Kevaras inflicts his punishment on Iji. 12 Radiant Damage from Divine Challenge. Also, since he's a Hospitaller, Greeg regains 10 HP since a DCed enemy attacked anyone but Kevaras. That is a no action, so I think he just healed up 30 hp.
Kevaras' divine connection heals Greeg and burns Iji a little more.
Greeg was hurting badly after that last attack. He couldn't allow the damnable Oni to see it though, so he gritted his teeth even as he called on the nature of the Great healing spirits to give im strength.
Shrugging off the stunning effects of the acidic burn, he pushed forwards again to keep the creatures focus on him.
"Honestly, you hit like a girl Iji. Try and do better would you, I was hoping for a real fight.
He knew this next attack was going to hurt though, and sighed inwardly at his sometimes foolish Bravado.
Greeg is in his element, hurling insults at Iji and keeping the oni's limited attention firmly on himself. The door is open for Don to make a killing blow, and the goliath knows it.
Don grunts as he inverts the knife in his wrist to a reverse position then tries to bury it in the oni's back.
Riposte Strike
One whiff later, he adds an extra flourish to the movement, as he sweeps at the knees.
Low Slash
In Don's defense, Riposte Strike, as well as Vigilant Style are both new things to him, apparently the entire idea is still unsettling.
Kevaras
The drow reaffirms his Divine Challenge on the oni, "Here, demon! as his radiant blade sweeps over Iji again.
Virtuous Strike
radiant damage.
"Dear me. You fellows, back again. And poor Greeg really doesn't look in good shape, that's really not how I like things to go, sorry about this Don but I really think you'll agree it's a good idea in retrospect even if you're less pleased at the time, though I suppose if we win you'll be pleased enough by that to overlook any slight mishaps along the way so sorry about this but I'm about to do something rather unpleasant and it involves you." A glowing orb forms between Guldarin's hand, then shoots out and explodes in a burst of light, enveloping two of the sparks, Iji, and Don. "Greeg, if you could stand to accept a blessing I'm sure the gods don't want you to die here and now.
Guldarin's flood of explanation is accompanied by a burst of light that obliterates one spark sphere and blinds and dazes Iji. Unfortunately, Don is looking at precisely the wrong way at the time and gets caught in the blast.
Cronin ignores the spark sphere next to him -- he's been rather enjoying the effects -- and brings his halberd against Iji once more. He does take care, though, to bolster his allies against the sparks, as well as the acid.
Cronin's halberd finishes the oni, slicing into him with no compunction. Ollosendre, fighting the curse afflicting him, drops his weapon and holds still, gesturing for his spark sphere to desist.
"Finish this. Now."
Nayce nods silently and puts another shroud on Ollesendre before moving in for the kill.
"Oww, Ass!"
Nayce does his sincere best to oblige Ollesendre and only narrowly fails in killing his target. The eladrin is hanging on by an unwanted thread.
Greeg watched the Oni fall to the holy power of the little dwarf. At the same time, his body flushed with renewed vigour as his companions poured power into his massive bulk. He bellowed in glorious rapture at the feeling, enjoying both the healing and the glory of the battle as another opponent fell at his feet.
Looking around the area, he saw the Eladrin ghost drop its weapons but realised he couldn't reach it in time to oblige its request. Instead he moved in and engaged the two sparking spheres threatening his friends. He was momentarily exposed to counter attack, but felt it was worth it for the chance to obliterate the electric pulses.
One of the spheres exploded in a shower of sparks under his hammer head, the other seemed to float ponderously up and over the arc of his swing, avoiding the massive blow completely.
Greeg watched the Oni fall to the holy power of the little dwarf.
Gloriously restored, Greeg roars towards the sparks. The first one is obliterated by the hammer blow, the second only sputters fitfully before floating aside.
Gloriously restored, Greeg roars towards the sparks. The first one is obliterated by the hammer blow, the second only sputters fitfully before floating aside.
Ollosendre bows to Don.
"If you please? I can no longer endure this existence."
Don gives the eladrin a 'you're kidding me?' look, as he turns away from what was left of the Oni. He skulks around Ollo, disgust in his eye.
"Stupid lousy, frakking piece of..." He spews a series of non-directional insults at his current situation twice referencing a narwhale, ending with the phrase "...mercy kills!
Deft Strike
plus more at start of his next turn.
MBA
Don rolls his head in disgust, bemoaning, "Really getting sick of these guys that want to die. Just ain't right."
He sheathes his blades, annoyed by yet another deathseeker looking at him for mercy. Mercy kills, while he is apparently very good at them, are not really his mark in trade.
Greeg watched the Oni fall to the holy power of the little dwarf.
"Seleuca..."
Ollosendre falls, released at last from the long curse of his Kadrana servitude.
Don sheathes his daggers looking uncomfortable while Greeg's embarrassment gives his skin an interesting mottled effect.
"Seleuca. Hmmm, you know, I thought that was a place, but now I'm wondering if it might be a girl's name. Sel-eu-ca, Seleu-ca, Se-leu-ca. Sounds like an interesting girl, I wonder if we'll meet her and she'll turn out to be the evil overlord's daughter who will fall for our charms, or at least one of our charms because falling for all of us at the same time would be a bit awkward, and help us infiltrate the overlord's palace through a secret entrance before we battle him or her to the death in their throne room where she'll be his hostage after he realises her betrayal and one of us has to rescue her from a pit full of crocodiles after she's pushed in by the chief bodyguard unless he's secretly in love with her in which case he'll turn against the overlord and help us." Guldarin pauses. "This is such an interesting place."
Don scowls, "No, this place is stupid, and it sucks."
Nayce says grimly, "Seleuca is a place. A place where he would have his remains interred. I have made my promise, and I will keep it. He was an honorable warrior once. He said there is a map in the next room that will lead us to it."
"Well tell you what, you hold out your sword in front, that way the next guy screaming for someone to kill him can just run himself through all nice and easy."
Greeg moved in and patted the old rogue on the back, remembering to pull his strengh at the last moment so he didn't cripple the man.
"Calm down my friend, we won! Ypou fought like a lion in there, even though the Oni had spryaed acid all over you. Be thankful for the fights we win Don, even the ones where we must mercy kill."
He looked around at the disparate group, marvelling at the lack of enthusiams and revellry most of them displayed. A fight was the edge of life and death, the ultimate expressions of nature's rule of survival. If you survived, you proved the better equipped for the plan in nature's arsenal and that was worth celebrating. If you didn't win, well that was why women folk held wakes, really.
"Come on me boyo's, lets see of there's anything of use in this place rather than thinking too much on this fight. Then maybe we can stop and have a bight to eat eh!?"
He began to look around for something shiny to bring home for Meeren, and maybe something useful for the mission too.
In the brief time after the oni was felled like a big, ghostly cherry blossom tree—and before Ollesendre was dispatched by the rogue—Kevaras bows, and offers the ghostly eladrin the following explanation:
"The answer to the riddle of the drow paladin is this: As an orphan in an exiled drow community I was raised by the Darkspire Monks of Thaun, and sent off to the Underdark trading hub of Gateway (before it was destroyed). I found my way to the surface and rid the village of Muckleford of its monster problem that was threatening it and the nearby Lethernan monastery. My wife and I serve the Raven Queen, and protect the villagers from bandits and drow incursions."
Don crosses his arms, looking at Greeg. "Ain't exactly a survival of the fittest, I get that. Hell I live that, but this whole 'save me from eternal agony' crap belongs in a Hospice, not a tomb."
As the party recovers itself from the recent combat, Nayce steps over to Kevaras. "I heard what you said. For my part, a drow who has learned the techniques of the surface world and uses it for a just cause is no different than fair-skinned half-elf learning the techniques of the drow to the same end," he says with a knowing look.
Ollosendre listens to Kevaras' explanation and acknowledges it with a nod. "Guide me to The Raven Queen."
Post battle, Greeg ambles happily around the library, collecting quite an assortment of pretty things. Thumbing his way through the giant book Don used as an impromptu shield, he discovers maps of the inner city waterworks. Although somewhat marred by time, it will probably be useful at some point.
Among the more glittery items are a giant-sized set of calligraphy pens and matching diamond ink-pot, a set of shattered crystal cases with attached labels, a small stash of residuum of very high grade indeed and some huge, long-abandoned cufflinks. So huge are they that they would work very effectively as bracers. Indeed, they rather resemble the pair adorning Nayce's arms.
In addition, both Iji and Ollosendre fell equipped as they were in life. Iji's falchion lies glittering on the ground beside him, while Ollosendre's longsword glows where the eladrin lord placed it.
Cronin inspects the residuum with interest, then proceeds to the weaponry.
Cronin runs his fingers through the residuum and notes the rarity. He makes some mental calculations and comes to the conclusion that it is worth 23,000gp. The Kadrana had been carefully accumulating this material over centuries and it barely fills the goliath's palm.
"Very nice indeed," Cronin says reverently, as he returns the residuum to its pouch, and that to his pocket.
Guldarin potters around, muttering at the books, before settling down to read the labels on the shattered cases. If he finds nothing interesting, he'll come over to look at and then copy the maps.
The labels can be pieced together and are a fine example of Kadrana arrogance. Sent from colonies as tribute, the items confirm some part of the Oklu stories.
Trignotarb - Wonder of Peikadda
Strange insectoids who produce larva that when introduced to hosts take their minds from them. For the glory of Kadralhu, we submit these specimens to the Archive.
The Naturalist Council of the Kingdom of Peikadda
Malsalix - Intelligent Plantlife with multiple uses and applications for the glory of the Empire of Kadralhu
These seeds produce an intelligent water-dwelling plant, noted for its mind-stealing properties and paralysing sap. From this amazing plant, mighty Kadrana artificers have created the paralysing nets and memory pots so feared by our foes.
In addition, one of the books details the symbology and story of the goddess Kaima. Noticeably, the book has been pushed to the back of the shelving, almost as though the later giants were embarrassed by their connection with her.
"Can't stand people who are messy shelving books, the lot of them should be set on fire and then put out with acid, that'll teach them a lesson, although come to think of it they probably wouldn't benefit from that lesson for very long but the principle is good even if the scheme needs a little more work to be fully effective." Guldarin pulls the book out and carries it over to a table.
Nayce picks up Ollosendre's longsword where it fell. He admires the eladrin craftsmanship before stowing it carefully.
Don takes a breather, scraping the last of that acid off of his clothes. He's been burned, but looks pretty functional still.
The party takes a breath and look around. There is an exit at the far end of the library, or it is also possible to go back the way you came and explore the other wing of the building.
Holdred told you the following:
"Three sigils to be activated, as you can see. Typical Kadralu paranoia, they're all in different parts of the archive. The Study, the Blood Chapel and the Dragon Chapel contain them - and naturally they are all guarded. I fear that only the awakening of Kaima will allow me to rest. A nuisance, but there it is."
As Nayce places takes Ollosendre's blade, something catches his eye. Around the dead king's neck hangs a delicate chain and on it, a medallion marked with a strange sigil. If memory serves him correctly, the marking is the same as one in the rune circle in the main hallway.
Nayce takes the medallion and looks at it closely. "Ollosendre said there is a map in the next room. I believe we are on the right path. Perhaps what is there will tell us more."
Nayce is in favor of moving to the exit on the far side of the library. Perhaps the Study is there.
Cronin stows the falchion in his cloak ("for later"), and is ready to go with Nayce.
Nayce's instincts prove sure.
The promised map is a gloriously bejewelled affair, shoved carelessly into a corner. As with the books marked with Kaima's insignia, there are signs that later Kadrana giants had less respect for their foundress.
As Guldarin's cursory exploration reveals, the goddess Kaima raised the Kadrana above other giants. Teaching them her skills, she ordered the building of the flying city to protect her during her hibernation. Her purpose was forgotten over the centuries that followed and it appears that later generations of Kadrana giants returned to the worship of their original primordials. The oklu plan to reawaken her may not be welcomed by all parties.
Nayce and Cronin examine the map and gradually decipher it. The key to Kaima's tank is kept in a secret chamber only accessibly through the mini-portal at the entrance. Three sigils will unlock it. One, you already have. The second lies beyond in a chamber that has strong warning signs indicating fire, ice and lightning. The third is in a small chamber decorated with the triangular sign of Kaima.