The raging dwarf continues his assault upon what's left of the demon squad.
Maelchar's eyes blaze with anger as he sees his cousin flanked and since he and Gareth have one between them, he unleashes his attacks on that one...
A thin layer of grease starts to spread along one of the Schir's halberds...
Morgrym easily takes care of 1 schir with a double blow from his earthbreaker. Even the mightiest of schirs would have fallen before those titanic blasts. On the other side of Morgrym So'rien targets the schir with a blast of magic causing the creature to recoil as blood seeps from his ears. Maelchar swings twice but only manages to hit once but the damage is significant and bypasses the schirs resistance to weapon damage. The blow is enough combined with the AOO from Garith, the ear piercing shriek and the greatsword stroke to send the schir back to the abyss. With only 1 schir left Pakak happily targets it with a grease spell hoping to cause it to drop his halberd.
reflex The schir holds on but is at the mercy of Zeriax and Garith.
Nausea-ira continues to make sure the wall does not sneak up on the party.
Satisfied that their primary opponent is down, Zeriax turns his attention to the remaining Schir.
The last remaining threat of the schirs is most definitely dead. Luckily (or skill if that is how you want to phrase it) for you the tiefling was eliminated before she had a chance to bring about some of her more potent and deadly spell.
"Well done, now to be sure there's nothing that needs a patching...speaking purely arcane wise."
Pakak studies the area to make sure the ritual is shut down and not having left something unpleasant open that will cause even more trouble in the future.
Seeing no other imminent threat, the dwarf's fury subsides. He then moves over to the nearest wall and leans against it to catch a bit of a break. "Take your time, brother. I'm in no hurry here," he says, giving a nod as he rests.
With the death of the Tiefling the building energies and power provided by the schirs dissipates harmlessly. The city is safe, for now. The goal though has still not been reached and it is only a matter of time before the demons hear of the success and try to retake Drezen. Yet where is the Sword of Valor? Is it still within the confines of the basement of Drezen in the area to the east that has not been explored yet? Or do the doors simply lead to simple storage rooms and the Sword of Valor was removed to another secret location?
"The good news is, the energies of the ritual appear to fade harmlessly. The bad? Without the sword, I don't think any of us will have time to rest long," Pakak says worriedly, "Should we now go to the East?" He asks all.
Sighing deeply as he lets his head fall, he shakes his head before looking back up, knowing his fellow dwarf is right. "Blast. Alright, east it is. Let's go and find this blasted sword so we can take ourselves a nice break. Ya know," he starts as he removes himself from the support of the wall, "it should've been a hammer. If it were a hammer, then it'd be far more interestin'," he states as a matter of fact.
"It technically could be anything, you know... 'sword' could be a metaphor for anything that cuts the enemy deeply, it needn't be a physical wound. Let's see what we might find. East it is!"
"Does seem to be a bias towards making magic swords in human lands. No one ever says 'Behold, Cavusauctor! Pick of power, maker of third nostrils in the skulls of the unholy, puncturer of perversion' despite the fact the pick can be a useful weapon in tunnels and the like"
So'rien smiles tiredly and says Or perhaps it is a metaphor for a person, or a title, and we will come across some whiny teenager with a great destiny or some such nonsense who has been dubbed the Sword of Valor! I might have to rethink my place in Iomedae's divine plan should that happen.
As Pakak investigates the magic in the room, Nasira finally starts to get some control over her rebellious stomach. By the time he has pronounced the immediate threat nullified, she is straightening her clothes and looking very embarrassed.
"We had an instructor that would use that spell or something like it to 'toughen' us up. I thought I could handle it, but his were never so... potent. Maybe it was the time she spent with goats. Or demons. Or goat-demons."
She looks around, amazed at the relative health of the party. "Does anyone require healing?"
Maelchar shrugs as he examines his lack of wounds. "I'm good to go, thanks for the offer, Nasira."
"Aye, cousin, a thorough search with caution... "
I also could use some of your healing energies. Similar to Sir Garith, the heat has blistered my skin.
"Perhaps it would be up to you to take such task on Master Pakak, and craft this 'maker of third nostrils" - Zeriax ponders with his usual pragmatism - "Why not?" - he finishes, looking to the eastern, unexplored parts of the underground complex.
"Be as it may, I believe in defeating this defiler, we struck a might blow against our foes" - the monk adds, summoning a simple detection spell, searching the room, and their fallen opponent.
-----
If nothing of interest is to be found, he plods along toward the east.
She looks around, amazed at the relative health of the party. "Does anyone require healing?"
Morgrym shrugs. "I've merely a flesh wound or two. Pakak's spell - by the way, thanks again for that, Pakak - protected me well. But if you are ta be healin' us all at the same time I'm not gonna be foolish enough to turn it down," he says with a grin.
Scanning the area quickly you discover that the tiefling woman did indeed have some nice valuables on her. she has 2 rings, cloak, headband, 2 scrolls and 3 vials on her.
You are easily able to identify the cloak as a cloak of resistance +2, 1 of the rings is a ring of protection +1, and the headband is a head band of int +2 (sense motive skill). the potions are a potion of cure serious wounds, and a potion of blur. The scrolls are D-door and dispel magic.
The harder to identify items are still reveal after some deliberation among the group as a ring of forcefangs and a vial of wyvern poison.
After some minor healing compared to what you have needed before you head east to the set of double doors. After checking for traps you open them to reveal a large hall. Swaths of pulsating red lichen illuminate this long, 30-foot-high, alcove-lined hall. The alcoves themselves display elaborate, colorful murals of demonic entities, each with inscriptions chiseled into the stone below them. At the far end of the hall stands a massive iron framework that displays a red banner.
Each of the murals on the walls depicts the demon lord Deskari mutilating and savaging a different deity—Iomedae, Sarenrae, Torag, Desna, and Shelyn.
Looking in with a raised eyebrow, "Well this room doesn't look very invitin'. We got red glowy stuff everywhere, pictures of demons all over the place and a drape of some sort at the end of the hall. I say you magic folk use your magic to collapse the room and we just leave it be," he states plainly.
"That could very well be the pennant we are seeking... though it seems like this place is tainted by demons and their questionable artwork, so hard to tell..."
At the mention of making such a magic pick, Pakak looks thoughtful, but the grotesque artwork takes his mind off it soon enough.
Pakak frowns when Garith explains the situation of the murals, "Agreed. Perhaps have some artist turn it around and depict the various glories of the same gods mocked"
He approaches the banner,detecting magic
The banner does indeed glow brightly under Pakak's magical gaze. It is different from the glowing magics of the mimic up above though. It seems more muted and reduced, like someone or something is suppressing it.
You think that the tapestry is suffesed with the plane of shadow. By removing the taint it would possibly be returned to its full glory and power.
"That could very well be the pennant we are seeking... though it seems like this place is tainted by demons and their questionable artwork, so hard to tell..."
"Pennant? I thought we were looking for a sword? Or somethin' ta that effect anyway." Morgrym asks, his attention moving back to the murals. "Like I said: we collapse the place."
"It's glory is dimmed by the very plane of shadow, if we can remove the taint, it might return to its full glory." The smaller dwarf surmises.
Zeriax will save
fort save
As you move into the room and start to inspect the murals upon the wall all of the Deakaris come to life. Pakak and Zeriax believe fully that indeed the Demon lord himself is descending upon them with fiery breath and weapon drawn. The rest are able to see that the Deskaris are really nothing more than an elaborate illusion. However You can all see Pakak and Zeriax skin darken as they feel the flames wrap around their bodies burning them to Deskari's delight. Still they are heroes for a reason and are able to push aside the majority of the flames and stand resolute in the face of the demon lord. After what seems like an eternity though the demon reenters the murals to once again take pleasure in tormenting the deities it is striking.
fire damage
Pakak you think that by finding the source of the shadow essence, probably a creature nearby, and removing the source will be enough. Of course if it is a creature then you would have to kill it or bind it as a shadow creature could move on the plane of shadow to return immediately if it was only forced to flee.
"NO! I will not..." Pakak readies to face the enemy. Fire engulfs him and...
and the illusion ends.
"Well, most embarrassing," He croaks, the damage at least was very real.
Yes Pakak your elemental resistance applies to the fire damage!
Zeriax stays frozen in place for a few moments - his skin crackling and blistering. As he is about to roar against the pain, the flames simply vanish.
The pain lingers though...
"Should we just press on friends?"
Zeriax stays frozen in place for a few moments - his skin crackling and blistering. As he is about to roar against the pain, the flames simply vanish.
The pain lingers though...
"Should we just press on friends?"
"Let's press on and clear this blasted demon taint completely out of the place. The sooner the better, lad."
I agree. We should continue.