"Gonna go check outside for more stairs," Jack said, plodding back in the direction of the entrance.
"There has to be a stair somewhere? Right?"
Alice looks a bit anxious at Aurex, not wanting the dragon to destabilize the complex.
Aurex grumbles, turning to go back outside. "I will look for other entrances."
Errisaigh accompanies Jack. ”Coming, Brian?” he asks conversationally.
The Horn - Level 1
Grumble and the rest of the party head to the front entrance in which they first explored. A glance at the "wall" that blocked the way shows that this was not actually a part of the structure itself but instead a magical wall built to dissuade visitors from entering the upper levels, a "wall of stone".
---
And Beyond
Aurex exits and climbs over the wall there is indeed a winding path that leads up to a second level.
He takes flight up these stairs and finds beyond that there is a third level where stairs do not reach. Only a being that can fly or magic (or perhaps a secret stair within the complex) leads up here.
Aurex returns to the others with his scouting done. "There is another staircase when you can climb to the second floor. There is also an opening on the third floor that requires flight to reach. I don't know how you plan on getting up there."
The Horn - Level 1
By the time that Aurex returns from his scouting mission, Grumble has smashed a hole through the wall. Not large enough for anyone to pass through yet but large enough to reveal that this is indeed not solid bedrock.
He punches through eventually making a hole large enough for everyone to pass through.
The group takes the stairs to a second landing. Grumble in the lead sees the pit that Raaven floated up through. It is about 20' across.
Errisaigh smiles in grim satisfaction as Grumble creates access.
”Brian - you cast spells do you? I may have need of your energies - this mantle I wear - if you cast your spells directly into it I can use the energy to power my dire abilities...” the direlock begins conversationally, explaining to their dark aide the power of a direlock’s dire mantle.
A direlock may not attempt to absorb a spell greater than 3rd level, or of a level that exceeds her Charisma modifier or her remaining storage capacity. A direlock can only store a maximum number of spell levels equal to her Charisma modifier at any one time. A running total of absorbed (and used) spell levels must be kept.
Whenever an opponent casts a spell directly targeting the direlock, the direlock can make a Spellcraft skill check (DC 15 + spell level) to identify the spell. This check is an immediate action. Upon identifying the spell, the direlock can choose to absorb the spell’s energy within her dire mantle, and stores this potential for the next 24 hours or until she expends it.
Alternatively, the direlock’s allies may cast spells into the dire mantle — the direlock need not make a Spellcraft check to identify the spell being cast.
The direlock may choose to expend the stored spell energy to gain any one of the of the following benefits per spell level, stacking up to three spell energy levels to gain greater bonuses:
+2 insight bonus to next concentration check
+1 enhancement bonus to attacks with her dire weapon for one round,
+1 insight bonus to all saving throws for one round
+1 deflection bonus to her AC for one round.
+2 insight bonus to one use of one skill. This lasts for 24 hours or until used.
Once per day, the direlock may expend three stored spell energy levels to:
Gain a point in her dire pool
Gain 10 temporary hit points (duration equal to 1 round per direlock level).
Increase the DC of a spell the direlock casts by 2
Example: Cruasa, a 6th level direlock, expends three stored spell levels of energy from her dire mantle – she may benefit from either an increase of 1 to the DC of a spell she casts, +6 to her next concentration check, a +3 enhancement bonus to attack with her dire weapon for one round, +3 bonus to a saving throw, a +3 deflection bonus to her AC for 1 round, gain a +6 insight bonus to one skill use, gain 10 temporary hit points for 6 rounds OR gain one point to add to her dire pool.
Utilizing stored spell energy is a swift action, though the direlock cannot both store and utilize the same spell energy in the same round and any spell cast using spell-energy stored in the dire mantle (see improved dire mantle) must still abide by its own casting time. The direlock may expend previously gained spell energy and then store new energy in the same round.
If the direlock cannot store a hostile spell (due to lack of storage capacity) but still makes a successful Spellcraft check to identify it, she gains a +1 circumstance bonus to any saving throw to limit or negate its effects.
If the direlock is without her personalized armor this ability cannot be used. It takes 24 hours to scavenge, forage and locate the necessary materials needed to imbue a new suit of armor with the requisite charms to create a dire mantle — the ritual itself takes 8 hours to complete — the dire mantle then takes up the chest magic item slot. While the direlock has at least one point in her dire pool, her armor is immune to the broken condition.
An enemy caster must succeed on a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the direlock’s level) to identify that the dire mantle is responsible for any interruption of their magic
I hear something. A series of... crunches. Someone is breaking something. Raaven reported to Grumble.
"Yeah, that's me. There was a wall." Jack said with a shrug. "Think we're up where you are now. Found the stairs, and the top of the hole you went up."
Follow the hall to the left and you will find the frog creatures. They are not aware of you yet.
"Frogs are down the hall to the left. They don't know we're here." Jack said to the rest of the group.
"Which way's left?"
The Horn - Level 1
The Cleric shrugs at Errisaigh, "I could but that is less healing to go around in a fight. How much do you want me to cast at you?"
Havelyn clears his throat, "That is a wide chasm and a deep pit. How will we cross it? The hall is too narrow for Aurex to fly over but perhaps he can leap over with a rope and secure it somewhere?"
Errisaigh indicates left for Jack before returning to Brian.
”A good point my friend. We’ll play it as it comes. Be ready.”
The direlock muses at Havelyn’s idea.
”That could work. Provided the great dragon can be enjoined to deliver such...”
Jack looked down the pit, wondering how deep it was.
The Horn - Level 2
Grumble looks down and cannot see the bottom. However, based on the winding stairs climbed around the mountain he estimates that it is at least 100' to 120' down. Grumble remembers that the trap door was on the floor on level 1. It likely could be repaired but perhaps not by anyone here at the moment.
"Maybe Raaven can fly a rope across for us?"
"Long way down," Jack said, icking a stray stone down the hole.
"Raaven, get your ass back here and haul rope."
"I do not have an ass. Nor hands to tie knots with."
"Turn into the thing with all the squiggly bits. The, uh, oct...er...puss." Jack rumbled, thinking hard.
"...fine."
Raaven left the frog men behind and drifted away to rejoin the group. When he got back he faded into view, shapeshifted from a serpent to an octopus, and took the rope across the pit.
"Wait, you don't got an ass?" Jack's brow furrowed.
Octopi can, in fact, look exasperated.
Alice will write an L on Grumbles left hand and an R on his right, if he lets her.
Errisaigh can look exasperated too. Only he doesn’t. He looks...bemused. Or just...amused. And the new Raven changes to an octer...octopus and the sidekick changes from mirth to impressed.
”I’d imagine, as an...octopus-thing that Raaven has a sphincter. Or at least an orifice. Works like an ass.”
The direlock winks to Brian. ”Don’t imagine too hard, however.”
The Horn - Level 2
"I am blessed with a less than active imagination, lucky for me", Brian responds.
Raaven ties the rope to the crumbling defensive position at the end of the hallway and secures it as tightly as he can.
There is not much to tie it to at this end though perhaps Aurex holding it will suffice.
Aurex takes a running leap and is able to cross the 20' with a minor flay of his wings, tight as the hall may be.
Jack had no idea why his hands were being written on, but Alice had taught him to read so he just watched her work. Besides, he knew better than to question magicy types with writing.
It took him almost a solid minute to figure out what the letters meant.
Indeed," the floating octopus mind-spoke. All these additional orifi are so inefficient. I much prefer my true form, where I only need the one.
Now, where am I to be tying this?
Jack barely waited for the others to cross before heading down the hall where Raaven had been.
"Where those frogs at?"
Alice closes her eyes tightly and only opens them when she feels herself bump into the post on the other side.
"Raaven said they were futher down the hall to the left."
She points to grumble's left hand, which now is adorned with a big L.
"That is your left hand."
The Horn - Level 2
Errisaigh grunts and heaves his body weight replete with weapons and armor across the rope.
Jack looked at his hands, understanding slowly dawning. Then pointed. "Left."
Alice looks proudly at 'Jack' figuring out left.
The Horn - Level 2
Grumble heads left then looks at his hand and turns right up the next hall. Thereafter, right is the only option as Grumble knows the wall to the left is part of the structure, not some magical wall a Mitran created to keep him out.
Grumble turns right and as he gets half way down the hall a voice all out in broken common, "Halt! No go far. This territory Bung Clan!"
A hell of a claim from a bunch of Humanoids who have been here all of 15 minutes...
Jack wanted to smash them just for the fun of it, but ever since the play at Balantyne he'd been really trying to think better. He could always go to smashing after talking, but it was really hard to go to talking after smashing.
"Who's in charge of the Bung Clan?"
The Horn - Level 2
"I Zikomo Hears-the-Father leads this expeditiousness! Who you!? Who you lead?!"
Errisaigh tries to follow the conversation by craning his neck forward and squinting his eyes a little in the misguided hope that either action will improve his hearing or their diction. Sadly neither comes to pass. He opts to wait for Jack’s response.
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"I'm Jack. I..." the big man said, losing a bit of his confidence a moment later, when he realized he had no idea who was actually the leader of their group. Cardinal Thorn was the real leader, but Jack knew he shouldn't say that.
Who was their leader? Alice was smart, but not very leadery. Nate couldn't even lead himself. Havelyn was too new, and seemed like he wasn't interested in being in charge of anything anymore. Errisigh was the Baron's man, and not really one of them. Jack had always sort of thought of Soren as the leader, but she was gone now. A lot of people were gone now.
He blinked as he realized he was the only one left from the original Knot that had escaped Branderscar. Did that mean he was the leader? A few months ago, that idea would have thrilled him. Now though, he was worried. After Ballentyne he knew wasn't smart enough to make good plans like a leader was supposed to.
No one was the leader, but someone had to be. Who made the plans? Who did the group follow automatically? Who did everyone listen to?
"Raaven's our leader," Jack told the frogs. "Take us to this Here's Your Father guy."
...what?
Alice had no objections to this. Leaders mostly were the ones who got stabbed first. Or with these frog men, do some barbaric fight ritual. Also, Raaven was expendable.
Fair enough... thinks the direlock. Aurex could do in a pinch - he certainly has the presence. But a demonic...thing that turns into an octobeast is just as good... Let’s see Raven deal with their chief...
Nate doesn't appear invested one way or the other, picking at his nails with a dagger with the expression one would expect to see on a bored teenager.
Aurex stares at Jack, then Raaven, then a repeated series of deep exhales combined with sputtering of flames ushers from his mouth, and after a moment it becomes clear he's chuckling.
Aurex moves himself forward, allowing the creatures to see his imposing form. "Step into the light, one-who-hears-the-father. I would see who I talk with."
The Horn - Level 2
The creature slips his head around the corner and his eyes go wide and his mouth slack as he stares at the form of Aurex.
"You Raaven!?
Maybe you can help Zikomo and I help you...?"
He seems a bit less sure of himself now that he is facing off with a real live Dragon. Zikomo resembles an anthropomorphic frogs or toad, complete with webbed hands and feet, large eyes, and an overly wide mouth.
I am Raaven, the invisible cacodaemon's telepathic voice echoed in the frog-man's mind. I hear all. Speak your offer.
Aurex glares at Raaven, staring right at him despite his invisibility.
He turns back to Zikomo. "I am Aurex, you are right to be in fear and awe of me. I am wondrous and terrible, but I may find use in helping if you are of worth to me. Tell me of Zikomo, and the ones with you. I would know all." Aurex blows fire from his nostrils into the air.