"They have such a thing as 'oly water? Now ye tell us! What 'bout th'healing potions, will dey work?". Felmor really hates this place now.
"I don't think the healing potions will work and it looks like we'll need them." She glances at the blood seeping through her robe. "There is an orison I can pray for to make my own Holy Water... but I can't recall it at the moment. We'll see how many start regenerating after the battle is over and if I need to use a spell, I will."
Tower voice: Tower's radio clearance, over!
Captain Oveur: That's Clarence Oveur. Over.
Suffering thru her injury, Priyya's holy wrath is not dimmed and she unleashed Sarenrae's glory again...
...this time blowing away the remaining skeleton and rendering those that had already fallen to dust.
As the last skeleton falls, you hear the tink of metal on stone as a necklace it had been wearing falls to the floor.
XP: +160 each
As Priyya tends to her wounds, Morgaard has a look at the necklace and hands to to Alexis to examine.
"Hmm, well the style of it is of a sort that was popular about 200 years ago. It also seems to bear an enchantment that bestows a minor enhancement to the wearer's determination."
She looks up and smiles at Felmor's bravery in leaping to help Alis. "Priyya, this would suit Mr. Traker, don't you think?"
She looks up and smiles at Felmor's bravery in leaping to help Alis. "Priyya, this would suit Mr. Traker, don't you think?"
Priyya takes the necklace from Alexis and squeezes her hand with affection. She ceremoniously holds the necklace to Felmor's chest as if eyeing it for it's fashionability saying, "I think it would be a suitable reward for his bravery."
She then draws closer to him and places the necklace around his neck, rests her hands on his chest, and says quietly, "You are quite handsome in this." She catches his eye so that her desire is clear, "Quite." She pats him on the chest and turns away.
"So? Alis, you are wounded, yes? Is it just us that need healing? I have enough power for a little more."
"So? Alis, you are wounded, yes? Is it just us that need healing? I have enough power for a little more."
She nods, holding her left arm. "Yeah, looks like they got us both pretty good."
After Priyya heals them both, she smiles in appreciation. "Thanks!"
Felmor blushes a rather pleasant shade of red, Aye, it amazin' I still got blood anywhere else, b'sides me face! Once Priyya slips the necklace on over his neck, he nods in gratitude, and hugs her briefly, thinking Well, glad me sailin' buddies canna see me now, he he. Also, he noticed somewhere else the blood was concentrating...especially after he sees Priyya's rear.
"So, jes wanted ta thank ye fer th'gift, ladies, Tis a fine gift, indeed, 'n I will treasure it always!" Although, later, he would realize something else he found, far more valuable than just gold, or riches.
Friendship.
Once you have concluded you business in the current room, you approach the stairs to head further down. As you begin your descent, you can hear the sound of dripping water and a low, distant moaning which grows more pronounced as you proceed.
At the bottom of the stairs is a circular chamber with three passageways leading from it. In the center is a small stone pedestal. The sound of dripping water can be heard coming from the eastern passageway, while the stench of rot emanates from the west.
The floor bears an inscription spiraling out from the pedestal and written in Common. It reads: "To the south you might take your ease, to rest and reflect on Kassen’s deeds. To the east lies the wheel, to open the gate. To the west is the resting place of Kassen, hero of the Fangwood."
Perception Checks:
Stealth Checks:
MAP: Room 13 #00
"So, jes wanted ta thank ye fer th'gift, ladies, Tis a fine gift, indeed, 'n I will treasure it always!" Although, later, he would realize something else he found, far more valuable than just gold, or riches.
Alis wrinkles her nose at the smell coming from the west and jerks her thumb in that direction. "Something is shuffling around further down past the corner."
Aye, prolly one 'o them zombies. I'll bet." He turns to Priyya, asking, Did ye want ta lead th' way, or let me be th' first one ta face it?"
"Since the inscription says the West is Kassen's resting place... it makes some sense that our nemesis will be there. Is that the way we want to go first? The talk of a 'gate' to the East makes me think that to progress too much further, we'll have to open it. Of course, it could be a floodgate for all we know. If we are blocked from our nemesis by a gate, then perhaps he is blocked as well. I'd rather fight a few undead at a time than all at once. In either case, Felmor, I think you've been brave enough and shouldn't lead the way. So, friends, what shall we do? Scout all the tunnels or handle our shuffling friend to the West?"
Felmor replies to Priyya, "I think handlin' whatever that thing is be more important now, we kin scout later. don't wanna get 'im advance warnin' o' us."
While you stand discussing what to do, you hear a moan to your west. A walking corpse wearing only rotting rags stumbles into view and you can see that it's peeling flesh is ripe with pustulence. With a moan, it lurches forward, arms held out before it as it approaches Alis.
INITIATIVE
, Alexis, Morgaard, Alis, Priyya, enemies
"That thing looks diseased, Priyya, would it be safe to git close ta it? If so, mebbe we kin draw it in 'ere!"
"Uugh, how foul! Be careful, Alis!"
Alexis taps her sister on the arm with the wand you found earlier and for a split second you see a glowing aura of energy materialize about her in the form or armor before fading away again.
She then takes a step backwards to get out of the way of her more combat savvy companions.
Morgaard runs his thumb along the edge of his axe and steps up next to Alis, winding up to strike at whatever presents itself.
"Not sure that pokin' holes in a man that's already dead will help, princess. But I'd like to see it walk with no legs."
Morgaard will wait until the creature moves and then attack when it advances.
Alis nods at Morgaard's words and backs to the opposite side of the pedestal and into the eastern hallway to give Priyya room to maneuver. She then lowers the light crossbow that Felmor gave her at the undead and fires...
...However the shot simply tears thru its ruined clothing and splinters against the wall behind it.
, Priyya, enemy, Alexis, Morgaard, Alis
MAP: Room 13 #01
Priyya wracks her brain for any knowledge about putrescent zombies.
"If this is a regular zombie, slashing weapons will be most effective. Everything else, less so. Felmor, your flaming crossbow bolt might also be a good weapon."
Felmor readies his daggers for the creature to enter the room...
Attack Dagger +1 , damage
, Felmor, Morgaard, enemy, Alexis, Alis
"Damn! This zombie may carry diseases. Be careful of touching it's flesh!"
Priyya moves to AJ11 and channels Sarenrae's light for the second to last time today, feeling it would be better to destroy this zombie before it comes into contact with anyone.
She draws her scimitar in case it becomes necessary.
Priyya's burst of positive energy causes the thing's flesh to sizzle and flake away, damaging it heavily.
The zombie lurches forward, attempting to charge the source of its pain but it is met by both Felmor and Morgaard who have prepared for its advance.
Felmor's magic dagger sever's the creature's left arm at the elbow a moment before Morgaard's axe hits it with such force that the zombie literally explodes covering all those standing next to it in its vile stinking flesh.
Fort Saves
From further down the hallway, you hear more moaning and the clumsy footsteps of additional creatures.
"By the gods!"
Alexis covers her nose and mouth with her left sleeve against the stench and begins cleaning Priyya off with a prestidigitation cantrip.
"Don't blink, or it will go in your eye," she says.
No sooner does she finish cleaning up the gore-spattered cleric than do another two zombies pile into the west hallway.
Her lip curl in revolution at the thought of more of these things. The young mage reaches into her sleeve and pulls free a scroll as she steps around behind Priyya. Without hesitation, she starts chanting the arcane symbols inscribed upon it.
In a flash, thick ropy cords of webbing fill the western hallway ensnaring the nearest zombie and blocking the one behind it from advancing any further.
"Alis, fire!"
Felmor gags at the smell of the of the putrescent flesh, and it takes all of his willpower to avoid adding his stomach's contents to the mix. Swallowing his bile, he notices more of them coming, and breathes a ragged sigh of relief once Alexis throws the magical web up.
"Good job, 'Lexis"
"Cap'n, use th' firey bolts, fer Gozreh's sakes!"
"Good call, sailor! Here goes..."
With a flick of her wrist, Alis loads an incendiary round in the stock, pumps the reload lever and fires.
With a resounding BOOM the first explodes in a spray of flaming gibs. The one behind it is engulfed in flames and flails around in the inferno of webbing before finally falling to the ground and bursting superheated filth everywhere. Further down the hall, you hear the frantic moaning of yet another zombie that was apparently caught on fire. After another few moments however, you the sound of a bursting flesh balloon as the fourth, unseen zombie burns away.
Alis looks down at the incendiary bolts Felmor gave her and the flaming bits of webbing and undead lining the hallway, an astonished grin splitting her face.
At long last she finally exclaims, "Wicked sick! Sis, you've gotta make rounds that can do that for the sewing kit!"
Alexis merely rolls her eyes gives a short snicker before starting to clean up Felmor and Morgaard.
XP: +160 each
Felmor looks at the mess made by the zombie remains, as he waits for Alexis to clean him off.
He announces to no one in particular, "Well, I guess they know we is 'here. Guess there ain't no reason fer sneakin' 'round. Mebbe we should scout now?"
"Felmor the Desired ;)"
He announces to no one in particular, "Well, I guess they know we is 'here. Guess there ain't no reason fer sneakin' 'round. Mebbe we should scout now?"
Priyya says, "I think our presence was known when the front-door slammed shut and those first skeletons rose up. What isn't known is when exactly we will encounter our foe. I think we should proceed cautiously. If we can take 'him' by surprise, so much the better. Assuming our foe is West, maybe we should try the South and East corridors first."
Felmor replies , a little bit embarrassed, "Aye, ye is right, Priyya, th' foe is definitely playin' cat 'n mouse wit' us. 'N we all know which is which." He gives a sigh, feeling like the wind was let out of his sails. Must be being trapped here. Well, it could be worse, he could be trapped here without Priyya. He thinks of all those times she had looked at him like...well...like a lover. or something even more. She indeed was his anchor. He really didn't think he could survive this place without her, and not because of her clerical abilities.
He gives Priyya a smile, and replies, "I think we should check out th' eastern way first."
Felmor replies , a little bit embarrassed, "Aye, ye is right, Priyya, th' foe is definitely playin' cat 'n mouse wit' us. 'N we all know which is which." He gives a sigh, feeling like the wind was let out of his sails... He gives Priyya a smile, and replies, "I think we should check out th' eastern way first."
Priyya watches the emotions play across his face. She didn't realise the depth of his fear or the courage it must take for him to face it. She wants to strengthen his resolve. She says softly and kindly but with steel behind it, "Oh no, Fel'. This is not cat and mouse. This is cat and cat. The question is which of us has the bigger claws? For this battle, was I born. I am Surya-ka-Vahaak. I bring Sarenrae's light to the darkness - to destroy evil. This is my purpose. While we don't know the strength of the creature that lies ahead... I can tell you it has gravely underestimated what WE can do."
Felmor sees Priyya's face light up with fervent resolve, and while he was not very religious, in one respect, she had won him over. Not flighty, like Suny, or capricious like Alis, she really was his anchor, and he reflected, all ships needed an anchor, otherwise they would drift on the currents, and be lost forever.
Plus, there was a glow about her, which was very pronounced now. she was actually glowing. The glow diid not detract from her beauty, it only enhanced it, in his mind.
Felmor walks to her, taking her hand in his, the same one he kissed a few days ago in a bar called Limbo, but it seemed much longer, and farther away. "Aye, ye is my anchor, Priyya." He wanted to do more, and say more, but he says nothing, allowing his eyes to speak for him., to show her what she meant to him.
Priyya stops Felmor from taking her hand, "I may be infected, Fel, and I may be contagious. Don't touch me." She tries to make a joke out of her concern, "Believe me, I wish I could have left the "don't" off that last sentence."
Priyya starts to examine herself clinically, where-ever the zombie gore fell on her.
"Aye, ye is my anchor, Priyya." He wanted to do more, and say more, but he says nothing, allowing his eyes to speak for him, to show her what she meant to him.
She blushes at the intensity of his gaze, struggles and fails to find any sort of adequate response except the tears that threaten to emerge, "When we get out of here, we've got a few things to discuss."
Priyya stops Felmor from taking her hand, "I may be infected, Fel, and I may be contagious. Don't touch me." She tries to make a joke out of her concern, "Believe me, I wish I could have left the "don't" off that last sentence."
Felmor blanches when he hears the word 'disease'.
Sense Motive 12
She blushes at the intensity of his gaze, struggles and fails to find any sort of adequate response except the tears that threaten to emerge, "When we get out of here, we've got a few things to discuss."
"Aye, there's been some t'ings I gotta let ye know 'bout as well, Priyya."
Felmor blanches when he hears the word 'disease'.
Sense Motive 12** spoiler omitted **
Priyya shares a sympathetic look with Felmor. "Don't worry. I'm sure you are fine, Felmor. You didn't get quite as sprayed as I did and Alexis cleaned you up quickly. I might be fine as well. We'll just need to watch me for a few days to see if any signs of infection occur."
Not wishing to upset Felmor, Priyya goes to talk with Morgaard and Alexis privately, for a moment.
I sort of play it as the lowest save probably got most 'sprayed'. Let me know if you want to play it some other way. It's your BBQ.
Alis turns eastward and crosses her arms across her midsection as she looks down the the several inches of water covering the eastern hallway.
As Alexis finishes cleaning Morgaard off, the grizzled old soldier frowns deeply and nods his head in understanding. He gives Alexis a dead-serious look.
"Might as well be a mind-reader, Priyya. Make no mistake, I'd have it the same way if it was me."
Her eyes big as saucers, Alexis purses her lips. After a deep breath, she nods her head also before turning away.
I a quiet voice she says, "I think we need to finish what we've started here in good time and return to the land of the living with all due haste..."
Priyya nods at Morgaard's sentiments, "You are a stalwart companion. If you fall, I will make sure you don't rise again as a curse upon the living.... But I'd rather we just make sure that NONE of us falls here. As long as we live, we can be cured - if we are even infected."
Priyya looks around to see if Felmor or Alis overheard the grim conversation. Seeing Alis staring down the East corridor, she walks over. She looks down the corridor, uncertain if the corridor or the conversation has prompted Alis' mood.
"What's up, Alis?"
"Aye, I hope ye is right, Priyya" His voice doesn't sound very convincing, and he leans against one of the walls, lost in thought, or perhaps memories.
"What's up, Alis?"
Attempting to look like she didn't just overhear everything, Alis replies, "Oh, I was just thinking that maybe it would be safer if I stuck to organizing dinner soirées from now on..."
She sighs.
"I'm really sorry for getting you and the others into this mess, Priyya. Here you are taking a brief rest from the quest that brought you so far from home and if you're sick now, if I've even screwed that up..."
Alis' voice trails off and she leans her left forearm up against the wall looking away down the hallway. "Would... would you mind talking about the quest that you're on? About where you came from?"
Priyya leans on the wall next to Alis. She wants to comfort the distraught woman but doesn't want to risk touching her, if infected.
"It's like every time I think I've found something fun to do with new people I meet, everything just ends up all fu<ked up!"
Priyya smiles and says lightly, "Well this is fu<ked up, no doubt. But actually, I AM having fun. Maybe you are hanging out with the wrong people? You need to hang out with twisted b!tches like me. To a Surya-ka-Vahaak this is what we enjoy."
"It's no wonder Alexis and I don't have any friends, they're probably worried about what's going to happen to them."
"Well, I don't have many friends either. But I consider you and Alexis friends - more so because we ARE facing this situation together. I'm pretty sure Felmor likes you ladies as well... and it isn't entirely about your buoyancy. Or, at least, it better not be about that, or I will have to beat his ass."
"I'm really sorry for getting you and the others into this mess, Priyya."
"This isn't your fault, Alis. At every step of the way, any one of us could have stopped. If you recall, when Uptal told us the real situation, I was the first to say that I would attempt to rescue the girl even if I had to go alone. If you had all wisely chosen to head home... I would STILL have been here. I'd just be talking to myself at this point." She smiles, "So THANK YOU for coming along with ME on this little romp."
"Would... would you mind talking about the quest that you're on? About where you came from?"
"Well, I'm from Katapesh originally... which is down the Eastern shore of Garund. Home of the infamous Night Stalls, slavery, mercantilism run amok, and decadence. I am Keleshite by birth but this glow about me marks me as something other than Human... so I never really fit in well. In part because of my heritage and in part, my personality. Keleshite women are hot-tempered, vain, mercurial, self-serving, challenging, and fascinating in a 'ruin-your-life' sort of way." She smiles, "So I'm only 4/5ths Keleshite, I guess. Anyhow, I was given to my order for training at a fairly young age..." She quickly changes the subject from her childhood and upbringing.
"My quest. Well, Sarenrae has been 'calling' me North and West for the better part of a year and a half. I don't know how to explain it. I suppose it is like the migratory instincts that birds have. I just have to keep moving North and West, always North and West. Sometimes the sense fades and I roam aimlessly or stay in one spot for awhile but eventually the summons returns. In the very beginning, Sarenrae would whisper to me. She told me that I am called to find and face some emergent evil... but I don't know what it is or even where it is yet. I just have to keep moving and trust that Sarenrae will guide my feet to meet this evil when the time is right. Hopefully, I will be strong enough to defeat it. For I must face it and prevail or be destroyed. That is why I am Surya-ka-Vahaak. We either bring the light or are lost to the shadow."
She self-consciously realizes she was being oddly intense and glowing furiously. She tries to cover it with a smile and lighter banter. "On the way, of course, I've seen all sort sorts of interesting places and people. I've passed through Osirion, Qadira, Thuvia, Absolom, Andoran, and Taldor."