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Dot
Magnimar, AR 4707
The smell is pervasive. You'd think you'd get used to it, but after nearly a quarter of an hour the stink of the sewer is just as awful as it was when you first descended from your friend Keleri's vault, tracking the goblin thieves who stole her prized heirloom.
Your friend Keleri, with the red hair and the soft, easygoing smile, looking alarmed and distraught as she explained her problem to you: "My cousin Kendra invited me to the festival at Sandpoint... I was going to take my family's prized treasure, the Star of Desna, to get it blessed, but when I went to the basement, it was broken into from the sewers... goblin tracks everywhere..." The change of her expression as two servants dragged into the room a bedraggled and miserable-looking goblin...
Every step your boots take as you wade through the accumulated filth breaks the crust on the top of the sludge, releasing untold years of built-up gases that assault your nostrils and make your torch and lantern briefly glow with a blue flame.
The goblin's - Talga, as Keleri insists on calling it/her - story is scarcely credible, but the thing sticks to it stubbornly: "Is a vampire. Vampire did it." The 'it' in question is taking over her tribe, the Mudchewers - killing the leader and drinking his blood in front of the other goblins. "Looks like hobgoblin, but is vampire! Made us into thieves, made us steal treasure. Mudchewers not want to do that, not thieves. But Drakus-vampire insist, and all obey - or die. Except me. I run. Run and hide. Nice red-hair find me."
According to the goblin's directions (verbal, of course, no goblin will write things down), you are nearly at their lair: the so-called Ashen Ossuary. And indeed, the sewer passages do appear to have led you to your destination: your flickering lights pick out a slimy cistern that stinks of decay. On the far edge of this circular chamber lies a pile of burnt bones in front of a scorched tunnel. The drain in the centre of the cistern is clearly broken, since all the water has long since trickled away, leaving nothing more than a number of slimy, fetid pools and a layer of muck and filth on the floor.
No sooner have you taken this all in, than your attention is drawn to the pool furthest from you, which is rippling alarmingly, congealing into a semi-solid mess of slime and rot and filth - it extends a questing pseudopod, almost seeming to 'sniff out' your position as it moves ever closer... before it suddenly convulses into a wave of filth and slime, flying in all directions, covering you in refuse, partially-digested rats, and acidic, burning bile!
The rolling wave of sewer muck continues moving, ending up in front of Gaven and Edric.
Ooze action 1: move 10 feet
Ooze action 2: filth wave
Ooze action 3: move 5 feet, into melee
"Wow! What an incredible smell we've discovered!" Lani exclaims as the group trudges through the sewers. Despite the filth crusting her shoes and robes, the purple-haired gnome remains chipper. She keeps her eyes open for lost souls in need of guidance--she hasn't found any yet, but she's sure Ashava would want her to keep checking!
Distracted by the burnt bones in the cistern, she doesn't see the ooze until it's already upon them. She dodges the worst of the filth and slime. "Ew! Zap, zap!" She sets her lantern on the floor before casting a spell, jolting the ooze with lightning from her fingertips.
Gaven didn't expect to get hit nearly that hard with the ooze's filthy explosion. He reels back and stumbles due to the lack of flexibility of his armor. Falling on his back, he wriggles around and stands up, then strikes the filth twice with vengeance.
Irfan nearly gags upon discovering what is assaulting them: a veritable pile of refuge, dancing and bobbing about in a vile ocean of toxic goo.
In answer to the ooze's unwanted arrival, instinctively, the loreseeker backs off. Mid-stride, whilst eyeing the situation, the Nethyrian deftly draws an arcane symbol of fending in the air with his left hand. It isn't until he's out of the creature's reach that he gives his brain a moment to go through what he knows. Hadn't he read about oozes before?
Edric 3 damage, Hampered 10
Gaven 3 damage, Hampered 10
Irfan 3 damage, 1 spell point used
Lani 3 damage
Ooze 28 damage
Irfan is able to identify the thing as a sewer ooze, an alchemical conglomeration of filth and slime that dissolves its prey in strong acid. It is mindless and its amorphous nature means that it doesn't have any especially weak or vulnerable spots.
Edric moves around it without problems, striking with the benefit of flanking. His attack tears into the ooze, ripping away gobs of filth and slime and muck.
Gaven stands up and strikes at the ooze with his sword. His blade strikes easily, catching a tangled mat of hair and gunk - there's a horrible sucking sound as he pulls it free from the rest of the creature and the mess slides off his sword and falls to the ground.
Lani gestures and an arc of electrical power earths itself in the ooze, grounding in a strip of rusted metal grating lodged in the thing's innards. The air is filled with the stink of ozone and flash-fried rat.
Round 2
The ooze lashes out mindlessly at its nearest target, which happens to be Edric. A single pseudopod catches him a glancing blow but he effortlessly dodges the other attacks.
In an attempt to help protect his new ally, Gaven cleaves into the slime as it attacks Edric. Though thoroughly disgusted, Gaven continues to slice and dice the oozing putty with each stroke of his sword.
"Is this working!?" Gaven shouts in time with his sword strokes.
Lani snaps her fingers and chants again, zapping the ooze with more electricity.
Gaven's retribution attack almost completely severs the ooze in two, and then Edric's first strike completes the work, pulling the thing apart in a fountain of bile, sewage and part-digested rats.
Edric 6 damage
Gaven 3 damage
Irfan 3 damage, 1 spell point used
Lani 3 damage
It takes a few moments to clear up those of you who are more covered in gore, but eventually you are able to move freely again .
Moving towards the far end of the cistern, you discover a winding passageway carved into the rock; it is only possible to go single file.
As you enter round the corner, a horrible screeching sound assails your ears, coming from the cavern at the far end of the passageway. At first you think you're under attack, and then you realise: it's goblins singing. A single phrase seems to repeat, over and over.
With no choice but to go forward, at least you can proceed warily in the knowledge of what awaits you.
As you enter the room, on the far side of the vast chamber a howl goes up as they see the light from the torch.
With his darkvision, Edric can see that there are indeed four goblins - and they do NOT look happy to see you!
"By Ashava's spark!" Lani calls, hustling forward. She draws her crossbow and fires off a bolt that soars unerringly across the room and plunges into a goblin's skull!
The goblin song changes, and they chant now in Common, presumably for your 'benefit'...
"We will cut you to the bone
When you come into our home
In the dark you cannot see
Cannot hide and cannot flee!
Gouge out eyeball with a thumb
We be smart and you be dumb!
While you cry and shake with dread
We sneak up and stab you dead!
Gnaw the gristle, eat the fat
Suck the marrow just like that
Tasty corpses, nicely chewed
We be goblins! You be FOOD!"
Before wandering into the room, Gaven straps on his forearm wooden shield now that he isn't the lightbearer. With a sigh and deep exhale, Gaven steels himself and trudges into the room.
As Edric's glowing belt buckle hastily races down the cistern, Gaven follows behind. In his clunky armor. He can't quite get a good angle on the goblins... they're just too far... so he raises his shield and braces for impact.
Gods Below, these Goblins are poetically inclined! Best scribble that down later, and, if possible, capture one of them so that all their poetry and song can be transcribed!
Enthusiasm for exotic cultures aside, there remains the fact that Irfan's companions are in danger and so, with a flourish, the priest calls forth layers of protection to keep Edric safe from harm.
Edric isn't able to lay a hand on the agile goblins, and the four of them cackle in glee as they continue to sing:
"Stupid dwarfs a dying race
Pluck their beards and shave their face!
Sack and plunder each dwarf-hold
Steal away their precious gold
Stupid dwarfies fat and slow
Cannot catch us when we go
Strike from ambush, cut their throat
As they die they hear us gloat"
Lani's crossbow bolt whizzes out of the darkness, buzzing juuuuust past Edric's ear to bury itself in the face of the goblin in front of him - it topples over backwards, stone dead. The remaining three goblins quickly change their tune:
"But dwarfies not that nice to eat
If you want a tasty treat
When it walks into your home
Try a juicy, pretty gnome!
Pin the gnome out on the ground
Gag it so it makes no sound
Make the most of lovely looks
Not so pretty once it cooks!"
Goblin 1
Move
Move
Reaction: Scuttle
Goblin 2
Move
Move
Goblin 3
Move
Two of the red-eyed critters scurry right past Edric and Gaven, away from the light that hurts their eyes. The first that Lani knows about it is when their blades lash out from the dark, one cutting into her chest, the other opening a wound on her hip - not deeply, but enough to draw blood.
The remaining goblin steps up to face Edric. Its weapon slashes across the dwarf's neck, a wound that would have been a lot more serious if Torag wasn't clearly watching over his chosen one. The second attack hits but is barely more than a scratch.
Finally, Irfan casts his spell, warding Edric from harm.
Edric 11 damage
Gaven 3 damage
Irfan 3 damage, 1 spell point used, in darkness (blinded)
Lani 9 damage, in darkness (blinded), flanked
Lani cries out in pain as the goblins' blades slice into her. In the back of her mind, she admires their ability to improvise lyrics on the fly. The gnome waits until she can see the goblins again.
"Ashava! Heals, please!" Lani calls out, infusing herself with divine energy and mending her wounds. "Ah, much better. Now, time to light a spark!" She casts another cantrip, creating an arc of lightning between the two goblins.
Gaven huffs and backpedals to help protect Lani and now Edric. He raises his sword over his head and yells "Shut. The hell. Up!" and cleaves downwards at the last word.
The fight ends almost as soon as it began: the final goblin crumples to the ground, carved almost in two by Gaven's sword. The other two are despatched efficiently by Edric.
Edric 11 damage
Gaven 3 damage
Irfan 3 damage, 1 spell point used
Lani 0 damage, 1 spell slot used
"Nicely done!" Lani says, inspecting the tears in her robes with a frown. "Anybody know a good tailor in town?"
Leaving Irfan to patch Edric up, Lani casts detect magic as she searches the room, looking for anything of value.
"I grew up here with my brother and sister. I'm sure I could find a good tailor for you."
He sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose before realizing that Edric is dripping blood. "Lani, can you heal Edric please? He's looking roughed up. How do you feel, Edric?"
Gaven is pretty useless in the dark. He'll just stay close to the group, shield and sword at the ready.
The Nethysian hastes himself to Edric's side and drops onto his knees, hands reaching for the healer's kit. "Right, right, medical attention. Yes, their clumsy tools are quite capable of inflicting trauma alright. Blasted goblins, why must they be so violent? Got you good, they got. Gut you good, they tried, that sorry lot."
T'was perhaps a blessing in disguise that, calling upon the divine so that Edric's wounds could be healed, forced Irfan to stop talking.
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"Thanks." Edric offers to the extremely talkative cleric. His fingers open and close compulsively as the half-elf works, as though he desperately wants to scratch an itch but has to restrain himself.
Once the job is done he looks around. "Shall I leave the light with you lot or shall we move as a group?"
Edric 2 damage
Gaven 3 damage
Irfan 3 damage, 1 spell point used, 1 channel used
Lani 0 damage, 1 spell slot used
With the fight now over, you have time to see that the walls of this long chamber are scorched dark, and the thick layers of soot crusting to the ceiling above attest to the tremendous fire that must have raged through this room in the past. Burial niches in the walls and the row of central pillars contain only fragments of burnt wood and charred bone.
Looking through the niches, you find a tarnished silver ring (worth 5 gp) and a minor healing potion. Gaven also manages to scrabble around in the ashes and find an Owlbear Claw.
The three small chambers on the far side of the room contain little of interest, but moving through the archway on the opposite side of the chamber from where you entered you see that this is very different from what you have seen (and smelled!) up until now.
The sound of dripping water echoes through this chamber. On one side of the room, a nearly ten-foot-tall visage of a woman’s face is carved into the wall. Trickles of water run down her cheeks like tears into a foul and polluted reservoir below, which itself drains through a channel in the floor to a large pool of fetid black water on the south side of the room.
"Oh, no! That lady is so sad!" Lani pouts as she looks at the carving. "I wonder if we can cheer her up?"
She searches her memory for anything the carving might symbolize, then casts a spell to detect magic.
Between you, you are able to identify the crying face as that of Pharasma, the goddess of the dead. The exact reason why the water is foul is not obvious, until Lani's detect magic spell picks up some sort of object at the bottom of the pool - the murkiness of the water makes it hard to see clearly, but it's stone and about the size of a human head.
Gaven eyes the water suspiciously. He doesn't know about the object (until Lani mentions it), but he wonders if any more sludge monsters could hide in there. He raises his shield protectively, before approaching the water and pokes it with his sword. He'll poke in several places just to be sure.
Gaven's cautious pokes achieve nothing, beyond moving the thing around slightly in the fouled water.
"Something's moving down there. I poked it with my sword. Felt hard and tough."
"That's what she said!" Lani quips.
"It's totally magical. Could be useful, if you want to fish it out!"
Gaven grimaces and stows his items to fish out the magical object.
The water isn't deep and Gaven is easily able to reach in and pull the object out. It is a crude carving of a jackal-headed, monstrously pregant female sitting on a throne of bones.
Far more interesting however is the fact that as Gaven touches it, it splits open like a cracked egg, unleashing a pair of vile-looking tiny, flying fiendish creatures. They howl and gibber in glee, their claws dripping with poison...
Demon 1
Emerge
Demon 2
Emerge
They fly around Gaven, trying to circle him as they lash at him with their claws; which are small, but sharp, as the paladin discovers quickly.
Edric 2 damage
Gaven 7 damage
Irfan 3 damage, 1 spell point used, 1 channel used
Lani 0 damage, 1 spell slot used
"Shite! Ouch!!" Yells Gaven as he draws his sword. He desperately tries to fend the buggers off by slashing at them twice.
Expert if needed
Not sure if it does anything, but I do have the Fast Recovery feat.
Your body bounces back from extreme situations much more quickly than most. You recover twice as many Hit Points from resting. Each time you succeed at a Fortitude save against an ongoing toxin, you reduce its stage by 2, or by 1 against a virulent toxin. Each critical success you achieve against an ongoing toxin reduces its stage by 3, or by 2 against a virulent toxin. In addition, you reduce the severity of your drained condition by 2 when you rest for a night instead of by 1. You reduce your enervated condition by 2 when you succeed at your Fortitude save or spend a day of downtime training, and by 3 when you critically succeed at your Fortitude save. For more information on these conditions, see page 321.
Lani gasps as the pregnant idol cracks open and releases the fiends. "Oh! So that's where baby demons come from!"
She moves away and casts a spell, sending electricity between the two creatures.
Irfan mutters something in the way a cultist would whilst holding his holy symbol, but immediately after a warm glow embraces Gaven's wounds and start knitting him back into one piece. "Reconstruct, deconstruct, the structure of our flesh."
Demon 1
Demon 2
Gaven's first strike hits solidly, and the thing squeals in pain; both of them jolt slightly as Lani's spell hits them, although one of them is able to avoid the worst of it.
Edric misses, and Irfan makes no attacks.
The things focus their ire on Gaven, whose aura of law and good they both seem to instinctively sense - and despise. Their tiny, cat-like claws again rend the paladin's flesh.
Demon 1 has 3 damage, Flanked
Demon 2 has 14 damage
Edric 2 damage
Gaven 4 damage
Irfan 3 damage, 1 spell point used, 2 channels used
Lani 0 damage, 1 spell slot used
Lani snaps her fingers and conjures another jolt of lightning between the two demons.
Gaven grimaces as he gets clawed again. He decides to strap on his shield again, raise it for protection, and then heave his sword as hard as he can.
Another fight, another need for protection. Once more an ancient ritual of Nethys was invoked to conjure forth protective shields and barriers to aid Gaven in the struggle against the demonic creatures.
Again, one of the demons manages to dodge the worst of Lani's magic, but the other one takes the full brunt of it. Despite feeling the sting of poison in his veins , Gaven's sword does a good job of almost severing one of the demons' wings; it circles, cursing and gushing black ichor before Edric's hands literally tear it apart - it disappears in a puff of greasy black smoke.
Irfan puts a ward on the remaining demon, which claws frantically at the monk which killed its companion. Two of its attacks strike, but they do minimal damage to the hardy dwarf.
Demon 1 dead
Demon 2 has 20 damage, Warded vs Gaven
Edric 7 damage
Gaven 7 damage, poison stage 1
Irfan 3 damage, 1 spell point used, 2 channels used
Lani 0 damage, 1 spell slot used