Omrax hammers at his captor, inflicting deep slashes but the vise grip does not relent!
The point where the massive claw holding Rokgurn disappears into aether seems like an invisible stage curtain, as it pulls back to reveal the rest of the mantis floating in mid-air. With a slight shake of the suddenly larger druid, it releases Rokgurn and begins a savage attack. Four claws lash at the watery form, while the massive mandibles snap at Whisper!
37 Omrax (Damage: 72)
36 Rokgurn (Damage: 76)(Whisper Damage: 33)
22 Red
19 Crazy (Damage: 42)
19 Hamish
17 Yuri (Damage: 22)
5 Kasimir
5 Blue (Damage: 79)
|
Kasimir, now getting used to the giant bird he is riding, leans to the left in order to wheel in a wide circle above the battlefield. He could see the glimmer of intelligence in the eyes of the eagle, surely it was wise enough to stay out of the reach of the enormous insect.
”Great is Asmodeus! Great are those who follow him!” he shouts, inspiring greatness in both Omrax and Rokgurn. Interestingly, the entire battle field hears this in their native language, a side effect of Kasimir’s ability to speak in tongues. ]
”And, that’s enough from these things.... “We place our faith in you, Dark Lord, you are as a mighty fortress before us.” He gestures with a single finger, and indicates where the spell should begin and end. A wall of whirling blades appears, providing cover for those behind it.
Damage (force effect) DC 22 reflex save for half (or negates)
Wall is 20’ high, provides cover, persists in place. It is not ‘solid’, you can go through it, it just hurts a lot to do so. As a force effect, it affects this plane and the ethereal plane.
Inspire Greatness (Su): A bard of 9th level or higher can use his performance to inspire greatness in himself or a single willing ally within 30 feet, granting extra fighting capability. For every three levels a bard attains beyond 9th, he can target one additional ally while using this performance (up to a maximum of four at 18th level). To inspire greatness, all of the targets must be able to see and hear the bard. A creature inspired with greatness gains 2 bonus Hit Dice (d10s), the commensurate number of temporary hit points (apply the target’s Constitution modifier, if any, to these bonus Hit Dice), a +2 competence bonus on attack rolls, and a +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves. The bonus Hit Dice count as regular Hit Dice for determining the effect of spells that are Hit Dice dependent. Inspire greatness is a mind-affecting ability and it relies on audible and visual components.
As the claws shred into Rokgurn, they rend and twist at his form, before the mantis snaps its mandibles down on him as well!
As the mantis rips its bite away from Rokgurn, it's clear that were he wearing armor, it would no longer adorn his form.
37 Omrax (Damage: 72)
36 Rokgurn (Damage: 129)(Whisper Damage: 33)
22 Red
19 Crazy (Damage: 42)
19 Hamish
17 Yuri (Damage: 22)
5 Kasimir
5 Blue (Damage: 79)
Whisper is in pain but marvels at the fact that he is still alive.
|
"Another kraken breaching!" One of the crew yells, as the third mantis makes its appearance.
Hamish says another quick spell, drawing his flaming cutlass for dramatic effect!
"Alright men! Trim the sails! Full speed ahead! Ramming speed!" Hamish yells in response, pointing his fiery blade towards the newly appearing mantis. "All hands, prepare for impact! Take that beast down!"
The sails on the ship suddenly billow out, as if some great wind were blowing into them, and the Seaward Gull shoots forward like it was fired from a cannon itself, sailing in just over the watery form of Rokgurn.
The ship slams into the mantis, the giant silvery seagull ram on the bow, smashing into its carapace with tremendous force. Some of the sailors, despite knowing it was coming, still go careening across the deck from the impact.
, for damage.
, for damage.
, for damage.
, for damage.
, for damage.
, for damage.
The mantis lands heavy on the field, unable to maintain its flight.
|
|
Yuri growls and shrugs off Hamish's efforts to be helpful. "I've got me boots, thank ye very much, 'n they was made fer walkin'!" And with that, Yuri bellows with anger and charges - still 15' feet up in the air - at the bigger mantis.
Yuri mocks the giant insects that are threatening to shred his friends. "I heard yer mamas ate yer daddies fer lunch! Why dontcha come over here and have a taste o' this?!?"
The massive mantis slashes Yuri on his way in, but fails to grab ahold thanks to the lingering protection of the talisman. Then Yuri and the Gull hit like an avalanche. Yuri's blow glances off of tough carapace, while the Gull finds purchase with ram and cannon fire, harpoons barely digging in thanks to Kasimir's unholy exhortation.
37 Omrax (Damage: 72)
36 Rokgurn (Damage: 129)(Whisper Damage: 33)
22 Red (Damage: 198)
19 Crazy (Damage: 42)
19 Kasimir
19 Hamish
17 Yuri (Damage: 43)
5 Blue (Damage: 122)
Edit:
The lesser mantis takes the brunt of the blades, while the elder dodges to the side. However, in its haste, Yuri and the Gull have a chance to strike!
The mantis disintegrate under the heavy bombardment, leaving the party standing alone on the killing field.
|
|
"Har! Arial bombardment! Good going lass!" Hamish yells, up at Bombshell, punctuated by a cry of victory from the crew of the Gull.
"Extra rum ration for the lot o' ya!" He adds, eliciting a second cheer.
"Quite the skirmish, to be sure!" Hamish goes over to check on his ship as he talks. "Almost as sketchy as that time we got cornered by the Chellish navy outside Devil's Arches. Bit touch and go that one, but as always, Captain O'Toole and the Gull emerge from the far end to tell the tale!"
|
|
"Let's get to finding this gnome scalliwag." Hamish says, as he takes a position on the deck of the Seaward Gull, and points his flaming cutlass towards the stone structure off in the distance.
"Land ho, lads! Half sheet, ahead!"
The boat starts sailing in that direction, Hamish holding his 'captain pose' as they go.
He doesn't seem to pay much attention to the area, but the crew does its due diligence, a man up in the crows nest, peering through a spyglass, on the lookout for dangers, enemies, and possible booty.
The Gull spies a number of humanoid bones strewn about the battlefield, partially obscured among the larger dinosaur bones. Some of the remains appear to have weapons and armor nearby, most ripped and torn from the claws and mandibles that pulled them from the unfortunate prey.
|
|
While the others attend to their wounds, Hamish will cast a quick divination, and have the ship sail about the field, while he scans for anything magical from the deck, and the crew looks for more mundane treasures. He sends the tiny crew to manhandle any valuables onto the ship, while he stays onboard, looking impressive supervising the loading.
Hamish detects auras on a scroll, wand, arrow, and staff. The crew is also able to collect a sizable mound of loose coin and mundane gear that survived destruction.
Hamish reads the scroll to find ethereal jaunt contained within, and is able to identify the monstrification staff.
|
|
The huge elemental seems to shake and quiver before exploding into a shape of a man. Droplets of the purest water are sent hurling in all directions slightly wetting Whisper and Kasimir.
"Sorry about that. Occupational hazard. Thanks for healing Whisper. It is much appreciated."
Rokgurn calls upon the Blessing of the Salamander and his skin becomes slick and clammy and begins to heal. In the meanwhile he heals himself with his own wand of healing.
The arrow escapes his understanding but the wand of restoration does not.
|
|
Rokgurn looks at the solo arrow. He speculates.
"I used to be a pretty good archer in my youth. I would bet that this is an arrow of slaying. A pity I have left my bow back at the lodge as I really never use it anymore."
He hands both the scroll of Ethereal Jaunt and the wand of Restoration to the cleric.
"I believe that these belong to you."
Using the power contained in his last pearl of power he refreshes his Heightened Awareness. He then attempts to activate a wand of False Life.
"Regolo, Regolo, Regalato that's it."
He hands a scroll of Ablative Barrier (on the Summoner's list) to Hamish.
"Would you mind casting this on me. It was a bit too close back there."
The front doors open to a curved balcony that looks out over a large temple hall. Two sets of broad stairs, one on either side of the door, descend down from the balcony to the main floor forty feet below. Across the hall, a second balcony rises near the back of the temple and displays a massive stone idol of a mantis creature. Two channels, roughly six inches deep and four feet wide, are carved into the floor on either side of the doors, and many similar channels crisscross the room below. The bottom of each channel has been stained a reddish-brown by some substance that dried up long ago.
Eight massive pillars, each carved to resemble dozens of mantises stacked atop one another, hold up the domed ceiling of the temple. A small living space, complete with makeshift furniture, stacks of books, and a simmering cooking pot, is set up on the floor of the main hall below. A strange red glow seems to emanate from the very stone of the temple, casting the entire room with a baleful light. Seated upon a rickety camp chair is an elderly gnome, pouring over a book set upon a stack of books.
As Kasimir speaks, she turns to regard you all, pushing glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Good day to you as well. At long last, my hiding place has been discovered. I must say, after all these years, it feels good to meet real Pathfinders again.” Shaking her head and tsking to herself, she continues. “I doubt you will like my answers. When I left the Society, my reputation was less than sterling. Have you come to bring me and Torch to justice, or have you learned the truth about the Decemvirate?”
|
|
"Torch hasn't had a second side in a long time. There's just the one." Hamish growls. "The only justice that blaggard deserves is hangin' from a long arm."
He looks down at the gnome, and grins slightly. "You, on the other hand, haven't killed nearly so many innocent Pathfinders, as far as we're aware. So I'm sure we'll be quick mates! Eylysia, I reckon?"
He has the Gull sail down to lower platform, and steps off grandly, nearby.
As usually, the Seaward Gull is the only one that actually pays any attention to the surroundings.