As Xamarath approaches the altar, he can see it glow with a strong aura of Conjuration magic, as well as a faint aura of enchantment. Before he can deduce the nature of the auras, he fels a sudden compulsion to drink the filthy water atop the black stone surface, accompanied by a command, given in a raspy voice, "Drink."
He reflexively reaches for the water with his hand, but breaks free of the desire and takes a cautious step back. Studying from a distance, he is unable to determine exactly what magic is at work here beyond the specific schools.
As Eugeni and Morythine approach the double doors, a flash of light appears just above them, and a cone of flame flies forth in the groups direction. Both of them manage to elude the bulk of the blast, however, while the rest feel only the intense heat given off by the burst. As they settle down, Eugeni hears movement on the other side of the door...
Xamarath, withdrawing from the altar, announces over his shoulder "Going to go with 'the altar is cursed' for any one who is curious. Because it's probably cursed. As if a warning was necessary, don't drink the mucky water."
An eruption of flame from the doorway elicits further comment from the Thayvian. "By the way, that door is trapped."
Eugeni yelps as he tries to leap out of the way of the fire. His fur gets burnt a little, but he's mostly intact. "There's something moving on the other side as well. Probably more of those things. Get ready everyone," the dogman says.
Eugeni also draws his greatsword. "If there are more than three of them, I'll blow some potential healing to give us Erastil's blessing. Our blows will strike more truely and fear will be far from our hearts."
Morythine cracks his knuckles then clenches his fists, trying his best to look ferocious and ready, despite the small wisps of smoke creeping off his clothes and hair.
He sniffs. "Burned dog hair," he mutters. "Not nice."
As Eugeni opens the door, the trap indeed does not fire again, and the heavy doors swing open easier than expected. Awaiting them on the other side lies a huge room that looks like nothing more than an immense underground cathedral. Stone doors stand to either side of the main entrance, but beyond this, the walls are carved with strange, spiky runes. In the center of the room is a large pool, a ring of polished human skulls balanced on stone spikes arranged in a circle around the deeper midsection. At the far end of the room, a pair of stone stairways leads up to a pulpit on which sits a second pool, this one triangular and filled with churning, bubbling water that looks almost like translucent lava. Yet while wisps of what look like heat and steam rise from the strange orange liquid, the room itself is deathly cold.
Flying above the pool of golden glowing liquid on the platform above, is a winged creature wearing a small tiara and black silk gown, roughly one and a half feet in height. It shrieks out in a raspy voice "How dare you intrude on the Mother's Sanctum! You will pay for this trespass!"
She then uses the dagger in her hand to slice her wrist, dripping blood into the pool beneath her, which immediately grows dimmer. Morythine notes the sudden look of worry over the creatures face when she notices this, but then she vanishes. The pool begins to churn, and crawling from it's shallow depths is another of the monsters you had the pleasure of meeting the day previous.
“Did you see that?” calls out Morythine as he moves to the stairs to block one of the possible descents for the split-jawed monster. “The pool dimmed when that winged little gremlin cast her blood into it, and concern showed on her face. What can it mean?”
At the base of the stairs Morythine readies himself, his stance light and his fists ready to pummel the creature should it attack this way. He’s tries not to think about his previous encounter with monsters of its hideous breed. He also listens carefully for any flapping sounds, uncertain whether the gremlin has used magic to spirit itself away to safety or just make itself invisible.
Anyone watching closely notices Zoli shiver briefly at the memory of one of these monsters nearly tearing her throat out yesterday. Then that fear vanishes as the plucky halfpint grins and says, "Hey ugly, you want a piece of this halfling?"
She runs toward the stairs but instead of running up them she kicks off against the railing and jumps up onto the platform, right before the beast. She gets a solid thrust into its right foreleg.
She then takes a step back onto her hind foot, readying herself for the beast's attack. That last one just got lucky, right? And Chaldira Zuzaristan, you're watching, aren't you? Fortune favors the bold, right? ULP!
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HP 17/17
Luck 7/8
Panache 4/4
Buffs Luck (round 1/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
Xamarath fires off a force missile immediately, only to watch it dissipate harmlessly from the sinspawn's location. Only then does the Thayvian recall that they were particularly hardy against magic. "Oops! Forgot about that little tidbit. Wonder where the busty quasit got off to?"
Eugeni moves up the steps as well, rushing to get into melee range.
“Did you see that?” calls out Morythine as he moves to the stairs to block one of the possible descents for the split-jawed monster. “The pool dimmed when that winged little gremlin cast her blood into it, and concern showed on her face. What can it mean?”
At the base of the stairs Morythine readies himself, his stance light and his fists ready to pummel the creature should it attack this way. He’s tries not to think about his previous encounter with monsters of its hideous breed. He also listens carefully for any flapping sounds, uncertain whether the gremlin has used magic to spirit itself away to safety or just make itself invisible.
Anyone watching closely notices Zoli shiver briefly at the memory of one of these monsters nearly tearing her throat out yesterday. Then that fear vanishes as the plucky halfpint grins and says, "Hey ugly, you want a piece of this halfling?"
She runs toward the stairs but instead of running up them she kicks off against the railing and jumps up onto the platform, right before the beast. She gets a solid thrust into its right foreleg.
...At least, that's what she considered doing before realizing that she likely wouldn't even make it halfway up the wall to the upper level, so she chases up the steps behind Kala.
"Iomedae! Give me strength to destroy these foul beasts!" Kala yells as she moves toward and then up the southern staircase.
Eugeni moves up the steps as well, rushing up the opposite set of stairs to get into melee range.
Xamarath fires off a force missile immediately, only to watch it dissipate harmlessly ten feet from the sinspawn's location. Only then does the Thayvian recall that they were particularly hardy against magic. "Oops! Forgot about that little tidbit. Wonder where the busty quasit got off to?"
As the heroes make their charge up the stairwell, the creature seems to be sniffing the air, before setting it's gaze firmly on Kala. It flares it's mandibles open, and lunges to the attack! It strikes at her head and neck with it's claws, failing to find flesh. However, it manages to use it's grip to pry her helmet back enough to expose her neck for it's tooth filled maw, and sinks it's mandibles into her throat. While they do not penetrate too deeply, it does serve to deliver a large concentration of it's venom into her bloodstream.
Kala is suddenly overwhelmed with visions of battle, specifically the sight of her brother Ragnar fighting an onslaught of goblins. However, she is in combat as well nearby, trying her best to clear a path to him to give him some aid. But the goblins just keep coming...
She shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts, but the emotion of rage dominates her mind, causing her to lose her normal focus on precise combat.
Then, the sound of a spell being canted can be heard in the room, though none of you can pinpoint it's location...
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Eugeni says, "Hey, over here!" before slicing at the sinspawn with his long blade. The greatsword catches the abomination in the back, slicing open its ribcage along the spine. Grrrrrrrrrrrlll, Eugeni growls in satisfaction.
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When his companions don’t even give the monster a chance to descend from the pulpit, Morythine finds himself left out of the action. Not wanting to appear a fool, or worse a coward, he scrambles up the stairs and throws a roundhouse punch towards the creature's skull.
Thinking of the bite to her own throat she'd received only yesterday, Zoli thrusts at the sinbeast's gullet...but it turns just in time, instead getting away with just a poke in its burly shoulder.
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HP 17/17
Luck 7/8
Panache 4/4
Buffs Luck (round 2/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
|
With a bestial scream, Kala swings her greatsword at the foul creature with all her might. Her strike splits the beast in twain, starting at the shoulder and ending with a clang on the ground after ripping through its entire torso. Kala lets out a roar of victory, influenced by the rage the now dead sinspawn inflicted upon her.
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Eugeni says, "Hey, over here!" before slicing at the sinspawn with his long blade. The greatsword catches the abomination in the back, slicing open its ribcage along the spine. "Grrrrrrrrrrrlll," Eugeni growls in satisfaction.
When his companions don’t even give the monster a chance to descend from the pulpit, Morythine finds himself left out of the action. Not wanting to appear a fool, or worse a coward, he scrambles up the stairs and throws a roundhouse punch towards the creature's skull.
Thinking of the bite to her own throat she'd received only yesterday, Zoli thrusts at the sinbeast's gullet...but it turns just in time, instead getting away with just a poke in its burly shoulder.
With a bestial scream, Kala swings her greatsword at the foul creature with all her might. Her strike splits the beast in twain, starting at the shoulder and ending with a clang on the ground after ripping through its entire torso. Kala lets out a roar of victory, influenced by the rage the now dead sinspawn inflicted upon her.
As the sinspawn's head falls into the glowing pool, it begins bubbling again, and dims once more.
Xamarath braces himself for the magical assault of the quasit, but cannot pinpoint her location yet.
Suddenly, a small portal to the abyss opens, allowing a vile looking wolf creature covered in a mixture of black fur and scales to leap forth and attack the Thayvian. The creature's eyes flare a dark red, but the mage was prepared for an attack. He spins around and unleashes a wave of color at the beast, and it wavers and falls to the ground unconscious.
You can all hear magic being recanted again in the same raspy voice, but this time, it is from behind and above you. The quasit reappears, though moved away from the fighting, directly above the lower pool and near the ceiling. A loud ringing noise can be heard emanating from somewhere within the room, and Kala suddenly feels her greatsword begin to vibrate violently, but she is able to maintain a solid grip on the weapon.
The quasit gets a panicked look on her face and begins frantically shouting in a foreign tongue:
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PC's are up!
Eugeni drops his greatsword, whips his bow off his back, knocks an arrow, and fires in a series of lightning quick movements. The wooden missile shatters on the bowstring and nearly cuts Eugeni's arm. He curses, flinging it aside and reaching for another shaft.
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Recalling the close call with Zoli and the goblins, Xamarath elects not to leave the fiendish wolf be. The quasit had likely called in favors from lesser creatures and would remain on the field of battle for some time. Stepping over the unconscious creature's body, he grips his quarterstaff high with both hands. As if wielding a large blade rather than a slender bludgeon, he thrusts down between the wolf's eyes and repeats the motion a few times until the thing disappears back to the Abyss that spawned it forth.
"Oh, hey, the quasit that's trying to kill us wants us to leave the pool alone. Maybe we should try... oh, I dunno... leaving the pool alone."
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>
Zoli passes her rapier to her off hand while she loads her sling.
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Eugeni drops his greatsword, whips his bow off his back, knocks an arrow, and fires in a series of lightning quick movements. The wooden missile shatters on the bowstring and nearly cuts Eugeni's arm. He curses, flinging it aside and reaching for another shaft.
Recalling the close call with Zoli and the goblins, Xamarath elects not to leave the fiendish wolf be. The quasit had likely called in favors from lesser creatures and would remain on the field of battle for some time. Stepping over the unconscious creature's body, he grips his quarterstaff high with both hands. As if wielding a large blade rather than a slender bludgeon, he thrusts down between the wolf's eyes and repeats the motion a few times until the thing disappears back to the Abyss that spawned it forth.
"Oh, hey, the quasit that's trying to kill us wants us to leave the pool alone. Maybe we should try... oh, I dunno... not leaving the pool alone."
Kala releases her grip on the greatsword with her throwing hand, holding it with her left, its point resting on the ground. She then draws a javelin and hurls it at the demon, yelling, "Hells or Abyss, I care not, back to whatever pit spawned you!"
Zoli passes her rapier to her off hand while she loads her sling.
Morythine reaches for one of his shuriken and lets it fly towards the quasit, passing harmlessly above her head and between her wings.
From within the golden pool, another of the monsters crawls out, this one appearing female, with thin blonde hair draping over it's shoulders and dark, shifting eyes. To those gathered, it appears to be a thin, odd mimic of Kala. However, it lets out a hissing growl, flaring open it's mandibles as it does so, and it suddenly looks a lot less like the Ulfen warrior. It lashes out at Eugeni with it's claws and jaws, but it has not had time to gain it's bearings well yet, and as such Eugeni is able to easily dodge the things attacks.
The quasit screams out, in response to Kala's threat, "You imbecile, I have lived my entire existence within these walls! This is MY domain! This is MY kingdom! And you have dared to trespass upon it, and for that, you will all join the rest of my followers!" She then fades from sight once again.
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Quickly switching hands between her loaded sling and her rapier, Zoli ducks and weaves into position to keep the sinbeast distracted between herself and Eugeni. She then takes advantage of her position to stab the newest beast through the back of its neck.
"Ha!"
______________
HP 17/17
Luck 7/8
Panache 4/4
Buffs Luck (round 3/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
Eugeni curses even more as another of the monstrosities drags itself from the pool. He steps back, puts his bow away and picks back up his greatsword.
Morythine will also attack the sinspawn.
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Sinspawn be dead
Moving to join his companions at the top of the stairs, Xamarath calls out "Come now, there's no need for all this nonsense. Clearly you don't want the pool to lose its luster any more than we want to spend the day putting down more of the things that are climbing out of it. Unhitch yourself from a wagon bound for disaster: Tsuto and the goblins have failed. Treat with us instead. Perhaps I can find a way to free you from whatever contract obligates your presence here."
Xamarath comes to a stop just behind Zoli at the top of the southern stairs. "Perhaps we could even strike up an agreement that allows you to keep your demesne?"
The group hears the raspy voice chanting another spell. Xamarath recognizes it as another summoning spell.
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Taking a lead from his furry friend, Morythine also listen intently to the spellcasting, trying to pinpoint the quasit.
Eugeni moves towards the source of the sound.
Hearing the chanting, Zoli stands ready and alert to attack any new summons to appear.
HP 17/17
Luck 6/8
Panache 4/4
Buffs Luck (round 1/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
Eugeni and Morythine attempt to locate the invisible quasit while casting her spell, and Eugeni seems to have a general idea as to her location. He takes off towards the far corner of the room, with Morythine on his heels.
Zoli readies her blade for the appearance of any other creatures, and Xamarath steps closer to the pool to get a better idea of what sort of magics are work. Kala, shaking with rage, continues to scan the area.
After the summoning spell completes, another portal opens up behind Xamarath, the flames of Hell roaring on the other side. From that dark plane, a decent size, though not fully grown, horse of demonic origin charges forth and heads straight for the Thayvian.
"Xam! Look out!" Zoli yells as she bounds over to the Red Wizard's side and stabs the horse as it charges into the Material Plane, but it does not drop the beast. It rears up, it's hooves alight in Unholy Fire, and come crashing down at Xamarath. One hoof misses the mage wide, but the other lands squarely against the wizard's raised arm, causing Xamarath to recoil away from the beast and clutch his injured arm. If it wasn't broken, it would definitely have a nasty bruise.
Meanwhile, across the chamber, the quasit reappears and uses one of it's natural abilities to put fear into the hearts of it's assailants. Eugeni manages to withstand the magics, though still caught off guard by the spell and a bit shook up from it's effects, but Morythine bears the full brunt of the magic and is overcome with terror. He bolts from the room at top speed.
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screams Morythine as he runs away like a girl.
Xamarath spins swiftly, adding the full weight of his momentum to a downward arc of his quarterstaff. It cracks the fiendish pony flat across the muzzle, caving in the thin plate of bone beneath and causing the creature's eyes to bulge out in a grotesque manner.
Xamarath cries angrily over the vanishing pony's carcass, "Fine! Since treating with words is beyond the grasp of your tiny, misanthropic mind, ending your worthless existence will have to suffice."
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"Oooooo, you think you impress me, fire pony? Neigh!"Zoli quips as she stabs the fiendish pony again, watching it crumple and then evaporate in with a whiff of sulphur.
Seeing Xamarath defending himself, Zoli decides to take Eugeni's lead and bring the fight to the quasit, charging toward it with rapier readied.
_________________
HP 17/17
Luck 6/8
Panache 4/4
Buffs Luck (round 2/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
With a cry of terror Eugeni swings his long blade at the little demon. "Die fiend!" The little demon flutters out of the way.
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