After three failed attempts to damage the giant plant giant, the gnome who is full of doubt follows the trollkin's lead and changes target to the crucified body.
In a stern voice, he says, " Ibrox."
"Those things heal themselves! The must have Troll blood".
Vrindel takes up a handful of pebbles, and begins casting them at the bramble golem.
Magic Stone
Aim
Damage
Having landed a blast on the crucified body, the gnome's doubts lessens. But, he's confused by Vrindel's troll blood comment.
Vrindel's magic stone lands, but causes the creature little concern as much of the force dissipates against the tough vines. Zove sends another flaming fae dagger into the center of the creature that sears and burns as it goes, while Ibrox blasts the other hanging undead thing with eldritch force.
The flames from Trevor's earlier fiery blow are quickly snuffed out by the creature as several of the cancerous tumor's glow with eldritch power. But then the young paladin strikes a second time cleaving with blade, fire, and the radiant power of Khors. While the axe severs a few vines and the flames scorch, the brilliant white light of Trevor's god causes the vines to wither and turn to dust eliciting a howling roar from the lumbering beast.
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Aterro's blood is up, and his hearty body deigns not to be any further burdened by the vine-creature's weak poison.
But even as the venom glides off his preternatural vitality like rains from a drake, that the creatures seems to have found his weakness leaves him taken aback. So too, seeing his hammer, always a source of great destruction, now leaving less than ample marks upon the beast, are a source of disconcernment.
Taking pause to consider his options, he calls upon Thor's healing to again reverse the monster's attacks and bring him some clarity.
Aterro steps back slightly and once again heals his wounds and clears the poison flowing in his blood. The respite for the war cleric is also an opening for the smoldering demon. Power continues to trickle from the crucified being into the demon as it strikes out at Trevor with the two remaining whip-like vines. The paladin avoids the first, but is hit hard by the second. Once again Trevor feels the burning, itching and swelling of his flesh as the creature's toxins flow into his system.
”Hey, that crucified body is a vampire and is magically powering that giant plant giant. It might be destroyed by holy light or fire. Give it try. “
Trevor grunts from the burning of the vines: "This thing is tough! Zove and Ibrox, focus on the vampires then!"
He swallows hard, fighting the effect of the poison coursing through him, and finds the resolve to raise his axe and press on the creature.
Vrindel sees new wounds appear on the young Paladin, and not knowing if he has healing left, steps close enough to send some healing energy his way.
Healing Word
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Fortified now in body and mind, Aterro takes heart as Zove's ephemeral aid comes to lend a hand to his smiting.
Though he knows that the thing seems to resist his hammer somewhat, he extoles himself to greater efforts. If the thing is hard to hurt, then he must hit it HARDER!
"Zeal is its own excuse!" he yells, raining blows down upon the thing.
"Death is the servant of the righteous! My armor is contempt!"
More vines sizzle and pop when Zove's flying knife sinks into the mass, but Trevor can't follow up on the hit as his axe slips in his hand and bounces off a nearby stone with a loud clang that also grounds out the magic harmlessly. Vrindel heals the paladin and Aterro rejoins the fray turning several bits of vine into pulp.
Ibrox continues to pummel one of the crucified undead creatures with his eldritch power but the blasts seem unable to truly destroy the hanging thing as its eyes still sit open, watching with the eerie dark gaze of the deep void.
The creature staggers back a pace, then another under the onslaught of magic and hammer. Flames from Trevor's previous blow continue to flicker and burn, but it does not fall. Areas previously damaged soon show signs of growth and healing, except those affected by the truly radiant light of Khors or Thor. Those areas remain dead and seem to be slowly turning to ash that falls away creating large holes in the things 'body'.
The demon swings back and around with one of the attacking vines, then lashes and punctures the chest of the other hanging creature. Again, the hapless undead provide energy enough to keep the thing going, granting it strength enough to lash out with the remaining vine. The attack punctures Trevor's armor at the shoulder, ripping flesh and adding poison.
"No Trevor, let me be specific. You and Aterro need to focus holy fire and light on that vampire up there, because it is powering this giant plant giant. Is that clear? Zove and I can continue to damage the vampire, but we cannot destroy it." The cheerful gnome's tone shifts to that of an unlistened to teacher.
In a stern voice, he targets the giant plant giant and says, " Ibrox."
Trevor shouts back at Ibrox: "I’ll get to those corpses, right after I deal with this thing!"
Aterro's radiant flame strikes the hanging undead and immediately it shrieks and squirms violently unable to escape the searing holy fire. Within seconds the creature ceases its struggle and the eerie void light fades from the eyes and flesh turns to ash leaving little more than a hanging, lifeless skeleton. The vine that was attached to the hanging undead burns to ash as well causing the thorn demon to stagger and shrink in size.
The random stumbling of the creature throws off Trevor's aim and the knight misses again, while Ibrox and Zove pummel it with magical attacks.
Although weakened, the thing isn't destroyed but it's last desperate attempt to snuff out it's attackers ends with a weak blow that simply bounces off of Aterro's armor.
Trevor spins again, this time, aiming low: "Loki take me! This thing is hard to cut through!"
Vrindel keeps up his mission to keep Trevor upright.
Healing Word
"If this thing doesn't go down soon, we might need to retreat, and plan a better approach".
"That's it Attero!" The cheerful gnome's encourages his holy companions
In a stern voice, he targets the giant plant giant and says, " Ibrox."
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Aterro stood like a stone wall as the creature's blows were deflected by his heavy armor. As it should be.
He nodded at Ibrox as he sent his holy fire against the final remaining undead spawn. He was unsure what the arrangement was between all the monsters, but killing one seemed to harm the other, so what of it.
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Aterro incinerates the second hanging undead.
Moments later, with its source of regenerative power gone, the demonic spirit inhabiting the vines and thorns struggles to maintain its presence in the material world. As it does so, Zove's spell latches onto the few remaining bits of its intelligence and forces it to surface what few words a thing like this might consider secret. The same raspy, booming, whisper echoes through the small clearing.
"Caaaalllleddd by the anccccciiennttt ooooneee offfff Vvvvvaaaeel Ttttttuuuurrrrrroooogg tttooo gaaaauuuurrrrd annnnnddd pprooooteeccccttt. Thhhhheeee ooonnnneeee callllleddddd Annnnnyyymooorrrreeeee, Iiiiiii knnnooowwww aaaassss Tttteeeerrrrronnniiddddaaasssss Vvvvvooiidwwweaavvvvverrrrr. Hhhhheeeee reeturrrrrnnnns ffffoooorrrr vvveennngeeenccce....."
As the eerie voice fades the creature struggles to maintain its form, but Trevor's axe strikes simultaneously with Ibrox's eldritch blast. Fire and fury erupt into an inferno that lights up the night as the vines lose all magical resistance. Moments later there is nothing but the final flickering flames and ash settling back to earth and even the skeletal remains of the vampires turn to dust and drift away in the night breeze.
Trevor pulls his axe from the vines and sits right where he is, panting heavily and wincing overdramatically.
He listens to Zove, then says: "That was an archmage?! And who is this ancient one of Vael Turog? I thought we were coming to kill some necromancer and pick up some javelin?"
"Anyway, I'm in pain! That fight did not go so well..."
"Excellent. I've heard about those vampire-fueled spells, but never seen one in action. Good thing, we have two wielders of holy fire."
"And Teronidas Voidweaver! How exciting. Perhaps, he knows how to defeat the Grandmother's curse. Maybe, he seeks vengeance against her or could be directed toward her? We witness historical events." The cheerful gnome is positively giddy.
Trevor nods a grateful thanks to Aterro, then slowly gets back on his feet. He looks at the others, waiting, and not wanting to suggest they retreat, at least a bit.
Vrindel stops for a moment and digs his toes into the dirt trying to sense if there is a nearby ley line. He smiles at the others as they gather around to discuss the battle.
"I am proud. We all worked together very well in that trial. Perhaps we should rest for a bit, or maybe find a place to camp and explore more in the morning... though that might allow whatever is inside to reinforce their defenses. I'm good with going in now, but keep in mind our resources are down a bit".
Vrindel then moved forward to explore where the blight demon and the vampires were staked out to see if anything can be found or fixed". [/b]
Perception
The clearing before the cliff of stone remains quiet and calm as you discuss what to do next. Vrindel is able to sense the minor ley line that runs through the area and further up to the summit. Happily the druid can feel that some of the taint and power that was drawing on the line is gone with the destruction of the thorn demon. However, there is still something drawing a significant amount of energy further along toward the summit and ruins of the keep.
The stars shine above as night arrives in full. The small beacons of the night sky provide a glimmer of light until the moon rises in a few hours. In the meantime the narrow trail through the stone cliff sits waiting. The dark void beckoning for those who would enter to discover the secrets beyond.
Trevor drops his kit and takes a long look at the darkness ahead, then sits against a rock and chews on a piece of cheese, rinsing it down with some wine the good ladies at the village at given him.
Ibrox joins Zove's investigation of the former vampires. But his thoughts are quite distracting thinking that Teronidas Voidweaver could overcome Grandmother's curse.
Then when everyone starts laying about, the giddy gnome finds a good place to sit and pulls out the material to continue sewing a pair of leather gloves.
Rest isn't easy in this place. Although the undead have been destroyed and evil spirit vanquished, a feeling of evil and death still lingers. Zove finds little of interest as she searches the area for further clues. All that remains of the crucified creatures are two sets of four iron spikes driven into the stone. Each one is crudely marked with the runes Isaz and Dagaz.
There is nothing left of the thorn creature. The thick vines having all succumbed to the flames.
The gentle breeze continues to blow, rustling the tops of the grass while two owls are heard calling to each back down in the valley. It is at this moment that Vrindel feels something grab at the power gently flowing through the ley line. Whatever it is draws deeply, forcing a surprised gasp from the druid.
Contemplating the curiously marked spikes, Zove senses the sudden surge in power and drawing of it from the ley line as well. But more disturbing is how a cold ugly, blackish-red, blood starts to flow from the cover of her book. The ancient text becomes icy cold to the touch, freezing a bottle of ink she had stored next to the tome as more and more of the slimy substance drips from the book. Where ever it touches beyond the book, it freezes instantly with a soft hiss and crackle.
Ibrox to feels something of the power being released, but to the gnome it is a great ripping. A tearing open of something. It takes a few heartbeats, but the gnome soon recognizes the feeling as being similar to the magic felt as the clearing with the sacrificed reavers. The clearing where some sort of gate had been opened. But this time...even the gnome could sense that this time the amount of power being used was much more than what was used before.
Moments later, despite the complete lack of clouds in the sky, a great crack of thunder erupts from somewhere on the summit. At the exact same moment, Aterro bends over, hands grabbing his head as he sucks in a deep breath. The pain is as if the lightning power of Thor was searing his own mind with a call for aid. Never before has the war cleric felt such a direct touch from his god. Nor has he ever felt such a mix of anger...and fear.
The cheerful gnome's countenance changes a few seconds before the thunder erupts from a giddy contentment to severe concern. "Another portal has opened! Even bigger than the one before. We've got to go now."
He quickly stashes his glove-making gear and starts heading toward the narrow trail through the stone cliff hoping that his short strides are not the first to get there and lead.
Trevor looks at Aterro with great concerns and walks up to the priest to see if he needs help. To Ibrox's observation, he replies, while walking towards Aterro: "A portal? What do you mean a portal?!"
As he reaches Aterro, he asks: "You ok? What's going on?"
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Aterro spent the hour's time as he does after most battles--spent with bent knee and head down upon his hammer, giving thanks to Thor for success in battle and making through to vanquish more enemies. As his body repaid him with regained strength, he thought things were going quite well.
the warrior-priest screams as his head feels the fire of a thousand suns blaze upon it.
He stands but his body reels, and he crashes uneasily into the attending Trevor.
"We must go NOW!" he yells, head still bowed and and eyes squinting at the ever-moving ground. His knees bend and he gropes blindly for some moments before his hands again find the familiar grip of WarGuard.
"I have...I have received, not a, a vision, as such, but a...a tremor. a -blow- from Thor. He is...he is...worried. Rage without peer flows through him to me, and something I can only call 'odium'...for he does not know fear.
PORTAL!?" he calls at Ibrox, only now letting the world stop its wayward spin and retain some semblance of order. "I know not what this means save that we must needs be away. We must confront and stop the...whatever it is--
by any means necessary."
He makes hasty steps onward.
With all the questions, the concerned gnome attempts to answer, "Portal? Yes, a portal. Like a doorway. Remember that weird thing we destroyed by the three blood-eagled reavers? That thing wasn't born here. It wasn't natural. It was BROUGHT here. Through a PORTAL. Another one was opened up there! Much bigger! Imagine what we'll find!"
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Much bigger... thinks Trevor as he shudders silently, wrapping his cloak around him in the cold air of morning, staying well away from Aterro, who seems to be having visions.
"Right, I can imagine... Then let's head down that path and see what other horror lurks there. That necromancer... Well, this is our conundrum, yes? We get him dead. I bet he doesn't play chess. Suits him just right..." he mumbles, taking his place right behind Aterro, yet giving him a lot of room.
With a renewed sense of urgency your gather your equipment and make your way into the dark, narrow fissure. Although narrow, the path is relatively clear of rocks and debris, as if someone has recently cleared the trail. About a hundred paces in, your torch light illuminates a body laying at the base of a stone stairway carved into the hill leading further up.
The body appears to be one of the villagers judging from his peasant clothing and calloused hands. His right leg is broken in at least two places and his blonde hair is matted with blood where a severe gashing wound shattered a section of his skull. He wears a simple band of silver with a spiral pattern on one finger.
Trevor stays far and away from the corpse, not wanting to be on the receiving end of a necromancer's prank.
"Is it dead-dead?"
"Looks like a villager," the concerned gnome observes obviously.
Investigation or Medicine (Untrained)
"That is not a good sign. Perhaps I shall take to the walls of this ravine to travel. Give me a little head start and I'll take the hard way, while the rest of you take the stairs".
Vrindel steps back and slowly morphs into the Giant Wolf Spider form he has used before, and takes the shortcut.
Perception