"Rolf? I see. Perhaps priestess, your church could find a way to convey this one to a different home. Sounds like he's the product of being raised wrong is all."
"I think the time has come to deal with those snakes now, or," Jeorik asks the priestess, "would you desire to finish exploring every nook and cranny."
"I am getting the feeling that this necromancer is not here. His minions seem plentiful enough."
Jeorik eyes the limbs with the tattoos. "Perhaps we should remove temptation from this creature while we are at it. It would be a shame to come back and find that the object of our journey was absentindedly eaten."
"I'll have my spear back before we go," Istas sullenly responds, nodding toward the otyugh and where the weapon still juts from its hide.
The otyugh wraps a tentacle around the spear and tugs. "Awwwrr. Hurts!"
At Istas' glare he tries again. Blood and lymph oozes out of the wound. "Here" it says weakly, and offers Istas the spear.
Istas takes the spear back from the otyugh. It occurs to her that she could heal the beast, but she decides to leave it to fate and Pharasma's will on whether he lives or dies from his justified wounds.
"...Perhaps priestess, your church could find a way to convey this one to a different home. Sounds like he's the product of being raised wrong is all."
"It would seem fate...and this necromancer...has defined this creature's life 'til now," Istas nods, "Perhaps this is a faith-testing moment? If Pharasma did indeed bring us here...to oppose Rolf and stop his blasphemy, to avert a war between our people, to rescue those captives, and to also give this creature an opportunity to lead a new life...then I suppose the Pharasmen should at least explore that possibility."
She gazes back at the monster and shakes her head. "Even so," she continues, "I seriously doubt he'll understand the choice presented to him. If Rolth brought him here as a young one...and then raised him until he grew to this size...this is the only home, and Rolth is the only master, he's ever known. Will he give those up so easily?"
"I think the time has come to deal with those snakes now, or," Jeorik asks the priestess, "would you desire to finish exploring every nook and cranny....I am getting the feeling that this necromancer is not here. His minions seem plentiful enough."
"Let us explore the remaining passage and see where it leads," Istas decides, "I wish to chase ever thinking minion that supports Rolth from the Dead Warrens before we attempt to secure safe passage through those snakes for his former captives. And only then can we satisfy ourselves that the necromancer fled...or was otherwise away from his lair when we arrived."
"Perhaps we should remove temptation from this creature while we are at it. It would be a shame to come back and find that the object of our journey was absentindedly eaten."
"Agreed. Are you volunteering to carry Gaekhen's remains?"
"I think the questions is: do we need to press on?," Keliwyn says. "By my count, we have recovered all but one arm of the young barbarian. If we return what we have, will that suffice to placate the Shoanti? Or do we need to continue and recover what is still missing?"
"I think the questions is: do we need to press on?," Keliwyn says. "By my count, we have recovered all but one arm of the young barbarian. If we return what we have, will that suffice to placate the Shoanti? Or do we need to continue and recover what is still missing?"
Istas turns on the elf and looks him square in the eye, allowing some of her anger to boil off in her response to him.
"It's all or nothing!" she says, "Do you not understand!?"
Her voice rings loudly in the silence. However, comprehension seems to dawn on her a moment later as her anger blows itself out.
"I'm sorry," she apologizes, "Of course you don't. None of you are Shoanti."
She sighs heavily.
"The body is important," she explains, "All of it. My people have a connection to this land. And for a warrior to go into the afterlife without the proper rituals performed over his remains would be to send him crippled into the Great Beyond. Anything less than his full remains would be taken as an affront to the Sklar-Quah and the Shrikirri-Quah. They would surely make war upon Korvosa if their anger is kindled as fiercely as Thousand Bones described."
The priestess leans against her spear and closes her eyes, tired and stressed beyond her usual limits.
"So I feel we must press on..." she finishes, "To save Korvosa...to save my people from making a terrible mistake...and even to save those poor souls with Darthen who are still waiting to escape this foul place."
"So there is one further passage perhaps to the north...," Jeorik thinks of his mace and shield lying back near the snakes. Perhaps, he hopes, they have gone back into a more restful mode.
"Let us move on then, for I fear our task will not be done till we have cleared these chambers of all that is evil."
Istas opens her eyes again and looks towards Jeorik with a grateful expression.
"Thank you. Yes. I believe that would be our wisest course...for now," she responds, "But if these chambers go on and on...or we discover that Rolth has an even stronger force of derro infesting this place...I agree we should turn back, face the snakes again, and see to the prisoners' safety by helping Darthen escort them out."
Full Dead warrens Map
So I take it you're off to D3 by way of D5 (the big derro combat room)?
(Keliwyn did not detect the secret door. )
So I take it you're off to D3 by way of D5 (the big derro combat room)?
Jeorik readies an arrow and looks at the injured cleric of Asmodeus.
"Shall I take point?"
"Shall I take point?"
"If you do, I suppose someone else should carry Gaekhen's body," Istas suggests, "Let me set aside my shield and spear in the next room. And perhaps I can find something with which to wrap these remains."
"It's all or nothing!" she says, "Do you not understand!?"
"Actually, I do understand, quite well, priestess," Keliwyn responds. "I was thinking of the urgency of our situation and was pondering whether it would better to deliver most of he body on time or risk being late with all of the remains. You have made your point, however, so let's move on and finish here."
Turning from Istas, Keliwyn checks on Inigo, and laughs, slapping him on the back. "It's good to see you in one piece my friend! I though you were going to be cracked open like a crab!"
"Shall I take point?""If you do, I suppose someone else should carry Gaekhen's body," Istas suggests, "Let me set aside my shield and spear in the next room. And perhaps I can find something with which to wrap these remains."
"Allow me priestess," Keliwyn says, "If we are to face those snake demons again, we will be need your arm more than mine."
Keliwyn follows Istas and assists her with wrapping the remains.
Turning from Istas, Keliwyn checks on Inigo, and laughs, slapping him on the back. "It's good to see you in one piece my friend! I though you were going to be cracked open like a crab!"
The Azmodean draws himself up and glares at the elf, apparently annoyed at the contact, but comments drily, "I was a little worried myself."
He then excuses himself and calls on Azmodeus to heal his wounds.
(two cure lights for 13 hp, puts Inigo back to 14.)
*** Back in the derro room (D5) ***
Keliwyn and Istas are able to find some sheets, perhaps they were used as table covers, and some thick string. The legs are still ungainly, but at least can now be carried more conveniently or slung on someone's back.
So I take it you're off to D3 by way of D5 (the big derro combat room)?
Jeorik readies an arrow and looks at the injured cleric of Asmodeus.
"Shall I take point?"
After his healing Inigo looks much better, but cedes the lead position to Jeorik.
The legs taken care of, the party proceeds up the northwest passage, glances breifly into the ossuary (room D1, scene of the skeleton fight) and then turns west. They quickly reach another room.
Rank with the stink of sweat and mud, this cavern contains
five filthy straw pallets and a low table covered with
a miniature maze of carved clay. Lying next to the maze are dice, a hammer, a pair of pliers, and a nearly dead rat, pinned to the table by a knife.
...this cavern contains five filthy straw pallets and a low table covered with a miniature maze of carved clay. Lying next to the maze are dice, a hammer, a pair of pliers, and a nearly dead rat, pinned to the table by a knife.
"It would seem the derro made their home here," Istas observes, eyeing the room and their unfortunate rat, "They also engaged in some questionable entertainment." She reaches down to stroke the rat's matted fur.
Istas slowly withdraws the knife and then discards the blade, letting it clatter and skitter across the stone floor.
"Apparently, we've reached the end of Rolth's 'lair'..." she states, "You were quite right, Jeorik. Those skeletal snakes are definitely in our future."
"Apparently, we've reached the end of Rolth's 'lair'..." she states, "You were quite right, Jeorik. Those skeletal snakes are definitely in our future."
"Maybe not," Keliwyn says. "I've been thinking - if one or two of us could keep them occupied at the southern end of that hall, near where we just fought the derro and where Jeorik left his mace & shield, the others might be able to take advantage of the secret door at the north end, both to get back to Darthen and those prisoners, and to get them all out again." After a moments pause, the elf adds, "Although Inigo may disagree, my people say, Ei thol eilydaer car bai jhyraes: A fight avoided has no losers."
"It's true that we may get them out faster that way," Istas agrees, "But we still need to find Gaekhen's other arm. And we haven't looked behind the boarded door yet. So we'll have to face those snakes again sooner or later anyway."
"Still," Istas considers, "I think there's some merit in using the secret passage at the same time we engage the snakes from the other side. That we can trap them between us and hopefully smash them apart more quickly. But perhaps we should use that strategy after we get Darthen and the others past them?"
Heather had staggered along at the rear of the party the pain of her wounds occupying her mind...however when Istas began talking about attacking the Necrophidae again her ire rose.
"NO NO NO you stupid,stupid woman...Don't you ever listen...those things are constructs...and badly programmed ones at that...you don't have to face them head on you just have to engage them where they can't come any closer to us...if we can resist the dance they make then we can kill them from a distance...but I suppose that common sense doesn't play much of a part of your life does it!!!!!!"
She sways grasping at Keliwyn her clothes glistening with blood
"I'm sorry" she whispers and hits the ground in a dead faint
"I'm not sure that..." begins Jeorik, meaning to argue against the idea of allowing malnourished individuals to try and sneak past an active combat,... "Whoa," he says as Heather faints, "Maybe she needs tended to."
Istas steps forward to check on the unconscious girl. "Who's the stupid one?" she mutters as she discovers Heather's injuries, "You're that badly wounded and don't bother to tell anyone?"
I don't see where the otyugh hit her...are you sure she's wounded?[/ooc]
Jeorik kneels besides Heather.
"She is injured but though I am no healer, I would have guessed her injuries were not life threatening. Perhaps she is simply not accustomed to trauma. Shall we try cold water in the face first?"
Realizing this perhaps sounds a bit cruel, Jeorik adds, "Or perhaps one of you priests has more experience with dealing with medical problems." He looks at Inigo and then thinking better of it he looks at Istas, "Priestess?"
"She is injured but though I am no healer, I would have guessed her injuries were not life threatening. Perhaps she is simply not accustomed to trauma. Shall we try cold water in the face first?....Or perhaps one of you priests has more experience with dealing with medical problems." He looks at Inigo and then thinking better of it he looks at Istas, "Priestess?"
"The Pharasmen do train extensively in the healing arts," Istas nods, "And I have some knowledge of the older Shoanti ways, as well."
The priestess thoroughly checks Heather's wounds. "There's nothing life-threatening here," she surmises, "Just some blood loss." She frowns at the unconscious girl for a moment and then bandages her as best she can. "That should hold for now." Istas rises to her feet. "You may use some of your water to rouse her, if you wish. A sharp slap to the face might suffice as well..."
The priestess thumps her spear on the stone flagstones. "Let's get moving. We've still got those ex-prisoners to see out of here. And Gaekhen's other arm to find."
Jeorik splashes water on Heather's face, refraining from following the suggestion of slapping her.
"If htose snake things are inactive again," says Jeorik, "let me take the lead and pick up my shield and mace as I move forward."
"Perhaps we can attack before they begin truly moving."
Keliwyn watches the exchange between Heather and Istas with no comment, but takes his place next to the young enchantress, pulling her arm over his shoulders so he can help her along.
Mulling over what Heather has said about the snakes being constructs and not being able to leave the hall, Keliwyn decides to better exam the entrance to their lair to try and find if there is any sort of trigger to the trap.
When Heather awakes, Jeorik moves behind Keliwyn towards the room with the skeletal snake things. If the things are not in the doorway, he will move forward and pick up his mace. If they are in the doorway, he will not.
"Istas," Keliwyn says, "Heather suggested that those snake constructs can't leave that hallway, and that with some reach, we should be able to attack them without them being able to touch us. It's only a thought, but I wonder if your spear will allow you to do just that?"
Istas hefts her spear, eyeing its length. "I'm afraid this weapon isn't meant to hold back a beast," she explains, "It's a warrior's spear for close combat. And it can be thrown. Regardless, as we discussed when we faced the skeletons upon entering the Dead Warrens, it's best to bash such things apart. A spear blade...or your rapier...will have no flesh to slash or pierce. Only hard bone. That's why I intend to use my club. But you're welcome once more to use my grandfather's spear, if you wish..."
Heather pulls herself upright her face flushed embarrassed at her show of weakness "We have my shocks..and Inigo's hellfire...those should be sufficient if we can resist the dance of death..or we could throw rocks at them I suppose"
She pauses thinking...
"Does any one have a mirror...or a piece of polished steel..maybe if we don't look directly at the creatures the dance won't work on us...it will be difficult but it might just work...or is this going to turn into one of those stories where no-one listens to the scholar till it's too late?"
The derro were a small sized buckler (2), crossbow (2) and short sword crowd. Table legs or structural pieces of the stirge hutch would make decent improvised clubs. Which reminds me. There's still 4 swollen stirges buzzing contentedly in the hutch.
Kenzo snaps off a table leg to use as a club and looks at the others. "Well, time is of the essence, is it not?"
Heather smiles at Kel's eagerness and proffers her watchmans cudgel to him.
"Here this is better balanced and I couldn't use it if I'm to concentrate on my shocks."
She reaches out and strokes his cheek gently..."Don't go getting yourself killed, will you?"
Looking down at herself she sighs..."oh I look a state" murmuring a few words in Old Varisian she concentrates briefly and the blood vanishes from her clothes..a few more words and the clothing is as pristine as it ever was
"Very well I'm ready...but let's try and fight these things where all four of them can't come at us at once"
Standing in the derro room and looking down the short passage to the hall of skulls, you see Jeorik's shield and mace lying near the far end of the passage. Advancing down the connecting passage, nothing happens. You stand at the brink of the long hallway looking up and down the skull-lined walls. The is no sign of the necrophidae.
"Surely the snakes hide among the skulls lining the walls," Istas surmises as she surveys the corridor, "If I had enough flame and oil, I might consider burning them out."
She looks back at the wire hutch and the sated stirges. "Someone might want to secure that cage, just in case those things decide they'd like another taste of blood."
The priestess leans her grandfather's spear against the far wall and draws her club. "Those of use prepared to fight hand-to-hand should draw them out," she suggests, "And then, maybe we simply retreat so Inigo and Heather can target them with fire and lightning. After that, we can rush back in to finish the job. How's that sound to everyone?"
"Jeorik? I assume your first priority is to retrieve your mace and shield," she goes on, "Keliwyn and I should be able to guard your back as we go."
Jeorik picks up his mace and shield, his nerves tense, ready to attack anything that looks about ready to move.
He says over his shoulder, "I will enter first," and then without waiting to see whether the others are following, he takes a step into the hall of skulls, his stomach leaden with anticipation.
Heather smiles at Kel's eagerness and proffers her watchmans cudgel to him.
"Here this is better balanced and I couldn't use it if I'm to concentrate on my shocks."
She reaches out and strokes his cheek gently..."Don't go getting yourself killed, will you?"
"Thank you, my dear, that will work a bit better," Keliwyn says as he drops the table leg, takes the club and swings it a few times to get a feel for it's balance.
The priestess leans her grandfather's spear against the far wall and draws her club. "Those of use prepared to fight hand-to-hand should draw them out," she suggests, "And then, maybe we simply retreat so Inigo and Heather can target them with fire and lightning. After that, we can rush back in to finish the job. How's that sound to everyone?""Jeorik? I assume your first priority is to retrieve your mace and shield," she goes on, "Keliwyn and I should be able to guard your back as we go."
"Alright then, let's do it," Keliwyn replies with a nod as he lines up next to Istas.
Jeorik picks up his mace and shield, his nerves tense, ready to attack anything that looks about ready to move.
He says over his shoulder, "I will enter first," and then without waiting to see whether the others are following, he takes a step into the hall of skulls, his stomach leaden with anticipation.
Jeorik stands in the hall hefting his mace. Nothing moves. Nothing happens for about 8 breaths. Then the expected clicking begins, accompanying by the hiss of the spraying acid. Try as he might to dodge, two streams of liquid hit Jeorik, burning skin and armour. (5 hp)
Initiative, please.
The priestess leans her grandfather's spear against the far wall and draws her club. "Those of use prepared to fight hand-to-hand should draw them out," she suggests, "And then, maybe we simply retreat so Inigo and Heather can target them with fire and lightning. After that, we can rush back in to finish the job. How's that sound to everyone?""Jeorik? I assume your first priority is to retrieve your mace and shield," she goes on, "Keliwyn and I should be able to guard your back as we go."
"That should suffice as a plan...bring them to us and we will do as much damage as possible...if we attack one at a time and make sure of it then our odds get better with each one we destroy..and if we stay at distance even the dance should not have a great effect...whoever falls to it can be dragged around a corner till they recover"
Initiative, please.
Then the expected clicking begins, accompanying by the hiss of the spraying acid.
"Look out!" Istas warns.
Try as he might to dodge, two streams of liquid hit Jeorik, burning skin and armour.
"Ouch..." Istas cringes as Jeorik takes another hit of acid, "We really should have prepared for that again..."
Seeing the necrophidae slithering once more into the corridor, Istas waits until Heather and Inigo blast one of them. Then, she hurries forward to attack with her club.
1d20+3 = 23 to hit
1d6+2 = 7 hp
1d20+3 = 8
"Argh," says Jeorik expressively as the acid hits him. He had hoped the trap was no longer activated.
Still he readies his mace and moves to attack the first of the skeletal monstrosities to move near him.
Initiative:
Jeorik : 23
Inigo : 18+
Necrophidae 18-
Istas : 16
Keliwyn: 9
Heather:8
Galvanized by the acid, Jeorik reacts quickly as the necrophidae slide from their holes. His mace comes down on the back of one, cracking some ribs.
As soon as the acid has gone off Heather steps into the hallway throwing her shockbolt at the nearest of the constructs and cursing as it sways aside.
Ranged touch 1d20=10, damage 1d6+1=4