Finding nothing of real interest aside from the everburning torch Sven leads the group onward. They look into the next room counterclockwise. The walls of this small room are lined with small wooden cages. Inside each cage is a dirty mound of straw. It appears almost like it was a pen for animals or something.
With nothing of interest or value Sven continues moving to the next door set in the eastern wall. Crates, barrels, and mounds of miscellaneous refuse lie heaped against the walls here. To the north, the sound of crashing surf echoes through a rough stone tunnel.
Taking some time to check through the supplies you find it is mostly junk that looks to have likely been scavenged from Junk Beach. While the raw materials here can be turned into goblin furniture, dogslicers, or even ramshackle armor, at this point only a goblin is likely to see value in the mounds of refuse.
"Evidence would suggest that this is the equivalent of a goblin nursery," Bartholomew comments without emotion. "I will admit I am not terribly familiar with goblin breeding behavior, but it seems odd that there are no children here whatsoever."
Adarion looks shocked as Bart informs them of how goblins raise their young. ”That’s horrible!” he says, shock fading into disgust.
Nyx lingers a short distance behind the others, letting them lead and constantly casting detect magic—all the while muttering about magic with his half-grin.
Leaving the tunnels for now Sven leads the group on, back toward the main room and to the next door. Following the hall it leads north for a ways before opening up to a set of large double doors heading west. The large stone doors faces are carved with images of horrific, deformed monsters clawing their way out of pregnant women of all races. Another hallway heading east and the hall continuing on north. Both the north and east halls end in closed doors as well.
Sven shrugs and says, ”monsters, okay.” He then moves to the west door and listens carefully.
Sven listens at the door but doesn't hear anything, he does not these doors seem awfully reminiscent of the ones in the catacombs below Sandpoint.
"This is, without a doubt, a mural dedicated to Lamashtu," Uvara says in a tone that comes out as a hiss. "We should tread carefully through that door, if at all. Who knows what sort of horrors the Mother of Monsters has in store for us behind them."
Nervously, the champion checks her sword in its sheath and does not remove her eyes from Sven as he listens at the door.
Sven shrugs, ”I do not hear any monsters. You do not like monsters?” Sven looks a bit sad, ”many are strong! Like giants. I would like to be strong like a giant.” Sven nods enthusiastically at the idea. ”There is no sound here, but this door looks the same as another place we visited where there were also some monsters. The demon lady, and the weird arm thing, right guys?” He scratches his head.
”The architecture and style of decoration would support your hypothesis,” Bartholomew replies detachedly.
Sven points Gudada at it, "yes. Gudada will check to see if it is trapped, then the new Lady Uvara can open it." He gestures to Uvara, deferring to her wisdom of 'taking the lead'.
Adarion nods at Sven's thoughts about the demon lady but shifts about nervously, sharing the same sense of unease that Uvara has.
Uvara softens her tone before continuing with Sven. "I have nothing wrong with monsters, Sven, nothing at all," she begins, the effort of remaining calm bringing back the lilting quality of her accent. "But the kinds of monsters that Lamashtu breeds are the kind that cannot be reasoned with. They do nothing but harm. I wish it were not so, but these are the types of creatures for which there is no redemption."
She waits for Gudada to check the doors, and if he clears it, she will push them open with shield at the ready.
Gudada checks the door and doesn't find any traps, moving out of the way for Uvara to open the door. Stone fonts containing frothy dark water sit to the north and south of the eastern entrance to the room, and twin banks of stone pillars run the length of the long chamber. At the western end, shallow stairs rise to a platform about two feet off the ground. The walls surrounding this platform are lit by hanging
braziers that emit glowing red smoke, giving the place an unnerving crimson lighting that throws the bas-relief carvings of countless monsters feasting on fleeing humans into lurid display. A black marble altar stone, its surface heaped with ashes and bone fragments, squats before a ten-foot-tall statue. The sculpture depicts a very pregnant but otherwise shapely naked woman who wields a kukri in each taloned hand and has a long reptilian tail, birdlike taloned feet, and the snarling head of a three-eyed jackal with a forked tongue. The left kukri flickers with fiery orange light while the right one glows with a cold blue radiance.
Nyx's eyes open wide as he exclaims with his usual half-grin, "There could be MAGIC here!" He promptly casts detect magic.
Sven nods at Nyx and eyes the weapons greedily, "Nyx if those are magic - we should consider stealing them from this statue. If it is not trapped, yes? This plump madam does not need it. Wait is this the same one, Lamashtu?" He scratches his chin. "Eh, it is a bit much, right?" He waves his hand dismissively and looks around into the room.
Nyx does indeed detect magic coming from the braziers and the blades, which are a part of the statue, and not actual weapons themselves. Focusing on it for a moment from outside the room he can tell it is all faint evocation magic.
Adarion's unease increases as he sees the bas-relief carvings and their macabre subject. He joins Nyx in examing the area for magical auras, while also looking around the room.
Adarion notices the same magics as Nyx from the room both would guess it is a simple continual flame spell cast on the brazers and weapons to provide light in that part of the room.
Gudada carefully searches the entryway and looks to see if there are any obvious traps visible in the room.
Sven yawns and itches his elbow, and when Gudada gives an all clear - heads inside to search for himself, Naesehorn in tow.
After Gudada checks the entry way and looks into the room for any clearly visible signs of traps he gives Sven the all clear. Sven heads inside and as soon as he steps into the room he immediately regrets his decision as two foul beasts charge toward Sven from the shadows of the ceiling.
Their brutal surprise attack nearly drops Sven to the ground.
You know that they are resistant to damage from weapons not made of silver. You also know they are intelligent enough to understand abyssal or infernal but cannot speak.
”Sven, you might want to duck,” Bartholomew comments as he shakes a small glass vial and waits for the druid to step away from the dog-creatures.
Adarion recognises the creatures as they swoop down to attack Sven. "Yeth hounds, use silver or mithral if you have it." he shouts to the others, further explaining what other abilities the Yeth hounds have.
He then holds out a hand and blasts two missiles of force at one of the yeth hounds.
Bart waits, hoping that Sven would move.
However, before he gets a chance, the first dog bites him again causing him to collapse to the floor, while the second one let's out a wild howl at the achievement in taking down their first mark.
Seeing Sven fall, Bartholomew puts the cork back in the bottle and moves forward to pull his unconscious teammate out of danger.
"Sven!" Uvara yells as the large man goes down. She grits her teeth, unaffected by the hound's howl. Seeing Bart has Sven covered, she moves into the space that he previously occupied with sword in hand. She attacks the yeth hound that Naese is also adjacent to.
Sven is dragged out of the fight, and Naesehorn bellows and strikes at the nearest hound before retreating to guard her friend.
Sven bleeds a bit.
Negative Effects: Unconscious, Prone
HP: -9/23
AC: 20 (Base 18, 2 barkskin)
Spells Memorized
. . 2nd—burst of radiance (DC 15)
. . 1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
Naesehorn
Negative Effects: None
HP: 19/19
AC: 21 (Base 20, 1 shield companion)
Adarion, expecting the howl and it's effect when he recognised the creatures, manages to weather the howl before gritting his teeth and trying to be useful.
Adarion manages to any feelings of panick from the creatures howls, already expecting it and he sends some missiles that slam into the closest one.
Gudada manages to keep his wits but waits for the others to move before he does anything, especially after seeing what just happened to Sven. Uvara calls for Naeshorn to move since she can't really get in there. As Bart pulls Sven back Naesehorn strikes out at the nearest hound just barely hitting it before scooting back so Uvara can move up.
Uvara moves up to attack the injured hound but Neashorn bumps into her as she is adjusting and throws of her swing. Gudada pulls out his rapier and then runs back down the hall, the way they came as he notes "Got an idea." and disappears around the corner. Nyx starts talking his oddly inspiring sermon about magic to help boost the groups resolve.
The hounds gang up on Uvara both trying to bite at her.
Both of them crunch down on her armor, but don't do any damage to her as they snarl at her in anger.
”Not again, Sven my friend! I’ll get to him shortly. But first, MAGIC is all things...” Nyx goes into another of his sermons as he moves up adjacent to Sven and pops the party’s wand of cure light wounds from the spring-loaded wrist sheath on his forearm .
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Nyx continues ranting about magic as he activates the wand on Sven.
Adarion grits his teeth and blasts another two magic missiles at the creature he hit earlier.
Naesehorn grunts and strikes at the nearest hound.
Sven snores quietly.
Negative Effects: Unconscious, Prone
HP: -3/23
AC: 20 (Base 18, 2 barkskin)
Spells Memorized
. . 2nd—burst of radiance (DC 15)
. . 1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
Naesehorn
Negative Effects: None
HP: 19/19
AC: 21 (Base 20, 1 shield companion)
Bartholomew pulls out a flask of clear liquid and pours it down Sven’s throat. ”He’s stable, but this’ll bring him back to consciousness,” he says to Nyx as the cleric pauses in his sermon to take a breath.
”Now don’t move - those hounds have a pretty nasty bite,” the chemist cautions the prone half-orc. ”And don’t even think about picking up that scythe unless you don’t want to wake back up after the next bite.”
Heartened to see Sven back up and in the fray, Uvara deepens her focus and attacks whichever of the hounds has taken more damage. Finally, after many embarrassing swings before, she musters a powerful and precise strike.
Adarion blasts the already injured hound once again causing the beast to yelp in pain. Gudada still is no where to be seen but you can hear the sounds of doors opening to the south west.
Uvara focuses on her attack, seeing that the others are taking care of Sven, and slices into the injured hound. Dropping it to the ground. Naesehorn tries to attack the other hound but her concern for her master evident, she ends up missing.
Nyx continues to inspire the group with his strange sermon on magic put also taps Sven with his wand, healing some of his wounds. Finally, Bart administers one of his infusions to Sven, returning the half-orc to consciousness once again.
The remaining dog focuses its attention on Uvara after what she just did to its companion.
Uvara dodges the incoming bite easily as the hound snaps at air.
Feeling his well of arcane power starting to dry up, Adarion tries to use a less power-intensive spell. He pulls an acid flask from his bag and starts chanting, a liquid very similar to that in the flask coalescing in his hand. He flings this globe of acid at the remaining Yeth hound.
Nyx continues his sermon and once more activates the wand on Sven.
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Sven revives but says nothing, following Bart's request.
Naesehorn, on the other hand, tries to gore her foe!
But she misses, grumbling at the monster in an annoyed way.
HP: 6/23
AC: 24 (Base 18, 2 barkskin, 4 Full Defense)
Spells Memorized
. . 2nd—burst of radiance (DC 15)
. . 1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
Naesehorn
Negative Effects: None
HP: 19/19
AC: 21 (Base 20, 1 shield companion)
Hoping for better luck than her companions, Uvara takes yet another determined swing at the remaining hound.
Adarion conjures some acid, flinging it at the last hound, but doesn't come close to hit as it slides down the wall nearby doing some damage to the stone. A door opens to the south and you see Gudada emerge again running toward the remaining hound, his weapon in hand.
Uvara slices into the one hound, drawing first blood. Sven stays down protecting himself from any potential attacks while Naesehorn attempts to gore the hound but misses, hitting the wall in the cramped space. Nyx taps Sven with the wand healing some more of his wounds, the half-orc slowly looking better while Bart waits, unable to do much at the moment.
The hound growls viciously at Uvara and flies up 5 feet above her to try and get out of sight of the others still on the other side of the door and bites at her.
The bite comes awfully close to but ends up glancing off her armor, doing no harm.
Adarion, still able to see the hound flying in the air through the door, flings another globe of acid at the creature.
Uvara attacks the hound once again, hoping that the creature keeps focusing on her instead of Sven. She steps to the west, hoping that she can make room for more companions to surround the beast.
Bartholomew continues watching. Hmm. How to get an explosive to burst in certain directions... he muses.
Sven continues to loaf on the ground, defensively.
Naesehorn steps into the room, on the other hand, and tries to gore her flying foe.
This time, she may have connected with her foe who maimed her friend.
Negative Effects: Prone
HP: 7/23
AC: 24 (Base 18, 2 barkskin, 4 Full Defense)
Spells Memorized
. . 2nd—burst of radiance (DC 15)
. . 1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
Naesehorn
Negative Effects: None
HP: 19/19
AC: 21 (Base 20, 1 shield companion)
Adarion hits the hound this time doing a little damage to it. Uvara smacks the thing as well and then Naesehorn finishes it off sticking its horn up through the hounds heart and killing it as it collapses ontop of Naesehron in a bloody mess before slidding off and falling to the floor.