"Sounds like we have a ritual to interrupt.",
Áine says, indicating the Western double doors, "Shall we interrupt or do you guys want to check out the secret doors first?"
Áine watches the proceedings in fascination.
"I fear that time will be of the essence," Faith says. "I do not speak Abyssal, but those are the cadences of a ritual."
Even as Jask is consecrating, Faith begins the work to suppress and dispel the ancient magics. He makes a regular circuit of the room, touching the holy symbol on his cheek, rolling up his sleeves to expose the scar he made the last time he performed a ritual like this. At each stop, a tiny prick with the point of Cherish, just enough to raise a small bead of blood, not enough to escape the life bubble and stream away into the water.
Zaine
Ride check
Giant snake statues coiled into pillars support the fifty-foot-high
ceiling of this massive chamber, looking down upon a ten-foot-high elevated platform along the western wall. One of the statues lies shattered on the chamber floor, reduced to a pile of rubble. Stairs flank the eastern entrance, providing access to an elevated walkway that runs past several doors to the north, south, and west before joining the platform itself, where a crystalline altar stands before a smaller statue of a jackal-headed man with spiked gauntlets on each fist.
On the altar itself is a bound and gagged morlock, fighting feebly against the bonds. Standing over the creature is a urdefhan with a large steel shield and a Shredder-style spiked gauntlet. Perched on the statue, waiting only for the final blow is a tentacled gaunt humanoid, all teeth and malice. Protecting the tableau, bows out, are four more of the urdefhan that you've seen prior.
The vampire running the ceremony looks surprised to see the humans ar the door, but not displeased (yet). "ఉపరితల నివాసులు! ఏమి ఆశించని ఆనందం. నీచమైన పాములకు వ్యతిరేకంగా మా వైఖరికి సహాయపడటానికి మా లార్డ్ ట్రెల్మారిక్సియన్ మిమ్మల్ని ఇక్కడకు పంపించారా?"
.
Even as Jask is consecrating, Faith begins the work to suppress and dispel the ancient magics. He makes a regular circuit of the room, touching the holy symbol on his cheek, rolling up his sleeves to expose the scar he made the last time he performed a ritual like this. At each stop, a tiny prick with the point of Cherish, just enough to raise a small bead of blood, not enough to escape the life bubble and stream away into the water.
As soon as all the flares are lit, Jask moves widdershins about them, his quiet prayer causing energy to flow out from the circle. First a dark energy that aligns easily with the death magics in the room, then a light which burns it away. The light painfully bright more because of the darkness that preceded it. It can not destroy the mass of necrotic magic by itself, but the edges begin to wisp and fray.
ఖచ్చితంగా ఉన్నాయి. కానీ ప్రభువు కొంచెం ఆకలితో ఉన్నాడు, మరియు నీకు అతన్ని తెలుసు, ఎప్పుడూ జీవించే ఆహారం కావాలి. కాబట్టి మేము మీ నుండి ఆ త్యాగాన్ని పట్టుకుని తరువాత తీసుకురావాలి, Zaine says.
Bluff
"ఈ జీవిని మీరు అబాద్దన్ కు గొర్రెల కాపరి మరియు మన ప్రభువుకు భోజనంగా మార్చాలని మీరు కోరుకుంటున్నారా?" He considers for a moment, then shrugs, "మిత్రమా, మీరు త్యాగం చేసిన దెబ్బను దింపవచ్చు. ఇక్కడికి రండి, ప్రార్థన ముగించి ఈ ఆత్మను ట్రెల్మారిక్సియన్‌కు తినిపించండి." He waves for Zaine to approach.
"Of course you can land the sacrificial blow, friend. Come here, finish the prayer and feed this soul to Trelmarixian."
"ఖచ్చితంగా," Zaine says.
He nudges Tulip over right next to the executioner, going slowly enough that the group can get into position. He brings up the musket, apparently ready to kill the sacrifice, but in an act that is likely to surprise no one, turns and shoots the executioner point blank in the chest.
Tulip grabs hold of the executioner in her jaws.
grab
already up:
Aspect of the Nightingale, (14 minutes from Shai "encounter")
Fickle Winds (extended) on everyone except Shai, (28 minutes from first Urdefhan encounter in Hunter's Maze)
Pack Empathy better idea of what is or is going to happen (14 hours)
Life Bubble (28 hours divided among group from start of Hunter's Maze)
Perceive Cues (2 hr and 20 min)
Quieting Weapons (2 hrs 20 min from entering Hunter's Maze)
Rite of Bodily Purity +2 save vs disease, drugs, poison(24 hours)
Visualization of the Body, not exactly temporary hp (24 hours)
Not sure what the tentacled gaunt humanoid is. If it is an evil outsider or monstrous humanoid designate as Quarry, if not, cast Instant Enemy and designate as Quarry
Faith walks over to the nearest foe, and strikes with Cherish.
The light ... can not destroy the mass of necrotic magic by itself, but the edges begin to wisp and fray.
As the edges wisp and fray, Faith uses his Dispel Magics as a wedge, chipping pieces of shadow loose from the central mass, breaking it into smaller and smaller chunks, working his way toward exposing the core.
As the edges wisp and fray, Faith uses his Dispel Magics as a wedge, chipping pieces of shadow loose from the central mass, breaking it into smaller and smaller chunks, working his way toward exposing the core.
Áine stays close, ready to lend physical or magical energy, as needed. She is careful not to be so close as to be in the way or to interfere with Faith or Jask and their workings.
Seeing the need for subterfuge, Shai holds back just out of sight as the appearance of the creature who had been frozen in time in their own stronghold might be a dead giveaway.
Just before Zaine or anyone else does anything percipitous, Aine marks the evil outsider as her Quarry.
The evil outsider, staring at Zaine, hisses a low word, "جھوٹا" It's attention shifts to the bound morlock, breathing in deeply. As it does so the morlock seizes, wisps moving from the bound sacrifice to the daemon's mouth.
Faith walks over to the nearest foe, Cherish ready.
And Zaine's bullet hits home.
Tulip's teeth skitter over the executioner's flat-footed armored form.
Initiative
Zaine
Tulip
"హే అస్సోల్, మీరు చనిపోయారు," Zaine tells the executioner.
Aklo: "Hey a~$$#%$, you're dead."
Tulip chomps the executioner's arm, but she can't get a good grip.
grab
Áine unloads a fusillade of magical cold iron tipped arrows into the tentacled monstrosity, unfortunately they do not seem to pierce anything the fiend requires to keep it on this plane of existence.
Faith strikes with Cherish, the blade gleaming with holiness.
Áine unloads a fusillade of magical cold iron tipped arrows into the tentacled monstrosity, unfortunately they do not seem to pierce anything the fiend requires to keep it on this plane of existence. Though it does look ragged and torn by the barrage.
In revenge, the daemon reaches out a hand towards the flying pair. A fine black finger extending from the hand to pierce Aine's apparently unarmored form.
The urdefhan mooks waste a round firing their arrows at the ranger pathfinder pair on the carpet. And find the whole group has been protected from arrows.
"On the very low up side, I think it can only do that type of spell once." Juliver says (starting Bardic)
Faith strikes with Cherish, the blade gleaming with holiness. Almost all of his strikes with Cherish lance into flesh and the blood flows from the armored leader of the urdefhan here in the Maze.
Sasha tumbles through the melee, providing flanking for both Faith and Tulip.
"హే అస్సోల్, మీరు చనిపోయారు," Zaine tells the executioner.
Tulip chomps the executioner's arm, but she can't get a good grip.
Despite Zaine's challenge, and Tulip's threatening bite, the urdefhan executioner turns on the man with the holy weapon. His shredder claws act as though Faith's thick armor isn't even there and slices flesh beneath. He adds insult to the injury by finishing by sinking vampire fangs into Faith's flesh to get a taste of the blood.
Shai and Pakshee move move to get closer to the combat, as they held back during the whole surprised the enemy bit.
[spoiler=Aklo]Zaine: "Hey a!+**~!, you're dead."
"اوہ! مقدس میٹھی خوشبو دار گائے کے فارم جو خراب ہوسکتے ہیں۔" Áine remarks calmly enough in a language not dissimilar to that uttered by the tentacled monstrosity, "مجھے یہ سوچنے پر مجبور کرتا ہے کہ شاید آپ مجھے زیادہ پسند نہیں کریں گے۔ اس سے میرے جذبات مجروح ہوتے ہیں۔" she flashes a grin in its direction. She already knows she's a terrible liar, so she doesn't even try. Despite her fairly serene demeanor, a close observer might notice the beads of sweat on her brow and the increase in the amount of air swelling her chest in reaction to the dark death magic.
Áine sends a second barrage in the daemon's direction, her quick fingers practically strumming the bow string. She's apparently looking to add some colorful plumage to its horrendous appearance.
Zaine takes careful aim at the executioner and fires. The gun goes off in a peal of thunder and a puff of stormclouds as the bullet strikes the monster in the heart.
confirm crit
Reroll (Without Master)
It's unclear who Tulip was trying to attack, because she doesn't come anywhere close to biting anything.
grab
Faith casts a spell on himself, heals somewhat, grimaces, says, "Once bitten, twice stabbed," and proceeds to stab the urdefhan executioner with Cherish.
"Can someone translate that for me?"
Áine sends a second barrage in the daemon's direction, her quick fingers practically strumming the bow string. She's apparently looking to add some colorful plumage to its horrendous appearance.
The daemon is not thick-hided enough to survive the barrage for two rounds. The arrows clatter to the floor as his body wisps into smoke and then... is gone.
Two of the urdefhan, their flesh already pierced by arrows when they found how quick Aine's reaction is move carefully through her zone of control, stopping in an area where they will be able to attack Tulip... or Faith... or the cyclops the following round.
The other two switch weapons and slide over to attack Sasha immediately. One blow lands before the pair turns into a act worthy of the three Stooges with their fumbling.
"Only once, just like I said. Because its dead and you're not." Juliver says (continuing Bardic)
Faith casts a spell on himself, heals somewhat, grimaces, says, "Once bitten, twice stabbed," and proceeds to stab the urdefhan executioner with Cherish.
"Can someone translate that for me?"
Even with flanking, Faith's first strike misses. So does the fourth. But only because the vampire is falling to the ground in a pool of his own blood as Faith's third strike manages to eviscerate him through his armor.
With the executioner dead, Sasha turns her quickly moving blades on Curly and Moe.
Zaine takes careful aim at the executioner but when he falls shifts to the urdefhan to managed to land a blow on Sasha and fires. The gun goes off in a peal of thunder and a puff of stormclouds as the bullet strikes the monster in the heart. Killing him instantly.
It's unclear who Tulip was trying to attack, because she doesn't come anywhere close to biting anything.
Shai and Pakshee continue to move
Áine flashes a quick grin over her shoulder in acknowledgement of the support. Her carpet repositions to keep the vampires within quick strike opportunity reaction range.
Áine's first arrows sink home into a single urdefhan. With the falling of the enemy leadership, her focus seems to waiver and several arrows ricochet off of armor and stone, which earns a quick, passing scowl that flashes across her face at her inattention.
Arrows1&MS: to hit 27, dam 32
ArrowRS: miss
Arrow 2: to hit 24, dam 11
Arrow 3: to hit 22, dam 15
Total assumed damage: 58hp
Zaine blasts one of the remaining monsters.
Tulip advances, snapping at another, but can't land a hit.
grab
"ایک بار کاٹا ، دو بار وار کیا" Áine dutifully relays the translation for Faith, "but I don't think he can hear you anymore." she says looking at the blood pooling around the body on the floor.
[ooc]Arrow 1&MS: to hit 37, dam 29+31= 60hp
Arrow RS: miss
Arrow 2: miss
Arrow 3: to hit 22, dam 29hp[/ooc
"...and it was my best joke for being bitten," Faith says, a little sadly.
Faith moves on to the next target, not pausing to wipe Cherish. She can see all their insides.
Áine's first arrows sink home into a single urdefhan. With the falling of the enemy leadership, her focus seems to waiver and several arrows ricochet off of armor and stone, which earns a quick, passing scowl that flashes across her face at her inattention.
Fatalistic, knowing there is nothing left than the cold embrace of death and the return to Abbadon for what remains of their life force as fodder for the daemons, the urdefhan attacks with surprising fierceness, sliding through Sasha's defenses.
The final two shift up, one trying to deprive the huge dinosaur of a directing force. The urdefhan's first strike hits with deadly precision. Apparently surprising the planar vampire as he almost drops the rhoka blade.
The other attacks Faith, his first strike breaking armor... and then a follow-up with teeth! Blood drips down from the vampires leer.
"Just a little mop up and we can go figure out that cage." Juliver says (continuing Bardic)
Faith moves on to the next target, not pausing to wipe Cherish. She can see all their insides. His first strike finishes off the vampire that bite him then Cherish meets the one that attacked Zaine.
Sasha's blades continue to cut away at the vampire, keeping him as much on the defense as she is.
Zaine blasts one of the remaining monsters.
Tulip advances, snapping at another, but can't land a hit.
Pakshee moves up ready to heal if someone looks like they need it.
Shai moves up, his sword out, but he doesn't look like he expects like it will be needed.
Áine redoubles her efforts and her focus, trying to deprive the fiendish vampires the chance to strike out at her friends again, if not to use their explosive energy in a last gasp effort.
Tulip bites the flanked vampire.
grab
Faith attacks the adjacent urdefhan with Cherish.
Áine redoubles her efforts and her focus, trying to deprive the fiendish vampires the chance to strike out at her friends again, if not to use their explosive energy in a last gasp effort.
The room, a starting place for the serpentfolk hunters in the maze... and a place for them to devour their captured prey based on the small privacy rooms off of the main room, was repurposed into a sacrificial chamber by the daemon aligned urdefhan. However, although the lives and souls of the sacrificed were taken here there is no sign of the potent energy that would be needed to bring fully manifested outsiders into the material plane.
With no exits in this room, the group has to backtrack into the maze proper. Sticking to the wider tunnels to make Tulip and Shai's movement easier, the group comes to a huge cavern. Although it is guarded by two of the vulpine faced daemons, the group is able to make quick work of them, giving them time to examine the crackling sphere of dark energy that fills the southern half of the cavern.
Half-distorted images of figures seemingly writhe and dance within its weave.
Anyone who is willing to take the headache that it incurs can safely gaze through the portal until they can make out the quiet dead wasteland on the other side. The dimly lit expanse is broken by cold, black mist and twisted landscapes.
Faith nods slowly. "That is not a good sign," he says.
He gazes into the portal.
"That looks like Abaddon," Faith says, "based on things I have heard. Bad news."
"...and I wouldn't know how to do either of those things."
"Yeah." Áine agrees, "Might be able to get there, given enough time. But probably wouldn't be able to get back...also wouldn't be able to tune to anywhere else, unfortunately. Maybe with enough study , if we really wanted to. What do you guys think?" Áine looks around at Pahkshee and Jules. "Do you understand this? Should we just let the camp know about it? Can you think of something we'd really want to use it for?"
Juliver starts nodding as Faith explains the portal. "I mean I can probably mess with the magical foundation of the thing, given time..." She kinda shrugs, "But where would you want it to be tuned to. I mean I don't know any planar allies that I could call on to help come smite the snakys."
Faith's mouth drops open. "I didn't even think of using it to summon allies. There are battle companions that I summon, but I don't ... I never ... it just ....."
Faith closes his mouth. "It's a lot to ponder. Bringing in allies is preferable to destroying it -- but I would rather destroy it or expend the charge than allow anyone to bring through..."
Faith gestures at Abaddon, words clearly failing him on the concept of .
Faith looks uncertain, which is not a comfortable look on him, when he says, "Leave it and lock the door behind us? If we think we can use it."
Áine purses her lips while thinking, "Yeah, I wouldn't have a clue as to who or what might be able to help in this." she considers for a moment, "Truthfully? Don't really like the idea of leaving it tuned to Abaddon with us not being nearby....I suppose we could put up an Alarm spell."
Juliver nods along with Faith and Aine's worry. After a moment she pulls some long wires and stones from her bags. She sets up the stones, wrapping wire about them, "Just a matter of dissipating the energy and turning it off. Same amount of work for us later, but the bloodsuckers will have to re-energize it to get their portal back."
A pause, "And hopefully you all killed the guy who had that job." There are a number of sparks and the gate makes a concerning noise before the hellscape disappears and the black energy dissipates.
The group moves on and comes to another pyramid crossing similar to the first room they came across - except that there are no gold marked tiles. The four skirmisher urdefhans guarding the room try to ambush the group by hiding in the illusion images of huge serpentfolk, but Aine's keen eyes and Tulip's keen scent means the ambush fails miserably.
Moving to the exit the group sees the same active but incomplete magics that they noticed on entering the maze - quick work for Aine and Juliver.
Looking out from the doors, you seen the two sets of urdefhan and dameons at each barrier. On the far side of the plateau the cage, right near a barrier, with the forced-quiet morlocks.
Initiative
Zaine
Tulip
Zaine takes a shot at the closest demon.
Tulip moves closer to the near group.
Faith moves toward the nearest cluster of foes.
Áine again concentrates on the fox faced fiends, swinging around close enough to get them in range of her quick strike shots should they drop their guard for even an instant.
[Ooc]summary
Arrows1&MS: to hit 44, dam 31+27= 58hp
ArrowRS: to hit 35, dam 26hp
Arrow 2: to hit 34, dam 31hp
Arrow 3: to hit 23, dam 29hp
Arrow H: to hit 33, dam 28hp
Once she gets the okay from Zaine, Áine concentrates and Tulip grows.
Zaine takes a shot at the closest demon. The shot comes very close to slamming into a nearby serpent statue, but does hit a vulpine fiend.
Faith moves toward the nearest cluster of foes.
Tulip moves closer to the near group.
And the other move up as well.
Zaine gives an exaggerated evil laugh as Tulip grows to huge size.
Zaine takes careful aim at the same demon and fires.
A newly embiggened Tulip grabs a demon in her massive jaws.
grab
Áine chuckles, nearly silently.
summary:
Animal Growth
Aspect of the Falcon (3rd casting)
Bloody Arrows: +1 bleed per arrow, max 5 bleed per round (2nd casting)
Chameleon Stride, Greater +4 stealth, 20% miss chance to those more then 5' away. Only covers those within 10' of me. Juliver and maybe Tulip/Zaine?
Gravity Bow (3rd casting)
Life Bubble (28 hours divided among group from start of Hunter's Maze)
Pack Empathy better idea of what is or is going to happen (14 hours)
Perceive Cues (2 hr and 20 min)
Quieting Weapons (2 hrs 20 min from entering Hunter's Maze)
Rite of Bodily Purity +2 save vs disease, drugs, poison(24 hours)
Unbreakable Heart, +4 vs negative emotion mind affecting effects (6 rounds - 3rd casting)
Visualization of the Body, not exactly temporary hp (24 hours)
Áine's carpet silently races around the huge T-rex to put the farther spell caster and 2 of the urdefhan within range of her quick strike shots, should they drop their guard for even an instant. She again concentrates her withering fire on the fox faced fiends.
In a tone only loud enough that someone right next to her is likely to hear, Áine says, "Jules? By the way, you know you can use the wands in my right hip quiver whenever you think they might be useful, right?" she reaches back, catches Juliver's hand in hers, guides them over to the proper section of the Efficient Quiver, brushing the tips with their fingers, before leaving the blond Pathfinder's hand resting on her waist (and belt should she need to steady herself further if the carpet moves unexpectedly)
Faith casts a spell on himself, and Cherish glows her soft holy glow of annihilation, even from inside the closest urdefhan.
From her defensive position on the carpet, Juliver scans not only the battlefield by the decreipt ruins below. "Most of them are probably at the battlements, but it'd make sense for them to have some ready to ambush down there."
Áine's carpet silently races around the huge T-rex to put the farther spell caster and 2 of the urdefhan within range of her quick strike shots, should they drop their guard for even an instant. She again concentrates her withering fire on the fox faced fiends.
Zaine takes careful aim at the same demon and fires.
A newly embiggened Tulip grabs a demon in her massive jaws. There is a cruching sound, but the demon proves to be a tough meal as its bony claws come close to ripping into Tulip's flesh.
Sasha continues her dash across the field, sliding into the midst of the skirmisher urdefhan and providing flaning for Faith's knife.
Faith casts a spell on himself, and Cherish glows her soft holy glow of annihilation, even from inside the closest urdefhan. The barrage of attacks greatly wounds the vampire but he still stands.
From the other barricade the urdefhan begin to run along the edge of the plateau running to the defense of their allies.
The two daemons on that side take the more direct route of flying over the ruins directly, casting spells while in mid-flight. The first spell sinks into the flesh of your group, evaporating the mositure from their skin.
Except for Zaine, who is unaffected.
From the other flying daemon foe, a barrage of force missiles shoots forth, unerringly targeting the huge dinosaur.
The grappled daemon tries to free itself with magic. But a quick twist and chomp from the biggened Tulip keeps the daemon grappled in her sharp teeth.
Another set of missiles explodes from the final daemon, this time slamming unerringly into Faith. And then it casts another spell, defensively, with a wicked grin.
The flanked pair of urdefhan turn their unusual swords on Faith, the wounded one managing to score a lucky blow against the warpriest.
The other two attempt to remove Faith's flanking by attacking Sasha, doing margingly better.
Shae sees the group has the nearer set of enemies well in hand and moves forward to meet the charge of the secondary group of urdefhan with his sword.
Zaine fires at the same demon.
Tulip shakes her prey back and forth.
Grapple
Áine redoubles her efforts to take down the arcane wielding outsiders. She fires two arrows then hesitates just a beat before releasing the remainder.
Áine grimaces. Licks her dry and cracked lips in an attempt to moisten them at least a little. She glares at the offending daemon as her eyes take in the entire battlefield.
Faith casts a spell on himself, healing somewhat, then lays into the urdefhan with a cheerfully-glowing Cherish.
Juliver looks back from the ruins where, indeed, you notice movement but far off. "Good point." Juliver says at Aine's quiet suggestion, pulling out a wand and healing the archer.
Áine redoubles her efforts to take down the arcane wielding outsiders. She fires two arrows then hesitates just a beat before releasing the remainder. Despite the salvo of arrows that do strike home, the outsider remains flying on his clawed toes.
Zaine fires at the same demon, grappled by Tulip.
Tulip shakes her prey back and forth. Despite the damage from both t-rex and rider, the daemon persists.
Sasha does significant damage to one of the skirmishers behind her but not quite enough to drop it.
Faith casts a spell on himself, healing somewhat, then lays into the urdefhan with a cheerfully-glowing Cherish. His first strike finishes off the urdefhan he targetted the previous round then the remainder slices into the other outsider he can easily rach.
The far away urdefhan charge up to Shae, surrounding the cyclopean general that they know was locked out of time in the maze.
The other of the flying daemons lets loose with a horrid wilting, attempting to kill you all through the lack of water before it comes close. Then the magic missiles fly.
The grappled daemon tries bite Tulip and drain her blood. Unsuccessfully.
The final daemon 'steps' up through the air to close with the archer while defensively casting a spell. It's claw sparks with electricity. Somehow, despite casting a spell which gives him perfect striking ability, he utterly misses touching the archer, instead releasing the electrical energy in a blast that nearly hits one of the urdefhan on the ground.
Despite the utter and critical failure of his primary attack, a set of missile bursts forth and slams into Aine's face.
The urdefhan damaged but not killed by Faith attempts to even the score, but only scores Faith's armor.
The final two do manage to tag Sasha through her defense.
Utterly prepared for the rush of the urdefhan, Shae's sword falls on one of the fiends and his body is shortly falling down the ruins below.
Pakshee carefully creeps up behind Tulip and heals some of the wounds from the magic missiles.
Áine looks taken aback, utterly confused as the electrical burst flashes past. Not that she would have been able to dodge magic missiles anyway... "How rude!" she says in a self assured smile at the flying daemon, "Don't you know its bad manners to hit a girl in the face?"
Her bow rises as she dodges to one side in a low cat stance. Arrows sprout from the daemon torso almost as soon as they leave her quiver.
Once again, Faith casts a spell on himself, healing somewhat, then lays into the remaining urdefhan with a cheerfully-glowing Cherish. "I can keep this up all day," he says.
Tulip save (ride check)
Zaine takes careful aim at the demon in Tulip's jaws and fires.
Tulip slams the demon onto the ground, pinning him with a foot and tearing at him with her jaws.