The Deathclaw was enthralled, as had been the objective. But the sad fact was that the limits of Krish's totem, as well as the goal after that point were unknown. It was best it didn't stay that way.
"Krish, what now? What can you do? What must you do? Are there any limits, such as time or orders issued, before the effect fades?" He paused for thought, and looked about. "And if limits allow, can we use the creature to open these crates? I have to restock my supplies after that last creation, and there may be something useful or valuable somewhere as well. We don't know what this place contains, after all."
Going for the door. Oadir says moments before he slips down into his shadow.
And slips out of the shadows of the couple, hurting their fragile little bodies with the energy released.
Sees feels the itchy tension of gathering inspiration from her speech crawling under her scales and pushes the accumulating magic away.
There is a terrible arc of purple light that sucks in the light of the room around it.
Krish speaks once more to the mighty beast, not daring to allow the distraction of his fellows to take one bit of his attention from the spirit-eater. He pits his will against that of the deathclaw, speaking to it again, You have been horribly treated by these soft skinned creatures. Come with us, for we are kindred of yours, however distant. With us you will find plenty of opportunity to wreak your terrible vengeance on those who have wronged you.
Though the next words make his stomach sick, he knows that the spirit in the totem offered itself to bind the deathclaw, that it inteded its sacrifice to benefit all the spirit world, but the thought of its demise fills Krish with sadness. His voice is solemn when he continues, Agree to be bound to my service, to devour spirits only at my command, and I will ensure your revenge. This spirit has offered itself to seal our bargain. Krish softly speaks the name of the spirit bound in the totem, unleashing its power.
|
Retzack examines his nails. He really should clean them more. Especially in a sewer. You never can be too careful with personal hygiene. Especially the little things. And when's the last time he plucked his eyebrows? Ugh, the things must look like a shrubbery by now.
Oh, and also the massive 9-foot long crocolich rears up on four legs and gallops forward in a manner no natural product of swamp and bog could ever produce, screaming like a woman caught inside a crocodile's body with a hunger than only hands and souls could satisfy.
The other four of it's hands are outstretched, the grabbing, rending claws of the mutated reptile approaching the couple at a dead charge while the elongated maw opens wide, dripping with saliva in anticipation of fresh meat.
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1, 2, 3 , 4, 5... Thunk counts the birdies tweeting around his head
Smoog watches the others rush to immobilize the human threat.
He prepares to act if things get out of hand but he is confident Hegh and the monstrosity can handle it.
Krish, the Deathclaw's eyes focus on you, its eyes seeming to burn in its skull. It shows complete disregard for Thunk and Greas, staring only at you, with its complete, predatory attention. It begins to growl, and you hear the anxious voice of the spirit within the totem, whispering in like a wisp in a tongue only you can hear. "It's not enough by myself to bend it to your will. It's still fresh from being enslaved, tricked into a cage. If you sacrifice for it, it'll believe us!"
The spirit of the totem presses your palm insistently, but doesn't go into detail about what kind of sacrifice would convince such a creature. The ugly choice is thus left to you. What do you do?
MEANWHILE, AT THE SUBTERRANEAN TIME TEMPLE ENTRANCE:
Sees-Death provides vital aid with her commanding presence to the Tiefling's spell, twisting her slightly into the shadow realm in the process. You shiver with the chill from coming into contact with a dimension not meant for mortals, take the worst 2 of 3d4 shadow damage, does not ignore armor.
But even with the sacrificial help of the bard, Oadir's teleportation doesn't go exactly as planned.
Splutch, says the man who had been kissing the girl, who had just been about to respond to Sees-Death's words and Tanard's hissing threat display on her shoulder. He's not able to say anything to elaborate, because the Tiefling teleported into the space he was currently occupying. The insulating shadow magic of the teleportation protected the channeler from taking damage, but the nobleman wasn't so lucky. Oadir reappears half in the man's shadow, and half standing inside where the man was.
The woman the nobleman had been wooing is covered in gore from her lover/employer's exploded face, now replaced with Oadir's slightly startled visage splitting the face in two like a clown mask. Understandably, she starts to scream incoherently, clutching at her face in horror and taking several shaky steps back. Her evening had gone from illicit and naughty goings-on to a sudden bloodbath.
Her scream is cut short by the undead abomination that shambles forth from the darkness of the sewer tunnels beyond. The amalgamation is a horrific sight to behold as it steps into the lamplight, the soft glow of the fires within the torch illuminating the distended flesh, the muscles stretched beyond their limits and filled in with insectoid bodies where needed.
Such a creature is more than capable of silencing the hapless servant girl, and does so - unless stopped by Hegh, that is. The dracomage had skidded to a stop in amazement when Oadir burst out of the man's body, but is still right there and able to act. If the creature isn't interfered with, it will feed on the woman. Horribly, according to Retzack's roll. The smacking and sucking sounds of its devouring frenzy would be heard for several minutes after the attack concluded. What do you do now?
Con Thunk tries to keep himself as solid as possible to not get killed.
Hegh nonchalantly picks through the pieces of exploded human, as Retzack's beast feeds.
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Oadir is standing there, eyes wide, covered in blood and still partially wearing the man, when something flops onto his head...
The turban had been popped up in the explosion and just managed to land itself right upon Oadir's head. Oadir feels his head, smears the blood off his face and starts inspecting his skinsuit.
He's happy with the turban, but if there's more, there's more.
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Krish eyes the massive beast, unafraid. After a moment, he tucks the totem under his arm, draws his ritual knife, and kneels before the spirit-eater. Taking a deep breath, he lays his off hand on a board and stabs the ritual knife into the center of his palm with the blade edge facing toward his fingers.
With only a small grunt of pain, he pulls slowly down on his wrist with his other arm as well, slowly bisecting his own hand.
Panting at the fire in his maimed hand, and grunting in pain with each motion, he places the totem back in that hand and with stubborn will wraps his fingers back around it.
The painful sounds he makes become louder as he takes the weight of the totem. After a moment he speaks again, his voice tight with pain, I will treat you well, and I will expect to be well treated by you. I believe one of our number can do something about a severed body part. If not, I will search for someone who can undo the damage to you. Come with us. We will be stronger together.
Sees feels the shadows press in like wollen blankets, but is glad to find no mechanical clocks in her hallucination.
"Let's get this mess cleaned up and move into the Time Temple.
We need to set up perimeter defenses and start laying on provisions and supplies.
This town will be ours in a fortnight I say! If not sooner.
If Krish and the Team can capture that Demonclaw Souleater, maybe days!"
-
Smoog moves toward the Time Temple entrance and studies the architecture with keen interest.
-
AT THE WAREHOUSE:
The Deathclaw's eyes narrow as it watches Krish offer his sacrifice. The pain the shaman inflicted upon himself, the hot kobold blood that spills freely onto the concrete floor...they weren't in vain. The Spirit-Eater glances from the bloodied hand back to Krish's eyes, and the kobolds can see a change in the creature's blazing eyes...a note of respect. Slowly, the creature lowers its head, breaking eye contact with the commanding presence of the shaman to look at the floor.
The creature looks down at its feet, at the stunned and dazed barbarian. Using the backs of its fingerclaws, so as not to lacerate him, the Deathclaw rolls Thunk over and over a few times until he comes to rest at the shaman's feet. Thunk, you didn't actually need to roll anything when you fell to the ground, because Krish had captured the beast's attention fully. No XP or penalty applies here.
The Deathclaw lowers itself onto its haunches as it looks at the kobolds arrayed before it. Its long arms rest its knuckles on the floor, like some enormous lizard parody of an ape's posture. It glances from Krish, to Kibra, to Greas, and finally to Thunk. It seems to be awaiting your next move.
Meanwhile, at the Time Temple:
There's not enough of a corpse left of the woman to effectively search; whatever possessions she may have been carrying are inside the Amalgamation's stomach. Hegh dips his claws into the pockets of the one remaining half of the man that lies on the ground in a heap. His claws withdraw holding a pouch of small golden coins, 40 of them, along with a single golden wrist-bangle estimated at another 10 gold. Oadir just finds some loose human intestine in his right pocket, with blood and guts leaking onto his clothing. Tanard snorts a little plume of fire from her nostrils from Sees-Death's shoulder, chuckling at the sight of the Tiefling pulling a long string of intestine out of his pocket.
Ignoring the dispatched humans callously, the Tinkerer makes the last 100 feet or so between the corpses and the Time Temple door at a run. The door is trimmed with gold lining, with a large rotary wheel used for opening it; giving it the appearance of some kind of opulent vault. You tug experimentally on the wheel and find that it doesn't resist your efforts to move it.
The corpses, what remain of them, turn into a fine black mist and rush into the canopic jar that Retzack holds open for them.
Oadir bursts out with laughter before realising his position of attempted stealth and he quickly quiets himself, bows his head and makes his way to follow the Tinkerer.
As Smoog approaches the ornate door, he scrutinizes his surroundings and wonders...
He then tries to recall all he know or has read about this style lock mechanism.
-
"As would be expected at a Time Temple this appears to be some version of a 'Clock Lock' or more precicely an Isochronal Isolation Inductor.
If spun and set to the correct time it will open for us.
Hmmm... I wonder if set to some other time if it would open to a Different Time?! The Time Lords COULD do some amazing things after all..."
Beast have name?
Thunk says as the last of the tweetie birds flies off.
Beast want come with us? He says as he staggers to his feet and gets his club, which he checks to see if it is glowing
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Smoog, nice roll. This kind of door-lock was actually the subject of your doctorate dissertation at Kobold College. The Time Temple was constructed in such a way that one entrance could take one to multiple different levels of the temple itself, via magic. You recognize each and every ornate magical mechanism of this door, and you recognize that turning the minute and hour wheels to a 3:30 position will open the door straight forward to the lowest level, while a 7:00 position will open the door to the street level of the temple, and an 11:15 position will open the door to the very top of the Temple itself.
Thunk, you check your club's glow and see that it has gotten slightly brighter than before. Indeed, as you speak to the Deathclaw you hear inquisitive human voices just outside the warehouse; likely come to investigate the noises the Deathclaw had made when he knocked your head against the crates. The Deathclaw regards you for a moment, its eyes wavering back and forth slightly. Then, its head perks upward as it hears the same human voices that you do, and it growls. Still, it makes no hostile action toward any of you 4.
Thunk points at the door with his glowing club
You aren't certain which direction the nearest door is. You can retrace your steps to the ladder leading to the window, but the rest of the warehouse is a maze of tall stacks of crates.
In that case Thunk points toward the wall.
Pigskins. Best to stay quiet.
"Do we kill, or evade them? The Deathclaw has proven itself stealthy enough for either, and more commotion will draw attention. Their return may be expected as well."
"Shall we start at the bottom?"
-
Smoog spins the dial to 3:30 and prepares to enter the Temple hoping it is not currently occupied.
"Shadowcaster? Are you okay? Stay close. Your umbral friends are potent, but the exact a steep price. I'm not sure how often I can draw you from the brink like that." Sees-Death rubbs her eyes before turning to Smoog. "What, are you afraid the human's have set traps? Ludicrous. Straighten your back, oh my brother, this will be a Welping-feast."
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I'm fine, I'm fine. Just goes to show how much one can lose in the blink of an eye.
Usually the price is merely a fleshwound, every once in a while it's a little more, but up until now it's always been able to be healed up by a good night's rest with some proper care.
Down in the sewers, Sees' words conjure up her arcane power to heal and enhance the tiefling, but the magic almost goes wrong initially. It almost looks as if it will injure him instead.
A glow from behind Sees makes her turn. Twin rings of blue light encircle Tallest-Silver's hands, and her eyes are wide, but unseeing. The spell succeeds and heals him, and the tiefling never noticed that the spell almost went wrong. In fact, the Tiefling stands a little straighter, and gains the Damage Buff of a bard's Arcane Arts as well. Startled at this new development, Sees instinctively glances at Tanard, and sees the dragon on her shoulder staring at Tallest-Silver, a blue glow similarly emitting from her eyes. After a moment, she blinks, and her eyes return to normal. She makes eye contact with you and chirps.
Tallest, for her part, is dazed at her sudden display of magical power. "I've...never done that before...but that just felt so natural..." she actually laughs a little in wonder. "Wow..." she's staring at her own claws, which have ceased glowing. "The Drake never did anything like that..."
Nearby, Smoog has successfully opened the door to the bottom level of the Time Temple. He opens the door to another small room that has a closed, normal design door as its only feature. He checks it, and opens it cautiously, and looks through to see the Time Temple's basement winery, illuminated by flickering torches.
The Deathclaw in the Warehouse looks to Krish for guidance, but seems willing to listen and follow any of the kobolds' lead for now.
Thunk looks over to Greas
You smart one Sneak. What do now? Thump?
Overwhelmed by the relief that they were not all going to die right this moment, and the staggering pain in his maimed hand, Krish stands for several long moments without moving or speaking.
Hearing Thunk and Greas discussing approaching humans and the impending threat of discovery shakes Krish out of his stupor somewhat, his breathing is harsh and his voice tight with pain, "Not can-stay. Greas, can get Deathclaw arm? Need to get away, back to tunnels." He turns his attention to the Deathclaw, Spirit-Eater, can you regrow your arm? Is that a capability you possess?
Looking first for any obvious occupants of the room and then any evidence of recent use, Smoog moves thru the room to any exits on the far side.
Hmmm, why are these torches lit? Are they always on or has someone been here recently?
-
I should probably consider erecting a false wall outside to disguise this sewer entrance and keep undesirables out.
-
Once the room is deemed safe for occupancy, Smoog moves back to the entrance door and waits for all to slide in. He then closes the door and spins the locking mechanism to secure it.
-
It is hardly common knowledge but if I could figure out the combination, someone else might be able to also.
Maybe I can reset and change it later.
-
"I suggest we make our way thru this level and sweep out any interlopers.
We are going to make this our home for a little while so security and comfort are paramount."
Thunk shrugs then races up the ladder to see how things look on the outside
...there's blood here, and that will cause problems if it's found - a noticeable amount now from Krish, and more from the Deathclaw prior. This is an issue.
"Be that as it may Krish, we left a mess behind here. And it will be found eventually. This area will be under scrutiny if that happens. With the complications in killing the pigskins, it means the Deathclaw must move, and I am not so certain we could get it into the tunnels. Also of note: that arm is bigger than I am. Even if the area it is in is not still populated, there is no chance that I could carry it. Even Thunk would have difficulty."
Hiding the Deathclaw is an issue. It's too soon to send it into the fray again. It needs concealing. "For now, we leave. So no thump yet, Thunk. If anyone has any idea how to get the creature below ground, or otherwise hidden and accessible, share. We must leave this place now. Deathclaw, try to stay hidden as we move." Once everyone is clear, he leads the group back the way they came, intent on speed and silence.
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Sees spends the next few minutes grumbling and writing in her dream journal, sketching dead Silvers in the margins. Emotions are mixed, but intense.
She helped me, and that's all she wants, but she helped me do my job, which means she's competition. Th̵e mo̡re̸ w͢e͠ ́h́av͏e ͞in com͠m̛on̕,͟ ̡t҉he ̡mo̴re͏ ̀she ̀stan҉ds͡ t̴o̵ r̷e̛p͘l͏a͟ce ͟m̸e. ͠I҉'͘͢͝v̸͡e̴ ̀͢͞s̢͟u̴̶f̶̕fęr͢͜è̀͘d̶ ̷҉t͠oò ̛͘múc̴̀͝h̀ ͏͜f͘o͜͟͞r̶̕ ̧m̧̕͠ý̀͘ ̛stándìng͝ ̛i̛n͜ ̢t͘he t҉̢r͜҉̕i̶b̧͟ȩ̶.̨̢͘ I̴͏ ̵͝͝wi͢ll̶ ҉͢͜not͏͢ ̸͢l̸̨ò͝ò̷s̴̴̨e͝ ̀͡į̀t̀.̸̴K̸͏͘҉͘I̵̧͢͠L̢͜Ļ̷̵͏ ̡H͏̵͞È̢͠R̶̨̛͜͡!̵̧ ́͟͠K̷͢I̧̢̧ĻL͘͠҉̧ ̛͝H̸̨̛Ę̶̷̧͠R͟͜͝ ͡͞҉B̵́͡E̴̵̸͞F̢͘͡͞Ó̢̡͜R̵̢̀͜͡É̡ ̵͟͝͡T̷͢H͟͞È̶͘Y͏͠ ̶̢̧̀́K͜҉Í͠͞L̴̷L̡̀ ̴͝҉͞҉Y҉͝ỚŲ̛͠!̨͝
When Smoog comes out talking, Sees snaps the journal shut and looks up with a smile. "Yes. Fortunate that there would be such a temple as this, with favorable sentiments to our cause. Let's try not burn it down with all this delicious alcohol. I know, I shouldn't have to say that, but you know us and establishments. We haven't left a structure intact since..." Sees trails off as she can't think of a place since Moontower Mountain. Was that their fault? Did they lay ruin to the comforts of this world simply by existing? Is destruction the only bounty a Kobold can look forward to? "Well, anyway, let's try to keep this one."
After the group gets in Oadir trails off to whisper to Retzack.
What'd I miss, both before I got back but most importantly back there? Just what did Tanard do that 'the Drake' had never done? Also might I add that this creature is looking good, still repulsive but a lot better for a mix than your previous fusion.
IN THE WAREHOUSE:
The Deathclaw doesn't appear to understand your language to comprehend your question, Krish. Seeing you gesturing at its stump-arm, it glances at it, but doesn't seem overly perturbed. Maybe that's your answer.
Greas leads the party back to the ladder leading to the top window that they entered in through. You all silently climb up and reach the top safely. However, when the Deathclaw follows, it knocks over the ladder with a tremendously loud clattering sound, which is answered by cries of alarm coming from within the warehouse itself. Lights begin to flicker to life along the inside corner of the roof of the warehouse, but you're out before you're fully spotted.
You're standing on the windowsill of the warehouse now. I forget whether you pulled up your rope that you used to climb up here in the first place, but in any case you can lower one now to get down to the bottom, and the Deathclaw needs no such things. You have a choice before you now - actually, two choices. You knew that your group would be heading to the Time Temple eventually, and enough time passed in your search for the Deathclaw that they may have left already, though you aren't sure. You can try to head back to the safe zone in the sewer, or try to go to the Time Temple itself to catch up with them.
Then there's the question of how you get there. Rooftops, street level, or do you find a manhole cover and try to re-enter the sewers? Keep in mind if you choose the sewer option that you'll have to find an entrance to the subterranean labyrinth that is big enough to accommodate the Deathclaw's body.
MEANWHILE, AT THE TEMPLE OF TIME:
The entire basement level of this temple appears to have been reserved for wine casks and kegs of ale. It's cool, and dry, down here, probably close to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike the abandoned Time Temple that you encountered on the river isle, the Time Temple of Estr is still in regular use, thus the lit torches; and the monks of Estr that tenant within the Temple (not the original builders, it should be noted) are brewers and winemakers. There's literally tons of alcohol down here, enough to throw a festival for the entire town. There are two staircases leading upward, in the center of the basement, and the two staircases are facing opposite each other, both leading upward to closed, mundane doors.
You don't encounter any people or traps, though. Beyond the alcohol, you find an unoccupied workbench, some cooking cauldrons, and a large fireplace near the center of the level, not far from the stairs leading up. What do you do?
Go time place now? Roof hop best. Thunk says knowingly He makes to bound away before he stops. Which way time place?
It should also be noted that the Time Temple is set on a hill, and is a tall structure; it's a fairly recognizable landmark that can be seen from nearly any roof in Estr. Structurally, the architecture resembles the old ruin you saw at the River Isle, but obviously in better repair, so recognizing it for what it is shouldn't be that unusual.
Thunk sees it as he takes. Time place that way! He promptly does his jackie chan trick to get up to the roof while carrying the rope.
Defy Danger Dex
Thunk hold rope you climb rope. Quick quick!
"Perhaps we should. Even if the rest of the group isn't there, they will be soon. And given the construction tendencies of pigskins and their so-called allies, there will likely be an entryway accommodating to the Deathclaw." It was a reasonable solution as to where to bring the Deathclaw. They just had to get it there without calling the militia. "Given the -"
Before he has a chance to speak further, Thunk has already made his way to the rooftops. This is something he will be forced to get used to. "Very well then. It seems the decision has been made already, so we may as well not dawdle. One at a time." Greas clambers the rope up to Thunk. Once he's at the top, he fixes his gaze on Thunk. "In future, you could at least wait long enough to hear what the rest of the group has to say, if it isn't urgent." As much as he was useful to have, he still proved irritating in numerous ways.
Greas aids Thunk in getting the rest of the group up, leading them forward once they are finally ready to travel to the Temple.
Thunk try