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Brotil, having been sedentary of late and short-legged to boot, is having trouble keeping up with the rest. 'If we had not been in such a rush and the journey so dramatic I might have found time to offer a Heroes Feast and attempt a Divination or Legend Lore to further our knowledge. I may still do the latter. For now I will simply Detect Magic as we go, assuming I can control it. And heal as needed. I have the healing Domain and can convert spells to healing as well or Channel Posiitve Energy.I can also attempt to Speak with the Dead should we encounter any. Meanwhile I will examine this altar and these writings.' Knowledge Religion +14 [Take 10 = 24] and Linguistics 19 [Take 10 = 29].
Choosing not to answer Tyranyx with more than a knowing look Philton searches the area of the altar and the office...
Behind the curtain in the western corner of this office sits a small stone platform, atop which stands a small golden idol depicting a popular representation of Brigh, goddess of invention. The gold itself isn’t particularly remarkable, but the craftsmanship of the icon is unrivaled; its numerous moving parts are etched with runes intricate enough to impress even the most critical tinkerer. A valuable relic like this could easily be sold for up to 2,000 gp.
"Well that is an interesting find, and far too inviting not to be checked for traps or magic before we disturb it. Care to do the honours my companions."
"Goddess of invention... Fitting for such a quest to smite some out-of-control constructs in the name of Vengence"
Pots and vases are strewn about in front of the collapsed wall of this dead end, and the remnants of dead flowers droop down the sides of the containers. Several mining picks lean against the crumbled stone to the east.
While examining the alcove you quickly ascertain that the eastern tunnel was purposefully and quickly collapsed. You think multiple diggers can make quick work of moving the rubble aside, probably taking just a matter of minutes.
This short tunnel appears to have suffered a cave-in to the north, while the unfinished efforts of digging the tunnel can be seen in the various mining tools near the southern wall.
Three skeletal carcasses pulls themselves from the ground, their bodies formed as much from earth and soil as from bones and rotting flesh.
Maxxuud and Philton recognize these undead as Guecubus and Philton remembers reading the following text:
Often when a particularly evil criminal is executed, suspicious folk fear that the criminal’s remains might rise from death to continue to plague the living. To combat this possibility, many mobs or rural justices take to the practice of burning the bodies, grinding the bones, and scattering the remains in the wild. Yet in the case of particularly evil criminals, even these steps are in vain, for their will is enough to reassemble a body from earth, stone, roots, and plants drawn from the region into which the remains were scattered. Such an undead horror rises as a guecubu, a harbinger of misfortune and vengeance from beyond the grave.
Known abilities:
Intelligent undead with power over earth and stone. People struck by a guecubu can be cursed by misfortune. The ground in a 30-foot radius around a guecubu ripples and shudders unnaturally. This transforms the area surrounding a guecubu into difficult terrain. A guecubu can move through this area with no penalty. Consecrated ground cannot be affected by this ability, nor can any area warded by a magic circle against chaos or a magic circle against evil.
Maxxuud
Brotil
Philton
Red
Green
Blue
Tyranyx
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Seizing the initiative, Maxxuud adopts the legendary defensive crane wing stance swift action and moves forward in front of the first Guecubus, blocking the corridor to protect his allies.
"I will avenge those you tormented in life, foul spawn!" he cries, before taking up a defensive fighting posture and then swinging his sword at the Guecubus with a power attack.
Aware of the impending counterattack, he uses his Osyluth's Guide to defend against attacks from the Guecubus in front of him.
Seizing the initiative, Maxxuud adopts the legendary defensive crane wing stance swift action and moves forward in front of the first Guecubus, blocking the corridor to protect his allies.
Maxxuud moves towards the Guecubi unhindered by the ground rippling aura of the creatures due to his ring of freedom of movement and swings his sword and manages to damage the creature! However, the hit seems to deal a bit less damage than expected.
The green guecubu walks to the cave wall north of Maxxuud and dives through the wall and appears at the other side, flanking.
Miss
Miss
Miss
The green guecubu grunts in abyssal
The blue guecubu steps back and some of his wounds seem to close.
It then points at the rocky ceiling above Brotil, Philton and Tyranyx and it turns to mud and drops to the floor!
Failure
Failure
Succes
The red guecubu also glides through the wall and points 5 feet high mudpool.
The mud turns back to rock!
Succes
Succes
Succes
Luckily everyone escapes before the mud solidifies!
Party is up!
More information gained:
Fast healing, Immune to Cold, DR bludgeoning; Immune electricity, Resist cold
Succes
Fail
Fail
Philton blows his horn and releases a cacophony of weird words at Red Guecubi...
The undead takes the damage, but still stands!
Maxxuud switches out of his defensive stance. Clicking his boots of haste, he plows a series of blows into the undead beside him (green), and then behind him (blue) if his first opponent drops.
It takes 3 swings for Maxxuud to drop green and also manages to severely damage blue with his final swing.
Brotil calls upon the power of Irori and blasts the enemy with positive energy!
The red guecubu saves, but still succumbs to the damage.
The blue guecubu retreats into the ground.
Combat is over!
You find a total of 4 bodies here. Two seemed to have died by a cave in and the other two were the guecubu you destroyed. All of them seem to have been slaves working the mines in life.
Philton searching the victims’ bones and tattered clothes and easily spots a dozens of small emeralds, rubies, and turquoises the miners managed to pilfer. Although unfinished, they could easily fetch 4,000 gp in total.
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Not finding anything down the South-East passage, Maxxuud turns to address his colleagues.
"This appears to be a dead end. I think that we should explore this level in an orderly way before proceeding. That way we can learn about the secrets in the mine one level at a time. It is the proper procedure."
"Come friends, let us head North-East and continue our exploration."
As you approach the kitchen you are suddenly attacked by two swarms of vile rotgrubs
Philton & Maxxuud
Brotil & Tyranyx
You all manage to prevent the grubs to burrow in your flesh.
You all manage to keep your cool.
Party is up!
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Rot grubs all around, trying to burrow into his skin, Philton brushes some rot grubs off his brow…
Philton think’s back to the alcove the undead slaves arose from within… What a traumatic death that must have been starving and thirsty, did they eat each other like these rot grubs are trying to do to me? Did their natural instincts to survive take over and they just happily consumed each other’s flesh or did the cave in cause them to become trapped and unable to move; pinned in such a manner they died slowly… Maybe I’ll ask them… The gems they were buried alongside will help pay for resources we’ve used so far… Luckily Tyranyx is able to use the wands… I just wish we had a ranger with us, otherwise so of my wands are sticks….
His mind shifts to walking north just beyond the pit trap and seeing the many possible paths they could have taken…
I thought that maybe Tyranyx might have been able to ascertain if the cave-in was natural? Brotil reassured me heavily that it’s all above board and would only lead to where we fought the Necromentals… Brotil became interested in the crate, we did just by pass this; was there markings, I pretty sure I remember there was no magic… Who knows…
The debate, to go upstairs; the roughhewn stone stairway that leads away from this level of the mines… It was a credible option, I personally like to work our way around an area in a clockwise manner, however the disappearances mention “the west”… So west it is, west, northwest and even southwest… Maxxuud took over directing and was definitely the leader in our most recent exploration, he is quite orderly and systematic…
Brotil made a fine point about our goals within the mine; however I was very much aware if I left breadcrumbs he would have eaten them… This mine would be very easy to get lost within and without reliable magicks I’m thinking running, retreating and knowing the terrain and denizens within would be an asset… You see I’m still confused to the trap, as Tyranyx pointed out moth meat… It appeared as though this was set to acquire food? What do automatons need with food and whoever is behind this is going to order food magically I hope or at least have a ring of sustenance! How pedestrian it must be to have to lay traps just for a meal and unreliable… I never did investigate what bauble was on this pit trap…
We found an abandoned kitchen, Brotil went straight for the flour bin, and I’m hoping the remaining food was dried or desiccated… The kitchen was dusty… I can’t remember if it was left tidy or abandoned in haste… While Tyranyx used her impressive skills to spruce the place up and I bet she is a neat freak at the lodge… This disturbed the rot grubs that has led me to our present situation…
Brotil became worried about gas, fire and gas; what every true baker should worry about… Dwarves, mines, gas and fire; sounds like recipe for disaster… However Tyranyx clearly not wanting to leave a bad smell reinforced her life bubble and Maxxuud and I informed them both that we were happy to be roasted alive… Tyranyx stepped into the air, brushing off the rotgrubs and scorching them with her fire magic and Brotil calling down the holy fires to cleanse these oversized kitchen vermin…
This bring me to myself…
Tyranyx concentrates and weaves her magics to conjure up an intensified fireball, carefully selecting four spaces so the flames avoid the party.
As Tyranyx uses her selective rod again, the sound of booming cannons fills the air!
Both swarms survive the blast!
Brotil flamestrikes!
Which manages to eliminate the swarms.
"I didn't quite like the thought of being lunch..." Philton dreams of throwing the alchemists fire, and wanders over to kitchen... searching this thoroughly...
With the sound of gunpowder explosions still going on Philton searches the kitchen and finds nothing of interest.
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After dodging the fireball completely with ninja-like reflexes, Maxxuud dusts the corpses of the rotgrubs off his armour.
"Or presence in these mines are now certainly known by the inhabitants with thst racket going on. And nothing of value in this kitchen to boot!"
"Tyranyx, can you deal with Brotil and yourself, you both look a little singed."
"Philton, can you pass me your metamagic rod of extend. I would like to cast a spell to prevent us from being poisoned. After seeing the dangers of this mine, I think it is a prudent idea."
If Maxxuud is able to concentrate of activating the metamagic rod and casting his spell in the same round, he uses the rod of extend. If you cannot make a concentration check on two separate things in one round, Maxxuud does not bother with the rod of extend."
The wing and bastard sword symbol of Ragathiel glows on Maxxuud's shield as he concentrates on calling his deity to protect his comrades from the ravashings of poison.
Maxxuud casts delay poison, communal on everyone.