Alis raises an eyebrow. "I... think this 'bridge' is a good bit longer than the magic Ekubus gave you, dear."
"Highness," Jask offers, "a structure like this also spanned the distance to the Nightsong. It was strong enough for us each to pass, and I believe even for several of those fungus plant men to carry me."
"Well," she shrugs, "it's up to you, Frændi, I could always launch you across if you don't want to risk it."
"Thanks for the concern, frænka. I'll manage it just fine." He smiles, "I'll even go first." As he leads the way across the bridge.
"Alright, we'll keep off until you're across."
Please don't break, please don't fall...
Alis holds her breath as Darvesch sets foot on the flimsy looking bridge and quickly makes his way across. The fibers of the structure groan and stretch beneath his weight, but he confidently makes it to the far side without incident.
Thank the gods!
"Alright Jask, your turn."
Not feeling quite so reckless, the old priest nods silently and takes his time to ensure he doesn't fall.
"I'll bring up the rear, El."
In short order, the two blondes make it across without incident, the structure a non-issue for the agile beauties.
Once across and standing on the fungus-slick stone, Alis asks in a hushed tone, "Darv, do you want to take point or shall I?"
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 27)
"I'll take point this time." He says as he leads the way to their destination, keeping an eye out for fungus men.
"With any luck, we should be done here and back at Aycenia's in time for a late supper. Lead on Frændi!"
Once she's done, Darvesch leads your group forward at a cautious pace, checking for snares and weakened stone as he goes while keeping eyes and ears on the alert for any vegepygmies. Alis hangs back a few feet to give him space while Jask sticks close to her in case he loses his footing. Lureene brings up the rear with Grak remaining a few feet behind Jask so that she doesn't run into him if he needs to stop suddenly.
You proceed in nigh complete silence, the sound of the surf breaking on the rocks below the overhang on which you stand the only noise breaking the silence. After nearly a minute of circumnavigating the jutting spire, Darvesch halts, the pathway narrowing to a mere foot-wide precipice slick with sea spray, and stone weakened by the pervasive fungal growths spreading from a cave entrance he spies just ahead.
There was also the barely perceptible sound things shifting to remain unseen somewhere out of sight. Mindful of her cousin's cues, Alis held up her hand to signal a halt, but Jask runs into her and claws at the tendrils on the rockface to avoid falling sending a scurry of debris rattling down its surface.
Perception Checks
Stealth Checks
Taking 10
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 37)
As Alis gives her preparatory speech (which she thought was quite well done), Lureene readies for the upcoming battle by casting a protective spell on herself. She then pulls her recently acquired wand out and activates it.
Darvesch signals for everyone to halt and remain silent, then signals that he hears something up ahead. He readies his axe and shield.
Faced by a narrowing of the path, but also the threat of danger, Darvesch grips his axe in his shield hand so that he can grip the cliff face and the clinging growths for support. It is awkward at best, trying to remain silent and keep close to the spire without scraping his armor, but he makes it past with a surprising display of skill.
The warrior's movement places him in the entryway of a fetid cave. The walls are swathed in quivering tendrils of fungus that wave as if in a breeze. Streamers of the stuff hang from the ceiling and there are great mounds heaped upon the spongy surface of the floor.
Where were the creatures he heard?
As he scans the interior, his form casting a long shadow, Darvesch transfers his axe back to his right hand and keeps his shield at the ready. Yet for the life of him, he can't see the vegepygmies Grak spied.
Perception Checks
Darvesch hears them before he sees them. Two vegepygmies lunge at him with spears from either side of the cave, sun in their eyes as they strike. With ease he catches their thrusts on his shield and turns the attacks aside.
Upon seeing that their attacks have no effect on the metal-clad warrior, one of them breaks and runs further into the tunnel and nearly out of sight.
, Alis, Lureene & Grak, Jask; Enemies
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 38)
Darvesch chuckles at their feeble attempt to strike him, and reciprocates with a stern warning, "You've plagued this island long enough. I will destroy the lot of you!" He lifts his axe, "Kahn! Set my foes ablaze with your divine flame!"
Alis peers around the corner and sees as Darvesch's axe erupts in flame from where he stands in the cave entrance.
"Looks like Darv has found himself some playmates. El, want to see if you can give him some cover?"
, (Alis), Jask; Enemies, Darvesch
"Sure thing, 'Lis'
Lureene slips her favorite wand out in her hand while gripping her rapier in the other as she moved closely bhind the dwarf and slides around him, Grak following closely behind.
Last thing we need is anyone falling in and needing to mount a rescue...
Alis slips a dagger into her hand and leans around the corner to see if the coast is clear yet. Frowning at the congested area and treacherous footing, she holds out her palm towards Jask and shakes her head indicating for him to stay put. The old priest nods in understanding and remains where he is.
"Tut, go stay with Jask and watch our backs."
The little fellow pouts a bit at his queen's command, but hops down and scrambles over to the much taller man without audible protest.
As the taller, stronger intruders mass on their doorstep, the pygmies retreat further into the cave. One disappears around the corner while the one that was threatening Darvesch at spear-point moves back into the tunnel where it can only be approached by one intruder at a time. It yips out a threat and shakes its spear menacingly as if daring him to come closer.
, (Alis), (Jask), Lureene & Grak; Enemies
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 39)
"By Kahn's will, you shall come forth!" He shouts as he moves as close to the fungus man as possible .
Darvesch speaks boldly as he strides forward, navigating the slick, uneven terrain inside the cave, each step seeming to sink into the spongy filth coating every surface. The vegepygmy however continues to stand its ground, unfazed by the dwarf's mind-affecting magic.
Once Darvesch has closed to within striking distance, the small creature thrusts with its spear, yet it thrusts not at the impending mountain of muscle and metal, but at what had looked like a simple protrusion of smooth rock. Immediately, there is a loud *BANG* as the bulging spore sack ruptures spewing its contents into the humid air!
As the cloud settles into the air around the room, the tiny adversary realizes this his giant foe remains undaunted by its surprise.
(Alis), (Jask); Enemies
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 39b)
Lureene hears the dwarf cast his spell at the plant man, and there is a small part of her hoping these plant men would somehow show themselves vulnerable to his magic. Alas, it was not meant to be.
I wish 'Lexis were here, I think her spells would be more effective than mine at this point!
She steps into the fungal cave, Grak following closely behind his mistress, and notes the presence of the spore cloud. She calls back to the others, "We have a cloud of spores here, 'Lis, make sure you keep Jask nearby." As she sees the plant man standing there, she smiles at it and casts a spell. As the acidic globe forms in her hand, she says, "You will not escape us!"
Lureene steps up behind Darvesch and lobs a burning ball of acid at the pygmy striking it full in the chest. It squeaks in surprise and horror as it begins to melt!
When Alis hears her warning over the alien cries, she says, "Alright Jask, let's get off this ledge, we're too exposed here..."
With ease, she skirts across the narrow portion of the ledge, Jask following behind her. However, the old man slips and it is only her quick reactions that keep him from falling into the churning surf below.
"Take it slowly and focus on your grip so that your feet can find their balance. You'll be fine, I'm not leaving you," she whispers to encourage him.
Further inside the cave, the plant man being consumed by Lureene's spell makes a desperate thrust at Darvesch's head. It is a good attack and gets past his shield. Yet it only trims a few whiskers from his beard as it glances off his gorget. In a panic, it flees further back, unimpeded by the terrain that is giving the larger folk so much trouble.
, Alis, Jask; enemies
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 40)
Darvesch moves as quickly as he can to the fungus men.
Darvesch rushes after the pygmy, axe hungry to finish dispense vengeance for the blight they have caused. He finds the enemy Lureene struck, now badly deformed by acid, just up ahead still trying to flee deeper into the cave.
Further in, he can hear the subtle sound of things tearing and softly padding about, and he realizes that the creature before him is attempting to lure him further in for some purpose.
Sense Motive Checks:
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 40b)
Lureene grimaces in distaste as she steps in the spongy ground of the cave. As she sees Darvesch hurry deeper into the cave she thinks, I hope he doesn't go TOO far!. She steels herself, taking a deep breath before she plunges into the spore cloud after the intrepid dwarf. She sends a quick message to Grak, Stay out of the spore cloud, Grak, and guard our backs.
Lureene plunges thru the noxious spore cloud making it through to the otherside before taking another breath. Darvesch is not far ahead of her, his burning axe sets shadows to dancing along the walls of the cave. About 15-feet away from him, the pygmy she injured continues to flee as the passageway turns to the left and descends further into the spire.
Outside, Jask says, "Yes, slow and focused. One. Step. At. A. Time..."
Keeping his wits about him, he finally makes it across the treacherous part of the trail and accepts Alis hand for balance as he steps into the cave entrance with her. Eyeing the cloud ahead of them, he comments, "It will be too dark for me to see without some light. Is it the same for you, your highness?"
"I'll fare a little better, but not by much. Thankfully..." she intones a few words and a number of dancing lights appear around her, "I can shed some light on the situation."
Further away, beyond the light of the falling sun, or Alis' magic, the injured pygmy disappears around the corner, yipping in pain as it goes.
, Alis, Jask; enemies
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 41)
Darvesch moves as swiftly as he can, not needing light to see. He realizes his time is limited for his fiery axe, and tries to act as quickly as he can. Thinking to himself, "People are relying on me to clear this place. I cannot disappoint."
Darvesch rounds the corner and sees the injured vegepygmy limping just up ahead of him. Yet at the last moment, he spies something out of his peripheral vision that isn't quite right and realizes he very nearly walked past another that was hiding in the fungal growths hoping to ambush him, to catch him in a pincer maneuver!
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 41b)
Lureene hears the sounds of Darvesch encountering another of the plant men. Knowing full well their propensity of striking from ambush, she slows her pace while drawing her wand out. As she moves further into the fungal cave, she wonders what happened to the Captain who had first entered here so long ago, while readying a magical assault against her foes!
Lureene continues to follow after Darvesch, but whatever enemies he is engaging remain outside her line-of-sight.
, Alis, Jask; enemies, [Lureene]
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 41c)
Darvesch strikes, fast and hard, the fungus man in front of him, spoiling his ambush. "Watch out everyone!"
There is a gout of flame and the smell of burnt mushrooms as Darvesch obliterates the pygmy beside him in a single swing. With a hiss, the injured one quickly shuffles out of sight to the west.
Further back, Alis nods at Jask and says, "It's started, let's go!"
Moving across the floor as if gliding upon the crust of the snow, Alis quickly catches up to Lureene even as Jask slogs his way forward behind her just clearing the poisonous cloud of spore. King Tut snorts in disapproval as the foul-smelling reek, but none seem worse for wear.
Perception Checks
, Alis, Jask; enemies.
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 42)
"Oh no you don't!" Darvesch says as he chases after the fungus man that is trying to get away.
Lureene sighs inwardly at the dwarf’s enthusiasm. I hope he is not expecting ME to rush in with him like that! She elects to move more slowly, while keeping her wand at the ready.
Darvesch rushes further into the cave emerging in a larger expanse that continues to the north and wraps around to the west. He can faintly hear things shuffling in the darkness, but he cannot discern what it might be thru the dense growth of fungal matter everywhere.
However, he does hear his quarry and sees it duck thru a narrow opening into a smaller chamber just to his west. He gives chase and very nearly catches up to it, the small thing holding up his spear towards him anxiously as it backs up towards another exit further away.
To the south, Lureene loses sight of Darvesch and notices that even his shouting seems muted in here. She moves forward a few feet and can see the split remains of a pygmy against the wall on one side and a larger cave up ahead, but no signs of more enemies or of Darvesch.
"It's a little too quiet," Alis says as she catches up to Lureene, Jask lagging behind with Tut, "don't you think?"
, Alis, Jask; enemies
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 43)
Lureene sighs retorically, before whispering in response to her best friend/adopted sister. "Tell me about it. Does Darv always rush off like this blindly?"
I hope his armor is well built.
She moves up cautiously, wand at the ready, wary of a possible ambush from ahead.
"It's starting to look that way, isn't it?" Alis whispers, dagger at the ready.
Lureene moves forward far enough to peer into the growth strewn chambers beyond, Alis and Jask behind her. The muffling effect of the soft sheets of fungus muting noise, the piles of the stuff obscuring lines of sight. While she cannot see or hear anything nearby, she has little doubt that they are not alone.
To the west, she sees Darvesch rushing through a gap into a side-passage, silhouetted by the light of his burning axe. Beyond him, the solitary pygmy she had already injured continues to lure him further away from the rest of you.
Behind her, the princess frowns and nods to Jask to stay at the ready. "Sounds like we have company. See anything yet?"
; enemies, [Lureene], (Alis), (Jask)
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 43b)
Darvesch, tired of following this thing to an obvious trap, drops the axe, draws a javelin, and throws it at the fungus man.
"Rrhhaaahhh!" is the only thing that he manages to get out as he throws the javelin.
Darvesch's axe makes a soft thump as it plops onto the yielding surface of the floor raising a small plume of smoke as it begins to burn away at the fungus around it. With a loud yell, Darvesch hurls a javelin bullseyeing it thru the head and pinning it to the wall behind it.
There is a tangible shudder throughout the cave and from all around, the sound of tearing as the vegepygmies, which had been hiding in plain sight amongst the fungal growths covering every surface, begin to rip free.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Alis mutters.
From behind Darvesch, two pygmies sneak up, blocking his retreat while from the cave, no fewer than five rush at him brandishing claws or spears. One of the small creatures gives a series of excited yips, gesturing at the weapon lying at the dwarf's feet, and the one approaching from behind grabs onto it even as the rest slash at him with their claws and stab with their spears!
As one they rush him, those brandishing spears striking at him high while those who are close up dive at his knees attempting to knock him off balance. At least one of the pygmy's spears gets snapped in half when the dwarf strikes it with his shield. Yet he has little time to take satisfaction in it as a powerful spear thrust to the flange on his knee guard hits home at the exact moment one of the pygmies before him steps on his toes and lunges forward.
With a muffled *CLANK!* he falls to the ground as the horde piles in around him. When he reaches for his axe, he finds that it's not where he dropped it. Instead, the pygmy just behind him is holding it in both hands like a trophy!
Further back in the cave, you can all hear something much, MUCH larger tearing free, the floor shuddering as whatever it is begins to approach.
Trip Attacks
spear breaks
From seemingly out of nowhere, another four pygmies come barreling at Lureene unfazed by the uneven footing. Two come from the north, the others from around the wall separating Darvesch from the larger cavern.
While those that run straight up to slash with their claws are little more than a nuisance, it is only the succubus' mirror images that keep her face from getting ripped open by savage spear thrusts!
, Alis, Jask, Darvesch; enemies
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 44)
-
-
-
- prone, disarmed
-
-
Lureene utters a vile curse and hastily steps back from the plant men. Hearing the sound of a large creature approaching and seeing Darvesch cut off causes her to shake her head ruefully.
Boy, we sure walked into this one face-first...hope these things burn...
"Looks like Darv is in trouble. Stand back, 'Lis. I am gonna clear a path for us!"
Without delay, Alis hops to the side. "Heads up, Jask!"
A moment later, an immense ball of fire erupts from around the wall filling the cave ahead with foul smoke.
half
half
half
half
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 44b)
As the smoke begins to disperse throughout the cave, leaving behind charred and smoldering fungal growths, the succubus notes that she successfully halved the number of pygmies standing before her. Darvesch's axe now lies amidst the blackened ashes of the foe that had snatched it.
, Alis, Jask; enemies, Lureene
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 44c)
Darvesch reaches for his axe, crawling to grab at it. "That's the last time I try that idea." He thinks to himself.
Spying Grimnon's now smoking (albeit extinguished) axe not 5-feet away, Darvesch suffers a barrage from the pygmies in order to reclaim the weapon. Trusting to his armor to protect him, he suffers only a minor cut as a single spear manages to get past his guard.
Gripping the weapon in his hand, he pushes himself back to his feet now looming over the spear-wielding foe between himself and Lureene.
; enemies, Lureene, Darvesch
-
-
-
- prone, disarmed
-
-
As the flash of flames subsides, Alis can hear King Tut choking on the befouled air. Ignoring his pain for the time being, she wills her dancing lights further into the chamber beyond, eyes burning from the acrid smoke. Bejeweled dagger at the ready, she calls out, "Guard our rear, Jask," before slipping past both her buxom friend and the haphazard attacks of the burning pygmies.
Gods and I thought they smelled bad before!
Spotting the spear-holding pygmy by Darvesch, she attempts to swipe at it, but very nearly wipes out as she stumbles on a tendril obscured by the lingering smoke.
Son of a–
Reflex DC 15
Jask retrieves the spear dropped by the pygmy Darvesch split in two and steps up behind Lureene. "I have your rear, Lureene."
, Alis, Jask; enemies
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 45)
Lureene does a double take at Jask's reassurance and risks a quick peek at him. Not seeing anything untowards in either his face or his stance, she turns her attention to the remaining plant men. Knowing reinforcements are on the way, she elects to use her wand here to quickly thin the herd, so to speak.
I must have inagined it...
Three missiles streak forth from Lureene's outstretched wand striking both pygmies before her. Unexpectedly, one of the missiles she had directed at the one right in front of her veers off to strike the one by Darvesch and Alis, yet her surprise turns to satisfaction as all three fall to the cavern floor one after the other.
Alis raises an eyebrow and glances behind. "Show off," she teases.
, Alis, Jask; enemies, Lureene
MAP: S-The Fungal God, (Round 45b)