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The monk utters the words written out on the sheet of paper, and the stone wall begins to decend. The creaking sounds are almost deafening, as if the mechanism drawn by an unseen source are being used for the first time in aeons.
The floor of this circular room is stained dark red in places, while the walls are decorated with collapsed weapon racks and ruined shelves. Nothing valuable remains.
A similar stone column blocks your passage further into the facility.
Remy looks around to see if anything is hidden. If she doesn’t find anything, she will approach the other column and say the words again.
Borgol uses the wand to heal Remy, and then chuckles, "Never thought I'd need to help Maddie do anything magical.." as he casts Detect Magic.
He then takes a moment to look examine the weapon racks - if only to get an idea of what might have been here before -- and to see if there's any lingering magic here.
"Interesting! What is that language you are speaking, Maddie? It sounds vaguely familiar."
Maddie sticks her tongue out at Borgol's statement, "Yeah, well I said I should be older before I learned to See. I'm still mad."
"Oh, that? Azlanti. Similar to Thassilonilian, but the grammar's archaic. " she tells Flik while getting her floating lights up and dancing throughout the room, illuminating it.
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You don't find anything unusual in the room, but as soon as Borgol kneels down to investigate the weapon racks more closely, you see a small explosion of white light, followed by a puff of smoke.
Suddenly, a maggotlike creature with a long tail covered with frightening hooked suckers stands inside the old tower, looking to lash forward at the group.
The creature shrieks, and you all feel your bodies slow.
Everyone, please make me a DC 15 Will save agasint the slow spell.
Round 1
! Grimslake, Adv
@ Remy -4 lethal (Mage Armor)
@ Maddie (Mage Armor)
@ Alustria ([/I])
@ + Audrahni ([I])
@ Fergus ([/I])
@ Flik ([I])Everyone may act!
”Borgol! Look out!” Resisting the monster’s magic, Remy leaps at the thing with foot extended. She comes up short but follows up with two punches to its body.
"Remy!" Maddie calls out, mind racing as she tries to identify the creature and easily shrugging off its pitiful attempt to try and slow her. How dare it? Didn't it know who she would be?
Maddie's eyes flash bright, bright blue for just a moment, but the light isn't the pure sapphire color it usually is, but is instead ever so slightly tinged with red as her hand snaps up and she launches a barrage of magic missiles with a faint sneer at the pitiful creature before it can dare to try and wrest time from them again.
Flik shrugs off the fear, activates Naturalist (+2), and casts ear-piercing scream (DC 16) on the creature.
"Ga! This place will be lousy with summoned creatures."
Borgol winces, Blasted Trap. And I fell for it. Leandra would kick my rump for not even looking first, after all that training. He winces again as the strange cry reverberates in him. Why... does... everything.... have.... slowing.... magic....
No weapon in hand, Borgol concentrates on the power of Erastil within him, doubling his size, allowing him to strike the creature with his shield.
for
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Remy lashes forward to protect Borgol, landing two pwoerful hits. The skirmisher will not be outperformed, and slams his shield into the aberration. The two spellcasters cast their invocations, both dealing significant damage to the creature.
The creature shakes off the spells, and lashes out at Borgol, who has succumbed to it's spell.
It sinks its maw onto Borgol's torso, as he feels the creature's jaws enter the man's flesh. The pain is agonising.
The light from Maddie is a distinctively different color for a moment, and she frightens herself briefly as she fires off her spell. She remembers that this creature is a grimslake, a grublike monster commonly found on Abyssal battlefields, where it crawls among the bodies, sucking away marrow and other vital tissues found within the dead.
Maddie and Flik are able to recall that these creatures can drain the marrow of helpess creatures, and have slashing scales which harm natural attackers.
Round 2
! Grimslake, Adv -55, grappling
@ Remy -4 lethal (Mage Armor)
@ Maddie (Mage Armor)
@ Alustria ([/I]) - Act twice!
@ + Audrahni ([I]) - Act twice!
@ Fergus ([/I]) - Act twice!
@ Flik ([I])
@ Borgol -36 lethal (-slow, -grappled)Everyone may act!
Though the creature's sharp scales slice the skin on her knuckles, Remy will not relent while the thing holds Borgol. She continues to pummel its most vulnerable spots!
Round 1
Fergus will take a five-foot step and swing at the creature.
Round 2
He will continue his assault.
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The dwarf steps into the room, unleashing his greataxe on the beast grappling his friend. "Good hits! Angradd would be proud!" Following up the assault, Remy pushes through the pain and pummels the creature until it is barely holding onto Borgol.
It screeches in pain, and tries to clamp harder onto the skirmisher who reduces in size, it leg's go for a brief moment ...
...
The creature disappears in a puff of grey smoke, leaving Remy's fists bloody and Borgols' chain shirt badly damaged from the maw of the creature.
Alustria comes to tend to the wounds, applying some grasses to stop the swelling, "Maybe we shouldn't touch anything, what do you think, Borgol?" She offers some clean bandages for Remy's hands.
- Remy
- Borgol
You now notice the wide open pit on the east side of the room. The pit to the east once held a stairwell that descended to the Forges of Wrath, but the wooden stairs have mostly collapsed, resulting in a 100-footdeep shaft, its walls lined with jutting pieces of wood and stone. A set of ropes have been tied to one stone anchor, forming the route downwards.
...
Maddie utters the passphrase on more time, the words rolling off her tongue. The words feel empowering to the young mage.
The ceiling of this chamber is fifteen feet high in the center, rising to a height of thirty feet under a domed roof to the east. The walls are adorned with elaborate frescos depicting a scene of horror: crab-like figures with multiple arms ritually sacrifice dozens of humans in cruelly imaginative ways, all presided over by what appears to be a tentacled sun looking down upon them from above.
Rusty iron manacles hang from chains along the walls and an ancient skeleton lies slumped to the south, a curved sword blade lodged in its ribs as if the long-dead person had plunged the blade into their own chest.
as gongorinan qlippoth and the tentacled sun as a representation of their master, Yamasoth.
Remy thanks Alustria for the healing and the bandages. ”Are you okay?” she asks Borgol, concern evident on her face. ”I think we all need to be careful from here on it. No doubt traps abound throughout Hollow Mountain.”
The monk shudders at the horrible carvings in the next room. ”I don’t like the look of that sword. See, it’s like he stabbed himself with it. Perhaps it’s best we head down the shaft.”
Flik will examine the sword before we go down.
He also warns the party, "These murals exhalt qlippoths, evil beings from the outer planes."
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Flik has a closer look at the weapon, and can tell that if you are not too careful, the bones would crumble to dust if disturbed. These have been here a very long time. The weapon itself seems to be a +2 cruel falcata.
As you get close to it, the green runes etched into the blade glow faintly, assuming there is some magic still left in the weapon.
Remy waits by the shaft until the others decide what to do with the sword. Once they have made a decision, she will begin to carefully descend via the ropes.
Borgol says, "Ow. That was unpleasant." and quickly surveys his armour, Thankfully, looks like nothing a simple mending won't fix..
Borgol chuckles at Alustria's suggestion, "I can't say I won't touch, but I will say that I can be a lot more careful about things. I was trained to find and disarm traps by one of the best, after all... Speaking of which..." He takes a moment to center himself, thinking about the nature of humanity, and focusing on his senses, sharpening them.
As the others debate the sword, he quietly casts another Detect Magic, and carefully looks at the blade, trying to see if it - or wher it lies, is trapped. As he starts to look he explains, "Too valuable to leave behind -- and too dangerous. We don't need it used against us by some Cultist or crazy on our backtrail."
Remy nods. "Okay, somebody grab it and let's press on. Borgol, you should take the lead to ensure we don't stumble into any more traps. I'll be right behind you."
Fergus will volunteer to grab the sword, but before he does, he will say a prayer to Angradd to keep him safe.
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Fergus picks up the weapon, but he has a bad feeling about it. He stows the weapon away.
You prepare yourselves for the climb downwards, warming your hands slightly as the brisk of the morning has kept you cold and fresh. The ropes looks steady, but looking into the hole you notice parts of the fabrication has started to come apart. You can definately notice some loose pieces here and there, especially where one of the previous climbers has dislodged part of the framework.
...
As you begin your descent, the cold wind from the opening you left behind howls in the tunnel, causing the hairs to stand on the back of your necks. A small headache hits Maddie and Remy, but they brush it off - this sensation being all to familiar to them. This headache, however, is for the first time presented into the minds of Fergus, Flik and Borgol. "Aaaah, what is this?" Your eyes open, but it's as if your feet are moving on their own, each step is not your own. The Forges beckon to all of you, one foot after the other, as you clamber into the darkness.
Audrahni calls down to the group as you climb, "That looks dangerous! Are you guys sure it's safe to come down?"
The wind buffets Remy's skimpy robes, but the enchantments on them prevent the chill from bothering her as she confidently descends. "We'll let you know when we reach the bottom!" the monk calls back up to Audrahni.
Flik encourages everyone to stay on the rope, though his headache makes his grip shaky.
While the others are debating what to do with the sword, Maddie pulls out her spellbook for two minutes and re-prepares Magic Missile and Fly.
As they look into the hole, Maddie looks over the edge and sends her dancing lights down to get an idea of what's happening below. Then, with a shrug, she takes a couple steps back and turns invisible, followed by the sound of her feet hitting the floor a couple of times leading up to the hole and her voice trailing into the darkness, "Wheeeeeee......!"
Fergus, spending most of his life underground is surprised at the headache. Have spent too much time on the surface? he thinks.
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Remy climbs part way down the rope, and notices Flik, Borgol and Fergus start climbing behind her. While Borgol and Fergus seem unsteady, they hold onto the rope as they slowly fight their headaches and climb downwards. Flik is not so lucky, he isn't used to getting splitting headaches, so he lets go of the rope. Some quick reflexes from the monk, she is able to reach out right as he falls beside her, catching him and slamming him right up against the cold stone wall.
Alustria and Audrahni call from above, "Oh lord, nice catch Remy! This place doesn't look so stable...hey, has anyone seen Maddie?"
The 100ft drop to the bottom of the shaft remains illuminated with the little wizards magic, and you can see the bottom is clear. You all eventually safely get to the bottom of the cold pit.
...
In the darkness, a collection of huge forges now lies dormant in this long chamber, its vaulted ceiling twenty-five feet above. The walls are still stained with the soot of the fiery business that once went on here, and long-dead coals are piled in the cold furnaces. The blast of three of the forges seems to have scorched the floor. To the east, a shaft partially filled with an old, collapsed stairway rises upward, while to the west, an immense iron gate stands slightly ajar before a room beyond. A fresh, badly burnt body lies slumped near this gate.
As you breathe softly from your descent, you notice your breathe in the air. The marks on the walls are strange, as the conditions here seem like these forges have not been lit in centuries.
Remy is grateful that everybody makes it down without too much injury. She eyes the scorch marks and the burned body warily. "I don't like the look of this. Alustria, Audrahni, do you have any spells to ward against fire? Borgol, please check to see if there are any traps here before we continue."
"Thanks for the save, Remi! That will stave off the Bleaching for a few years."
Borgol nods, "Checking. And Maddie, you should be more careful - there could have been a host of traps or monsters down here just waiting for a little girl all alone - and we wouldn't have been able to help you."
There's no audible response from Maddie at Borgol's admonishment, but if anyone were able to see invisible creatures, they would see Maddie sticking her tongue out at him. Then, she runs back over to Remy and clambers back up onto the monk's shoulders.
Remy grins at Flik. "My pleasure." She flexes her bicep and winks at the gnome.
Despite the eerie surroundings, the monk finds herself in good spirits, especially when Maddie climbs back up on her shoulders. It comforts her to know that the girl is safe.
He waits a moment, and then getting no reply, he sighs, adding, "Traps aren't fooled by invisibility. Nor are things with sharp senses... It'd be a shame to have had to wait for your spell to wear off to figure out where you fell after the blades or poison darts hit you."
By the Stag himself, I'm starting to talk to her the way Leandra talked to me... hope she's smart enough to actually listen, though.
Remy glances up at the empty air above her. "He does have a point, you know. Maybe you ought to stick close to us until we're clear of the dungeons."
Remy is able to hear some kind of barely-audible grumbling from right next to her ear, and feels Maddie slump ever so slightly.
"Fine..." Maddie pouts, just barely loud enough to hear.
It does this old dwarf good to see a forge again! I haven't seen one since I left home!
Fergus will examine the body to see what else he can find out about its death and other characteristics.
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Flik and Borgol carefully look around the space, but find nothing unusual or suspicious. Rather, they notice a set of footprints - five pairs moving further into the dungeon.
Excited to see the forges of the old world, Fergus steps forward into the camber. Each footstep echoing softly. In their prime, these forges would have been always roaring and producing liquid metal at a rate most forgers now are unwelcomed to. In those days, these forges were alive.
And alive, they are.
As you take some more steps further into the vault, all of the forges light up, one by one, awakening something long-dormant within the coal. In a split second, they suddenly come to life, glowing red with heat.
Initiative!
@ Remy -4 lethal (MA)
@ Maddie (MA)
@ Alustria (-)
@ + Audrahni (-)
@ Fergus (-)
@ Flik -1 lethal (-)
@ Borgol -11 lethal (-)Everyone may react!
Map Updated!
Remy is not that surprised when the forges erupt with flame. "Heads up!" she calls, dropping into her dragon stance and preparing to strike any enemies that appear.
The roar of the forges and the blast of heat take Fergus back to his days working the forges of his homeland. All Ironbeard dwarves had to work the forges at some point in their young lives and Fergus was no exception.
The thought that these forges came alive unnaturally broke him from his daydreaming.
He readies his weapon.
Aye! The lass is correct! Somethin' started them forges up an' it likely's not friendly! Fergus says in his dwarven accent-a byproduct of his just relived youthful memories.
"Eeep!" Maddie squeals, and starts to imbue Remy with her magic as she jumps off and hides behind Audrahni and Alustria.
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Audrahni cast's her protective spell, and Alustria manages to weave in a small blessing on the party.
The fires roar up again, as small flakes of ash flies outwards at the group.
Clambering out of the furnaces, these creature’s vestments are charred black and fused together, and their flesh is a raging inferno surrounded by greasy black smoke. They look stare at you with long dead eyes.
A pair of smaller flames also fly outwards, menacingly flickering at the group.
Round 1
@ Remy -4 lethal (MA, REF (20))
@ Maddie (MA)
@ Alustria (-)
@ + Audrahni (-)
@ Fergus (REF (20))
@ Flik -1 lethal (-)
@ Borgol -11 lethal (REF (20))! Combusted (black, green, blue)
! Medium Fire Elementals (pink, yellow)Everyone may react!
Map Updated!
However they return, the undead creatures known as combusted all suffer the telltale signs of their demise: their corpses constantly burn and their desiccated flesh is never fully consumed by the flames. Roiling clouds of smoke, thick with the stench of burning skin and hair, surround them at all times, and may reveal their presence from over a mile away. These shambling horrors can arise at any location that has a particular affinity for undead, but they have been known to wander into nearby bodies of water in an attempt to extinguish the flames that took their lives, though they never attempt such self-destructive acts when affronted by the presence of the living.
They are known for their special abilities-
A combusted perpetually screams in agony, forcing each creature within 10 feet to succeed at a Will save or be stunned with fear for 1d4 rounds.
They also stink of decay, Fort save of become sickened for 10 rounds.
They can also fire blasts as kineticists.
Remy hesitates a couple seconds until Maddie's spell kicks in. As the monk grows to giant size, she leaps forward through the fire and the flames, trusting in Audrahni's magic to protect her. She kicks at the first undead before following up with a flurry of punches.
Flik will cast good hope and activate Naturalist on the Combusted.
"Beware those walking corpses! They smoke and scream, striking fear into the unwary."
As things flare around him, Borgol calls loudly on Erastil for aid in combat.
Borgol draws his blade as he starts rushing forward -- he begins to chuckle at himself as just barely stops himself from activating the sword's magic, Don't think a fiery sword will be all that helpful... Using his momentum, he jabs the blade into the Combusted, hoping to end the threat quickly.
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Leeping through the smoke, Remy launches a flurry of attacks at the burning creatures, their flames feeling suprisingly solid under her fists. She completely annihilates one of the undead creatures, and nearly dismisses the fire elemental in the air above her.
Following the monks lead, Borgol quickly dashes through behind her, and with one quick stike destroys the undead before him. The power in the blow causes a brief explosion which engulfs the skirmisher. He looks like a man caught on fire for a brief moment, but then quickly dismisses them with a flick of his sword.
The last standing combusted steps forward, and unleashes a howl, which shakes Borgol and Remy to the core. @ Remy and @ Borgol, please make me a DC 13 Fort save, or become stunned for a few rounds.
The fire elementals move in to slam their heat into Remy and Alustria.
- remy
. alustria
Round 2
@ Remy -4 lethal (MA, REF (20))
@ Maddie (MA) - ACT TWICE!
@ Alustria (-) - ACT TWICE!
@ + Audrahni (-) - ACT TWICE!
@ Fergus (REF (20)) - ACT TWICE!
@ Flik -1 lethal (-)
@ Borgol -11 lethal (REF (20))! Combusted (
black, blue,green)
! Medium Fire Elementals (pink, yellow -22)Everyone may act!!
Seeing the enemies falling quickly, Remy continues her assault.