Ryan takes up a position at the back of their procession, attempting to prevent those with thinner armor from getting hit in the back. "Lead on."
AC = 22, no shield
HP = 69/74
Weapon Equipped = +1 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
When Ryan takes position at the rear, Kikinnin moves to the next set of doors. It's clear that the black beard means to open the doors, and doesn't mind if any of his mates decide to get to it quicker.
Marigold looks around for a moment and then nods when it becomes apparent that the group seems to have decided to forge ahead. She hefts her crossbow and readies it, looking around behind her for signs of the sneaky kuo-toa.
Juraan will also stay at the ready with his bow.
"Can't be too careful `round here!"
Maxim too moves into position behind his fellow dwarf;
"Lead on Bror..."
The gun-mage stands ready with pistol to cover Kikinnin's entry to through the doors.
In the mid of the tense situation, Kikinnin moves to the northern doors and push them open to reveal what the kuo-toa assassin was trying to protect so much.
Against the north wall sits a throne made of what looks like stitched-together skin. Four slender pillars surround a faintly luminescent circle about five feet across, carved into the stone of the floor. To either side of the throne hang banners depicting a dwarf in blue and white armor holding a waraxe aloft. Both banners are apparently upside-down. Hanging by their feet from nooses attached to the 30-foot ceiling are dozens of rotting corpses, each with the top of its head removed. The corpses mutter and twitch in a pale mockery of life.
A tired-looking dwarf slumps in the throne, a glowing sphere in his hand and an axe across his lap. "I prophesy your doom!" he whispers harshly as he takes note of your intrusion.
This is none other than Zenith Splintershield himself in the throne.
"You, ahh..." stammers JJ. "That is, you don't appear to be a prisoner."
Kikinnin takes it all in. The throne. The banners. The hung corpses.
Then he regards Zenith, and the first words he hears from the missing dwarf.
"What happened, Zenith? What have you done?"
With a tired look Zenith answers Kikinnin with an utter somber voice "A man in blue will slay you before the year is done"
Kikinnin looks Zenith over, deliberately looking for the color. The black beard loses himself a moment, slipping into his people's tongue.
"Jeg spør deg en gang til, sønn av Splintershield. Hvorfor sitter du på en trone og ikke kastes i en celle? Hvorfor maler froskene malingplaten på veggene sine, Zenith?"
Kikinnin moves along the back wall, so he can see Zenith more clearly.
Ryan follows the others into the new room, Both watching the door while looking back over his shoulder. Taking in the blue banners and their portrayal. "This isn't gonna be good"
Easing the door closed once more, Ryan stands with a foot against the base to keep it closed and turns his gaze upon the dwarf sitting on the throne. Casting Detect Magic while he watches.
Zenith answers Kikinnin absentmindedly "You'll be buried alive, but you won't be alone"
Maxim enters and eyes the scene with a grimace...
:
Skit! Was always mad... Madder now by my reckonin'...
The gun-mage levels his pistol at the babbling zealot, his tone hard and eyes harder;
"Scour af Rouradont spurgte dig et spørgsmålstegn jalot. Svar ikke i gåder, men i din sande tunge, eller jeg sværger dig, vil du lægge som frosken ..."
"The scion of Rouradont asked you a question zealot. Answer not in riddles but in your true tongue, or I swear you will be put down like the frog folk..."
Marigold stares the famed Zenith with a sick sort of fascination as the dwarf prophesizes doom and Kikinnin and Maxim demand answers.
He's not acting rational...is his mind broken?
Though she dare not approach, the halfling tries desperately to assess the dwarf's condition as best as she can.
"The ball is obviously magical, necromantic magic crawls all over the banners above" Ryan reports while continuing to concentrate on the magical ball in Zenith's hand.
continued Detect Magic
Kikinnin does take the time to Look at Zenith, expecting to hear more of the same incoherent pronouncements.
Regaining himself a little, the black beard wrings his Axe handle, while addressing Zenith, possibly for the last time.
"Did you know of Pocca, Zenith? Did you let them torture Malachite Blood, let them end Malachite Life down here in the blackness? Surely, he came looking to rescue you. Like we have come looking for you. Did you kill my Far, Zenith?"
The words are barely out of Kikinnin's mouth, before he starts walking directly at the throne.
JJ slips quietly to one side, slowly working his away around behind the dwarf. How are we going to bring this one home? I should have brought a sap not a sword"
Once behind a banner he will try to hide and continue his slow approach.
Zenith seems to listen Maxim but answers in Common "Your questions will only find peace on death", the tone is uncommitted, but this time as Kikinnin advances inside the room he hurls the glimmering sphere at the south wall!
The sphere crackles and breaks and Zenith stands up in his throne and wields his axe in a defensive position.
You do identify the sphere as a sphere of the unseen a rare magical object that summons an invisible stalker or a huge air elemental when it is broken. The creature remains under control of the breaker for 13 rounds.
JJ continues to try and sneak closer, not wanting to get within reach of the famous dwarves weapons without some support nearby.
Ryan sighs as the orb is broken upon the wall. "I got nothing on it"
Turning his attention to Kikinnin and the now defensive stance Zenith had adopted "Yep no good at all.....May your axe be true and your father watch over you, Kikinnin."
Marigold quickly hustles into the room and shoots a glance at the strange, shattered orb and simply shakes her head. No idea and now isn't the time to stop for an in-depth investigation.
Saddened and alarmed that things have come to this, Marigold calls out to Sarenrae for aid for herself and her friends - hoping that maybe they can put an end to things quickly.
_______
"Well, isn't this justtypical?", Juraan groans inwardly.
"Wefind Zenith and he's completely off his rocker!"
Not wanting to take any chances, or risk killing Zenith (as yet), Juraan casts a spell:
« זויער קויל » . .
... and puts the acidic flaming sphere where the globe spilt its contents
Maxim brow furrows as Zenith forgoes answering either dwarf or using their mother tongue, becoming a furious scowl as the lost-now-found zealot smashes the magic sphere;
:
Unable to discern its nature, the gun-mage echoes Ryan's warning;
"Its darn nature escapes me too Taskerhill! Likely ain't a boon...
Anger growing, Maxim moves forward, cutting across the room to beside his bror , then draws a bead on Zenith and uttering the arcane word:"Bliksem!" as a streak of lighting flies forth from his hand-gunne!
:
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AC = 25, no shield, Smite Evil
HP = 69/74
Weapon Equipped = +1 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Prayer, Inspiring Word, Smite Evil
Prayer- +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks
Inspiring Word- +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and saving throws for 3 rounds
Kikinnin hears no Splintershield zealotry, hears no Malachite wisdom coming from Zenith. His peripheral vision addresses the banners a moment longer, as he considers what will happen here, this day.
When Maxim sets his jaw firm against the riddles, and Ryan gives his blessing, and Marigold's Goddess grants them all a greater resolve, Kikinnin decides his course of action.
"Zenith, may Malachite accept your death as worthy of its halls. May the Stone welcome you back, when your ash mixes with Its minerals."
Kikinnin sees Zenith ready himself for this confrontation, so he quickly asks Abadar for his God's greater might.
The Son of Malachite charges the Pretender to the Moldy Throne, roaring as he closes the distance.
Attack- Charge, Power Attack, Smite, Inspiring Word, Prayer
Damage- Power Attack, Smite, Prayer
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JJ advances unnoticed behind the pillars next to the western walls.
Marigold enters the room and fills it with a prayer to Serenrae that boosts the Cauldron Watcher's moral.
Juraan's acidic sphere seems to stumble with something somewhere near the crystal crashed.
Maxim aims with his pistol that suddenly overloads with magical energy, a crackling electric bolt lightning the room!
Zenith observes the lightning over him impassible and the shock is terrible! The dwarven zealot shakes under the power of the electricity.
It is dishonorable, it is outrageous, it is all Kikinnin can bear. The dwarf pleas to forget his mission and marks Zenith for death after observing the insult to the Splintershield clan and the evilness around him. Without hesitation he charges over the zealot, his feet beating the floor like a bull's stampede, and then...
Kikinnin vanishes in the middle of his charge...
You do suddenly stumble against a large obsidian rock, your axe crashing with stone and opening a large crackle. It takes you some time to recover from the commotion. Observing your surroundings you discover you are now on the lobster statue room, exactly over the plate where once Aushanna appeared.
You do notice the eastern door is open an hear kuo-toa voices talking excitedly.
Juraan suddenly rears back under the impact of an unseen slam.
The slam came exactly next to your right.
Zenith recovers from the electrical shock, but rather than charging, the dwarf stays on his feet and utters more doom as if he was not involved with the chaos breaking havoc in the room "Your heart harbors two ships: betrayal and joy.""
JJ, happily hidden at the moment readies an action to charge Zenith if he moves off the throne.
Where did Kikinnin go? Darn these banners, he was there a moment ago.
Ryan frowns as Kikinnin just simply disappears, and then the professor takes a hit from some unknown foe, not all was as it seemed.
"Abadar, grant me thy favor"
cast Divine Favor
"Whooooof!" is all Juraan can manage when receiving this unexpected wallop!
As strong as the hit was, it wasn't enough to dull his senses.
With a thought, he moves his acidic flaming sphere immediately to his right.
... and immediately casts a spell in the direction of the new threat:
« אַסידיק הענט » . .
Marigold starts in alarm as Kikinnin seems to suddenly blink out of existence and Juraan suddenly gets walloped by something that none of them can see.
Her keen ears pick up the slack for her eyes and she's suddenly positive that she knows where the unseen attacker is - raising her crossbow, she quickly fires a bolt...
As Kikinnin vanishes and an unseen foe ambushes the companions, Maxim curses the situation and their foe;
Furious, the gun-mage keeps his pistol trained on the doomsayer and once again calls forth his arcane power:
"Bliksem!"
Causing another streak of lighting to streak toward Zenith;
:
The wizard then moves toward the further corner, trying to mirror JJ's approach to their foe
JJ jumps in from the side and stabs Zenith on the back, his lungs quickly running out of air!
Ryan calls for the favor of his god and his mace grows more precise at his hands.
Juraan's sphere misses the invisible creature, but an acidic splash from his hands covers it burning with pain whatever it is.
Marigold shots her crossbow, the bolt missing the target and hitting the wall far behind.
Maxim's second lighting bolt is expected by Zenith, who partially manages to avoid the direct shock.
As if awaken by the extreme punish of the cauldronites, Zenith suddenly reacts waving his axe at Kikinnin while he prophesies "The Smoking Eye will set your city aflame"
Although two of the swings end at Kikinnin's armor, one is terrible, just on the brown dwarf's head. The blood flows in profusion leaving Kikinnin almost unconscious!
The unseen creature seeks to punish Juraan.
Two slams leave the professor without air when it hits belly and chest!
Zenith seems fascinated and gives dangerous signs of not willing to surrender before death claims him.
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JJ steps around, to hopefully give Kikinnin a chance at a flanking attack.
"What is up with that damned smoking eye. Everyone talks about it, but quite frankly I'd be just as happy to see an arrow in it."
Several of the blows appear to be well aimed, but if the dwarves armour was anything like as good as the frog men, he wasn't too confident it would be enough.
Taking in the apparent direction Juraan is being attacked from Ryan steps into the room swinging where he believe's the professor's assailant to be.
5' step north
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AC = 25, no shield, Smite Evil
HP = 32/74
Weapon Equipped = +1 Dwarven Greataxe, Smite
Condition(s) = Prayer, Inspiring Word, Smite Evil
Prayer- +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks
Inspiring Word- +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and saving throws for 3 rounds
Kikinnin senses something threatening his very personal crusade as he passes across the center of the floor. For a moment, he swears he can see back to the obsidian statue room. His vision blurs the fallen dwarf in front of him, his roar turning into something deeply offended, before Zenith comes back into full clarity at the center of his very narrow vision.
When his Axe buries deep, Kikinnin audibly sighs in relief, though it is short-lived, when the fight is returned to him. Zenith still draws breath!! After that?! The black beard almost takes a knee, a fresh doubt growing in his mind. When JJ catches his eye, he sets himself again to bring Splintershield to his knees.
With JJ's attack, Kikinnin doesn't give Zenith a chance to remain standing, in case the boy's blow fails to drop him, like his Axe.
Determining that Kikinnin needed her help more than Juraan, though Marigold had no idea what had just happened - did he actually vanish? Was it her imagination? She had no idea. She hustles to close the gap between herself and the brave dwarf, making sure to avoid crossing the center of the floor which is what seemed to generate the odd 'flicker' in her vision.
_______
Reeling from two hard hits, Juraan knows he can't survive any more like that.
He double moves up to the front, hoping to buy time.
And moving his acidic flaming sphere to try and damage the invisible creature again:
As chaos decends, a scowling Maxim shifts forward to give him a clear shot channel...
Grim-faced he levels his pistol and charges it with arcane essence , before pulling the trigger
"Damn ye to hell an' back Splintershield!"
:
:
Maxim will fire upon Zenith whether he still stands or drops...
JJ and Kikinnin keep their assault on Zenith. Dwarves are a race of warriors, and despite his bubbling Zenith is still a true champion among dwarves. With astonishing skill he beats sword and axe, fighting at side and side and blocking all the incoming attacks with the skill of the true fighter he is.
Some of Kikinnin's wounds suddenly disappear.
Ryan's attempt at the invisible creature regretfully fails.
Marigold quickly moves to a position she can better help the party.
With great difficulty Juraan retreats to the front lines while his acid sphere seems to fail burning his enemy.
Zenith is though not used to fight against guns, and Maxim's shot really opens a shatter into the dwarves impressive defenses. The zealot bleeds on his right arm.
"The god of death awaits your fall" summons Zenith despite his mortal wounds. The dwarf champion attempts again to finish Kikinnin.
The axe cuts strong Kikinnin's right leg.
Zenith profits the small distraction to break his stalwart defense and move into the center of the room. When he reaches the circle in the middle, he suddenly vanishes.
Meanwhile the invisible creature looks for a new victim, and finds one on Ryan.
The slams are brutal, and not being able to see them, they take Ryan by surprise.
JJ tries to plunge his sword into the retreating dwarf.
"Take that!" he snarls.
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When Zenith only chooses to swing once, Kikinnin readies for the corrupt dwarf to bolt, and lashes out less rashly when he does.
AC = 25, no shield, Smite
HP = 25/74
Weapon Equipped = +1 Dwarven Greataxe, Smite
Condition(s) = Inspiring Word, Prayer
With his life blood pouring from his thigh, Kikinnin quickly mends what he can with the pull of Abadar's healing grace.
Turning to watch where Zenith goes, he loses the damned dwarf to the center of the room. Only then does it become clear. "He's retreating to the Obsidian Statue Room!! There's something in the center of the room that let him escape, and almost took me there against my will!!"
Then Kikinnin sets himself to the task of following Zenith. He remembers what that means, following a Splintershield. Abadar, by your Grace... I don't mean to make my friends carry two dwarven corpses from this hellish place. Give me the strength to see this through. Don't let me fall...
The black beard looks at both JJ and Maxim, and grits his jaw muscle, before running at the same place Zenith did. He readies a swing on the dwarf, as soon as he lays eyes on him. His mind's eye pictures a sweeping blow, and prays that it strikes hard, and strikes home.
Marigold gapes in astonishment as Zenith bolts to the center of the room and suddenly vanishes.
I knew there was something strange about this room! I wasn't imagining it!
Her surprise swiftly changes to dismay as Kikinnin promptly gives chase, still sporting numerous bleeding wounds in spite of Abadar's healing powers. With other friends still just as injured and something still nipping at their heels, she moves instead to Juraan and mends the professor's wounds as best as she can.
Seeing the shot from his pistol is successful, Maxim scowls as the doom-mongering Zenith clashes again with Kikinnin before vanishing.
His thirst for vengence is tempered however as he see's Ryan battered by an unseen force;
"Surabar! Go with Kikinnin, fell the zealot... No mercy lad! God's be damned I'll help against whatever threatens Taskerhill here!"
The gun-mage shifts to support Ryan , attempting to discern what attacks the group's doughty priest;
:
With a nod towards the ferocious dwarf, JJ joins him following him step for step.
"After a bigger rat than we ever had at the orphanage.." he smiles, trying to hide his nerves.
"I wonder what Gretchyn would make of this? Probably best she never finds out."
"Bigger rat, aye, and injured. And about to be cornered, so as dangerous as it will ever be..." Kikinnin drops his back shoulder, as the Axe falls into position, and no further words are uttered until the other side...
JJ misses to catch Zenith, same as Kikinnin, who barely misses by an inch.
More of Kikinnin's wounds instantly heal while he follows after Zenith through the teleportation circle.
Marigold turns to help Juraan, her magic quickly healing the professor.
Maxim focuses trying to discern where the invisible enemy is, but finds nothing conclusive.
Unable to see where the attacks are coming from, Ryan is unable to properly defend himself from the enemy slams.
Once at the other side, Kikinnin surprises the zealot with a clean cut on the right shoulder juncture. Zenith falls to the floor of the statue dead.
You do notice you are not alone in the room. Another kuo-toa, dressed into a mithral full plate and a strange holy symbol is there. And just behind him, a manacled dwarf is helping him to finish dressing the armor. When he sees Kikinnin cutting Zenith to the floor, the kuo-toa quickly moves to the fallen zealot and saying a couple of divine words while touching Zenith, some of the wounds disappear.
Zenith breaths again. The dwarf remains unconscious on the floor.
"Ka utu koe mo te patu i te poropiti !!!!" shouts the kuo-toa.
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"Oomph!" Ryan exclaims as his mace misses it's intended, if still unseen, target. Feeling something crack in his shoulder, Ryan takes a step back and calls on Abadar's healing.
Taking total defense, Ryan calls out to Maxim "Hard to defend against this thing, can we light it up somehow? Flour, pixie dust, Marigold's make-up compact!"
A/C 24