Rilee hurls three more blasts of flame at the giant.
The final giant steps forward and attempts to finish off the dinosaur, but the wounds to his feet prevent him from taking solid footing, and he fails to connect with the massive creature.
The floating giant behind him continues to watch, taking no movement, but is clearly distraught at seeing the other giants be slain. She looks over her shoulder anxiously, however, when terrible roars echo throughout the caverns, seemingly coming from all directions as the sounds bounce off the passageways...
__________
Seeing that Zoli has at least six more seconds before she has to fight, Setsuna flies around to maintain her height and Extended Blesses the party.
The invisible Oracle pauses briefly upon realizing that one the giants is flying.
"Eugeni, kill the mage!" she shouts frantically in Thassilonian, forgetting that he is unable to understand her.
After having a few seconds to collect himself, the celestial dinosaur manages to steady his aim and takes two much more accurate swings at the remaining giant.
5th: 2/4
4th: 3/6
3rd: 1/8
2nd: 3/8
1st: 5/8
As the last of the giants in the hall in front of the female giant falls, she says, a tear in her eye, "Аз нямам много време, но знам, че ако сте тук, за да убие Mokmurian, аз съм си съюзник. Елате с мен на едно място, може да се говори в мир, защото ще ви помогне във вашата кавга тук. Без да ми помощ може да се намери само гробове си под Jorgenfist."
She then flies off through the passage with the fur curtain...
"'I don't have much time, but know that if you are here to slay Mokmurian, I am your ally. Come with me to a place we can speak in peace, for I would aid you in your quarrel here. Without my assistance you might find only your graves below Jorgenfist.'" a surprised Setsuna translates for the others.
As she instinctively reactivates her Ring, the invisible Oracle grits her teeth, not sure what else to do.
"Wow, that's an interesting surprise!" Zoli says. "I say we give her a chance! Rilee, can you make these spikes go away?
"With whatever's making that noise going on, we'd better move fast."
Rilee passes her staff across the floor and the spikes retreat into the rocky floor. "There. It's safe. Let's go, quickly. I hear a dragon somewhere in these caverns."
As she moves past the first fallen giant she retrieves the kobold's spear and puts it on her back.
Then--with blessed speed, she moves to where she can see the giant. She keeps her scimitar in hand, but takes care not to raise it aggressively.
"Hi. I'm Zoli. Do you speak Common?"
Rilee follows Zoli and stands behind her. Olympus hops along through the caverns and takes a position just inside the cavern.
Eugeni hesitates, following the others with his bow still ready.
"Yes, Little One, but quiet. We must make it to my husband before I can speak safely," the giant whispers in Common in reply to Zoli.
This cavern opens out to the east onto the bony tangle of the pit floor; a hanging dire bear fur over this exit is drawn open but can be pulled shut to keep out the draft. The rest of the walls are lined with furs as well, including the floor—they’re piled particularly high to form a mattress to the south. Nearby, a piled collection of shields and dented breastplates.
The pit floor beyond is a tangle of bones and broken bodies, a combination of humanoid, giant, and even four dragon corpses. Flocks of crows, buzzards, and other carrion birds swarm over the bodies.
As Conna begins to hover out over the bones, she quickly comes to a stop and holds up a hand to warn you all. "They are coming," she whispers as she hovers back into the cavern. "I cannot fight directly against him, the tradition of my people prevent it. But I can lend you aid..." she reaches out and touches Zoli gently, muttering some words of magic. Zoli's form quickly begins to shift and waver. "If they even see me with you, I will be killed as a traitor. I must remain hidden," the giant says before flying back through the fur hide and into the passage beyond, just behind Eugeni and Setsuna.
"Yes, we are coming, you cowering wretches!" a voice calls out from the caverns beyond the pit...
__________
"...Where is your husband?" Setsuna asks stoically.
As the giant settles into a hovering position behind the group, she says simply "Dead."
"...I see. I'm sorry for your loss. However, I meant which direction should we travel to get to where you can 'speak safely'?" Setsuna reiterates as diplomatically as she can.
The invisible Oracle finds herself at least willing to humor this giant if only for the fact that she is actually talking to them versus making a lot of noise and flying off to grab General Gobbledigook or just simply trying to kill them like her peers did. While they could be walking into a trap, it would also be much more effective to just warn Mokmurian or something.
"Your tradition prevents you from fighting them directly, but they are allowed to kill you if they see you? Aren't traditions grand?" Rilee says with a wry twist to her mouth.
Readying for battle, she keeps the flame in her hand ready to throw and calls Olympus to the front. She clicks her tongue twice to soothe her companion, as his blood is up and ready to fight.
"OK, I'll stay mum. You can count on me!" She whispers as the giant retreats behind the blanket.
Still in a whisper, she continues, "Hey Setsu or Rilee, you know what she cast on me by any chance? I mean, it seemed friendly, but you know how curious us halflings can be."
Zoli moves protectively toward the doorway the sound is coming from, holding Baern's Breath before her.
Rilee grins as she glances over to the halfling. "Look at your hand," she says, gesturing towards her outline which is hazy and indistinct. "Blur."
I guess that's where the Kailani family snark comes from, Setsuna ponders randomly upon hearing Rilee's comments.
"Sure, Zoli," Setsuna says as she produces a wand and taps Zoli with it.
Rilee tries to look past the pit to see where the giants are.
The giant remains silent to Setsuna's question, but points out over the bone pit before letting the fur fall back into place and blocking the view back into the passageway.
A moment later, a pair of dragons fly out over the pit from the ledge to the north, their scales a crimson red. Etched brazenly on a large scale on each of their foreheads is a large Sihedron Rune.
"Ah, here they are, Sulaminga! The skulkers in the dark!" one says as it hovers on the far side of the pit.
"Indeed! Now that we've found them, what do we do with them, Econtredor?" the other replies.
They snarl their teeth and then let out a haunting chuckle between the two of them.
Sulaminga turns his gaze to the group in the cavern and snarls, "You will all burn in our twin streams of fire! You cannot survive our combined might!"
For the love of Azathoth, I was lying when I said Mokmurian could field dragons as disposable goons!
Since it has served as massive force multiplier thus far, the invisible Oracle recasts Blessing of Fervor on the party and then quietly flies out over to the pit via newly respawned Inky Wings to avoid being roasted and scout out any more dangers.
Despite the dragons' threats chilling her, Rilee whistles loudly to send Olympus out into the cavern to attack.
Zoli leaps up onto the roc and feels the thrill of flight as she races toward the dragons.
Getting close, she feels their hot breath and gets a bit shaken, but her halfling pluck prevails and her swing is true, slicing into the flying wurm.
"Taste Baern's Breath, lizard-breath!"
As they sail through the air, Grettela clings to Zoli's shoulder, chittering strategies to advice on how to dodge the massive foes.
________________
Should anyone try to attack Zoli, the ermine on her shoulder gives her a guiding chitter and nudge, helping her to avoid getting squashed.
AC 27+2(BoF)+5(ironskin)+2(shield of faith)=38 vs first 3 attacks, thanks to Grettela’s ermine insight, then 36 AC
HP 74/75
Luck 15/20
Panache 5/5 (+1 to 5 assuming that crit confirmed)
Charmed Life 4/4
Luck o’ the Scene 1/1
Lessons of Chaldira 1/1
False Life 0/1
Buffs
Luck: +2 to Luck bonus to attack, damage, saves, and all skills
Blessing of Fervor: Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves
Ironskin +5 natural armor
Shield of Faith +3 deflection
Blur
Eugeni gulps as the fearsome dragons attack. He raises his bow and lets as many arrows fly at the nearest beast as he can.
27 for 21
31 for 26
27 for 25
28 for 21
Rilee stands at the lip of the cavern, flame in hand, ready to hurl at any giant that makes an appearance somewhere else in the cavern.
Olympus' talon rakes against an invisible barrier, eliciting a chuckle from the dragons. The laughter ends, however, when Zoli's blade and Eugeni's arrows pierce the first dragon's hide!
"Stop joking around, Sulaminga, lest you upset our mistresses!" the other dragon roars out before moving into position to attack!
Snarling, the wounded dragon replies, "Grrrrrr KILL THE BIRD! LET THE LITTLE ONE FALL TO THE PIT!" The two dragons then proceed to lash out at Olympus, Sulaminga's powerful jaws tearing a large chunk out of the Roc's shoulder, while both dragons manage to find purchase with a claw on the bird as well!
__________
Setsuna uses the extra speed of her Blessing to bolt over and heal Olympus. She flies underneath the bird and places a healing hand on his feathery belly. Once finished, the invisible Oracle tries to hide her presence as much as she can.
4th: 4/6
3rd: 2/8
2nd: 3/8
1st: 5/8
Olympus responds to the flurry of attacks with a series of his own.
Rilee again holds her fire and readies a throw against a giant or other enemy that shows up.
Eugeni continues to fire on the nearest dragon, his face an expression of grim concentration.
32 for 13
Automiss
32 for 18
Crit for 14
21 for 16
Zoli's halfling ears perk up as the dragons chat. Looking around (unsuccessfully) for Setsu, she says, "Этот дракон только что говорили они имеют любовниц, как это ничего не было. Из каждой истории и играть я прочитал о драконах, что, кажется, действительно странно ... если они не были очарованы. Можете ли вы попытаться рассеять любые контролирующий магию на здоровую?"
"Какая разница? Они жлобов плохой парень в! Просто убить их!" Setsuna shouts angrily, wondering where this sudden idea of mercy came from.
"Но что, если он счастлив, чтобы помочь нам нападать на тех, кто очарован его?" the halfling replies.
Frustrated with Setsu, she turns to Rilee. "Hey! Rilee! Will you try to disenchant them? I think they may be mind controlled. They might be being forced into this. Maybe if we free them, we could work together."
"Это слишком рискованно! Красные драконы злы и непослушный по своей природе!" Setsuna counters.
"I don't have anything but a single dispel magic! It won't break an enchantment powerful enough to enslave a dragon!" Rilee calls back.
Zoli sighs, "OK, back to plan A then!"
She sees Eugeni's arrows slay the injured dragon so she leans over to slice into the remaining one, her swings sped up by Setsuna's blessing.
________________
Should anyone try to attack Zoli, the ermine on her shoulder gives her a guiding chitter and nudge, helping her to avoid getting squashed.
AC 27+2(BoF)+5(ironskin)+2(shield of faith)=36 (and 38 vs second and third attacks against her, thanks to Grettela’s ermine insight...though she failed her first Aid roll this time)
HP 74/75
Luck 14/20
Panache 5/5
Charmed Life 4/4
Luck o’ the Scene 1/1
Lessons of Chaldira 1/1
False Life 0/1
Active effects
Luck: +2 to Luck bonus to attack, damage, saves, and all skills
Blessing of Fervor: Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves
Ironskin +5 natural armor
Shield of Faith +3 deflection
Blur
Shaken: –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
Seeing it's comrade fall, the remaining dragon snarls, its throat and mouth glowing with a smoldering heat. It inhales deeply before opening it's toothy maw and unleashing a gout of flame that envelops every single one of the heroes, as well as a good bit of the items in the cavern!
The various papers, maps, and furs are incinerated instantly, leaving nothing but smoldering heaps of ash in their place. The collection of breastplates and shields are melted down into pools of molten metal...save for one shield, still glowing from the heat of the dragon's fiery wrath, but otherwise intact.
The floating giant hovers back into the smoldering cavern in a hurry, and whispers "More coming from behind," to Eugeni.
From beyond the pit, you each can hear a feminine voice echoing through the caverns, "What do we have here? A group of adventurers eager to pledge their souls to Lady Lamashtu?" Then, a sound not unlike the unpleasant screech of nails on a chalkboard rings out through the caves.
__________
Even if she is still shaken by the dragon's threats, having a nice big bird between herself and the flames allows Setsu to dodge the worst of it.
The invisible Oracle takes a second to look over her friends. Zoli and Eugeni still seem quite steady on their feet. While currently cooked, Olympus' ridiculously strong hide and agility will probably keep him safe from the dragon's claws and teeth (granted, she isn't sure about any more fire). However, Rilee looks like she a light slap will cause her to kneel over. Figuring that Eugeni, Zoli, and Olympus can finish off the dragon, Setsuna flies over and lands next to her great grand...mother?
She extends a heal hand and begins to patch the burns.
"Mind respiking the ground?" Setsuna asks in Thassilonian, forgetting that Rilee does not know that language.
The surge of healing makes Rilee feel immediately better, though she still feels concerned for her roc. Olympus should've been able to dodge that, she couldn't help but think. She issues a shrill whistle to keep her companion on the attack, knowing that Zoli wouldn't be able to reach the dragon otherwise. Then she pays close attention to the far side of the cavern where the voices are coming from.
When the dragon's flaming breath rolls toward her, Zoli gasps--feeling the heat even as the fireball approaches--and manages to hide her face in Olympus's feathers. Still, her back and hair are singed.
"That breath's pretty nasty, I'll admit, but nothing undead or alive can match the might of Baern's Breath!"
And with that she lashes out again with blessed fervor. The first slice goes deep into it's neck. The next two hack off it's left wing, and it plummets into the pile of bones, hissing and shrieking.
________________
Should anyone try to attack Zoli, the ermine on her shoulder gives her a guiding chitter and nudge, helping her to avoid getting squashed.
AC 27+2(BoF)+5(ironskin)+2(shield of faith)=36 (and 38 vs the first three attacks against her, thanks to Grettela’s ermine insight.)
HP 56/75
Luck 14/20
Panache 5/5
Charmed Life 4/4
Luck o’ the Scene 1/1
Lessons of Chaldira 1/1
False Life 0/1
Active effects
Luck: +2 to Luck bonus to attack, damage, saves, and all skills
Blessing of Fervor: Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves
Ironskin +5 natural armor
Shield of Faith +3 deflection
Blur
As Zoli absolutely obliterates the second dragon, Setsuna watches in stunned awe. Any lingering fear in her demented mind instantly fades. As much as the Halfling loves to talk about plays, sometimes Setsuna wonders if the Swashbuckler realizes that she is basically the heroine of her own wonderful story. Despite her lithe frame, her female friend has the finesse to chop clean through the limb of a creature several times her size. Never before has the invisible Oracle seen someone so... heroic.
So awesome.
So beautiful.
It reminds her of those dark days back in Magnimar. Before she had fallen for Eugeni or learned that the crazy old man who loved talking about Wheels was actually her great grandfather. When the world and her existence had just been perpetual and miserable darkness. When it had felt like Desna had abandoned her. When she had been feeling increasingly dark urges to unleash Azathoth's great but terrible power on her enemies.
And the Heroine of Setsuna's dreams had swooped in and saved her.
Speaking of Eugeni, Setsuna turns her ocean blue eyes to the handsome and heroic archer and then back to the beautiful and heroic Zoli. She pouts her invisible lip. She blushes hard.
...Why do I have to choose?!
When the second dragon falls, Rilee calls Olympus back to her. She steps forward to the lip of the pit and reaches out to grab a hold of his saddle.
"Good work, but more foes are on their way. I don't know if this is the right spot to be, though."
In her off hand, she spins her staff around once, then gestures for Eugeni to come close. "I've got a gift for you." She touches the end of the staff to his feet, bestowing upon him the power to walk on air.
Eugeni goes over to Rilee when she beckons to him. As her spell takes effect and he begins to float a bit off the cave floor he says, "Thanks!" He turns his attention to the source of the threatening female voice, waiting for it to show itself.
As the dragon falls, a beautiful woman steps up to the edge of the pit...or it at least appeared to be as such, until you note that her lower body is that of a graceful feline. She looks out over the bones and broken bodies, her eyes settling on the group at the cave entrance containing the group of heroes, and she lets out a dismissive giggle. "Oh, how quaint. A band of adventurers looking for plunder, no doubt. Nevertheless, Lamashtu will thoroughly enjoy the anguish your bodies and souls are about to experience!" she taunts before chanting words of magic. A dark, inky miasma erupts from the front of the cave entrance and spreads quickly out over the entire group, the evil of the spell sinking deep into your cores! Eugeni is able to shake off the worst of the effects, and Olympus does not appear to be too horribly bothered by it either. However, Rilee, Setsuna, and Zoli can feel the evil tugging at their very souls, and the painful sensation causes their stomach's to turn flips!
Heavy footsteps can be heard just on the far side of the fur as the group coughs, gags, and wretches at the effects of the magic at play. A deeply unsettling sound can then be heard from beyond the fur...a sound the group hasn't heard in a long time, but distinctly remembers...
"HAW HAW HAW! DEY IN YER ROOM, BOSS! DEY TINK DEY SMART AN' HIDE FROM US, BUT WE FIND DEM! HAW HAW HAW!!!"
Just then, the giant warrior who sounded the alarm bursts back through the fur covering and into his room. He looks over the charred remains of his collections and papers, growing more furious by the second! He turns his gaze to the giantess floating beside him, and snarls, "You will pay for your treachery, Conna! You will suffer a death worse than your husband!" Conna simply hangs her head and nods in understanding.
__________
Despite feeling like she is going to lose the breakfast she rarely eats (thank you Ring of Sustenance!), filled with hope by Zoli's awesomeness, Setsuna sticks out her tongue at General Gobbledigook and then lets Azathothian physics take over. She once more nimbly avoids any retaliation from him and zips through Golarion's most fireproof fur curtain. Seeing the conga line of ogres, Setsuna decides to risk flying north.
Thankfully, all she finds is a deserted common room occupied only by a long stone giantess with a ladle. Setsuna ducks around the corner of entrance to avoid being within rock tossing range.
...We need some more meat on our side.
Feeling that she is most likely safe for the moment, she begins to reconjure Bob the Holy Dinosaur. As she does, the invisible Oracle begins to think about where to place him...
5th: 3/4
4th: 4/6
3rd: 3/8
2nd: 4/8
1st: 5/8