"If you see a lab, don't touch it -- it's mine!" Vug adds protectively as she follows Valgrim down the hole.
You descend about 50 feet into an earthen-walled cavern that reeks of sharp, bitter chemicals strong enough to water the eyes and steal the breath. The walls of the cavern are a tangled mess of roots, mud, and stone. Water drips constantly from the walls, gathering in puddles on the floor and collecting in a fuming pool. If it weren't for your magical protection you would feel your eyes and skin burning by now.
As you descend carefully, a skeletal being dripping with acid rises out of the pool and greets Valgrim by spitting a wad of highly caustic acid at him for 59 points of acid damage and 3 points of Dexterity drain as the acid makes his skin stiffen and form a crust.
You can tell from the skeletal form that this is an undead monster with DR/bludgeoning and probably something else. It's got spell resistance but no particular immunities (except acid, of course), and obviously some spell-like abilities and an acidic aura.
You are all up.
Round 1:
Valgrim casts Versatile Weapon on his falchion to do bludgeoning damage as a standard action. He calls out to the party, "Let it come to us!" As a move action, he moves up 15' and uses Camouflage and hides in his favored terrain (underground) without need of cover or concealment.
Friar casts Summon Monster VII as full-round action.
Bubba casts haste and begins to inspire courage.
I misread Ferez thinking he was doing the same spell, different flavor.
So, how much fire are we protected from? And how much acid damage do we resist?
Haste vs. Vug's SR: (Nope.)
Vug chucks a bunch of sunlight bombs at the creature.
with Inspire Courage and Heroism and Rapid Shot:
All bombs are sticky bombs and do splash damage (28 fire) on the next turn.
Vulcan delays. Severely hurt by Vug's bombs, the monster conjures a roomful of Acid Fog and closes to fight.
You are all up.
Vulcan erupts in a powerful chant that summons a mighty cylinder of swirling winds, repelling the acid fog as it surrounds the entire group. As the fog in the area clears he immediately summons a stream of ice shards to shred and freeze the creature.
SR roll
Valgrim full attacks!
Yep, it's down.
Whatever the monster was, some kind of creation out of pure acid and fury, it's gone now, even its very bones dissolving after its unholy energy is spent.
Unfortunately its presence (and the battle with the dragons didn't help either) has corroded and ruined almost everything here. Only a few little things stashed in corners have managed to survive (some coins, pieces of jewelry and a mithril shield), worth 4000 gp in all. But you also find three small adamantine vials containing some sort of alchemical elixirs, that smell interesting.
"These vials are interesting. Have at 'em, Vug!"
Bubba examines the shield, casting detect magic and studying it.
Vug examines the vials.
Friar sacrifices Resist Energy to cast Cure Moderate Wounds on Valgrim in case the dragons try to betray us.
The shield is non-magical. The vials on the other hand are unique alchemical concoctions that give inherent bonuses to the imbiber.
#1: The first gives a +1 bonus to Strength and a +1 to Constitution.
#2: The second gives a +2 bonus to Charisma.
#3: The third grants a +3 increase to the drinker's natural armor, and in so doing covers his shoulders, forehead, arms, legs, and abdomen in thick black scales.
Friar passes on any of the three elixirs. He concurs to kill the dragons however. "I cannot carry on my conscience if even one innocent dies at their hands, when we had a chance to end them."
"They'd just be a problem we'd need to solve later,I say watch them burn."
The next day, after you've levelled up, the dragons perish noisily in a barrage of cold ice strikes, lightning bolts, bombs, a whirling inspired falchion and a greater water elemental, leaving you free to continue your search for Lashonna.
Your best bet is probably to try to get into Midas's party, but you are definitely going to need new outfits and otherwise get ready for the party.
"Bubba, can you find out how to get invitations to the party?"
1st level: Divine Favor, Liberating Command, Protection from Evil, Shield of Faith (x3), Shield of Faith (Domain)
2nd level: Bull's Strength, Grace, Hold Person, Remove Paralysis, Resist Energy, Spiritual Weapon, Bless Weapon (Domain)
3rd Level: Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Remove Blindness/Deafness, Resist Energy, Communal, Searing Light, Searing Light (Domain)
4th level: Death Ward x3, Freedom of Movement, Order's Wrath, Holy Smite (Domain)
5th level: Air Walk, Communal, Breath of Life, Flame Strike, Life Bubble, True Seeing, Flame Strike (Domain)
6th level: Cold Ice Strike, Heal x2, Heroes' Feast, Fire Seeds (Domain)
7th level: Quickened Prayer, Summon Monster VII, Sunbeam (Domain)
8th level: Spell Immunity (Greater), Holy Aura (Domain)
Bubba quickly learns that a number of nobles that have been invited have declined for various reasons, and Midas hates empty places at the table, so there will be some invitations left.
The man who is charged to fill these spots is Arnhim Loratio, the owner of the Deluxury. Bubba only has to show up and smile to get an invitation, but the rest of you will have to convince him.
Friar imbues himself with Touch of Glory and speaks, "Ah, my dear Loratio, have you not heard of my ventures with these companions? How we slew a black dragon a few months ago or how we won the Champion's Games this year?? I am sure King Midas will be more than impressed with our tales if you let us attend."
Valgrim pulls out the Belt from the Games. "Yeah, Bubba, tell 'em how I killed that big worm in the arena when we won the Games! Look at this Championship belt! Tell him, Bubba!"
"Yes, my dear Loratio, these are the friends I was telling you about. Each is a hero in his or her own right with such tales of deeds done and dangers defeated that I'm sure they will acquit themselves quite well at the dinner party if there are any invitations remaining."
"Yes, we're f-f-famous gladiators and adventurers, don't you know?" Vug drawls, letting Bub's magic words do the heavy lifting.
Arnhim's visage lights up like fireworks as Valgrim produces the belt and Bubba and Feres advertise it. He's thrilled to have such famous heroes on his invitation list. Midas specificly asked for "heroic types" and you fit the bill like a glove.
Now there is only the question of your outfits....
Also as you go about town you run into a loud and bombastic hobgoblin, accompanied by another, surprisingly neat hobgoblin with a raven perched on his shoulder. The first hobgoblin accosts you with a wide smile.
"Greetings, fellow guests. I am B'kruss, leader of the Knights of Maskholm. I couldn't help noticing that you are not from here, and I suppose your hometown is a violent and disorderly place - unlike this fine city. I heard you won some little competition down south, and I suppose you fancy yourselves great heroes, although I doubt you can match the exploits of the famous Knights of Maskholm."
Valgrim snorts in derision at the hobgoblin, flexing his newly acquired dragon scales. "Yeah, so famous, I've never heard of you."
"Oh, I have heard of them, Valgrim. They have certainly had their share of success in the region. Nice of you two to take the time to greet us. Have any exciting tales to share with an out-of-town bard?"
The hobgoblin starts to brag but wilts visibly under Bubba's unrelenting smile. Eventually he tries to save face by proposing a contest.
"I once had to leap over a thirty-foot wide chasm filled with lava to get to a cowardly dragon. I reckon you would’a fallen to your death."
Valgrim grunts, "Not likely, I can leap pretty far, especially without my armor. I'm sure you can as well. Perhaps a little contest then and a wager of say 1000 gp to the winner? What say ye, B'kruss?"
"Fine. But no magic." B'kruss glares at you as he leads you into a nearby alleyway and picks two three-story buildings on opposite sides of a side street. The two buildings are thirty feet apart. Meanwhile his allies clutter the street below with their weapons, arrows, jagged timbers, and other bits of pointy rubble they gather from surrounding alleys. "Just to make it a little more interesting" he mutters.
He takes the time to strip off his breastplate, so you can do that too. There is enough room for a running start so the DC is 30. He said no magic, but you can cheat if you think you can get away with it.
"No magic for you either! I'll be watching." Valgrim glares at his robed friend. He takes off his breastplate and puts it in his bag of holding. He proceeds to the roof where he psychs himself up by going into a rage! He then rushes off and leaps off the roof. While in mid-air, he uses auspicious mark rage power to give himself a boost to his jump check.
He lands and looks back at the hobgoblin to confirm that he does not cheat and whether his jump was enough.
B'kruss looks a litte bit concerned, but with a roar he follows Valgrim, landing in almost the same spot
After some measuring it is determined that B'kruss beat you, but only just. Grudgingly he acknowledges that you didn't do too bad either. He takes his money and is off, accompanied by cheering hobgoblins.
Valgrim acknowledges the loss and pays the hobgoblin his 1000 gp and sends him on his merry way. "At least we didn't make an enemy today."
Friar consoles Valgrim on his loss and quickly changes the subject. "Okay, Bub, where do we go find these outfits for Midas' party?"