big as you say, and trapped, then I don't think we shall need more than good Brother Abbas here. If there really is an abandoned Azlanti installation down there, we as the Pathfinder Society must take it upon ourselves to examine the site thoroughly before involving...outsiders who may not respect its integrity."
"Hmm... if Brother Abbas is willing and capable of such a feat then that would be ideal. We might then be able to respect the Skraeling burial customs after we have cleared out the area."
The princess gets a thoughtful look on her face and folds her left arm across her midsection to rest her right elbow on it. As she thinks, she hooks her right forefinger over the tip of her thumb and holds it to her bottom lip.
"What concerns me the most," she begins, "is the possibility that the undead did not originate from here. The illusory walls... the large chamber... the Azlanti inscription... if the undead are incapable of escaping due to the illusions, that means they are being drawn here from somewhere else."
She looks up at Grey (or Brycen if he's present), "I think our first order of business will need to be dealing with the zombie behemoth so that Falcon can study the chamber and end the effect that is enthralling the animal life. After that, we need to determine where the undead are coming from. That is threat that could quite possibly exceed this undead 'mousetrap' we have discovered. Given that the zombies on the beach approached from the north, I'm inclined to suspect we may find some answers in that direction."
"Falcon, did you encounter any sects among the Skraeling that had cults worshiping the undead or making use of necromancy in order to make war upon other tribes? And there's something else that has been bothering me... We never were able to determine Tatrell's ethnicity. He was not Chelish like the other saboteurs, but he exhibited necromantic abilities that were... unique... to say the least. I'm wondering if he could have been the embittered offspring of someone from a prior expedition bent on vengeance for some perceived transgression of which we know not."
"'Lexis, did ye think th' box and also th'gem could be th'ones behind this? Ye did say ye got a split skull when ye check fer th' auras right? Or is it one o' them necro types behind dis, who created th' items we found?"
"Well, this whole area is covered by an overpowering aura of necromancy, but I didn't have enough time to study everything in depth. Burnsten attempted to assist me, but he was temporarily disabled by the backlash."
"I can tell you that I discerned an aura of overwhelming power emanating from the sarcophagus. I wasn't able to confirm if it was necromantic or not, but it's possible that it is one and the same. There was a second powerful aura, not quite as strong, emanating from the glowing gem then several lesser auras in various locations. These included include 3 transmutation auras and 1 universal that was universal in nature."
"As for who created what, the chamber itself is seemingly Azlanti in origin. From where we were, I could not ascertain whether the gem was an original part of the chamber's design or a later addition. Hopefully Grey and I will be able to figure that out when we return."
"Biter is'ing thinking there should be a guard posted to watching what happens while we decide what'ing to do next." He shrugs, "Biter is'ing happy to be the watcher. Not wanting to have to kill our way back in again is all."
"Well you can just go in and distract him if you want, I'll be able to summon something to distract him no problem" looks at Biter "Just remember this, if Tracant gets hit I will not only feel his pain I will also receive damage" looks into nothingness "Like I sed before we are one and part of each other, but I can risk it to achieve a goal and I was not knocked out since I share my senses with Tracant"
Pete squints at Alexis, his brow furrowed in concentration, "Aye, so ye ain't sure, gotcha."
He sits back and looks up at the roof of the conference room, and then continues, "Too many questions, not enough answers. Wonder if'n it be a good idear ta check out th' abandoned village afer we 'ead on back ta th' Holding Chamber."
You watch as Biter tries his best to bite back his anger with Burnsten. A full five seconds pass before he reacts, "When is'ing Half-blood to stop complaining every time he stubs his toe?" He waves his hand around the room, indicating everyone, "Every member i'sing to put selves in danger. Shaac! Biter was'ing to be bait for the white-feather-bear which tore Biter to pieces. Half of Biter's face was'ing torn off. Notting once was'ing anyone else - including Biter - to complain." Biter leans into Burnsten's face, tiny knuckles pressed into the table top, red eyes leveled angrily at Burnsten's, "If Half-blood is'ing afraid to get hurt... Half-blood canning stay on boat and cook dinner for the real hunters."
Biter remains where he is, inches from Burnsten's nose, waiting for the Ulfen's response.
Rath listens carefully to Alexis' description of the magical auras in the room. "Rajkumari. Were all auras IN casket? Seems to me if some items were out of casket and takes a little time for amalgam to form... someone could run in and try to grab object or two and get out. Risky, but possible. If works, could try to collect all items over time. Or possible, you could spot items and use ghost-like mage hand to grab from distance?"
Walking up to the brooding pair, Fighting amongst ourselves only makes us weaker Biter. In every pack there is an alpha and the rest of the pack. We know who the Alpha is nods his head to Alexis so if there is a problem with another group member, you should take it up with Alexis. As for you Burnsten, I would suggest keeping your worries to yourself. I wasn't suggesting sending Tracand in there anyways, just some of your other summoned creatures who I am sure are disposable. I would save your energy for the 60 foot pile of corpses.
Let's a grin and a wild look in his face "I didn't expect for someone of you to understand, just because I fight diffrently and I don't enjoy pain as much as you" closes the distance a bit more still without touching Biter "Doesn't mean I'm not afraid to kill or die for the right cause if you get my meaning" backing up a bit again "I enjoy "small" talk normally" looking down on biter and giving a feint smile "Sometimes you have to "lower" your way to be understood I get that. Besides I do respect and find you have skill to fight well and probably better than me" closes in again almost touching Biter face to face "I can be tougher than you think I am once you get me going, of course whenever you feel like having a "practice" or another "conversation" you know were to find me, but until we finish what we have in hand first I'll be more than happy"
Turns towards Elorin "Yes I recognize lady Alexis and I sed I would do the best of my ability to help her acheive the goals set forth Sir Elorin" nods faintly in agreement "This is only a trivial matter of no consequence" takes a deep breath [b]"Yes I'll have to summon something that can last long enough I'll think of something since they will last for only a couple of minutes"
Alexis answers Rath's question before the quarrel between Biter and Burnsten breaks out. "No, some of the weaker auras were actually coming from the rubble in different parts of the containment area. That is part of the reason I suspect either tampering or malfunction due to age. The tree above that area is huge and ancient, but I would be surprised if it dated back to Azlanti times."
"As for using magic to sort out the situation and dig thru the rubble, I have a more powerful form of mage hand I can use that will allow for that. However, the previous fights had drained most of my resources, and it was of greater urgency to identify the auras in the room rather than trying to wrench something free with telekinesis without knowing its functionality. The magics there are... complex."
"When is'ing Half-blood to stop complaining every time he stubs his toe?"
Alexis appears ready to interrupt the quarrel between the two when Elorin steps in and addresses the situation himself. When he has finished, she says, "Thank you, Sir Elorin."
Just before she can continue speaking however, Burnsten decides to further antagonize Biter. When he has finished, she says, "Mr. Woller, Pathfinder Biter... we can discuss this matter at greater length later on. If the two of you wish to duel we can discuss that later on. Suffice it to say that there have been and will continue to be many unexpected dangers during this expedition. Expectations to the contrary will lead only to disappointment."
In an icy, level tone she says, "If any of you are unwilling to face the possibility of being shot thru the neck, exploded, eaten, turned into undead, or worse then I would suggest you turn in your resignation to either myself, Mr. Grey, or Lady Harrolayne. The Pathfinder Society will not coerce anyone into facing dangers against their will, however, for the sake of the colonists who are waiting aboard these ships, the rest of us have an obligation to face those dangers and make this area safe."
A uniquely regretful look crosses Biter's when he sees Alexis's reaction to the word "Half-blood". And he pretty much immediately backs down, ignoring Burnsten's biting retort... which is surprising to say the least. He sits silently for the remainder of the meeting, shooting furtive glances at Alexis occasionally.
You do catch him catch Rath's eye once, however, and a 'did I do something wrong?' shrug is shared with his old friend.
Rath sends a quick hand-gesture to Biter's query - Talk later.
Is Biter going back to shore by himself to stand guard over the hole?
"We are all here in the same boat, diffrences will happen lady Alexis calm down this is fairly normal that somepeople have diffrent views of things and collide" he nods to Biter "I'm truly sorry if I offended you, still like I sed before once all this is done we can retake that later, until then I'll guard your back like any other" turns to Alexis "Let us decide strategy then and how to proceed further"