The wand gives the troll a jolt, but it continues to focus on Forest. It lunges up out of the water and bites him but is unable to get its claws up under his armor (dmg 14).
Round 9
Abadius 10th, Mid winter
1225, temperature 60
Group Effects:
Zherxikas 54/54;<<<
Runt 80/87; magic vestment, heroism 697rds, clayskin 35/45, heightened awareness 696rds<<<
Kizzy 62/62; (standard action remains)<<<
Forest 17/104; heroism 702rds (+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks), fly 2rds<<<
Isabella 69/69; shield of faith 6rds<<<
Sharks 36/36, 36/36<<<
Troll -141 critically injured
Kizzy casts a Cure Mod on Forest
Round 9
Abadius 10th, Mid winter
1225, temperature 60
Group Effects:
Zherxikas 54/54;<<<
Runt 80/87; magic vestment, heroism 697rds, clayskin 35/45, heightened awareness 696rds<<<
Kizzy 62/62; (standard action remains)
Forest 29/104; heroism 702rds (+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks), fly 2rds<<<
Isabella 69/69; shield of faith 6rds<<<
Sharks 36/36, 36/36<<<
Troll -141 critically injured
The shark seems to do well, but Runt is not able to get a good angle on the creature.
Forest draws his magical longsword and... nearly drops it in the pool.
Kizzy's healing stitches some of the deep gouges in Forest back together. The shark gets kicked in the nose for its troubles and Runt's shots have their trajectory thrown off by the water. After nearly getting slashed by the trolls claws last time (forgot to roll for the AOO) Zherxikas decides to not use his wand again.
The troll apparently feels it has little to fear any more and moves up the steps (5' step) bringing its head and shoulders out of the water. Dark water drips off its stringy hair and its pallid flesh reveals a powerful thin body almost totally bereft of fat. Its putrid smell is powerful and permeates the room almost as soon as it rises out of the water. With a roar it reaches out with its long arms and tears at Forest as well as hunching forward to try and bite him. Forest gets raked by the first claw but driven to keep himself alive he manages to deflect the next two attacks (dmg 19).
Round 10
Abadius 10th, Mid winter
1225, temperature 60
Group Effects:
Zherxikas 54/54;<<<
Runt 80/87; magic vestment, heroism 696rds, clayskin 35/45, heightened awareness 695rds<<<
Kizzy 62/62; (standard action remains)<<<
Forest 10/104; heroism 701rds (+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks), fly 1rds<<<
Isabella 69/69; shield of faith 5rds<<<
Sharks 36/36, 36/36<<<
Troll -136 critically injured
Runt drops her crossbow and moves into melee while drawing her mace.
The sharks surge forward into the pool after the troll and gang up on it with Runt's aid.
Sharks:
Runt:
Expends more of the wands capabilities, since it seemed to do at least some good.
Feeling lightheaded, Forest makes a last attempt to finish off the troll, whom seems to be one of the toughest foes they've faced yet.
Runt drops her crossbow and draws her mace to hammer the monstrous water troll. It hits her with a powerful claw (dmg 13). The mace lands damaging the monster. Plus, The distraction works and one of the sharks sinks its teeth into the shark's calf. Zherxikas moves up to the water to deliver another zap with his wand but draws and attack for his trouble. The claw doesn't put him down though and he hits the water with his wand (FOR save DC 12 for half damage for sharks and troll).
Round 10
Abadius 10th, Mid winter
1225, temperature 60
Group Effects:
Zherxikas 39/54;
Runt 72/87; magic vestment, heroism 696rds, clayskin 30/45, heightened awareness 695rds
Kizzy 62/62; (standard action remains)<<<
Forest 10/104; heroism 701rds (+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks), fly 1rds<<<
Isabella 69/69; shield of faith 5rds<<<
Sharks 36/36, 36/36
Troll -164 near death
Also, please add 2 damage to Runt's hit because of the inspire and 2 because of the weapon of awe. The shark gets a +2 also if an int 1 creature can benefit from an inspire.
Round 10
Abadius 10th, Mid winter
1225, temperature 60
Group Effects:
Zherxikas 39/54;
Runt 72/87; magic vestment, heroism 696rds, clayskin 30/45, heightened awareness 695rds
Kizzy 62/62; (standard action remains)<<<
Forest 10/104; heroism 701rds (+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks), fly 1rds<<<
Isabella 69/69; shield of faith 5rds<<<
Sharks 36/36, 36/36
Troll -168 near death
Isabella may not be able to fight the troll, but she can certainly keep Forest on his feet. She moves into the space directly behind him to help steady him.
Kizzy is worried that the troll might rip into Forest before it dies, and is grateful to Isabella, she too casts another cure spell and steps up beside Isabella to deliver it to Forest.
The two ladies' spells mend Forest significantly.
Round 10
Abadius 10th, Mid winter
1225, temperature 60
Group Effects:
Zherxikas 39/54;
Runt 72/87; magic vestment, heroism 696rds, clayskin 30/45, heightened awareness 695rds
Kizzy 62/62; (standard action remains)
Forest 56/104; heroism 701rds (+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks), fly 1rds<<<
Isabella 69/69; shield of faith 5rds
Sharks 36/36, 36/36
Troll -168 near death
Forest finds the troll easier prey now that it's on equal solid ground, and his Longsword cuts deeply into its hide. But will anything be enough to bring the troll down?
Forest chops the troll down. It collapses on the steps and immediately starts to regenerate until someone drops some flame or acid on it.
With the troll taken care of, everyone's attention gets drawn to the fantastically detailed scale model of Skull’s Crossing Opposite the steps in an alcove. The five skulls along its face seem to be actual human skulls, the bone polished to a gleaming sheen.
This is a control for the dam's release valves. The jaws move on the model to reveal tubes. It seems to be out of power. Knowing what to look for, you can see there are arcane lines of script leading from the model along the base of the wall to the south and then west ending at the corner and seemingly extending under the wall.
Runt looks for clues in the map as tho where to go to next as her sharks consume the troll (and it's parts hit stomach acid). Runt also looks for magic on the map or anything else in the room using detect magic.
The whole replica is magical as are the trail of runes running from it. Runt suspects the trail of runes will continue into another room.
Can someone use spellcraft or arcana to figure out how it works?
How interesting… the jaws mimic and control the dam. When it works… Z, Isabella, what do you make of these runes? Kizzy says as she examines the runes that run into to the wall.
"Probably a magical connection to the motive forces that operate the dam?"
"Can it be fixed from here, by us? It did look like there was physical damage outside but I can hope."
"Thanks for the healing, ladies." Forest huffs, retrieving the elven bow and his shield. "Wow. That thing was tougher than that squid thing we fought back at the ferry."
Once the runes are pointed out, everyone can try to trace them. With the clearing of dirt and grime from over the centuries you find they do not lead under the wall but instead run up to and out the door. When followed out the door you find they run up under the pile of skulls in the central room that block the southern door.
"Uh, somehow I don't think the skull pile is on the original schematics. Be ready for more trouble. Hopefully not more trolls."
Mmmhh. I'd rather fight trolls than some of the other things we've run into.
"I'm ready. Can anyone make out what the runes do, or should we just start poking through the skull bones?"
Oh no you don't!! Nobody takes a step towards those skulls! Kizzy says in her rarely used commanding voice, grabbing Forest by the back of his cloak, and to Runt adds And you too Troll-slayer; not a step!
She then draws out her wand of cure light wounds, and starting with Forest....
Ogre-slayer better, now our Troll-slayer
Then Runt...
And I am not facing whatever is next without you healed too!, she says as she moves to heal Z, before returning to her spot.
Then Z...
"Since I'm not an engineer, I'm not sure how any of this works. Might be worth checking to see if there's some kind of trap on or under the skull-pile?"
After searching around the skulls, you find no trap nor another troll. Behind the pile is a door which you eventually make your way to after moving skulls aside.
Player status
Abadius 10th, Mid winter
1230, temperature 60
Group Effects:
Zherxikas 54/54;
Runt 87/87; magic vestment, heroism 680rds, clayskin 30/45, heightened awareness 679rds
Kizzy 62/62;
Forest 104/104; heroism 685rds (+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks)
Isabella 69/69;
Sharks 36/36, 36/36
Forest tries the door.
No poisoned needles, no shocking runes, and no flying blades. The door appears to be safe and opens with a bit of effort. Inside is a narrow chamber that ends at a curved alcove to the east and west. Each alcove is enclosed by a dull iron portcullis. A nearby winch next to each provides a way to raise or lower the gates. Beyond each portcullis a circle of runes glows with a faint orange light on the floor. Inside the circle to the west is a pile of crimson ash, while inside the circle to the east is curled what appears to be a long-dead devil, its flesh taut and dry
on its bones.
After a moment the dead looking devil speaks in a raspy voice, "Help me."
Runt steps into the room and examines the devil.
"I do hate devils. Worse than demons, in my mind."
And why, my dear devil, would us lowly mortals help you? And just how did you get in this… situation?
Kizzy then turns towards Runt, I don’t know… I mean devils you can trust to honor an agreement based on their “what is in it for me” and using whatever loophole or word play suits their needs… demons are just raw carnage.
With a quiet sigh the devil speaks from the floor, "I can see from here what happens on the dam. I saw you arrive, attack the ogres, and finish off the trolls." the creature takes a raspy breath, "Interesting you showed up after the damage to the dam. I suspect the town down stream is experiencing trouble." It pauses again to collect itself. "I can give you information in return for you releasing me from here."
It is a pit fiend, a prince of hell or a general of its armies. Like all devils it is resistant to damage but you are not sure what will overcome it. It is immune to fire and poison. It has a number of spelllike abilities making it equal to a competent wizard. And, like all devils, it is resistant to spells though you not how much but you suspect it is very resistant.
Isabelllllla.... Kizzy calls back to the priestess. Ummmmm...A word....please!!
Kizzy searches her memory for every story, song, tale and legend of devil kind.
Information is abroad term devil... that the dam is damaged is information, but hardly useful.
Isaaaaaaabella!!
"Well, not entirely. Some of their sort can be quite tricky, particularly when dealing with daemons and the shapeshifters. But I'd rather be carved up into pieces, that find that my soul ends up in the abyss because of a stupid contract. Anyway, we should find a way to fix the damage without any hellish agreement that involves setting a devil loose. I do NOT want THAT on my resume."
"Of course Kizzy, I'm here," says Isabella.
"Kizzy, Izzy... never noticed that until now."
Isabella places a hand on Kizzy's arm.
"As much as I would like to have a private conversation, the entity in question already said that it watched our fight with the ogres and trolls, so I doubt we will have much privacy here. In any case, Runt is correct that releasing this entity has a much higher cost than the value of what we might hope to gain."
Isabella removes one of her gloves and does her best to pull up her sleeve.
"Kizzy, if you wouldn't mind? Just a half a cupful of my blood should do."
When Kizzy inevitably gives her a quizzical look, she says, "Just use a dagger. Um, just make sure the blade is clean first."
Runt watches curiously. She has seen her fair share of blood magic, usually at the expense of someone other than the caster, and it has never been a pleasant experience. Never.
"I can give you the name of their leader, and the place they hail from. " the creature then coughs. "I can tell you how to operate the dam to release water pressure before the whole thing crumbles away."
Kizzy draws out her dagger, but pauses upon hearing the devil speak. She looks to Isabella for guidance, she would rather not have to hurt her friend unless it was truly needed.
I don’t trust it, but I do trust you Izzy.
Isabella nods and says, "Just cut the outside of my arm slightly. I'll heal it up after. I just want a small amount of my blood in a cup."
Once Kizzy cuts her, she squeezes the wound and winces slightly as she drips some blood into a small cup from a mess kit, and then she uses her healing kit to bandage the wound. She stirs the blood a bit and then pours it in a circle around the devil.
"You just stay put, now."
Runt watches with curiosity, and with caution. She keeps her weapon out in case the ritual goes wrong and the devil escapes.
Isabella moves to pour the blood around the devil but realizes the portcullis is down and that it already rests inside some sort of magic circle. Does she use the winch to raise the portcullis? Or she could just drip the blood in a line along the portcullis.
Along the portcullis is fine.
"Nothing we can learn from this entity is going to be worth the cost."
Takes notes on Isabella's ritual.
What will the grand heroes do? Ask the monster questions? Help it out? Try to destroy it? Or just leave it trapped as before and leave? Inquiry minds want to know.