"Whulp!" Zaine says intelligently.
Initiative Zaine
"How does this work? Oh yeah," Zaine mutters, pulling the magic dagger from his belt. "Eat Faith, monster!"
He stabs the tentacle with the dagger.
Tulip air walks up to save her buddy, grabbing the monster in her teeth.
grab
"Lantern is a good sign," Faith says, and then turns at the motion of Zaine being hauled into the air.
A creature appears in the air, near the main body of the tentacled mass. It has the body of a winged elven woman from the waist up, and a snake from the waist down.
"هل يمكنك مهاجمة هذا الوحش الذي لديه صديقي في قبضته من فضلك؟" Faith asks.
The creature attacks with longsword and tail.
Faith attempts to leap into the air and grab hold of Zaine, to keep him closer to the ground/Tulip.
The creature continues to attack the tentacled horror.
A creature appears in the air, near the main body of the tentacled mass. It has the body of a winged elven woman from the waist up, and a snake from the waist down. Much like a not-insane version of Radiant Muse.
"هل يمكنك مهاجمة هذا الوحش الذي لديه صديقي في قبضته من فضلك؟" Faith asks.
Their eyes glow for a moment, examining the shadowy monster. Then, voice lyrical, "من المؤكد. سعيد جدًا بالالتزام حتى إذا اعتقدت عشيقتك أننا طائرون." And strikes out with the sword. She looks offended when the sword doesn't cut through the creature's rock-like exterior.
Not Radiant Muse: "Certainly. Quite happy to oblige even if your mistress thinks we are flighty."
Sasha looks at Zaine, "She has a point, Zephyr is set because there is a population on the Shiv, but for Jaji and Tulip we would have to relocate packs or partners from elsewhere."
"Near here no good. Good hunting, much space." Athyra thinks, "Near where we met, not as good hunting, too many bad humans who steal, maybe find friends there."
Juliver hands Aine a small locking tool, "If you put this on the tripwire near the statue we should be able to snip the wire. Juliver pulls out a pair of goggles examining the rune on the spear itself, flicking out a finger and disrupting something in the pattern after a moment. "Good to go."
"Thanks Jules," Áine says with a nod and a smile, "you rock!"
Áine's cold iron arrows drill into the rock like creature, but not deeply enough to kill.
Arrows1&MS: 22+24= 46hp or w/ confirmation to hit 27, 67+24= 91hp
ArrowRS: to hit 25, dam 20
Arrow 2: to hit 33, dam 23
Arrow 3: to hit 21, dam 18
Trevin eyes both the agile archer and the nimble gunslinger with a bit of suspicion. "First step is to find the right wood." The old man grumps. "If neither of you has the patience for that just send the redhead. She knows how to be quiet and can send that toothed terror when its time for the hauling."
"I have the patience." Áine says quietly, "but I do not want to take more than is needed. The forest remembers. Would you like me to mark the prospective trees, or would you prefer to show me how it is done?"
Áine's cold iron arrows drill into the rock like creature, but not deeply enough to kill. Especially when the second arrow that didn't bounce off the stony exterior instead struck a rock where the roper wasn't.
"How does this work? Oh yeah," Zaine mutters, pulling the magic dagger from his belt. "Eat Faith, monster!"
He stabs the tentacle with the dagger. The strand snaps under the light touch of the dagger and Zaine falls back down onto Tulip.
Tulip air walks up to save her buddy, grabbing the monster in her teeth. But Zaine's unexpected landing throws off her normal steady attack.
In a flash, Sasha switches both of her swords to the same hand, pulling the pepperbox and shooting. The first two booms resound and lead strikes through roper flesh. Then there is a click. She looks at Zaine, guilt on her face, "I swear I've been keeping it maintained."
Strands explode from the creature on the ceiling. Wrapping around Faith, Zaine, Lily and TWO around Tulip. The roper's massive jaw opens as Tulip is dragged closer.
"I think that it's a roper." Juliver says, "A creepy shadowy wrong roper." A pauses, "And its eye keeps twitching."
Pakshee glares at the roper, giving it the evil eye.
Faith, in the air as well, swings to grab hold of Zaine, latching them both to Tulip. And within careful movement of the abberation.
"Ha ha!" Faith shouts. "Now we have it where we want it!"
Faith moves carefully up the strands, Cherish ready to sing her song of release.
The rainbow lillend azata continues to attack the roper.
Ride
Save
"Hey, monster, I am going to kill you."
Zaine, apparently heartened by what Faith did, continues to hack away at the monster with the dagger.
Confirm crit
Tulip chomps onto one of the writhing tentacles, but once again can't seem to land a hit.
grab
Zaine save
Tulip save
ride
save
"Ha ha!" Faith shouts. "Now we have it where we want it!"
"We do? Oh...Okay." Áine shrugs and discharges another salvo of cold iron shafts into the tentacled monstrosity. This time drawing on some of the magical energy stored in her boots.
Arrows1&MS: 27+26= 53hp
ArrowRS: 23hp
Arrow 2: miss
Arrow 3: miss
Arrow H: 23hp
"Yes! It has brought me and Tulip in close where we can hurt it!"
"Ah. Yes, so it has." Áine eyes the stony skinned roper critically, "Does that mean I should stop shooting it?" she shrugs, "I hope you don't feel that this will be over too quickly."
"I would not ruin anyone's fun," Faith says. "Shoot as you desire!"
Aine hesitates waiting for a response from Faith.
Then proceeds to shoot the monster a bunch of times, killing it and allowing it and everyone else to fall to the floor.
From the lighted part of the room, you hear a cough. Dozens of candles stand on recessed stone shelves lining the walls of this chamber, many of them burnt down to puddles of dried wax, the rest providing a dim, flickering illumination. An opulent bedchamber and sitting area have been created here on a grand scale out of stolen furniture, crates, and camp gear; the room contains a huge bed draped with netting, a large table cobbled together from crates, and shields and pieces of armor set out as dishes and serving platters.
In the midst of this is a stitched creature made from the apes and monkeys, the whole with a unnatural strength that allowed the Kaava Bush-Devil to single-handly destroy several villages before forming the Maka-Yika. His right eye has been plucked free and the stitched scar mars the symmetry of this face.
"It seemed such a good place to lair when we first came here, but it is only madness and death." The flesh golem comments as he watches your group on the floor.
"شكرا - ما اسمك" Faith asks.
"When did the madness start?" Faith asks the golem creature as he climbs to his feet. "Is it green madness?"
Faith tries not to be obvious about how he makes a point of keeping near Lily, but he is.
"Where are my manners? I am Faith," Faith introduces himself. "Warpriest of Vildeis."
Faith thinks for a moment as they stroll. "We encountered a very strange temple of Pharasma. It contained multitudes of suicides, with no real indication as to why. There were no curses that struck us, and none of the dead left any reasoning that we could understand."
"That was the most interesting of the temples we entered before we slew the troglodytes."
"شكرا - ما اسمك" Faith asks.
The rainbowed wings move just a bit as the creature settles to the ground of the cave, "تقول القصص أن لا تعطي اسمًا حقيقيًا وإلا استدعينا الإنسان في الحقيقة بدلاً من تأملنا الأقل. ولكن يمكنك أن تدعوني بالراقصة المقدسة."
"When did the madness start?" Faith asks the golem creature as he climbs to his feet. "Is it green madness?"
Faith tries not to be obvious about how he makes a point of keeping near Lily, but he is.
"Where are my manners? I am Faith," Faith introduces himself. "Warpriest of Vildeis."
"Your kind called me Kaava, Devil of the Bush, when they screamed their last screams." He shows teeth, "As if it wasn't one of your kind that made me what I am."
He sways just a hint and the cadence of the voice changes, "Why did you come to this vault?"
"وأنا خنق الإيمان" Faith says.
"We come to this vault seeking lost comrades," Faith says. "We have found one," he indicates Lily. "We seek one other, and we would search until we find him, alive or dead."
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Kaava, Devil of the Bush. May we have safe passage?"
The Bush Devil begins to laugh, a high pitched sound that fits neither his heavy body nor the voice he spoke in, "Of course, you can pass through safe. All you have to do is put down all your weapons."
The voice is still deep, but the flow is all wrong. "I mean you wouldn't want to accidentally hurt the person you are seeking would you?"
Faith frowns and his body language changes. It's like a full-body scowl.
"I don't know who or what you are, but you are not welcome here. Leave Kaava, leave this place, leave this plane, or be destroyed."
The thing that is controlling the flesh golem shakes its head, "You just don't understand surface dweller. Kaava and the little flower behind you are part of this glorious experiment. They are shard of perfection which will herald my triumphant return."
"You can be a part of it too." The baring of teeth in an ludicrous attempt at the smile causes chills, "My way is so much better, there is no waste, no unintentional death. Don't you understand how much better it will all be when I've perfected this method?"
"I am not very smart." Faith's expression doesn't get more grim, because there is nowhere for it to go.
"I do not understand, but I do object. What is your name, face behind the face? Which power do you serve?"
"In whose name do you spread this malady?"
"It's okay." The tone condescending, "None of the surface dwellers are as smart as even the dumbest of my kind and my particular genius is a rare and beautiful gem."
He scoffs, "There is no maladay. There is nothing at all wrong with my vessels. That's the beauty don't you see? The heart beats, the nerves react, the vessel continues on with no commands or external stimulus, but still they are always ready."
"It is such a better way."
The thing that is controlling the flesh golem shakes its head, "You just don't understand surface dweller. Kaava and the little flower behind you are part of this glorious experiment. They are shard of perfection which will herald my triumphant return."
"You can be a part of it too." The baring of teeth in an ludicrous attempt at the smile causes chills, "My way is so much better, there is no waste, no unintentional death. Don't you understand how much better it will all be when I've perfected this method?"
"That sounds wonderful." Áine says, "But as you mentioned, I am not that smart. Could you show me how it is done? I think if you were to show me yourself, maybe I could understand a little better and convince my compatriots here."
Faith's jaw clenches, but he still speaks clearly. "I cannot comprehend how you accomplish this. Surely this is the province of gods and monsters."
Faith looks to Lily for a moment, and back at Kaava. "Why does your genius not yet spread across the surface world? Your ambition is vast, yet your modesty impresses. I still do not know whose genius I am borne witness to."
Faith's jaw clenches, but he still speaks clearly. "I cannot comprehend how you accomplish this. Surely this is the province of gods and monsters."
"Yes." The golem's head moves up and down, "To one as limited, as constrained as yourself, I am unto the gods."
Faith looks to Lily for a moment, and back at Kaava. "Why does your genius not yet spread across the surface world? Your ambition is vast, yet your modesty impresses. I still do not know whose genius I am borne witness to."
"Why would I care if my name is whispered in fear or envy by surface dwellers? My genius needed time to matriculate, to perfect the protocols. As with any great work there are errors, only the stupid or egotistical believe perfection can be immediate."
"Your flower, for example, allowed me to test how the body's limits can be overcome by deadening certain lobes. Very useful, but it needs to be attempted on a physical form that is more sturdy."
"That sounds wonderful." Áine says, "But as you mentioned, I am not that smart. Could you show me how it is done? I think if you were to show me yourself, maybe I could understand a little better and convince my compatriots here."
"I'd be happy to show you in person. Just go back into the hallway, drop your weapons and magic and come back alone."
"Or did you think such obvious and infantile flattery would cause me to lower my defenses?"
"Or did you think such obvious and infantile flattery would cause me to lower my defenses?"
Faith grins an unpleasant grin. "We understand each other. I wish to know your name so that when I look into your eyes and extinguish the flame within, I can dedicate that moment properly to my Goddess."
"The sin of pride is allowed by Vildeis in this circumstance. She rather demands it."
"I thought you were still looking for someone?" The monster in the monster asks. "What are you willing to sacrifice for your sin, priest?"
"I believe he is here," Faith gestures to the complex, "somewhere. I believe you are not. These are not incompatible goals."
Faith shakes his head once, shortly. "You do not strike me as someone who will negotiate in good faith with a surface dweller such as I. Otherwise we might have a more productive conversation. I could ransom back those afflicted, and so forth."
"If I am not here, where am I supposed to be?"
A pause, "Or more properly, how would I be modifying vessels if I were not here?"
"Right now you are an interesting vessel. Do you have something more interesting to negotiate with?"
Faith's grin slowly becomes less forced as he does some internal re-calculating.
"...you do not trust others to properly do the work?"
Faith looks around. "I have no vessel to negotiate with other than myself, and my death in battle against a great evil is already pledged to my Goddess."
"There are no others that can do the work." The tone starts and then continues on the vein of a familiar rant, "They didn't understand how much better my ways were, how much greater we would grow if we were not limited to corpses and the nearly dead. They sent me away and in my isolation I have achieved "
There is a pause, "But I more meant that I'd prefer to use this red-haired male as a vessel, but I'm willing to trade it for a better one."
"Glaur," Faith says. "He is the one we seek. That is, his name is Glaur, although perhaps he glowers even now."
"If you seek to make him a vessel, we must stop you. In truth, even were you to release him unharmed, we would seek you out."
Faith's grin transforms into a true grin. An I have seen evil and must oppose it grin. "Your genius is too brilliant to be left unmolested."
Faith inclines his head at the monster inside the flesh golem. "I would make a superior vessel, but you're not strong enough to hold me."
"I'd be happy to show you in person. Just go back into the hallway, drop your weapons and magic and come back alone."
"Or did you think such obvious and infantile flattery would cause me to lower my defenses?"
"Well, considering you are using, as you call it, obvious and infantile attempts at deception, I thought it only appropriate to respond in kind. I thank you, since you appear to be too scared to face those who are your obvious betters. I guess you must hide because you think yourself to ugly or weak to show whatever you have that you try to pass off as a face. What do they call you among your kind? Ima Bigheadeddorkusmoronicus? No wonder others of your kind have shunned you."
The monster laughs at Aine, "I'm not trying to deceive anyone. If anyone was tricked into believing that I'm my vessel, that on them not I."
"I'd clap at the childish taunts, but this body isn't the best for it."
His attention turns back to Faith, "How do you put up with that? I mean they must have some talent with the bow or I can't see you being patient enough."
"Would you care to wager on your strength and only your strength, priest?"
Faith looks at Kaava. "Kaava is clearly built for raw strength. I have wrestled for great stakes before, and would do so again ... but I am merely a mortal man."
"Oh no," the flesh golem shakes his head, "my strength versus yours priest. This vessel and your allies can go back out to the hallway, just you and I."
"You keep your armor and I'll keep mine."
"My strength is my Faith," Faith says. "I will step into your trap, and out the other side."
From the back of the group there is an angry noise, "Faith is not facing hidden monster alone," Pakshee looks at the group, right?"
"Let's go into the vault," Faith says. "There may be something useful in there. I have ideas for coming back, drawing the shadows, and ending this."
"With Tulip's help, we should be able to get into the vault."
Hopefully by help, Faith intended the dinosaur to ram her large frame against the vault door, pounding against it until the ancient stone fractures against the metal supports.
The interior was clearly a well stocked vault at some point as there are still piles of gold and silver that have survived the immersion. However, the art objects and anything made of cloth has disintegrated in the cold lake water.
In the middle of the vault is the pulsing black energy which is the focus for the ancient defenses. As Faith approaches the foci, some of the treasure moves in the stagnant water, slamming into Faith!
But Faith is not even touched by the oozy treasure.
He looks over the city and points at the spiral shape, "That building?" He smiles, "It is interesting how both her architecture and iconography have changed over the millennia. I once found a treatise that surmised that Pharasma was the first being to exist and will be the last."
Athyra nods, "Is good plan. When we move friends to new home?"
"I know it is a trap, and yet I must do this," Faith says to Pakshee. "Please keep an eye on Lily while she is out of my sight. I did promise."
Faith shrugs and says to the monster behind Kavaa, "I am overruled."
"Madness spores," Faith ponders for a moment. "That would suggest we not stay and study the city forever. Glaur may not approve," He grins at this.
"I can gather samples if you can suggest what I look for, or where I look."
Faith confirms that the spiral building is the temple of Pharasma. "It was in many ways the same as a modern temple," Faith says. "The core of death remains, and the trappings seem much the same."
"The troglodyte battle was fierce, but once the priest was killed, the fight went out of the rest of them. There was a giant praying mantis, however, and that ... well ... giant animals are their own special complication."
From the back of the group there is an angry noise, "Faith is not facing hidden monster alone," Pakshee looks at the group, right?"
"He is not." Áine replies calmly and reassuringly to Pakshee. "Whereas, I fully believe Faith would act honorably to any agreement, I have no such belief that Mr. Fullofhimself would not violate any such agreement at the first opportunity that suited his purposes."
Áine shoots the treasure.
From the back of the group there is an angry noise, "Faith is not facing hidden monster alone," Pakshee looks at the group, right?"
Zaine shifts in his saddle, changing the grip on his musket. Pakshee's known him long enough to recognize when he's quietly pulling the hammer back and letting it lock into place.
Initiative Zaine
Initiative Tulip
"Uh... that's it, treasure! I'm gonna get you!"
Zaine brings the gun up and fires.
Tulip squawks and attacks.
grab
Athyra nods, "Is good plan. When we move friends to new home?"
"When this whole quest... thing... is over," Zaine says.
"The plan is to get someone to teleport us over. Either asking Pakshee or hiring someone. From there, we'll make a camp and survey the island for a good spot. Sasha and I will definitely go, and Zaira might accompany us as well."
He brings over a piece of paper and quickly sketches the island he had in mind, pointing to a place on the bay. "This is where I had in mind, but again, it will depend on what we find when we look. Zaira had the idea of installing a gateway we could use to get back to a settled area if we need to, and if someone needed to petition for our help. She would be in charge of putting that in. Depending on resources, whether we'll find good lumber and a quarry, we'll either use what's there or use the gateway to bring resources over. My guess is it will be a combination of factors."
Zaine turns the paper over, and sketches some boxes. "I figure we'll need a main house for the humans. I'd want to make sure the house has room to expand, but for now, there would have to be room for at least four people. From there, I'd build myself a combination gunsmithy and alchemy lab for munitions. If we needed to bring in money, that would be a good source for it. Don't worry, I'd build it downwind of our house. And if any of you wanted another outbuilding, I'm happy to add that to the plans."
More boxes. "A paddock for Tulip, which would include a structure she could use when it got cold. A nesting area for Zephyr and the dimorphodons. And another paddock for Jaji, so he has his own space. The bay is tough for boats to get into, and it could be an ideal spot to raise mosasaurs or plesiosaurs, depending. Additionally, I was going to carve out some of these hills and build a few cannon. That way if anyone did come in that we didn't want, they would very quickly realize their error."
Zaine gestures to the rest of the island. "There are other places to land, of course. But that would involve trekking overland, and the good chance of being spotted by a dimorphodon. And I wouldn't like an intruder's chances against the group of us."
Faith shrugs and says to the monster behind Kavaa, "I am overruled."
"I did not expect that," Faith says, startled.
Detect Magic to see what is around that is not so obvious as ambulatory treasure.
Faith shrugs and says to the monster behind Kavaa, "I am overruled."
"Since they apparently have faith in your honor but not in your ability."
"I did not expect that," Faith says, startled.
Almost as soon as the 'treasure' attacks Faith, Aine starts shooting. Despite her arrows being massively slowed by the water she easily hits the ooze, breaking it into little pieces that cloud the water.
"I heard them say they doubt your honor," Faith says.
Faith tips his head toward Lily and speaks to the winged woman.
"إذا حاولت ليلي مهاجمة أو الفرار ، يرجى الاحتفاظ بها." he says.
"If Lily tries to attack or flee, please hold her."
Faith draws Cherish, and moves to stand nearer Kavaa.
"There are a few magic items underwater, but they are not connected to the--" Faith gestures at the darkly pulsing shadow magic.
"To that."
Faith performs a more thorough Detect Magic on these energies -- without getting close enough to prompt another attack, hopefully.
"I heard them say they doubt your honor," Faith says.
Áine smiles and nods in confirmation.
Arrows1&MS: 30+28 = 58 or with confirmation to hit 34 -> 84+28 = 112hp
ArrowRS: to hit 22, 31hp
Arrow 2: to hit 16, dam 27hp
Arrow 3: to hit 22, dam 30hp
Arrow H: to hit 33, dam 28hp
Initiative Zaine
Initiative Tulip
"Okay, monster. Time to go back to hell."
Zaine fires, the bullet easily punching through the creature's armor.
Tulip charges, and
grab
"I heard them say they doubt your honor," Faith says.
"And that they don't think you can handle me if honor doesn't bind me." A laugh, "I don't think I'd have to break my word to take you one-on-one."
"Careful," Juliver says, "Flesh golems are dangerous in general and prone to go berserk but the stories I've heard about the Maka-Yika their leader is far more cunning than you'd expect from a mindless golem."
In the pause after Juliver speaks, the Bush-Devil pounces forward his big gorilla arm slamming the warpriest into a baboon bite.
"Okay, monster. Time to go back to hell."
Ready for the charge, Zaine fires, the bullet easily punching through the creature's armor. But the magically enhanced body doesn't take as much damage as Zaine expected.
"Faith stronger than fake monkey." Pakshee says, as Faith's wounds start to close on their own.
Aine shoots, but either the tight quarters or the amalgamated creature has high defenses as only a single pair of arrows sinks past armor.
Just before Faith is able to speak, a blankness comes over Lily's face and her arm blurs as it slams into Pakshee. There is a crack of bone.
Faith tips his head toward Lily and speaks to the winged woman.
"إذا حاولت ليلي مهاجمة أو الفرار ، يرجى الاحتفاظ بها." he says.
The winged woman looks at Lily and the air around the lillend darkens with the odd language only to reach out and twist around Lily... And fall away with no effect.
"Do you really think I'd like my vessels to be controlled so easily, priest?" The taunt in Lily's voice, but the cadence all the hidden puppet master.
Tulip charges, and she slips on a hidden pool of green goo on the floor of the cave.
Sasha darts around the golem, ready to flank for Faith. Or Tulip if Faith moves elsewhere. Her sword bites into the golem's flesh, but only barely.
"There are a few magic items underwater, but they are not connected to the--" Faith gestures at the darkly pulsing shadow magic.
"To that."
Faith performs a more thorough Detect Magic on these energies -- without getting close enough to prompt another attack, hopefully.
Nothing else seems ready to attack Faith, although the space is full of the menacing shadows - who are still ignoring everyone in the group.
As they continue on the old man moves slow, not fully because of his weary bones but because he seems intent on picking out the symbols and markings on the buildings they pass trying to piece together the ancient places of worship. He pause by a building whose entrance is marked by a moon with two spear crossed before it. "I don't recognize this specific symbology. The two divine following that I know that use the full moon are a demon lord and Groetus and this doesn't fit either. Do you mind?"
Athyra nods, but asks, "Paddocks just for when it get cold? Jaji like being in open, only nesting females need safe from predators."
She points to the one island that had been covered by grey fungi at the mouth of the bay, "That would be a good place to introduce any flora that the dinosaurs need that we aren't certain how they are going to interact with the natural jungle." A squeeze, "Plus the dryad said she'd give us a favor for taking care of that island."
Athyra considers, "What type of prey animals? That would limit how many predators could be healthy." She smiles, something making sense in her own head, "You are making pack?"
Zaine takes careful aim at the ape and fires.
Tulip rights herself and charges, latching onto the ape, her powerful jaws locking in place.
grab
As Zaine sketches and explains, Sasha moves up until she is behind him, leaning against him lightly but watching his vision develop. Quietly in his ear, "You've thought about this, love. It'll be amazing to build it together." She gives him a hug, a soft kiss on the nook of his neck.
Zaine nods, reaching back to return the touch. "I have. I'm going to have to learn stonemasonry and carpentry, though."
Athyra nods, but asks, "Paddocks just for when it get cold? Jaji like being in open, only nesting females need safe from predators."
"The paddocks can be used as much or as little as the dinosaurs want. Animals like Tulip and Jaji, I'm not too afraid of them wandering off. When we have hatchlings...I imagine the paddocks will be used to keep them safe and where we can find them."
She points to the one island that had been covered by grey fungi at the mouth of the bay, "That would be a good place to introduce any flora that the dinosaurs need that we aren't certain how they are going to interact with the natural jungle." A squeeze, "Plus the dryad said she'd give us a favor for taking care of that island."
"Good idea. I was also thinking of a plot for us as well, to grow some staples. Sweet potatoes, maybe carrots, get some fruit trees as well."
Athyra considers, "What type of prey animals? That would limit how many predators could be healthy."
"That is an excellent question and an excellent point. We might end up cultivating one or more species of herbivore, keeping our lines of T-rexes and raptors to a minimum. But on that regard, you're the expert and one of many reasons I want you involved."
She smiles, something making sense in her own head, "You are making pack?"
"How do you mean?" Zaine asks.
"Bold words for one who hides behind others," Faith says.
"تمسك بها بالطريقة القديمة ، من فضلك" Faith says.
"Hold her the old-fashioned way, please."
"I think your opinion doesn't matter to me," Faith says, "meaningless words from the dead-to-be."
Faith directly attacks Kavaa with Cherish. The lillend descends to coil her tail tightly around Lily.
"I have what I need here," Faith says. "We will need to return to camp for preparation, and when we come back, we can destroy this mass of shadows, and put to rest those who remain."
"I would be delighted," Faith says. "Let us investigate. I will stay nearby in case something dangerous occurs."
"Moon and spears, moon and spears," Faith says to himself. "A circle crossed with two lines. Hmmm...."
"It makes for a nice icon." Faith shrugs.
"Jules, can you help Pakshee? A lot of my magic is tied up in the golem right now." Áine grimaces, "Pretty sure I'll be able to relieve you in a round or two."
This time Áine seems more focused, her arrows don't seem to have the punch that the double shot had last time, but this time only one actually bounces off of the creatures thick hide. She settles low over the ground to give Juliver and Pakshee access off or on the carpet, and presents a possible tempting target as well.
Arrows1&MS: 28+32 = 60 hp
ArrowRS: 29 hp
Arrow 2: 28 hp
Arrow 3: miss
Arrow H: 30 hp
Total assumed damage: 147hp among 5 different arrows that found their target
"Do you consider your armor hiding?" the voice from Lily asks. "Because, to me, it really is the same thing. My armor just knows how to move on its own when I'm not using it."
Juliver moves past the winged serpentine outsider and attempts to grab Lily to prevent her from pummeling Pakshee. All she does get is a bloody nose/
The bush-devil slams an arm against Sasha, sending the ranger to stumble back 10-feet even as the same gorilla arm slams against Faith.
Zaine takes careful aim at the ape and fires.
Pakshee moves to put Juliver between herself and the possessed Lily. Having seen the lillend's spell wash over the Pathfinder with no effect, she instead comments to Juliver, "You must be careful, she no care if she break bone, she break herself to break you."
This time Áine seems more focused, her arrows don't seem to have the punch that the double shot had last time, but this time only one actually bounces off of the creatures thick hide. And the creature goes into a frenzy even as it starts to fall to the ground, dying, it's lashing out prevented from hurting anyone as...
Tulip rights herself and charges, latching onto the ape, her powerful jaws locking in place.
Aine settles low over the ground to give Juliver and Pakshee access off or on the carpet, and presents a possible tempting target as well.
Unnaturally focused, Lily moves closer to the rainbow winged warrior in order to again slam into the dark-skinned caster.
Deeper spaces in the temple show areas that were intended for martial training.
Zaine nods, reaching back to return the touch. "I have. I'm going to have to learn stonemasonry and carpentry, though."
"We do." An extra squeeze and she gives Zaine a little space, "Otherwise I won't be able to help."
"Good idea. I was also thinking of a plot for us as well, to grow some staples. Sweet potatoes, maybe carrots, get some fruit trees as well."
"I don't have a clue about the root vegetables, but citrus at least should do really well on the Shiv."
"How do you mean?" Zaine asks.
"You are making a safe space and only allowing in the pack," she pauses, taking a moment to translate herself into human, "the people you trust, in. So you can nest?"
"I have what I need here," Faith says. "We will need to return to camp for preparation, and when we come back, we can destroy this mass of shadows, and put to rest those who remain."
With the magic being used, the group is able to exit the vault and the building without being molested by the numerous and varied shadow monsters. At least one was likely a fish in life and it continues to swim in its undead afterlife. The return trip through the jungle is also easy, given that the group only needs to follow the path they took out.
Zaira, working on a number of notes outside of the tower, looks up when the group gets back, "How did the exploration of the shadow island go?"