Zoli looks up from concentrating on the coin slot to see a freaking bear! walk in, carrying an ulfen man on it's back, who seems to weigh as much as the bear does.
Her mind rapidly runs from thought to thought: IT'S A BEAR!-- And it's carrying some huge human, is that even healthy for the bear? And-- Holy Crow, he's got Bruthazmus' head in his-- Oh look, dropping my coin in the slot worked, something's moving-- and that voice is talking in THASSILONIAN do Thassilonians ride bears?-- No wait, the voice is coming from inside, we'd better--
She whispers a greeting, "Hey there, Thal Bearson and Bear Thalspoppa. I'm Zoli Tireani, and these are...some folks I'll have to introduce you to in a couple minutes, because right now someone seems to be chanting in a long dead tongue, and that never seems to end well."
Zoli’s eyes go wide as saucers, seeing all of these genuine Thassilonian relics -- and a flickering image of some Thassilonian ruler speaking to his subjects.
In a whisper, she translates, ”He’s saying something about ’Witness my power, how Alaznist's petty wrath is but a flash compared to my strength. Take my final work to your graves’ . This guy totally seems familiar but I can’t place my finger on where I would’ve read about him.”
Xamarath listens with a similar sense of wonderment next to Zoli. It is several moments before he realizes the immense northman and a bear have joined their assembly. His eyes remain flat, and his features bereft of reaction for a short time. Eventually he finally responds with a smile and an elaborate bow, first to the bear and then to its owner.
"What a pair! You're as big as an Uthgardt, good fellow. And about twice as handsome. . . take that as you will. I take it you're an adventurer? Ruins delver? Come to share in the splendors of the mayhem and merrymaking?"
Then, turning to Zoli, Xamarath says, "He's probably the custodian of this place. Some old crochety bag of wind who took a little too much pleasure in treating others like door rugs. Seems strange to charge a coin to hear some pointless rambling, though. Maybe something else is hidden in here?"
:
Eugeni's hand unwillingly strays to his bow as he hears the bear descending into the dungeon below Thistletop. When he sees the head of Bruthazmus gripped tightly in the bear-rider's hand, Eugeni relaxes. After the ulfen introduces himself, Eugeni nods. "Pleased to meet you, Thal. You find us at a difficult time. We've just lost a companion to the servants of Lamashtu. I am Eugeni Silva, priest of Erastil. Glad to have you with us," the dog-man says by way of greeting.
Eugeni seems to be uninterested in the contents of the room, as they don't represent any immediate threat to him or his community. He asks Xamarath, "Hey, is any of this stuff magical?"
Having greeted the new warrior they've had the good fortune to stumble across, Zoli nods to Xamarath's suggestion.
"OK then, I'll give the room a thorough look; you check for other magical auras."
Zoli will do a careful search, looking for anything hidden, traps, and of course whatever anything of value, especially that seems to be of ancient Thassilonian origin. If they find nothing of note, she'll suggest they continue through the doors to the South.
Zoli steps up to the doors to the south and tinkers around with the indentation, but can see no clear way to open them as they lack a handle.
Xamarath fastens the sihedron upon the table into the door's indention and gives he handle a jostle.
When Xamarath places the plate sized sihedron into the slot, it quickly begins to merge into the surrounding stone via shifting stone and metal plates. As it does so, a crease appears down the middle of the arch, revealing a set of double doors.
"Over here, friends. I suppose a lusty princess would be too much to hope for, but maybe there's some treasure beyond?" Xamarath steps away from the door, recalling the last time he entered a vault alone.
Although he'd love to go first if asked, Thal moves in behind Kala, his bear's hot breath on her back and readies his greatsword for anything dangerous. "Onwards, to glory!"
The room to the south is lit primarily by a ten foot long pit of flickering fire that fills the room with a strange humid heat and the smell of burning hair. In the northern corners of the room, wooden risers each holding several dozen golden candles that burn without melting, while to the south the wall bears an immense carving of a seven-pointed star.
The group slowly, cautiously begin to file in, with the new Ulfen warriors bear growling as it enters.
A deep, primal voice booms out through the room, "Наконец! Malfeshnekor бесплатно! Ваша награда за этот подарок...это смерть!"
Suddenly, a horrific beast appears from nothingness, seeming to fade in and out of existence, and lashes into Kala with fangs and claws.
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"Battle is upon us! Sir Bearington, go!" Thal spurs his bear into action. But instead of moving AT the beast, he instead positions himself in the corner, ready to charge. Doing so, he casts yet another spell, and his weapon seems to get heavier in his hand.
Eugeni hears the infernal speech and moves into the room, drawing an arrow on his bow. "Whoa, dude! Relax! It doesn't need to go down like this," Eugeni says. "I know you're feeling frustrated, but can't we just talk?"
Zoli's eyes widen at the giant demonic-looking beast. "That's a Barghest! A Greater Barghest, unless I miss my mark. I recognize it from when Cyrdak put on a showing of My Eyes, They Bleed!. The play was so horrific and grotesque that Cyrdak canceled the show after just one performance but I was there and I remember in the show it was almost impossible to damage it without magical weapons."
As she explains, she taps her lucky Thassilonian button again, reflexively...but realizes she's tapped out all the extra luck she can manage today. With a sigh she draws Ripnugget's magic shortsword, she attempts to tumble past the Barghest but it lashes out ripping into one leg with it's teeth.
Zoli returns the favor, slicing into it's flank, but even her best shot doesn't seem to hurt it much.
________________
HP 9/25
Luck 0/8
Panache 2/4
Charmed Life 0/3
Buffs nada
|
Kala drops her shortsword upon hearing Zoli's warning and draws the magical longsword. Deciding that actually hitting the thing is of the highest priority, she doesn't put her full strength behind the blow. Though she thinks she's landed a blow, it swings harmlessly past the beast, due to its magical protections.
______________________________________________________
"Battle is upon us! Sir Bearington, go!" Thal spurs his bear into action. But instead of moving AT the beast, he instead positions himself in the corner, ready to charge. Doing so, he casts yet another spell, and his weapon seems to get heavier in his hand.
Eugeni hears the infernal speech and moves into the room, drawing an arrow on his bow. "Whoa, dude! Relax! It doesn't need to go down like this," Eugeni says. "I know you're feeling frustrated, but can't we just talk?"
Zoli's eyes widen at the giant demonic-looking beast. "That's a Barghest! A Greater Barghest, unless I miss my mark. I recognize it from when Cyrdak put on a showing of My Eyes, They Bleed!. The play was so horrific and grotesque that Cyrdak canceled the show after just one performance but I was there and I remember in the show it was almost impossible to damage it without magical weapons."
As she explains, she taps her lucky Thassilonian button again, reflexively...but realizes she's tapped out all the extra luck she can manage today. With a sigh she draws Ripnugget's magic shortsword, she attempts to tumble past the Barghest but it lashes out ripping into one leg with it's claws, sending her flying back to where she started!
Kala drops her shortsword upon hearing Zoli's warning and draws the magical longsword. Deciding that actually hitting the thing is of the highest priority, she doesn't put her full strength behind the blow. Though she thinks she's landed a blow, it swings harmlessly past the beast, due to its magical protections.
Xamarath wills a bolt of energy to manifest in his hand, sending it soaring into Malfeshnekor. Morythine unleashes a flurry of martial arts maneuvers, but they pass completely through the beast when it fades back to an ethereal state.
__________
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Malfeshnekor continues it's assault, saliva dripping from it's gaping mouth as it's fangs clamp down on Kala's sword arm, crunching through the steel of her armor like it was mere leather. It's claw slices across Morythine's chest as well, opening several deep gashes across his flesh.
Kala quickly realizes that this is a lost cause. "Fall back!" she cries out, and the others willingly comply. The others make it out safely, but Kala's desperate defensive stand to buy them time costs her dearly. Once she tries to evacuate, a claw slashes across her exposed back, eliciting a cry of pain from the Ulfen warrior woman, and drops her in the doorway.
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"Вы дураки! Спасаясь это не вариант, печать была сломана! Я свободен, наконец!"
The thing steps forward menacingly, but just as it tries to cross the threshold, it impacts an invisible force that prevents it from crossing the doorway!
"Что! Как это возможно! Уплотнение должны быть разбиты!"
The thing snarls, and reaches down to pick up the limp form of Kala in one of it's clawed hands. Zoli and Thal unleash all they have to try to stop it, though only Ripnugget's enchanted blade manages to find purchase on the thing's body.
It does not deter the barghest, however. It scoops up Kala's limp body in one hand with as much ease as lifting a child's doll off the floor. Kala's sword and shield clatter to the ground as she is lifted up.
"А кто из вас говорят реальный язык, или вы можете только болтать о как грызунов?"
__________
"Kala, no!" Zoli's feels a wash of horror as she sees the barghast first knock Kala senseless and then grab her like a rag doll.
Hearing it's words, she stands as tall as a halfling can and answers slowly and clearly, "Да, Malfeshnekor, я говорю языком древних Thassilon."
The barghest turns it's head towards Zoli as it steps back into the corner, the flames burning it further as it maneuvers.
"Ах, один из вас может фактически говорить то. Отлично. Тогда может быть, смертный, мы можем прийти к соглашению. Я ничего не желаю больше, чем избежать этой адской тюрьмы, которые я томился в течение возраста. Отпустите меня, и этот будет избавлен. Но я не сдамся их под любым иным обстоятельствам."
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Party Status:
Zoli: 9/25
Morythine: 15/26
Eugeni: 22/24
Kala: -7/28
Xamarath: 11/23
Thal: 29/29
Bear: 30/30
Enemy Status:
Malfeshnekor: 69/94, Buff 1 54 rounds remaining, Buff 2 1 rounds remaining, Buff 3 2 rounds remaining
Sweating at the thought of what it was suggesting -- and hating both options -- Zoli stalls.
"Вы только что сказали двадцать минут назад Это наша награда за освобождение вы бы наша смерть. Почему мы должны вам верить сейчас?
И даже если мы согласны, чтобы остановить все, что вы контейнер, содержащий магия здесь, как бы мы сделать это? Знаете ли вы?"
And even if we did agree to stop whatever magic is containing you here, how would we do so? Do you know?
Malfeshnekor snarls at Zoli.
"Вы думаете, что я хотел бы сделать такие требования, если я не был в курсе ключ к моему освобождению? И да, я сделал такой похвастаться. Вы были первым, что я видел, что мог насытить свой голод в десять тысяч лет, как я мог не желать, чтобы насытить потребность в моей душе, которая горела так долго?"
As the creature speaks, his form ceases to fade back and forth into an ethereal state. He now appears, as disturbing as it is, to be a perfectly normal, though enraged, barghest of immense size.
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"What is this one speaking? I cannot understand its foul tongue. Does it make demands? Threaten us? Why cannot it attack?" Thal sits on Sir Bearington, annoyed at what's going on. He sees a comrade in trouble and the others standing back afraid, cowering in their boots. He grits his teeth in annoyance, then roars and charges as he sees the beast no longer shimmering back and forth.
Thal's greatsword slashes into the beast, while Sir Beaarington rips and bites at its flesh, tearing chunks off and sloberring everywhere as it does so. Although Thal's attack is hampered by the beast's damage resistance, Sir Bearington's attacks prove able to penetrate it.
"Release the woman, and have at instead, beast!"
____________________________________
Xamarath shrugs, the beginnings of a response lost to the roar of Ulfen and bear alike. He unleashes another blast of force into the creature's hide before calling out over the din of combat, "Pile it on while the pilin' is good! Don't give it a chance to make good on its threat."
The Thayvian finds himself sorely wishing he had reserved a spell or two for such a foe.
"What is this one speaking? I cannot understand its foul tongue. Does it make demands? Threaten us? Why cannot it attack?" Thal sits on Sir Bearington, annoyed at what's going on. He sees a comrade in trouble and the others standing back afraid, cowering in their boots. He grits his teeth in annoyance, then roars and charges as he sees the beast no longer shimmering back and forth.
Zoli starts to answer in a whisper, "It's not a foul tongue, just an ancient one. I'm trying to learn what it knows, and also to stall while I heal. Hold off for just another min--"
And like that the human and bear are off screaming.
Her heart sinks a bit, realizing that she isn't yet in any condition for melee. Turning to Xamarath and Eugeni she say, "What just happened? That guy's as thickheaded as Baern was, and that's saying something!!"
Then she turns to Mory and says, "Do you know how to use a longsword? I see Kala's magic one just inside that containment aura."
As the creature speaks, his form ceases to fade back and forth into an ethereal state. He now appears, as disturbing as it is, to be a perfectly normal, though enraged, barghest of immense size.
"What is this one speaking? I cannot understand its foul tongue. Does it make demands? Threaten us? Why cannot it attack?" Thal sits on Sir Bearington, annoyed at what's going on. He sees a comrade in trouble and the others standing back afraid, cowering in their boots.
Zoli starts to answer in a whisper, "It's not a foul tongue, just an ancient one. I'm trying to learn what it knows, and also to stall while I heal. Hold off for just another min--"
Thal grits his teeth in annoyance, then roars and charges as he sees the beast no longer shimmering back and forth.
"Enough! No more foul speaking! Die, beast! The others may cower, but I am Thal Bearson! I cower in front of no beast, demon or giant! You will die by my hand!"
And like that the human and bear are off screaming.
Her heart sinks a bit, realizing that she isn't yet in any condition for melee. Turning to Xamarath and Eugeni she say, "What just happened? That guy's as thickheaded as Baern was, and that's saying something!!"
Thal's greatsword slashes into the beast, while Sir Beaarington rips and bites at its flesh, tearing chunks off and sloberring everywhere as it does so. Although Thal's attack is hampered by the beast's damage resistance, Sir Bearington's attacks prove able to penetrate it.
"Release the woman, and have at ME instead, beast!"
Xamarath shrugs, the beginnings of a response lost to the roar of Ulfen and bear alike. He unleashes another blast of force into the creature's hide before calling out over the din of combat, "Pile it on while the pilin' is good! Don't give it a chance to make good on its threat."
The Thayvian finds himself sorely wishing he had reserved a spell or two for such a foe.
Eugeni turns and bolts through the pillar, calling out "I'm going to go get Baern's spear!"
Then she turns to Mory and says, "Do you know how to use a longsword? I see Kala's magic one just inside that containment aura."
"No," he says simply as he bolts in and lunges a kick at the beast, which it easily avoids.
Zoli tries to help finish the thing off, but also fails to find purchase with her blade after skirting around the fire pit.
The beast then tosses Kala's unmoving body violently aside as it tries to tear apart the beast that dares to attack it. In it's rage, it fails to manage to find purchase in the bears hide.
__________
Eugeni picks up Baern's spear and begins to run back to his companions. C'mon Thal! Hold out just a while longer!
”Die, beast! You are no match for Thal Bearson and Sir Bearington!” Thal swings again at the creature, but misses this time. Sir Bearington thrashes and bites at the beast, but only one claw makes purchase and cuts another gash in it. Thal has the duo move back out of the barrier for a moment afterwards, taking advantage of it’s defenses. Thal raises up one of his hands in an obscene gesture in taunt, knowing he’s just pissing the thing off more.
___________________________________
Zoli nervously followed Thal back into Malfeshnekor's den, swinging and missing with Ripnugget's sword.
She is just about to take another swing when she looks over her shoulder and see's Thal retreating, leaving her and Morythine alone to face the barghast. Realizing she can't possibly survive another hit she hollers, "Dammit Bear-son! I tried to tell you, we needed to wait a minute and work together.
"Mory, run!!" she hollers as she follows the mercurial bear-man into retreat.
Eugeni picks up Baern's spear and begins to run back to his companions. C'mon Thal! Hold out just a while longer!
”Die, beast! You are no match for Thal Bearson and Sir Bearington!” Thal swings again at the creature, but misses this time. Sir Bearington thrashes and bites at the beast, but only one claw makes purchase and cuts another gash in it. Thal has the duo move back out of the barrier for a moment afterwards, taking advantage of it’s defenses. Thal raises up one of his hands in an obscene gesture in taunt, knowing he’s just pissing the thing off more.
Zoli nervously followed Thal back into Malfeshnekor's den, swinging and missing with Ripnugget's sword.
She is just about to take another swing when she looks over her shoulder and see's Thal retreating, leaving her and Morythine alone to face the barghast. Realizing she can't possibly survive another hit she hollers, "Dammit Bear-son! I tried to tell you, we needed to wait a minute and work together."
"Mory, run!!" she hollers as she follows the mercurial bear-man into retreat.
Morythine tries to comply, adding an agile flip to try to avoid any incoming attacks. However, the barghest snatches him in mid air in his jaws, shakes him around furiously, then inadvertently tosses him through the doorway!
Xamarath lets one of the purple magic missiles fly from the wand, impacting the angered barghest in the temple.
"Очень хорошо! Если я должен умереть здесь, я буду по крайней мере, получить, чтобы насытить свой голод первым!"
The creatures jaw unhinges in an unnatural manner, and it reaches out with it's clawed hands and basically shovels Kala into it's mouth, armor and all! A couple quick chomps, and it's as if Kala never existed...
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”Rraaghhh!” Thal directs his bear to attack the creature again, having inadvertently given the beast a chance to kill one of his allies. He lunges in and hacks it in the face with his heavily-weighted greatsword, cutting a deep gash. Sir Bearington then goes in and finds purchase with all three of his attacks. His maw rips open a blood gash in its throat and both of Sir Bearington’s claws maul its face. Thal lets his bear continue even after the beast is dead. Sir Bearington continues to rip and tear and bite the thing’s corpse, fully enjoying itself on its bloody feast.
___________________________________________
Eugeni runs up with the spear to see Kala is gone. "Kala!? KALA!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooo! Two in one day," he cries, flinging the spear aside as hard as he can. The young aasimar priest sinks to his knees, leaning against the wall. He begins to cry tears of sadness and rage. "The price for good is too high!" he shouts at the ceiling. Why would you let this happen? Kala was a good woman and a servant to her community! You could have stepped in, you could have given me more power. Damn you Old Deadeye...damn you!
The thing falls, being torn to shreds under the bear's ferocity.
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After Sir Bearington rips open the creature's belly, Kala spews out and Thal stops the bear's fury before her body is damaged. He then has Sir Bearington back up to allow the others access.
Kala's body is heavily lacerated and has many broken bones. Her armor badly damaged as well. She is very clearly deceased given the location of the more serious wounds.
Zoli finds herself hyperventilating as the bear and Ulfen rider finish off the horrific beast.
She goes up to Morythene and sees that he's stable before forcing herself to approach Kala's corpse. She holds the mangled remains of the warrior's hand and cries.
When she gets up she wipes her tears on her tunic, turns to glare at Thal, and then starts punching him with the pommel of her scimitar.
"...I hope you're happy."
Turning to Sir Bearington, she adds, "Poppa bear, If you have more sense than your dimwitted son, I suggest you start calling the shots. If not, do us all a favor and take your son back wherever he came from before he 'helps' us again."
Eugeni gets up, glaring at Thal, and puts his arm around Zoli. "Let's get the f&+@ out of this ancient hellhole, and do some grieving under the sun. When rest restores our strength we'll return and make sure our friends didn't die for nothing by finishing what we started down here."
Zoli nods to Eugeni. "Let's find a spot where whoever's on watch can hopefully catch anything trying to escape or otherwise make mischief here now that Nualia has been slain."
"Maybe we could barricade ourselves somewhere? I'm not sure what to do with Baern. I don't recall seeing any other kin or dwarves back in Sandpoint. Dwarves are usually interred in tombs though, yes? Maybe we can even turn this place into a place worth visiting again, instead of a hive for goblinkind." Xamarath shrugs helplessly. His heart sinks a bit at the sight of Kala's ruined form.
Thal takes Zoli's beating and yelling in stoic silence, not raising a hand to defend himself, as he understands her anger. When she is done, he bows his head at her and realizes she would likely not want to speak to him for now. His bear, meanwhile, gives Zoli a friendly lick when she speaks to him, getting slobber all over her.
Later, at Xamarath's suggestion, Thal nods. "We should cleanse this den of Evil and turn it into a bastion of Good in the fallen allies' name and inter them beneath. Unless we would embark upon a quest to see the fallen brought back to life? Druids are able to bring such as them back to life, although into a different body, fresh and whole. What say you?"
"Perhaps there lay riches enough to accomplish that within this labyrinth? I am willing to venture further if necessary. If it bears even a glimmer of a chance of reviving Kala, I will press on."
"We can't just abandon what we started. We need to finish clearing out Thistletop, and then we can try to raise Kala from the dead," Eugeni says, "If such a thing's even possible..." he mutters quietly, not really believing the stories he'd heard of powerful magics bringing people back from Pharasma's clutches. "They wouldn't want us to abandon what we'd started. Both of them died so we could do this."
As the bizarre and thoroughly unexpected figure of Thal and his mighty mount arrives, Morythine can do nothing but doff his hat in greeting. Then he gets a whiff of Thal’s fetid breath and slams his tricorn back down on his scalp in despair.
Another stinker. Just our luck.
Later, as he watches Zoli berate Thal for his ill-advised attack, the dhampir sighs. He’s as bad as Baern . . .
Delighted at the macabre collection of equipment in the chamber for torture/experimentation/fleshgrafting (?), Morythine stuffs the implements into his sack.
Whilst Baern’s death seemed so inevitable it stung not a jot when he finally fell,, the sight of Kala’s inert body has a more profound effect on Morythine. Grief steals upon him, and the distraction proves costly as the barghest’s claws tear him open.
Morythine’s hands grope fretfully at the massive wounds inflicted by the barghest. “Gnarfllgrrier . . . “ he says.
It is just late morning by the time the group returns to the surface. The mood is very somber as they establish a camp to tend their wounded bodies and spirits. Orik and Shalelu each spend the time on watch in the towers, Orik seemingly just as somber as the rest.
Shalelu, however, seems to be in a jovial mood, though she does express sympathy towards the loss of Kala, as well as Baern, despite their earlier spats.
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