AC = 33/13/32
HP = 165/184
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel
Condition(s) = circle vs evil 115 min, air walk 115 min, resist energy (fire 30) 127 min, Prayer
Smite Evil = 6/7
Kikinnin bolts to the boy's side, and tries to injure the second demodand , still swaying and standing. He hasn't lost any of his hatred for creatures that keep such horrid practices alive, only a little grateful that the poor souls lying dead are freed of their suffering. He can't imagine what their final moments must have been like.
If the creature fails to retreat, Kikinnin presses it with his full set of swings. He does his best to stay low, giving his bror a line of sight whenever possible.
The kelubar is ready for Kikinnin's advance and dodges the axe swing.
JJ though is more skilled on it and strikes multiple times, Alakast totally destroying the demondand.
Seeing this, Maxim redirects his bullet to the remaining farastu and blasts badly its right shoulder. The creature moans in pain.
Marigold makes a blast of holy energy descend over the heads of the demodands, further bringing them to destruction.
Kikinnin swings the axe multiple times, the farastu dodging once and again, but on his last swing the dwarf catches it and encases the mighty blade on the demodand's thoracic chest.
The creature looks in horror and shakes his vile tongue towards the dwarf as he falls lifeless, his summoning ritual interrupted by plain death.
A cursory search of the room stumbles with a large chest.
Inside, you find the treasure of the demodands' victims: a scroll of flame strike (10th CL), a scroll of mass cure light wounds, a +1 dagger, a +2 breastplate, and a peripath of health along with multiple coins (1455 gp).
JJ ignores the dead demons, rushing over to inspect the tortured bodies. "How many people of Cauldron have they taken over the last few weeks?" he mutters, fury beginning to burn in his young chest.
"How many? I know there were some people vanishing but surely someone must have noticed. "
Any of the bodies recognized?
"At l-least they're av-v-venged now...h-hopefully that'll be enough to l-let their spirits rest in p-piece," Marigold answers quietly. "And I'm s-sure we'll be able to p-put their belongings to g-good use in their st-stead."
"Once this place is cleansed of its rot we must return, not only for the gold of the Dragon but perhaps the remains of these and either return them to the life stolen from them or at least lay them to proper rest".
You think to recognize a couple of the bodies from someone you know by sight at the tavern or perhaps the streets. But no one really close to you or specially popular at the city.
They were tormented before death, but they lay in eternal peace now.
"That one..." says JJ "Gave me a coin once, when I was ... ahh.. begging on the street. Doesn't look like his good deed did him any good."
With slumped shoulders the youth leaves the room and heads down toward the second of the secret doors. Slowly.
"Hopefully this fatigue will wear off soon. I feel like I just recovered from the flu."
"H-here, before we get m-moving again..."
Unless someone objects, Marigold takes the found healing scroll and invokes its magic to mend the smaller wounds of herself and her companions.
"M-might as well use it while we c-can," she shrugs. Then, she takes the Flame Strike scroll and offers it to Kythel. "I'm actually c-carrying one of these already, if you w-want to hold th-this one."
Kythel nods and accepts the scroll, "JJ, let me know which foes would be best to use this upon, these foul beings seem so resistant to the portion of the damage invoked by fire that I have to waste the resource to no avail".
Kikinnin takes a moment to stand over each of the fallen folk of Cauldron, rumbling a prayer to Abadar, that He help restore civilization to the region, that he himself will live to see the citizens returned safely to their homes. He can't help but think back to Ball Hamtuggin, and his Far's corpse, tortured on the rack, and he grinds his teeth more deeply than he has in a while.
When JJ takes his leave of the torture chamber, the black beard follows him at a distance, allowing the boy some quiet to explore the southern branch of the hallway.
Pushing the secret door previously spotted by Marigold you follow a new corridor that opens into a perpendicular one. A stream of lava flows to the south next to the wall.
Two options open, northern corridor (rather silent), or south, where you listen something akin to a growl aside from the lava flow.
Just on the junction of the two corridors, you find out a well concealed secret door at the wall of the lava stream.
Perception
Whatever the sound is, Kythel cannot quite make it out. He pauses to determine if his companions can.
As Marigold trundles along a few paces behind Kikinnin, she can't help but feel uneasy. Even though they'd certainly encountered some resistance and even taken down a surprise foe in the form of the ancient dragon, she had to admit that she expected more trouble than they'd found so far.
"These c-caverns and t-tunnels are emptier than I'd have th-thought...have we p-put that big of a d-dent into their numbers already or d-do you think they're all g-gathered in one p-place?"
"Well, that doesn't sound ominous..." notes JJ.
"We are not really after minions. Shall we try the silent route?"
Unless there are objections, JJ tries sneaking down the passage to the north.
JJ turns left and heads north the tunnel.
A tall stone door stands in the northern wall of this cavern, with passages leading to the east and south. A single rill of lava flows out of the far wall through thischamber, then follows the east wall of the passage around a bend to the south.
JJ halts on his advance as he notices something odd. The terrain here is very hot.
The floor is actually an illusion that blends seamlessly into the bordering stone floor and walls. The illusion conceals a network of artificially deepened lava streams that criss-cross the true floor in an intricate pattern. The one visible stream is part of the illusion, although it mirrors one of the many streams on the actual floor. If you don't see through the illusion or fly over it, will burn quick unaware of the trick.
Kythel will stealth after him.
Stealth
Will save
Kythel will pause and point out the illusion to JJ, "Clever and deadly".
"Oh, oh w-wow...that's sneaky," Marigold whistles as she blinks her eyes and then sees the chamber ahead for what it truly is. "L-looks like we'll have to f-fly or ch-choose our footing very c-c-carefully..."
"Want to press on, flying? Surely this must be protecting something.." agrees JJ.
He starts to airwalk over the illusion, as if it were real.
"We should ensure we can all go together, is there anyone who cannot fly under spell power at the moment?"
"If n-not and we d-don't have anymore m-means for f-flying, I m-might be able to m-make a bridge across the st-streams," Marigold offers.
Through careful stepping and plain flying, the Watchers navigate the mischievous lava channels and reach the door at the northern wall.
Not much surprised at this point, you find a secret door at the eastern end of the tunnel.
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"At l-least there w-weren't any lava m-monsters this t-time," is about all Marigold can muster as the group reaches the other side of the lava streams. She looks around and shakes her head.
"I d-don't understand how anyone can k-keep their sense of direction d-down here...or anywhere underg-g-ground, really..."
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"You just kind of need to "feel" the way the rock runs Marigold. It's kind of hard to explain. " he admits.
Looking at the dead end, JJ eyes the wall suspiciously, but after a thorough check decides that this one, for a change, is natural.
"Shall we try the doors?"
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"Shall we try the doors?"
Kikinnin looks beyond JJ, then back at Maxim, who still seems intent on seeing through the rock. He nods at the boy's direction. "The doors are meant for visitors, not residents. Cagewrights seem to have their own way of coming and going, like rats running through familiar tunnels."
The black beard listens at the double doors, then pushes them open, should they prove to be unlocked.
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Maxim feels something strange towards the eastern rocks. And in fact assents to Kikinnin's statement about rats going through tunnels as he points out a secret door leading southeast.
To keep the team moving, Kikinnin pushes open the northern doors leaving the secret door for later.
This large chamber looks partly natural and partly sculpted. The ceiling is high here, reaching to roughly thirty feet. Two thick streams of lava course slowly along the floor. One emerges from the north wall and the other from the south. The two lava rivers merge in the center of the room and continue to flow through a channel to the south. Sturdy stone benches line the walls where the lava doesn't flow, sculpted out of the volcanic rock. The Carcerian Eye has been carved into the south wall. The sculptor was either a master or had the aid of magic, for the disturbing image seems to follow movement in the room.
At the center of the room two haraknin's like the ones you found at Oblivion, Vhalantru's lair, blink surprised at your appearance "Ah! Those must be the ones that are causing trouble!"
To your own surprise, Nabthatoron looms behind the two half-canine humanoids.
JJ dashes forward when he nears the nemesis of his family has returned.
"You, again! You'll pay for what you did to my uncle"
Maxim clocks their foul foe (and onetime costume);
"Hell's Teeth! This ain't gonna be an easy scrap...'
The gun-mage loads both barrels of Smaug with alchemical cartridges
Marigold's Round 1
Though rather surprised to find that they face Nabthatoron himself, Marigold grits her teeth and moves into the chamber after JJ. Stopping just a few few inside, she attempts to smite the three foes with holy power!
______________
JJ rushes forward looking for his nemesis.
Maxim readies himself and his gun for combat.
Marigold steps in and unleashes a wave of holy power!
The flash of light blinds two of the enemies while the red haraknin suffers less under it.
Juraan advances himself and opens his mouth exhaling a powerful acid breath.
The haraknin jump aside and evade all of the breath, while Nabthatoron seems to resist part of the acid damage.
The blinded haraknin sniffs the air and moves towards JJ.
But he slices only in the air.
Nevertheless, his companion swings his axe at full.
JJ is surprised by the ferocity of the attacks as they manage to strike him twice. The young man recomposes himself enough to avoid one of the attacks severing his head and completely dodge the another one.
"Me again?" the demon roars while looking towards JJ even if he does not seem to see "I do not care who you do think I am. You reek to angel blood but I am sure you taste great. Hahaha, this forced visit to the Material Plane is not going to pay off that bad in the end!"
The demon looks around, clearly not seeing whom to target, then moves a hand and images on himself surround him.
Marigold's Round 2
With more of her allies moving into the room Marigold holds her position by the eastern wall and calls upon Sarenrae's power to bless them in battle!
______________
Blue light spills from JJs wounds as his celestial blood tries to heal the hefty wounds he so rapidly accumulates.
Alakast lashes out at the fire creatures, trying to get to the horrid Glabrezu behind them.
Aiming for green first, if it drops rest of the attacks on red.
I'm assuming these are not evil outsiders, so not adding the evil outsider bane bonus. But that they are evil, so adding holy.
+1 to hit and damage from prayer
+2d6 damage from holy.
He points at the figure that appears to be Nabthatoron and calls out "I'm coming for you. Your trip here won't be a long one, don't worry."
Pistol loaded, Maxim moves forward to gain a better line of fire against Nabthatoron
When he clocks the mirror imagery conjured by the fell demon, the gun-mage curses;
"God's be darned... He ain't gonna make this easy..."
He pauses and rethinks his strategy, as he aims...
""Magische raket!"
Marigold's prayer empowers the party but Maxim missiles fail to pierce the demon's magical protections.
Meanwhile, Alakast vibrates recognizing this are indeed evil outsiders, helping JJ score three solid strikes.
The haraknin falls to the ground dead.
AC = 33/13/32
HP = 165/184
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel
Condition(s) = circle vs evil 110 min, air walk 110 min, resist energy (fire 30) 122 min
Smite Evil = 6/7
Kikinnin is slow to trust his eyes, when he lays them upon the Nab. He can't rightly tell if it's his Nab, so he just walks up alongside Maxim, watching JJ down one of the smaller foes.
"Alright, Nab or no, you're a horror who doesn't belong here. Stop hiding behind your magics, and either fight or disappear from here. I'd rather have your head. It won't be the first." Kikinnin hopes it sits still for its execution.
Kikinnin points a finger at the glabrezu, and asks Abadar to make it easier to kill.
Kythel advances into the room and casts a spell at Nabthatoron - Searing Light
SR
Utilizing the Rod of Empowerment the spell takes effect!
Searing Light Empowered -
The Cleric follows his spell up with a Holy Smite - "My Lady. finish this Fiend!"
SR
Damage Centered on Nabthatoron
Abadar responds his champion and as soon as Kikinnin utters his plea, the images around the glabrezu just disappear from sight!
Kythel profits the opportunity to aim a ray at the demon.
The light crackles over the heads of his companions and crashes with a loud burst on the glabrezu that really complains in pain.
Juraan raises her hand and launches a myriad of acidic rays at the surviving haraknin.
All of the rays impact leaving him in a very bad shape.
In total fear, the haraknin steps backs and drinks a potion.
"Who is that Nab?! Who cares, you will soon be dead!" the glabrezu raises a hand and casts power word stun on Kikinnin. The spell does not bear any effect on him "Uh! What!?"
Kythel then descends holy energy over the duo.
The haraknin falls to the ground unconscious, but the Glabrezu survives, despite he is injured by the magic.
JJ steps forward and delivers a massive two handed blow with Alakast at the horrid Glabrezu.
"GO HOME" he screams at it.
Marigold's Round 3
Hopeful that JJ's powerful strike will be enough to finish off the glabrezu Marigold opts to channel a healing spell to mend what wounds they'd suffered.
The glaberazu hits JJ with his pincers as he approaches, but the tamer of demons is a mighty warrior of the planes, he endures and strikes super hard on the demon!
Marigold brings some healing back to the Watchers.
Kikinnin and Maxim do something heroic!
Juraan attempts to break the demon's protections with some magic missiles.
The force missiles strike one after another on the demon who barely survives the magics.
The demon turns to JJ all his attention "Argh, I despise wizards calling you to death traps!"
And although JJ manages to dodge some of the attacks, the demon bites and claws at him.
Kythel reaches back to make contact with another rod, the reach rod and pours magical healing into JJ.
JJ unleashes on the demon. "Don't worry, you won't be here long." he snarls, putting his hatred for the foul beings into every blow.
Surely even a balrog would quail under such an assault, and this figment of Nabthatoron is no Balrog. Or at least so JJ hopes.
FE +14/+14
Prayer +1/+1
B(O(evil)) +2/+2+2d6
Holy +0/+2d6
Total-> +17/+17+4d6
Marigold's Round 4
Seeing the foul glabrezu's tenacity, Marigold conjures forth a spiritual weapon to try and help finish the beast off!
Seeing his spell fizzle out, Maxim tries once again with the same incantation;
"Magische raket!"
He then retrieves a small pearl from his pocket and activates the item
Backed by Kythel's healing JJ jumps over the demon smashing his legs, pincers and finishing with a demolishing strike that breaks the head in two parts. Alakast burst with holy energy as the creature drops to the cave's ground lifeless.
"Fiiiiuffff!" Juraan whistles in awe.
The Flamewardens owned a few items you can scrape from their dead bodies.
2x +2 chain shirt
2x +1 adamantine greataxe
2x masterwork composite longbow (+5 Str bonus), 30 arrows
2x ring of protection +1
2x potion of blur
2x potion of bull's strength
2x potion of protection from energy (cold)
3x potion of cure serious wounds
2x red-lacquered gold armband set with an emerald (1,000 gp)
700 gp
Another perfectly concealed secret door in the basalt rock of the north. Not that much of a surprise by now.
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"And stay away!" shouts JJ at the rapidly vanishing corpse of the demo.
He shakes his head. "Sorry, sometimes these creatures really annoy me."
Looking at the potions, he quickly drinks one.
"At least we can distribute some of their gear to the guard. If nothing else Cauldron, if it rises again, will have the best armed set of town guards in the world."
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"Th-that's actually not a b-bad idea, JJ," Marigold can't help but smile. "Or m-maybe we can at least d-donate some of the gold b-back to the c-city's coffers when it's all s-said and d-done."
"Th-those p-potions might not be a b-bad idea for you and Kikinnin to c-carry, if they b-blur your form and make you st-stronger," she adds as an afterthought.
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"How long do they last?" asks JJ, eyeing up a pretty blue one.
"Last time I drank something that looked like this I... Actually... I don't think I've ever tried something this colour. The barman said something about being too young."
"Uh...m-most of them d-don't last too l-long...m-minutes or m-maybe hours at b-best..."
JJ tucks the cute blue potion into his belt.
"I could take a healing one as well, but I don't think the strength potion will work on top of my belt." he admits.