Alain, Continues trying to attack the golem
@Tarphrex: Even with your allies in the way, you manage to sear some more of the creature.
@Alain: That swing misses.
Zenaida hits it for some little damage
It lashes out wildly...
... and misses.
__________
The creature seems badly hurt.
Loth pushes his offensive further, aiming to leave him as vulnerable as possible.
As Loth stabs into the golem a final time, the dazed look clears from its eyes as does the light of life, it slumbs to the floor unmoving.
The only sound left is the creak and groan of the tower as a strong wind off the bay hits the outside walls.
What next?
Tarphrex moves to watch the unmoving creature, ready to throw more acid at it if it shows any sign of 'life' - and might throw some even if it doesn't move.
"Quite interesting. Quite interesting indeed." mumbles the halfling. "My research proved wrong on the field of battle...I should publish these results..."
Making a beeline for the slumped mound, he starts poking and prodding the creature, pausing to make notes. The man even begins using his tiny hands to measure its dimensions.
The creature remains unmoving, even when spalshed with another glob of acid and poked and prodded. What force was animating it, the golem is well and truly dead.
Seeing that the creature hasn't eaten Quinn yet, Tarphrex moves up alongside, poking it with a clawed digit. "Person in costume?" He tugs at the thing's clothing to see what sort of skin lies underneath.
While the coat, hat, and trousers are all removable, the sack is its face. While checking said clothing, you find a few polished rocks and 3 silver pieces (also shiny and polished).
Tarphrex shakes his head, perplexed at this creature, but grows bored and starts looking around the room for anything more interesting.
"Quinn, did you say this thing is a golem?" Sherman observes nearby while Tarphrex pokes the dead creature.
"I can only suppose such a thing is here to guard something. And so, there must be something worth guarding for."
The priest takes a good look to his surroundings, and moves to the closest door.
"Perhaps we should investigate these rooms first before moving to the stairs? Anyone have a keen eye to look for possible traps?"
"Leave it to me."
Loth takes a good look around, quickly peering through each door to check for anything out of the ordinary.
As he does this, he mutters, "I suppose we've lost the element of surprise now... but I'm sure we can take 'em."
Nodding at Sherman's question, he looks up from what he's doing. "As I said though, this one is different than those I've read about. I urge caution. Whatever made it must be powerful with the arcane arts."
Stowing his notes to finish later, he watches Loth closely.
@Loth: You find no traps. I would dare say you are rather positive that the ground floor is clear.
______
Searching the area, the doors lead to dusty, abandonded offices. This clock tower was also designed to function as a sort of civic center as well, but clearly was never used for such.
In the pile of rubble the golem rose from, you can find a thick leather sack containing 125 gp, 309 sp, a tarnished silver ring worth 75 gp, and a silver mirror worth 50 gp.
"Not too exciting, this floor..."
Plenty of dust. If the golem hadn't been here, Sherman would think they might be in a wrong place altogether.
"Should we move upstairs?"
Loth nods. "Onward and upward." He'll slowly head up the stairs.
Tarphrex looks at the halfling with his beady black eyes, licking his lips nervously, "Sneak together ahead? Or Loth sneak alone?"
The rickety wooden stairs creak even under Loth's diminutive weight. The should hold, but you'll likely want to spread out the party some as the stairs ascend into the darkness above, beyond the reach of lights and darkvision.
Glancing up the stairs into darkness, Quinn offers a smile to Tarphrex. "You go ahead with him. I'll hang back a little. I don't see well in the dark."
Gingerly testing each step, he follows the others upward
Zenaida eyes the stairs distrustfully. "I'll bring up the rear. If my weight breaks the stairs, at least the rest of you will be able to keep going." And that way Quinn can use the light from her spell too.
"The two of us skulking around again, eh?" Loth says jokingly to Tarphrex. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Once Tarphrex is with him, he'll slowly climb up.
unfortunately i cannot see in such conditions either. Lead away Alain is quiet and on guard... tense going into a lions den so to speak.
Loaded statement, I know. But I need a marching order.
Arrange yourselves on the maps page. Loth and Tarphrex are in the front, and then....
Ascending the stairs...
....As you wind your way up, cautiously, a particularly loud groan from the wood above catches your attention. As a group, you look up into the gloom. Tarphrex (with his darkvision) catches movement above. A large, serpentine tail slithering through a hole in the wall. Before he can comment, he notices (just a second before everyone else) an even larger shape descending towards you all.
Loth and Tarphrex see one of the bells, undoubtedly the largest of them, come crashing down, straight toward them. The rest of you hear the cacophony as the metal clangs against wood and stone, tearing through the walkway....
....Even after being bludgeoned by the bell itself, Loth manages to get his feet under him and finds himself on the far side of the broaken walk.
Tarphrex is swept up by the bell and plummets to the ground alongside it...
______
You wave your hands in front of your faces to clear the air, coughing as the dust gets in your mouth. The ringing in your ears echoes the ring of the now dented bell. Something up there heard your fight below and does not want visitors. Some of you look down to check on Tarphrex. Others look up, wary of more attacks. Tarphrex is moving, though barely. And nothing can be seen from above.
Draconic Glide feat: +2 vs. sleep and paralysis, DC 15 Fly check to fall safely, second check to glide laterally when falling
If the situation weren’t so dire, Tarphrex’ high-pitched scream as he tries to warn everyone of the snake, of the big shadow, of the crashing bell, as he is thrown clear of the stairs, it would be quite comical.
As he is ejected into the void by the bell’s heft levering him into the air, he instinctively opens his tiny wings with a ‘whumph’ and he descends in a spiral, much more slowly than fate might otherwise have intended.
After taking the blow of the bell, Loth immediately checks behind him.
"TARPHREX!" he instinctively shouts when he notices the kobold is no longer behind him. He tries to reach out to him but recovers himself when he realizes that behind him there's nothing but air, holding onto the stairs as to not fall.
"Tarphrex!" Zenaida turns her shield to shine the light spell toward the kobold's voice, trying to figure out where he is. "Where are you?"
"Tarphrex!? *cough* " Sherman covers his mouth with his sleeve, but he manages to breathe in some dust nonetheless.
Once the dust settles, Sherman peers up and down - both looking for their fallen draconic friend and for any new dangers looming about.
"I believe our element of surprise is gone. No need to be skulking around anymore."
"Let me look at your wounds..."
”Tarphrex flies!”
”Tarphrex come back! Watch for big snake! Tarphrex saw go through wall! Above friend Loth!”
The tiny kobold starts working his way back up, testing steps as he went.
@Tarphrex: Nice with the glide.
You are able to get back to your allies. The walkway is still rickety, but the only damage is the part where you and Loth where standing.
@Zenaida: No battlemap needed for this one. Just this.
"Tarphrex!? *cough* " Sherman covers his mouth with his sleeve, but he manages to breathe in some dust nonetheless.
Once the dust settles, Sherman peers up and down - both looking for their fallen draconic friend and for any new dangers looming about.
"I believe our element of surprise is gone. No need to be skulking around anymore."
"Let me look at your wounds..."
”Ah, Tarphrex feel much better. Did you see? Tarphrex flies like dragon!”
You all begin your climb again. Injured now, but nothing serious, and much more full of caution. The missing section requires some maneuvering, nothing you can't handle. The stairs still creak and groan, and you have to stay spread out some to avoid over-taxing the wood.
But after around 10 mintues, you make it to the "top". From here, the stairs lead to the outside, through a hole in the wall that may or may not have been designed for that purpose. You saw this hole from the outside, and this is where Tarphrex saw the snake tail dissappear. You all already now that once you are outside, it is only a short stair winding around the exterior wall to the flat roof of the tower. And you can suppose that whatever is up there, presuming it is still there, will be expecting you.
How do you proceed?
"Everyone make sure you're ready and watch your step. We're likely to be underfire as soon as we go through." he whispers
The reason why you're here, is that Justice Ironbriar used his last breath to tell you about this place as the mind controlling magic had finally released his mind. Make of that what you will.
"Tarphrex can see good in dark, is small. Maybe go first, sneaky, look for big," he shudders, "snake?"
"Yes, better not fall here. The ground is awfully far below." Sherman looks down and swallows hard.
"Thank you for the offer, Tarphrex. But perhaps we should move together - better chances to deal with the snake."
Loth nods. "It already knows we're here anyway, it's gonna be on guard. I don't doubt your sneak, but if something goes wrong, you'll be in serious danger."
Loth looks up at the entrance.
"I say we just confront it."
Last chance to prep any buff spells. Then moving onto the next map on Friday.
Also last chance to ask me any questions about things you may have forgotten. About the game, that is. I refuse to answer anything about your hazy childhood memories. I know the answers, I just won't share them. Because I am selfish.
Alain stands and takes a breath Everyone gather too me, I'm using my divine gifts to give us protection from those of blackened spirits
Over the course of a half a minute There are several bursts of pink energy that coat everyone.
"Thank you, sir."
Pulling out a vial of his own making, he ponders it a moment before drinking. Webbing and tiny hairs span out across his hands.
"Just in case. That's a long way down."
When Tarphrex and Loth crest the roof, they see (as will the rest)...
... As the first of you step onto the rooftop, a voice calls out, "You have disturbed my pet and killed my servents. Now you come here? For what purpose? Would you kill me as well?"
There is no speaker visible.
Loth's initial instinct is to respond that he might take the voice up on this, but he remains quiet. Perhaps someone a bit more level-headed would want to reason with this figure.
"We did not come here to kill anyone. Just need some information. All the unnecessary violence on our part has been self-defence so far." Sherman tries to keep his voice level.
"Would you care to show yourself, so we could see eye-to-eye and talk this through?"
"Thank you, Alain." Zenaida raises her holy symbol, invoking Falayna's blessing on her friends. Next she calls upon her empyreal lord for strength, enchants her sword with three different spells (she really wants a proper magical sword like Loth, this is getting old), and asks for Falayna's favor in battle.
The warpriest impatiently waits for everyone else to get out of the way so she can get onto the roof. Stupid narrow staircases.
The voice responds, "Self defense? You sought out the cult." There is a hint of . . . amusement? . . . in the voice. "Ironbriar served me well for decades, they found me the beast you destroyed at the base of the tower. And Foxglove was such a delightful new tool. Such chaos he promised. But you've killed them all. And now you've come for me." At this, a 6-armed demon flies out from behind the statue of the angel, bald head covered in spikes, upper body of an emaciated woman and lower body of a serpent. It floats, menacingly, but weapons stilled sheathed along its body.
What do you do?
In spite of what seems to be a powerful demonic entity, something most men would run from Alain stands firm, draws his blade and shield. His Aura of good, flares wide, his holy symbol glowing bright i will offer you a chance at surrender... one single chance as my lady Shelyn calls for. Take one inch beyond that and i will slay you. Your games put innocent lives at risk, your duty is chaos, mine is order and preservation. Someone would come to stop you eventually, you must have known that.
As the others talk, Loth looks around the room. This rickety tower hasn't been especially safe so far, and if a fight is gonna break out at the top, he wants to know every bit of danger.