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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
The Goblin scowls at Kana, "I knows Nym! Him two faced scoundrel, you friends with Nym!?" The Goblin looks displeased. Those folks around him watch the interaction with no expression upon their faces they simply the shop the wares on the blankets.
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I wonder if she came on too strong...
Noting the distinct dearth of teammates stepping up, Frank tries to mollify the goblin.
"'Friend' is such a strong word. He lent us, not just Kana, some money. We finally saved up enough to pay him back, but we're having trouble ensuring the money gets to him. Would you be willing and able to help?"
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Zabeth pats Frank's shoulder and steps up with a warm smile.
"Come now... no such tricks are necessary. It is clear there is no love here for Nym." She bows her head slightly to the goblin "Yes, we are looking for Nym, but Nym is no friend of ours. I have a couple gold for you if you could tell us where to find him."
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
The Goblin eyes Frank suspiciously but brightens once Zabeth mentions gold, "Let me see gold. I test, it good we deal? Yes?"
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
Viorr rushes into position against the westernmost cultist.
Jiri steps to the doorway and fire at the cultist on the far east end of the pit, , but the bolt flies harmlessly overhead.
Meanwhile Taryn and Electric Eye rushes in to attack the nearest cultist and bring him down in tandem.
The two cultists nearest to Viorr draw daggers and attack. One misses wildly while the second draws some blood down the left elbow of the elf.
Cultist Dagger Attack #2 - Daggare Damage
High Cultist Searing Light Attack vs Taryn
The cultist nearest Dharrak pushes the bound half-orc into the pit! "Aid us to defeat these interlopers my Lord!" he screams in ecstasy as the half-orcs' scream can be heard quickly fading away...
The last cultist opens the door behind where he is located and steps in.
"How dare you violate this sacred space!" screams out the cultists with the robes denoting him the leader. He begins casting a spell, a dark light emanating from his hands and striking Taryn directly in the chest.
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Zabeth pulls two gold from her purse and places them in the goblins hand.
"There we are. By all means.. test it if you like."
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Dev makes his way into the room, brimming with hurried energy. The pressure he spent that last ten minutes building begging already to be released. Hustling up to the edge of the pit, he took aim at the spell-caster opposite himself, clearly the leader, and let forth a great scream as he felt out for the Cultist's mind, trusting his instincts...
...but feeling the power slipping, Dev instead allowed its wild energy to dissipate painfully back into his own body, and locking eyes with the Cultist, he tried to share the feeling...
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Frank watches Zabeth offer the coins intently as he suppresses a mournful look.
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
Taryn Will Save .
Carduus Will Save .
The Cultist is able to resist Dev's powers.
Carduus heads into the room and casts a spell upon himself.
"Crap, they threw the half-orc right into that pit!"
The Queen shifts towards Taryn and Carduus and releases from here eyes a kaleidoscope of colors!
Taryn and Carduus are bathed in the light while Taryn managed to shrug the effect off, Carduus is frozen in place despite whatever spell he did cast!
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
The Goblin bites the coins and grins, Zabeth's coins have passed the test.
"Him was involved in stealing from everyone's down here. Criminal above. Criminal below. He last seen near place where someone's saids to be digging new tunnels".
The Goblins gives directions to the location.
It takes nearly another hour to arrive after a few twists and turns down in the COGS and the avoidance of a full blown fight between two groups of combatants!
Off one of the side tunnels down a long, spiraling ramp only occasionally lit by torches is a narrow tunnel. It is dark and quite frankly nerve wracking.
You can see by the damage to the makeshift stonework that someone recently smashed, that the entrance was likely difficult to see if you did not know where to look. Already you have traveled thirty minutes into the belly of the COGS and the heat and soot have made you all hot and tired.
That entrance leads to a narrow claustrophobic tunnel. After another fifteen minutes in pitch black but for the light sources you have with you, the tunnel leads to a carved out space 30' long and 10' wide that ends in what is clearly a newly constructed door, which is unlocked and slightly ajar.
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After the group finds its way around the fight, Frank decides it would be better to have his eidolon around; she has always been good at spotting trouble.
It only takes a minute before they're on their way again.
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As they arrive at the carved out space with the suspiciously new door, the 3' tall Broulnindre offers to go first.
"Hy vant to go forst"
Viorr lashes out at each of the cultists beside him.
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BIg E charges towards the nearest enemy he can see, trying to help Viorr who seems surrounded.
"Combat mode launcheeeeeeeeed!"
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Frank shushes Broulnindre as she gets started "Hy alveys so-tell. Hyu shoosh."
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
Viorr's strikes miss but he is able tokeep the second cultist off balance enough to rant Electric Eye a flank, and a devastating strike it is as the Warforged cleaves the cultist in twain!
Taryn is torn but after seeing Dharakk thrown into a it that leads who knows where, he elects to charge at his cousin to pull him away from the pit's edge.
Jiri mutters about unreliable elves and shifts his position to be in front of the now vulnerable Carduus, he lobs a bomb at the "Queen"!
Bombs away -
unfortunately, it slips for his hand and lands harmlessly in the pit...
The Cultists strike back. Viorr's opponent cannot pierce the elven armor with his dagger. The cultist that pushed Dharakk into the pit draws a dagger and charges Jiri, stabbing him in the throat with the dagger, the dwarf cries out in anger.
The cleric summons a weapon out f thin air but it misses the retreating Taryn.
The cultist who entered the eastern door has yet to return.
Cultist #2 Charge vs. Jiri - Damage
Cultist #3 Retrieve Minor Circlet of Blasting to use next round.
the High Priest Cast Spiritual Weapon vs Taryn Miss!
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
Broulnindre enters the slightly ajar door finding no traps taht would injure her as she does so.
Ornamentation is carved into the stone walls of this rather large room.
The floor is littered with dust and rubble, but there might once have been tracings carved there as well. The room is lit by a few torches as a few seem to have recently burned out and are leaving wisps of smoke post usage.
There are no obvious doors within this room, it appears that at one time a passageway led east but it is so choked with rubble it is nigh impenetrable. In the southeast corner of the room stands a statue of a human male though who it is supposed to depict you are unsure.
More interesting to the west littered within lighter rubble are four Goblins corpses! The bodies have been stripped of anything of value. The Goblins also had food that most other races would find inedible along with cooking utensils. The Goblins certainly put up a fight and even fired off a few arrows which are scattered near the area where you first entered.
Behind the fallen Goblins is an open grate that was likely hidden, a rusty set of metal rungs heads down into pitch black darkness...
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Broulnindre, not noticing anything life-threatening, returns to the door to beckon to the others.
When Frank enters the room she shows him the hole. "Iz not zo deep."
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Frank nods at the hole before sticking his glowing club back into his belt. He pulls a foot of rope out of his sleeve and cuts it off with his dagger.
"Light" he says as the piece of rope starts glowing and the club returns to normal.
Frank waits for everyone else to enter the room before dropping it down the hole.
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Zabeth enters and gives the room a cursory scan, before joining Frank at the edge of the hole. She peers down, then moves over by the goblin corpses.
"Hmm... Recent battle?" As she squats down, her pot-bellied blue bird flits from her shoulder and lands on the head of one of the fallen goblins... and lightly pecks a couple times at its temple.
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"Nothing much on them either," Aerin said looking over the goblin bodies. "Dead goblins with no valuables is practically a calling card of adventurers, right? I've left behind plenty of bodies like this. You think there's another group like ours operating around here?"
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Finding peace in the chaos, Dev smiles a sly smile and focuses his mind, preparing to use the last of his energy on his next shot.
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Frank drops the glowing piece of rope down the hole. He speaks while watching the hole.
"Could be the guys that Mickey told us about came through here. Hard to say. It's not like the goblins will tell us."
'iz not zo deep' indeed...
"Hey B, ladies first." he jerks his head towards the hole as he speaks.
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Broulnindre approaches the hole with a smile that seems a bit too wide for her face.
The three foot tall scaly creature descends the 30' ladder unbelievably quickly and then looks around the area below.
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
Dev regains his focus and the Queen strikes once more! She charges at and grapples Jiri and tries biting him in the face and neck but he manages to shift back just enough for her to miss.
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
Zabeth believes they have been dead for perhaps two hours, rigor mortis has only begun to set in.
As Broulnindre reaches the bottom she discovers that the way is cleared by someone with at least rudimentary knowledge of mining and excavating. The walls are carved smooth as are the floors though some debris from the job does remain behind to get underfoot. Every 10' the ceiling are reinforced by sturdy wooden planks of darkwood with criss cross formations above to further strengthen any problem areas in the ceiling.
The tunnels ahead meander a bit.
Viorr slinks to the side of the cultist with whom he is engaged and strikes twice.
"They were killed fairly recently. The list is long of those who care little for goblins as well as overpower them. This tells us little regarding what may lie ahead." With a nod in response to Frank... "Could be."
Zabeth stows her clanky gaudy jewelry, and arranges her silks to raise her hem away from the filthy floor. She tucks her cane under the flap of her backpack in preparation for the descent.
Frank seems to space out for a few moments after Broulnindre reaches the bottom of the hole.
Suddenly he snaps to attention. "Looks clear. Let's hope whatever killed those goblins is either gone or doesn't want to pick a fight with us."
Frank adjusts the heavy crossbow on his back to make sure it won't catch on the way down. "I know I said ladies first, but that was kind of a joke between me and B."
Almost as enthusiastic as Broulnindre to forge the way forward, Frank salutes the women that haven't yet descended before hurrying down after his eidolon.
Frank climbs down the ladder next, skipping every other rung to go faster. After landing, he picks up the now dirty one pound piece of glowing rope while Broulnindre simply stands watch, fidgeting as patiently as she can.
Once again, Big E moves to slay the cultist who menaces his companion, this time trying to aim for the chest, which seems bigger than his head. It starts to be a common feature in humans.
This place is interesting, is it a cave system? Kana asks as she descends. She then looks at Frank.
You're joking right? First you send her ahead and now that's it's clear there's no danger, you take the lead? What is she anyway, your slave? I guess in a group large as ours right now, we should be able to deal with 2 goblines, don't you think?
She takes out a wicked looking and long chain, wrapping it around her left arm.
Probably better to be on the lookout though.
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
In tandem, elf and warforged eviscerate the cultist standing before them.
Taryn bellows and charges at the Queen who holds Jiri in her clutches.
But the Barbarian misses as the Queen is quicker than she appears even holding one of your allies!
Jiri attempts to slip free but he cannot, "Hit the damned thing!" he gasps.
The cultist who stepped into the room exits with a circlet upon his head, a searing blast launches at Taryn! Luckily it misses overhead.
The spirit weapon likewise follows and strikes at the dangerous half-elf, this time hitting him in the shoulder.
The cleric casts a spell which summons further shielding upon his person and he turns to regard Viorr and Electric Eye.
The cultist who struck at Jiri just before the Queen snatched him up now stabs Carduus. His strike misses in the folds of Carduus' robes.
Cultist # 3 vs. Taryn - Searing Light
High Priest Cast Shield of Faith - Spirit Weapon - Damage
..."You're joking right? First you send her ahead and now that's it's clear there's no danger, you take the lead? What is she anyway, your slave?"...
Broulnindre chuckles and turns to answer "Hy em hiz-"
She hesitates after catching a disapproving look from Frank. She turns to him. "Vas gon' say partner. Ve partners, yas?"Frank lets out a sigh before nodding yes and relaxing a bit.
She takes out a wicked looking and long chain, wrapping it around her left arm.
"Probably better to be on the lookout, though."
"Und ve don' need to look out."
"Hy'm de shneaky vun."
Zabeth follows Kana with her blue thrush fluttering around as she descends.
At the bottom, she mutters a phrase - enchanting a silver coin to emit light, then draws her cane from her pack.
Sharon nervously recheck her gear to make sure everything is in place and than follows the other's cautionary.
'Can't aim a shot without hitting Jirri...' Dev thought angrily as he glanced at the Queen with regret, unwilling to waste the last of his power on another errant energy ray.
Instead he pulled his spear close, hurried forward, and stabbed at the cultist engaged with Carduus. "Take a breather if you need one, Rags!" he calls to Carduss, while keeping an eye on the Queen from the corner of his eye...
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
Dev's stab practically misses even air, Carduus steps back and releases positive energy which washes over his allies but not his foes. Channel Positive -
The Queen stares at Carduus with unadulterated hate and throws Jiri into the pit! Her eyes release another torrent of colorful lights.
Jiri Reflex save to grab the ledge -
Taryn Will
Carduus Will
Jiri manages to grasp the edge of the pit!
Taryn shrugs off the effects of the Queen's power but Carduus is stunned!
Taryn swings his earthbreaker at the Queen once more - - and once more the Queen evades his powerful stroke.
Jiri manages to pull himself up, "Shit, that was close one!"
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
The path carved through is not a straight one and it meanders a bit from left to right before it finally straightens out proceeding due south. The tunnel there comes to a stop and turns sharply to the east. At the edge of the light are yet another set up rungs that lead up.
No light or sound (that you can see or hear anyway) come from the rungs beckoning you up...
SKirting the edge of the pit, Viorr races around to flank the coiling monstrosity with Taryn.
Invisible in the dark, Aerin's eyes shifted from pale blue to gold. Along with the change to her eyes came upper and lower fangs, and much thicker hair. It was subtle, but noticeable to those who knew her.
Then she cast her own Light spell, illuminating the stone in a gold ring, and turning it around on her finger so the light came from her palm. If she needed to douse it quickly she could just close her hand.
Electric Eye rushes to the figure standing inside the summoning circle, trying to get a nice angle . He lifts his sword high, ready to let it fall upon the hooded figure in the hopes of ending this the sooner the better.
]
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
No sounds can be heard Aerin, all is quiet.
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
The High Priest holds no weapon as Electric Eye rushes towards him, trying to put the clerics back to the pit rather than his own. He opts to try and trip the Warforged. Electric Eye sprawls onto the hard dungeon ground as his trip is well timed!
Distracted by Electric Eye, the priest cannot make an attempted attack at Viorr who now gains a significant flanking advantage upon the Queen!
Cultist # 2 vs. Dev Damage .
Cultist # 3 vs. Viorr - Searing Light
High Priest Cast Shield of Faith - Spirit Weapon vs Taryn - Damage
High Priest vs EE draw Mace attack - Damage
With Carduus clearly paralyzed, the cultist attacking him shifts to Dev but his skills with the dagger continue to prove feeble indeed.
The spirit weapon of the high priest once more swings away for Taryn's head but his concentration taken with Electric Eye the weapon misses high.
The high priest then draws a mace from which electric eye can feel menace even with his unnatural body. The priest slams the mace down upon EE's shoulder and the unholy power of the weapon takes a toll.
"Foul unnatural creature, you cannot be sacrificed to the Dragon Below but I will use your parts for something I am sure".
Viorr feels and sees a streak of sunlight just pas his shoulder fired from the circlet upon the brow f the cultist by the door. A close call!
Still unable to line up a shot, Dev steps back to give himself space, and hurls mental bolt of fear at the Queen!
.
"Take this up so we can see." Frank whispers as he hands his glowing piece of rope to Broulnindre.
After she starts going up the ladder, Frank whispers back, especially to Kana.
"Our relationship is... complicated. Suffice to say we can talk about it later... and she's tougher than she looks."
and she looks tough, sheesh
Frank then waits at the base of the ladder for the all-clear before following Broulnindre up.
Carrying the glowing rope in her teeth, Broulnindre quickly and quietly advances up the ladder, stopping at intervals to look and listen for trouble.
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
The Queen shakes off the effects of the Dev's powers and she attacks Taryn with her bite but the Bloodrager deflects the blow with his earthbreaker.
Bite - Damage
Queen - 42/54
Taryn thrusts his earthbreaker upwards at the Queen's face Attack - Damage
Jiri strikes at the back of the cultist Staff Attack - Damage but the staff is caught up in the heavy folds of the cloak.
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
As Frank and Broulnindre climb the ladder as they gets to the top, the light from below illuminates some of the room but the rest of the complex is pitch black. Rubble chokes the floor of this wide chamber, or at least it appears to be based on the high ceiling. Right next to this area about 10' to the north is yet another body but this time it is not a goblin. Instead it is a muscular, gray, smelly creature.
The ringing of steel and shouting can be heard from the south by Broulnindre's sensitive ears.
Broulnindre reaches the top first and promptly spits out the glowing foot-long rope. After confirming that nothing jumps out at her immediately, she calls down to the rest of the team while pointing south.
"Here iz safe, und someting iz happenink dot vay. Mebbe fightink."
Frank soon arrives second, and looks around the room as he readies his heavy crossbow.
Something in the room seems like something Frank remembers, but he can't quite put his finger on it. "'Mebbe fightink'?"
"Maybe you could go make sure while everyone else climbs up?"