Wardove's Rumble in the Jungle

Game Master Laithoron

"Liiike I was saying, I didn't realized until 'Lucia' was revealed to be a vampiress that Charelle must not merely have enjoyed sewing terror, but she is also able to inspire it by the same means that her former queen employs."

There is a moment of silence during which the only sound is King Tut's quite laughing and the sound of Lureene gagging. Mal finally breaks the silence. "So what you're saying is, this Charelle and her minions? ... priestesses? ... they read our memories and made up illusions they knew would torment us?"

"Our worst nightmares, given flesh..." Priyya says, ruefully.

Gaaahhh!

Lureene is stunned into speechlessness, just as the princess intended, on receiving the kiss from Alis’ furry companion. Although she has been kissed by many men with rather questionable hygiene habits, nothing quite compares to the combination of whatever comprised the eating habits of Tut.

After the kiss ends, she gazes skywards, and whispers ”By the gods, I need some water….NOW!”

Alis nods at Lureene's whispered request even as a dark stormcloud forms over the succubus' head. Within moments, Lureene is drenched as the miniature thunderhead douses her.
Alis cast drench using Spellsong-> Oratory.

In answer to Priyya, she says, "Precisely. I was responsible for my twin sister getting killed right when I was feeling jealous at the respect and power she commands. Mal was forced to fight a good friend who died saving him, risen to accuse him of the suicide of the woman he loved. Sasha and Lureene had to face Lucia, and by the sounds of the yells I heard, it sounded like you, Darvesch, had to fight your own cousin, Grimnon. No doubt unable to remain dead following the manner of his death, correct?"

All around the room, she notes the nods of others. Everyone save the Surya-ka-Vahaak.

"What about me? I encountered a facsimile of Ieana, or at least Ieana as we suspect her to be, but to say I'm eager to finally fight her would be an understatement. It's not something I'm afraid of."

"I suspect, Alis holds up her left palm, tapping it once with her rapier before pointing to Priyya's scimitar, "those might have had something to do with it. Alcarienne doesn't just banish the darkness with her light, she brings the light of truth as well, doesn't she?"

Priyya tips her head, noting the starburst-shaped birthmark on her left hand and nods her head slowly, looking over her curved blade. "More so than any of us here, you fully expect to go to your death fighting against impossible odds. You are Surya-ka-Vahaak, the only thing you fear is letting your goddess down."

The princess turns to look at Lureene and holds a hand out for Tut to jump onto.

"As for that aura, El, I recognized the fighting style the vampires were using. I have no idea how long they've been here, but the style was very similar to what is taught to the Sacred Consorts of Súmalya. It's the same style I use so it would make sense that Charelle grants them the ability to form a similar protective aura."

She looks at her dripping-wet friend intently. "But that's not all you sensed, is it? What else?"

Lureene ignores the dripping water off of her hair and face (she was used to getting wet, back in her previous...occupation) and considers carefully what her detection of 'Alexis' had revealed.

"'Lis, when I checked 'Alexis' for auras I discovered her deflection aura that surpasses even your own aura. I never saw a stronger aura, at least not on this plane."

She shakes the water out of her hair, and continues "I am wondering WHY that is the case, 'Lis. If that was just another vampire spawn, or even a true vampire, why would she have such an aura?"

Alis shifts uneasily, Priyya frowns, and Mal shakes his head. "Can't be a ring or anything like that," he says, "you'd have to have the power to beseech the gods for miracles to imbue one with a field as strong as hers. You know anything else, Alis?"

"Well," Alis muses, finger pressed to her lips, "I do know that we are able to manifest the force of our personality outwardly in much the same way that beings of pure beauty do, at least that's how it was explained to me. The more powerful members servants of Súmalya can achieve a state that transcends the boundary between mortals and angels, but I've never met anyone that powerful..."

Lureene nods slowly, "I wonder if perhaps it was an angel or perhaps an avatar of your goddess who decided to take a form familiar to you, and the rest of us. If that is the case, she sacrificed her life for you, 'Lis."

Priyya cocks her head to one side. "Really Lureene? Really?"

"See?" Alis admonishes, "This is why you should try to listen harder when I have something to say, El. No, if that being was as powerful as you say then I doubt something like that would have worked. Vampires turn gaseous when they are destroyed. If one was able to read our memories so easily and transform themselves that convincingly, then there's no way it was some meaningful sacrifice. It was to crush me plain and simple. Well, I have a mind to repay the favor..."

Lureene looks at the priestess, "I sense a note of incredulity in your voice there, Priyya. Since you do not agree with my conclusion, do enlighten me as to your theory."

As Alis responds Lureene nods in agreement, albeit somewhat unconvinced. "If you say so, 'Lis. It just seems odd to me, that's all."

"Odd how? Charelle feeds on misery, fear, and anguish. She revels in it. Don't forget, her agents have tried to kill or kidnap me more than a few times already then here we go walking right into her sanctum like–"

"–like prey chasing a lure. Headfirst into a damn trap."

"Wait," Sasha speaks up, finally hearing an analogy she understands, "so you're saying that Ieana was like bait for a trap and we're the prey? Huh... well it's nice to feel important, I guess, but I'd rather be the hunter myself."

"SOOOoooo....that means Ieana knew who we were all along when we were aboard the Pearl, ever since Titan's Cove! Everything she did, from enspelling Kovack, to poisoning the crew and marooning us here...was to lead us HERE!" She waves her hand around the Temple for emphasis.

"The glyph in the entryway did mention slaves and the faithful being able to enter freely, didn't it? I decided to walk by Alis' side due to visions received in my dreams from my goddess and Alis'. Perhaps Ieana was the recipient of something similar. She did seem fixated upon wrecking us here."

"Darvesch, didn't you say that this site looked to be built atop an older one? The ritual we used to open the door was to a serpent god, not a vampiric fiend."

While waiting for everyone to figure out what to make of the situation, she adds, "We need to heal. Since Alíta's light seems to be the most potent offense against our enemy, I don't want to exhaust it prematurely. Alis?"

"All that deception, just to lead us here? For what? Our destruction? Surely they knew that wouldn't happen so easily. Not with a Hellhammer, and company, present." He boasts, laughing heartily.

He regards Priyya, "Yes. The door was way too thick, and I could tell there was an extra layer added recently, comparative to the rest of the temple, anyhow." He pauses a second, "Say, Mal, Priyya. How'd you like to help me out a bit, before we rest a bit? I'm thinking we should pry off that top layer, and find out what we're dealing with here. Lureene, Alis, Sasha, and Talvyra if you'll allow it, Mal, can remain in this room, and rest while we take care of that." He looks to everyone in turn, and stops at Alis, "Okay?"

Alis nods to Priyya and begins using her wand to patch everyone up.

"I'm really not certain, Darv." She smiles sadly. "Chivane seemed quite content to kill everyone else and start a civil war in Elsmyr Dale, but she and Lucia were intent upon capturing me for some reason. While I'd rather not find out, at least not first-hand, I suspect we might not have much of a choice in the matter..."

She does brighten a bit though at the dwarf's bravado. "Of course, who could anticipate a dwarven inquisitor to take a ship so far for the love of an elven cousin? I think someone might be in for a nasty surprise. Let's stick together though. We don't know how many enemies are here and divide and conquer is the most basic strategy in the book. This won't take long, I promise."

Mal laughs grimly at Alis' decree and he shares a knowing glance with Priyya. "Yes sir, ma'am."

So much for some personal time...

"Yes, sorry," Priyya says, "looks like you're stuck with the snarky priestess and her hot-headed patient a bit longer."
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• Good Hope: +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls. R412

• A hp: 24 + 1d8 + 3 ⇒ 24 + (5) + 3 = 32/30 CLW
  Comprehend Languages R1056, Mage Armor R3603
  
•      k: 15 = 15/15
  
• D hp: 33 + 1d8 + 3 + 1d8 + 3 + 1d8 + 3 ⇒ 33 + (6) + 3 + (7) + 3 + (1) + 3 = 56/58(68) CLW×3
  2 negative levels DC 17 each
  
• L hp: 48 = 48/48 ghoul fever 1/2 saves DC 16
  Mage Armor R3601
  
• M hp: 45 + 12 + 1d8 + 3 ⇒ 45 + 12 + (7) + 3 = 67/66 lesser rest, CLW diseased, unconscious
  non-L 63 - 12 - 10 = 41/66
  Con 12 + 1d4 ⇒ 12 + (3) = 15/16 lesser rest no penalty
  Int 10 = 10/12
  Barkskin R602
  
•      t: 42 = 42/42
  
• P hp: 36 = 36/36(41)
  1 negative level DC 17
  Mage Armor R3602

• Sasha hp: 11 + 1d8 + 3 + 1d8 + 3 + 1d8 + 3 + 1d8 + 3 + 1d8 + 3 ⇒ 11 + (8) + 3 + (3) + 3 + (5) + 3 + (6) + 3 + (3) + 3 = 51/54 CLW×5 unconscious
  non-L 43 - 40 = 3/54 CLW
  

"Agreed. Then let's not split up. You, and the rest of the group can rest briefly in that room." He points to the large room they entered the Temple BG.20ish. "Meanwhile, I'll need Priyya and Mal to help me out with the door." Determined, the warrior doesn't seem to want to budge from his current path.

"That's not a problem," Alis says, "we can cast and walk at the same time. Stay close though, you're almost as beat-up as Mal."

And that takes some doing...

With that, you make your way down into the entry chamber, Alis fussing at how beat up you all are.

"Good. Walk with me." He says coolly as he leads the group to the large entry room, then leads Mal and Priyya to the doorway they entered. He opens the doorway slightly, and points to the side of the door. "See. Right there. This door just wasn't made to be quite that thick. Might not seem like much of a difference to anyone, but trust me, this door just wasn't originally built to be that thick." Then he points to where the old stone meets new, "And that's the line right there. There's most definitely something under this." He looks to Mal and Priyya, "Mal, you and I could try using our axes to pry this thing off. I don't want to damage what's underneath by smashing through it. You can get right up there." He points to a spot well above his head, near the top middle. "And I'll get down here." He attempts to shoot down any short jokes with a glare to each of them. "Priyya, I'd like your expertise with what we might uncover."

"Just please don't get too close to that glyph!"

"You think I'm daft enough to step on that twice?" He chuckles.

Lureene motions to Sasha, "I think we had keep a sharp eye out here. If there are any more vampiric minions, they would strike while we are distracted."

She then positions herself so she can watch the southern doors, along with the upper passageway.

Perception 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 = 21 good hope

Lureene and Priyya keep watch over the upper end of the stairs, their uncanny sight and spells enabling them to easily survey the large sanctum. Meanwhile, Alis and Sasha keep watch over Mal and Darvesch as they work.

"Well that's interesting," Alis comments, "the glyph on the floor hasn't built up another charge, at least not yet anyway."

She turns to look at the rest of you, "El, Priyya, care to verify that?"

Indeed, with Mal's help Lureene discovers that it is as the princess said. Just like the blast rune in the cathedral in the ghoul caverns, it looks like this glyph was spent when it detonated. "More lies to keep us here..."

It takes some time and no small amount of work for Darvesch and Mal to pry the facing stone off one of the two door. In spite of being submerged for countless centuries and subjected to the pounding of surf, the mortar used still proves to be remarkably strong. The best you are able to do is drive some wooden shims into the seam and then soak them with water so that they swell and increase the fissure ever so slightly. Over the course of the next hour, it widens enough for you to wedge several iron spikes in.

Taking a gamble, Darvesch then has Sasha pull the level that seals the doors and is rewarding with a loud *CRACK* when the action strikes them in unison. When the door is reopened, a 3-inch thick slab of stone is lying on the floor of the lagoon just outside with a great deal of mortar pulled away from the original door on that side. Although only half the surface of the door has been exposed, and it is still covered in a great deal of hardened mortar, you are able to make out what appears to be half of a hissing snake's head with more runes matching those found in the cathedral.

"So Charelle's followers toppled a temple to Qingu and then reclaimed it for themselves... I think the glyph about slaves being able to enter makes a bit more sense now, wouldn't you agree?"

Any chance we can get an updated map? =) Going off the last battle map, I just realize, in the entrance room, there are "alcoves" like in BA.24, what are in those alcoves? And what is that across BG/BH.16-25?

While Mal and Darvesch are inspecting the door, Priyya takes some time to give Lureene a physical, giving her some medicines and also lancing and draining a few boils that appeared as the result of the ghoul fever burning in her veins. Thankfully, neither Lureene nor Mal seem to be getting any worse. In fact...

"Well it looks like you are on the road to recovery. Well, assuming you don't end up as a late night snack for Charelle's floozies that is."

MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 947)
NOTE: The alcoves at the north end of the sanctum are empty. The entrance to each is carved to resemble a yawning, fanged mouth.
BA17 contains a lever that opens and closes the outer doors.[/ooc]
BA24: Alis discovers a poorly concealed trap door in the floor, however it appears to be rusted up and stuck in place.
BG16 - BH25: is a bridge built between the pillars. It is about 40-ft above the floor, 20-ft below the ceiling.

• A hp: 30 = 30/30
  Comprehend Languages R1056, Mage Armor R3603
  
•      k: 15 = 15/15
  
• D hp: 56 = 56/58(68)
  2 negative levels DC 17 each
  
• L hp: 48 = 48/48 ghoul fever *cured*
  Mage Armor R3601
  
• M hp: 66 = 66/66 cackle fever *cured*
  non-L 47 = 47/66
  Con 15 = 15/16
  Int 10 = 10/12
  
•      t: 42 = 42/42
  
• P hp: 36 = 36/36(41)
  1 negative level DC 17
  Mage Armor R3602

• Sasha hp: 51 = 51/54
  

Lureene smiles in relief as Priyya gives her the good news. "Thank you sooo much, Priyya....I will try not to be..." her voice trails off as she realizes the priestess seens to be fixated on Mal for some reason.

Could it be she actually....NAAAH, must be my fancy running away with me.

She looks over to Alis, a questioning look in her eyes. "Do you think we should keep going?"

Alis looks up from the trap door she was gazing at and returns to the stairs. "Well, unless you think there's a compelling reason why we should leave Ieana alone in a nest of vampires..."

Making sure he leaves the entrance doors closed, Darvesch goes to use some of his "dwarven ingenuity" on that rusted trap door, and attempts to destroy the opening. "Hey, can you guys help me with this?" he asks the group, as he tries to burst the rusted metal. "I don't know what's beyond here, but I don't want to take the chance that Ieana is hiding in here, and let her sneak up on us."

Alis looks up from the trap door she was gazing at and returns to the stairs. "Well, unless you think there's a compelling reason why we should leave Ieana alone in a nest of vampires..."

"Hmmm. It sounds like they are made for each other, I think. Still, we need to make sure she stays here for a long time."

As Darvesch starts to hammer away at the trap door, she glances at Priyya, "Don't vampires need a coffin to rest in...could there be one hidden in there?"

Darvesch says, as he keeps hacking at the door, "Only one way to find out."

"Sure," Mal says, using the haft of his spear as a lever, "I'll give you a hand."

As the two proceed to make an ungodly racket, Sasha scratches the back of her head and whispers to Lureene, "Hey El, why are they opening up another passage if they don't want someone coming at us from behind? We can only go one way at a time, right?"

Even as the red head finishes asking her question, the ancient trap door gives way. It clatters down a 20-foot deep shaft splashing into a shallow pool below before clanging loudly against the bottom. Stale, foul-smelling air gusts up into the men's faces and fills the area with an unpleasant odor. Somewhere far below, you can hear what sounds like bones rattling.

"Well that sounds real good..."

MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 968)

"HA! This'll prove interesting! Care to do what you did back when I flew? You know.. make me fall slowly?" He asks Alis as he smiles innocently.

"Darv..." Alis laughs and shakes her head. She says sweetly, "I'd rather conserve my spells for the next big fight. I know you tend to get strange ideas where climbing ropes are involved but try to behave, alright?"

With that, she begins tying off a rope to the nearest pillar for Darvesch to climb down for a look-see at whatever is rattling around down below.

Eric: You plan on mentioning the magic climbing rope Lureene got from Ekubus at any point? :P

Lureene turns to her friend, an amused smile on her face. "Sash, I have not known many dwarves in my life, but all I have heard about them says once a dwarf gets an idea in his head, it is nigh-impossible to convince him to change his course!"

As Darvesch asks his question, and notices Alis pulling a rope out, Lureene remembers the rope gifted to her by Ekubus. She reaches into her pack and takes it out. "Here, Darv, I think you would want a way to climb up, don't you think?'

She then speaks the command word, and holds the end of it allowing the other end to snake into the hole.

"After you, Darv."

"Right. Sorry, Alis. I'm just making sure everyone is safe." As soon as the rope is tied, Darvesch sits on the ledge, and slowly lowers himself down. "Yes. Thanks, El." Noting that's the first time he's referred to her by that name.

Climb check 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 1 = 15 STR, ACP

Lureene smiles at the hearty dwarf, "Be careful, Darv."

As she ties off the rope for him, she thinks to herself, Did he just call me El?? He has never called me that before, I don't think. I gues that means he must REALLY like me now! A small smile grows on her lips at the thought.

Darvesch descends 20-feet into a 10-foot tall chamber. At fist glance, this damp cavern seems natural, but here and there the mineral deposits on the walls and ceiling don't quite obscure ancient walls that were carved by hand. The floor is covered with a shallow layer of brackish water from which numerous small mounds of delicate crystals emerge.

The dwarf's footing on the bent and buckled trap door is anything but steady. He barely has a chance to step down before the metal door see-saws and pitches him into the 6-inch deep water. Cursing his luck, Darvesch discovers the door landed atop a large mound of ancient bones caked with thick mineral deposits.

MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 975)

Alis winces at the sheer amount of noise that her cousin seems intent upon making. "What's he breaking now Mal?"

"Tch–" Mal snorts and give a short laugh, "his ass! HELLHAMMER, YOU OK?"

"Yes. I'm fine. But there's a narrow passage down here that I won't be able to fit through. I hear bones rattling on the other side. Anyone care to join me?" Darvesch waits for a reply, someone to join him, or the bones to reach him, whichever happens first.

Lureene calls down to him "Are you sure you really want to find out Darv? Maybe we can find another way down there..."

"I doubt it'll be an issue. Oh, well. I'm coming back up. What a waste." Darvesch says as he begins to climb back up.

Climb check 1d20 + 4 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 - 1 - 2 = 2 STR, ACP, Negative levels

Getting frustrated at his failed attempt, he uses the rope Lureene provided to get up.