Faith staggers for a moment, as though the bowl were suddenly very heavy. He tips it carefully into his Bag of Holding, and walks back to where the others are hiding.
"Now we have another to destroy," he says, a touch of strain in his voice.
A burst of positive energy floods out of Faith, healing all nearby. The holy symbols on his blade and his cheek glow brightly. When that glow fades, one of Sasha's blades is glowing to match the glow on Áine's bow.
Pakshee gives Faith an exasperated look but only speaks enough to heal Sasha again, scolding the ranger for letting herself get grabbed.
A burst of positive energy floods out of Faith, healing all nearby. The holy symbols on his blade and his cheek glow brightly. When that glow fades, one of Sasha's blades is glowing to match the glow on Áine's bow.
Aine disappears with a promise of death by arrows.
Everyone moves inside the temple, wincing with pain.
The front line of a group of eight serpentfolk guards appears.
Sense Motive
Zaine levels the musket and blasts the first snakeman he sees.
Tulip sets to receive the advancing snakemen.
"Hey Pretty Bird" Áine calls out, "You mind getting bigger for a little while?"
Animal Growth
School transmutation; Level druid 5, ranger 4, sorcerer/wizard 5
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target one animal (Gargantuan or smaller)
Duration 1 min./level
Saving Throw Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance yes
The target animal grows to twice its normal size and eight times its normal weight. This alteration changes the animal's size category to the next largest, grants it a +8 size bonus to Strength and a +4 size bonus to Constitution (and thus an extra 2 hit points per HD), and imposes a –2 size penalty to Dexterity. The creature's existing natural armor bonus increases by 2. The size change also affects the animal's modifier to AC, attack rolls, and its base damage. The animal's space and reach change as appropriate to the new size, but its speed does not change. If insufficient room is available for the desired growth, the creature attains the maximum possible size and may make a Strength check (using its increased Strength) to burst any enclosures in the process. If it fails, it is constrained without harm by the materials enclosing it—the spell cannot be used to crush a creature by increasing its size.
All equipment worn or carried by the animal is similarly enlarged by the spell, though this change has no effect on the magical properties of any such equipment.
Any enlarged item that leaves the enlarged creature's possession instantly returns to its normal size.
The spell gives no means of command over an enlarged animal.
Multiple magical effects that increase size do not stack.
Life Bubble
School abjuration; Level cleric 5, druid 4, ranger 3, sorcerer/wizard 5
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (a bit of eggshell)
Range touch
Target creatures touched, up to one/level
Duration 2 hours/level; see text
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
You surround the touched creatures with a constant and moveable 1-inch shell of tolerable living conditions. This shell enables the subjects to breathe freely, even underwater or in a vacuum, as well as making them immune to harmful gases and vapors, including inhaled diseases and poisons and spells like cloudkill and stinking cloud. In addition, the shell protects subjects from extremes of temperature (per endure elements) as well as extremes of pressure.
Life bubble does not provide protection from negative or positive energy (such as found on the Negative and Positive Energy planes), the ability to see in conditions of poor visibility (such as in smoke or fog), nor the ability to move or act normally in conditions that impede movement (such as underwater).
When you cast this spell it has a total duration of 2 hours per caster level. You can divide this duration up in any manner you wish, not necessarily equally, between up to 1 creature per caster level.
As promised, Áine appears and rains Holy Death upon the serpentfolk. "Thanks Faith!" she calls out above din of battle. "Sel? How are you feeling? Jules, watch yourself."
As the serpentfolk pass her position, several suddenly sprout wooden shafts and stumble, grievously wounded.
Arrows1&MS: 38+32 = 70 hp
ArrowRS: 36 hp
Arrow 2: 35 hp
Arrow 3: 35 hp
Faith touches Pakshee on the shoulder and casts to heal her . Then he takes his place on the front line.
Sasha is ready to move to attack the snakes once they are in the funnel.
Tulip sets to receive the advancing snakemen.
Faith touches Pakshee on the shoulder and casts to heal her. Then he takes his place on the front line.
"Pss, there's only six, you all have this in the bag." Juliver reassures everyone.
Zaine levels the musket and blasts the first snakeman he sees. Which hits and does a nice damaging hole.
'I suggest,' a cold mind with a light touch brushes against your mind, her will forcing itself over your own, 'that you lay down your weapons so we don't have to waste your death.' The spellcaster remains invisible, only a voice in your own head.
The serpents advance, ready to attack the front row.
As promised, Áine appears and rains Holy Death upon the serpentfolk. "Thanks Faith!" she calls out above din of battle. "Sel? How are you feeling? Jules, watch yourself."
As the serpentfolk pass her position, several suddenly sprout wooden shafts and stumble, grievously wounded.
Sasha doesn't quite drop her holy glowing weapon, but it is a very near thing.
Pakshee quietly scolds Tulip to be safe.
Kline narrows his eyes, "If you give me a general area, I might be able to catch the cold b~!*# in a glitterdust."
Sel starts shaking her head as soon as she hears the voice, stumbling back through the door that leads outside.
Zaine save
Zaine puts another hole into an advancing serpentmen.
The newly gigantic Tulip chomps on a snake guard.
grab
Áine fires a volley into the serpentfolk as her carpet moves rapidly towards the open door.
Arrows1&MS: 34+28 = 62 hp
ArrowRS: 93 hp
Arrow 2: 37 hp
Arrow 3: to hit 21, 34 hp
"My death is never a waste, it is a gift for my Goddess," Faith says in Taldane, even though he has no idea whether or not the enemy caster speaks it.
Faith keeps ranks, and waits for the snake people to come to him.
Sasha tries to look around for the source of the mental command, but the two snake guards in front are a distraction. She rends one, who stands by as a wound that nearly cuts to spine on his side..
The newly gigantic Tulip chomps on a snake guard. Easily grappling the tiny, weak snakes with her massive teeth.
"My death is never a waste, it is a gift for my Goddess," Faith says in Taldane, even though he has no idea whether or not the enemy caster speaks it.
Faith keeps ranks, and attacks the snake people that came to him.
Juliver's rapier drops from limp fingers as she looks around, the fight gone from her, stolen by magic.
Zaine puts another hole into an advancing serpentmen.
'That really will not do.' The voice echoes through everyone's head making Juliver cringe. A glowing cage of force appears around Tulip!
The guard grappled (and possible trapped with) Tulip strike out with flail and tooth. Neither is particularly successful.
The other guard who had engaged Tulip steps away from the cage and joins force to attack Faith. His holy armor stands up well and he only takes a single blow.
Sasha doesn't do as well, even with Pakshee's scolding ringing in her ears, but she looks ready to do as well as she got.
Áine fires a volley into the serpentfolk, taking down one by Faith, as her carpet moves rapidly towards the open door.
Pakshee creeps around the cage, clearly annoyed with herself for staging herself on the wrong side of the battle.
Kline grabs Juliver's wrist, tapping her cheek with the other hand, "Kiddo, snap out of it. If you listen to the coils you get trapped."
Juliver blinks, looking more than a little embarrassed. "If she's using telepathy to cast her spells she's going to be harder to find than a normal invisible spellcaster." Juliver says, helpfully.
"I knew the risks, Faith, balanced it against the import of your needs and," his old voice firm in this, "your own skill to keep my soul and flesh together." He takes a deep breath, hacking a little when the air gets deep into his lungs, "The good news is, as far as I can tell, neither of you have a physical abnormality that should hinder your goal of creating a child." He holds up a hand in caution, "I still haven't figured out a magical means to check virility of eggs and sperm, but you are both young and healthy so I'll ponder that if it becomes needed."
Jask casts another spell, not one that ravages his body. His glance over Faith is brief, as it would appear to be on Pakshee but the he just stops, staring.
Sasha brightens, whistling low, too low to truly carry to the happy flier high above. She leans back against Zaine, shifting her weight so it rests fully in the saddle and where he can keep her steady. A bright smile spreads, "Never get tired of flying." Her shoulders shift back and forth as Zephyr banks and dips into the hole.
"Gets... not tight, but bad for wings. Waddling is not as much fun as flying."
Sasha freezes, "quiet quiet, slow and easy"
Only when Zephyr struggles free of the hole, does she breath normally.
"Three, Zaine." She turns in the saddle to look at him, "Another one the same size as the girl we saw fly off and a huge one with a black dragon head." She shakes her head, "I always read that chimera were solitary predators."
Zaine ride check
Zaine's digs his heels in, and Tulip surges out of the cage of light before it can close. He turns and shoots a serpent man.
Tulip crunches down on the serpent guard in her jaws.
"Now that is an excellent idea," Zaine says wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her an affectionate kiss.
"Let's back off," Zaine says. "Let the camp know we've found them and what they are."
Áine calls out.
Áine's carpet surges forward until she believes she is above and to one side of the serpentfolk caster. She fires a volley of arrows to help highlight the area. Her arrows, glowing with Holy power from Faith's goddess bracket the serpentfolk nicely, only 1 sinking home. Still, she curses under her breath for having wasted another point from her vest.
Arrows1&MS: 30+38 = 68 hp 50% miss
ArrowRS: 29 hp 50% miss
Arrow 2: 29hp or confirm 25, 90 hp
Arrow 3: 37 hp 50% miss
Arrow H: 30 hp 50% miss
Total assumed damage: 29 hp
"I see her too!" Faith adds. "One moment."
Faith shows the snake people how much he Cherishes them.
Faith feels a little less uneasy knowing that Jask is placing his confidence in Faith's ability as a healer.
Faith looks at Jask, then at Pakshee, then back at Jask.
He knows better than to interrupt mid-casting, but the look of curiosity and concern on his face is clear.
This time Sasha's swords tear into the injured snakeman, just managing to drop one of the two.
Zaine's digs his heels in, and Tulip surges out of the cage of light before it can close. He turns and shoots a serpent man. Killing the other snake that Sasha injured.
Tulip crunches down on the serpent guard in her jaws. Blood coats the forcecage but the snake continues to struggle and bite himself.
"My death is never a waste, it is a gift for my Goddess," Faith says in Taldane, even though he has no idea whether or not the enemy caster speaks it.
Faith shows the snake people how much he Cherishes them. He cherishes one so much that it falls to the ground in a pool of blood that is not honoring the snake god's altar.
The jig up, five missiles of force fly from the invisible spellcaster's location slamming unerringly into Faith.
'Not for long, little archer.'
"Ooh. Squeak. That was just nasty! Squeak." Áine twitches her nose involuntarily. "Better luck next time. Or should we make that, in your next life?" she raises her bow, nocking two arrows as she does so.
Despite his fate being all but sealed, the guard in Tulip's jaws fights on with a silent insane focus.
The last guard withdraws from Faith, putting himself solidly between the intruders and the invisible wizard.
Áine's carpet surges forward until she believes she is above and to one side of the serpentfolk caster. She fires a volley of arrows to help highlight the area. Her arrows, glowing with Holy power from Faith's goddess bracket the serpentfolk nicely, only 1 sinking home and that only doing partial damage. Still, she curses under her breath for having wasted another point from her vest. Maybe a side effect of almost being moused.
Pakshee finishes moving, casting a healing on Sasha. ()
Kline blasts the guard, and his presumed hidden charge with glitterdust, rimming them both with an obvious outline.
"Two and... whatever is left of the one in Tulip's jaws." She looks around, the quietly, "where'd Sel go?"
"Pakshee, do you know what is in your arm?" he asks.
"Father's mother put a bone bead in after Klorak killed Father to be chief." She shrugs, "She said it was what Father would want."
Jask shakes his head, "She didn't like Klorak, did she."
Pakshee shrugs, "She told Klorak he could have strong son's if he covered himself in strong blood, but she always laughed when he left."
The trio is able to withdraw from the island without drawing attention, but just before they get out of sight they see the female chimera flying back a large alligator hanging from her claws.
"Who are we telling?" Sasha asks, her mind still clearly on the puzzle of the pack of chimera.
Zaine turns. "Turns out I have a bullet with your name on it," he says to the caster. He fires at the glitterdusted silhouette, and the musket booms like thunder.
Tulip's jaws continue to crush the poor snake guard.
"Through the door." Áine answers Juliver, "She stumbled through when the spellcaster started yammering at us in our heads. So due to that or of her own volition I'm not 100% sure."
"There you are." Áine's smile is predatory, "I'm guessing you were about to eat me and let me suffer in your digestive track for a long, long time. Can't say I'm about to give you a second chance. Let's see if you can cast with no air in your lungs." She swings around at ground level to the far side of the serpent guard and unloads into the spellcaster, now outlined in golden flecks, Holy arrows sizzling inside her as she falls. An extra arrow or two might even find their way through to the serpent guard on the other side. "Thanks, Kline" she smiles belatedly, it really would have sucked being a mouse."[/b]
[Ooc]summary
Arrows1&MS: 30+32 = 62
ArrowRS: 34 hp
Arrow 2: 34 hp
Arrow 3: 32 hp
Faith casts a spell on himself, then moves toward the outlined spellcaster.
Faith's eyes go wide. "Is that a special gift left behind by Pakshee's grandmother?" he asks Jask. "Would I know it as something else?"
Sasha spares a minute to smile a thanks at Pakshee. Then she runs towards the outline of the spellcaster.
Zaine turns. "Turns out I have a bullet with your name on it," he says to the caster. He fires at the glitterdusted silhouette, and the musket booms like thunder. Even as the bullet hits the outlined body disappears from view.
Tulip's jaws crush the poor snake guard.
"My death is never a waste, it is a gift for my Goddess," Faith says in Taldane, even though he has no idea whether or not the enemy caster speaks it.
Faith casts a spell on himself, then moves toward the outlined spellcaster.
"There you are." Áine's smile is predatory, at least until the spellcaster goes missing, "Oh well, guess you're next." she says to the serpent guard, filling his chest with feathered fletchings and dropping him in his tracks, Holy arrows sizzling inside him.
Her carpet begins speeding towards the back of the room towards the door with Juliver and Kline, "Thanks, Eando, Zaine." she smiles belatedly, it really would have sucked being a mouse."
[B]"Dimension door."[b] Pakshee comments confused as to how the spell could have happened what it look like the head was gone.
"We'll have to deal with that one later," Faith says. "And now we need to find Sel, don't we? To find the 'guest quarters' in the tail?"
"I had a silly thought that this Sel might have been that disappearing evil wizard?" Zaine says. "Silly, I know."
"It's possible, lad," Faith says. "There is no end to the perfidy of evil."
In the chapel, the hidden door reveals a small reliquary containing three candles which Faith's skin craw and scent of blood and
implements used in the chapel, such as cloth-of-gold chasubles and sacrificial daggers, flensing knives, bowls, and chalices, all made of gold.
Out on the balcony...
The fanged mouth of the giant serpent overlooks the entire city of Ilmurea. A large silvery lens floats above a pedestal in the center of the snake’s mouth, turning slowly in midair. The guard who alerted the wizard and the other guardroom is standing at the edge of the fanged mouth near splattered blood, no Sel in sight.
"I had a silly thought that this Sel might have been that disappearing evil wizard?" Zaine says. "Silly, I know."
"Not entirely silly," Áine comments, "she wasn't hurt when she entered the room. Or at least she didn't actually receive any wounds like the rest of us did."
She heads towards the guard in the fanged mouth, glances around as she does so to see if the mouth looks like it might close and crush her.
Faith follows behind Áine, ready to back her up. He keeps his eyes open for the invisible glittering spellcaster.
The serpent hisses as people come out into the snake's fanged mouth, running to put itself between you and the lens. Like a shout but only in your head you hear
He has his weapon in hand but seems to be waiting for something.
If the serpent is waiting, Faith is Detecting. The lens is obviously magic, but what kind? And what else is around?
Áine holds the side of her head with one hand, "డామన్ గన్స్లింగర్ ఖావిత్ను తలపై కొట్టాడు. ఆమె సరిగ్గా మాట్లాడలేరు." she straightens up and her tone becomes more imperious, "వైర్-అజుల్ పిలుస్తుంది అమ్మాయి ఎక్కడ ఉంది? మీరు ఆమెను దూరం చేయనివ్వలేదా?"
"Damn gunslinger hit Khavith in the side of the head. She can't talk right." her tone becomes more imperious, "Vyr-Azul calls. Where is the girl? You didn't let her get away did you?"
The magic in the lens is ancient and powerful, painful not because it is evil but from the sheer unknown magics.
It stabs at Faith's mind looking for an ability that does not exist in his limited human mind. Instead after a moment his mind is blasted by burning, ophidian eyes and he can think nothing as
[ooc]Please make a Will DC 30 or be confused for
The guards eye slit narrow, 'She fell when she ran here like a madwoman. A pity that a tasty meal was wasted.' His mental voice sharp as venom.
He remains, defensive, between the group and the 10-ft wide translucent disk.
She shivers when Aine's mouth plays with her lobe, her body squeezing around the small intruder, focusing the invader down, just on the verge of being expelled.
Without much regret, Pakshee answer, "Zaine shot her."
"The ..." Faith can see Jask mentally picking the term he wants to use, "spellcaster with the alchemy lab."
Pakshee nods.
"Then maybe she intended to remove it after it had accomplished what she wanted." Jask says, no real faith in his voice, "There is a curse in the bead, one that affects Pakshee, but there is a dormant part of the magic that I am uncertain as to its effect. The curse, as best I can parse the magic..." he explains, "the curse is more of a supernatural effect than a spell which makes its workings harder to understand, seems to force an emptiness in Pakshee."
At camp, you see Kassata talking to Trevin, the pirate captain with a hand on the old man's shoulder, a fond smile on her face.
"అది దురదృష్టకరం." Áine says, "వైర్-అజుల్ సంతోషించలేడని నేను ఖచ్చితంగా అనుకుంటున్నాను. మరియు స్ఖావో ఎక్కడ ఉంది?" she pauses for a number of heartbeats, apparently with the intent of allowing the serpent guard to respond if he wishes, but then seems to change her mind and continues in common, "Yeah, sorry. I just want you out of the way." and cuts the serpentfold guard down with a focused spray of arrows.
"That is unfortunate." Áine says, "I'm sure Vyr-Azul will not be pleased. And where is Sskhavo?"
Arrows1&MS: 33+35 = 68 hp
ArrowRS: 99 hp
Arrow 2: 37 hp
Arrow 3: to hit 24, dam 33 hp
Juliver makes a ungraceful sound as AÁine pulls her down to straddle both her and the chair. As the archer's dexterous fingers slip down, she find the half-elf's lips bare and slick with her own juices, and the blonde's hips gyrate increasing the brief contact and Áine can feel the vibrating dicus just inside her mouth.
She shivers when Áine's mouth plays with her lobe, her body squeezing around the small intruder, focusing the invader down, just on the verge of being expelled.
"Hmmm. Beautiful." Áine murmurs in Juliver's ear. Áine's lips and tongue continue their path up to the tip of her more then humanly point and around the top, before her soft, wet tongue begins to slide inside, her tongue flicking out exploring the soft curves judiciously, giving her the same attention as she would the ice cream cone the half-elf girl so professed to enjoy not so very long ago. Meanwhile, Áine's left hand keeps her soft stroke and slide going around the wet, glazed rim of her honey pot. The fingers of her right tracing out the tensed muscles of her abdomen before settling again, flat just below the belly button. "Hun? This body is way to good for the armor you wear." she whispers again, breath hot in almost elven ears, tongue running over and around the small lobe before gathering it in to suckle gently like a small fruity treat within the desert. The silver discus seems to resist the downward pressure, instead climbing up, scrabbling against the outer wall, resisting or perhaps actively pushing back against the pressure of Áine's palm. Luckily the diminutive creature seems to have no claws as it initially begins to scrabble against the area almost as if to tunnel through, but then settles down and merely shivers not so coincidentally right against the athletic young blonds g-spot.
Faith rubs his temples and winces. "The magic in that lens is old and powerful and not human. It told me the Headless King returns and I cannot prevent his rise to glory."
Faith glares at the lens. "I feel as though I am honor-bound to prevent his rise to glory."
Even as Faith rubs his temples, the guard falls to the ground with 6 arrows protruding from his chest.
** spoiler omitted **
Faith rubs his temples and winces. "The magic in that lens is old and powerful and not human. It told me the Headless King returns and I cannot prevent his rise to glory."
Faith glares at the lens. "I feel as though I am honor-bound to prevent his rise to glory."
"Can we break it?" Áine asks. "We stil haven't taken care of Sskhavo, but since we're here. Or is it actually just a conduit thing and not really evil itself? " a pause, "Oh, wait." she goes to look over the edge near the blood splatter at the fangs.
"It is not easy to break magical objects on the spur of the moment," Faith says. He eyes the lens. "I don't know if that would fit in my bag. There is also the problem of being mind-blasted."
"I see" Áine says turning away from looking over the edge with perhaps a little melancholy. "Then we come back here to finish the job if we get the opportunity, but for now we look for Sskhavo and Belkor, am I right."
"....yes," Faith says reluctantly. "I do not see us staying to destroy this site and surviving without assistance from Izon. He should not care about this site if we succeed. And we will not care if we do not. Sskhavo if possible, Belkor for certain."
The group starts to head back down the snake's spine, on high alert for more guards and Sskhavo.
There is also another door between them, currently open, which no one saw on the way up. Possibly hidden by an illusion.
As you get to the room that lead down to the dungeon level, you hear a what would be a low level of noise, but in these silent halls feels like a loud trumpet. You hear many, many booted feet. They aren't moving in your direction, but there seems to be a high concentration of guards and maybe others ahead.
Many many.
Faith points to the locked doors on the way back down. "The magic on these is gone," he says. And he points to a door between them, which wasn't there on the way up, "and this one may have been hidden by an illusion."
Faith pauses when he hears the murmuring, and his gaze flicks up to Áine. "Sounds like quite a few," he says.
The first door reveals a comfortably furnished, but not lavishly, room
containing a bed, a desk and chair, and a bookshelf. On the floor is the very dead body of a black-scaled snakefolk with no head. However, on the desk there is a near perfect ivory statue which shows what the wizard looked like with a head.
The door that had been so well hidden before proves to just be another guard room - the likely source of the six guards who died with the wizard.
Then the other door that had been protected by arcane lock - which is also connected to the wizard's room by a hidden passage - reveals a large stone table, covered with all manner of arcane and esoteric equipment, cuts across this room. Points of flame at each corner of the table illuminate the chamber, the walls of which are lined with workbenches, cabinets, and shelves. Beyond the table, a barred cage stands atop a raised portion of the floor.
"I remember that," Faith says. "Back on the island. A lot of it blurs together now, but I remember most of the Pakshee-related events."
Faith takes a deep breath as Jask relates the consequences of the bone bead and its associated curse.
"That does explain much," he says, glancing at Pakshee. "I don't know much about curses or their removal, but I suspect it is more difficult than simply removing the bone. Especially as we do not know what lies dormant."
Faith turns to Jask. "Is this something you feel you could learn in time, or would it be better to seek out an active practitioner of these arts when we return to civilization?"
Faith turns back to Pakshee. "We can study this more fully, although it will undoubtedly take time. What would you like to do?"
"I am confident there is a solution, although I know not what it is or where to find it."
"I guess this is as good a place to hole up as any." Áine says, "Let me see what I can turn up." she begins inspecting her gear, "By the time i get back Tulip should be back to normal size." Áine considers for a moment befor casting Pack Empathy. "This should let me know if you are discovered, in which case I'll come running...or if I get in over my head...in which case I'd say you should probably head out. They're riled up and there's probably too many of them to take on head on. Be back in a few."
It doesn't take far to find out just what is happening - less than a quarter turn of the snake's body. The core that leads from the broken bridge to the hallway is packed with serpentfolk, each of the scanning the area around them, watching and waiting for attack. While they don't choke the hallway body of the snake, there are many. None make much sound on their own, but the slight movements of over a hundred serpents, moving methodically, adds up.
It looks like the fortress is on high alert but the mass of guards have been called here, to the core of the fortress.
Jask considers, "Curse wielders tend to two type, solo practitioners and covens. Either way their magic tends to be more instinctual than the practiced art of a wizard, but not drawn from the heritage of their blood. Instead they reach out to arcane patrons and use that learning to channel a spark within themselves."
"In Garund, you might have luck if you reached out to the Magaambya, they have a very different way at looking at magic." Jask smiles, "Of course, you'd likely be able to tempt one or two of them here if you gave them a chance to study pre-Earthfall magic."
"How far away?" the pirate captain asks, then listening to a description of the chimera's island. She shakes her head at the easy path between the predator's lair and the easier hunting out of the city. "A chimera can have a litter of up to six cubs, all needing a high quantity of protein for the first four months when they go from newborn to young at which point they are normally chased out of their parent's hunting ground."
Áine returns, probably sooner then she anticipated, "There's a ton of snakes down there. Looks like they've packed the core. Probably protecting their precious commander." she grimaces, not completely hiding her displeasure. "Our best bet might be to try a different route. Maybe follow Sel down and see about coming back up from the other side?" she thinks for a moment, "I think we're pretty much at a dead end here. Do you want me to check out the route there? See if we have a decent chance of making it down to the tail entrance unseen or shall we just head out together? How do we shape up for air travel?"
"It would be nice to leave after we have killed Belkor," Faith says. "If we have the magic to fly down the outside and still get back to safety, I am not opposed. What is our option? Do we even have a remote chance to get to the tail otherwise?"
"The Magaambya, do I know them by another name?" Faith asks. "I will seek expert advice for even a small chance of Pakshee's happiness."
Faith reaches out to give Pakshee's hand a squeeze.
"Thank you for all your time and effort, friend," he says, giving Jask a careful clap on the back with his free hand.
"This is not a puzzle I can untangle alone."
Áine defers to Pakshee regarding the flight and escape options. "If we were to hole up for a day, yeah, I could come up with something, but I don't know that we want to do that. As it is now, I could probably get everyone down maybe 1 or 2 at a time except Tulip. So we'd need at least one air walk...or until I can rearrange my spells, at which time we could have the air walk anyway." she grimaces, "I don't really think we should leaver her here and come back for her later, though she'd likely be okay on her own."