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Rova nods. "That makes sense. It's probably Groetus' influence. He's getting closer!" she says excitedly.
If you check on the dinosaurs you pacified yesterday, they seem uncomfortable but not in danger.
You head into the room surrounding the central staircase. This room has a sloped ceiling at the eastern end, which accommodates a staircase ascending steeply upward from the middle of the room. Round alcoves to the north and south each bear stone daises with the booted feet of a statue, but both statues are broken off at the shins.
This steep staircase has steps worn nearly smooth, and it is now more of a steep ramp than a staircase.
I'm not going to require checks as you ascend, but I wanted the mechanics to be clear in case you head back down in a hurry.
You carefully ascend the staircase, and from there you can head north or south.
Rova listens and looks around to see if there's anything to differentiate one way from the other. If not, she shrugs and suggests they head north.
Mukluk looks up the ramp and sighs. He eventually puts his back into it as he walks up the ramp.
”It ain’t getting any lower, let’s get going.” He will use the Gouger to help himself up, picking like a pick would to hold his place as he climbs.
At the top, Mukluk takes a breather, looking north and south...and then moves to the north.
Rova thinks that there are creatures in both directions.
This large, rectangular room has an arc of faintly glowing runes on the floor to the northwest. The east side of the room contains a battered xulgath corpse slumped against the wall. Three xulgaths standing around outside the rune turn as you approach.
Initiative!
Rova
Blue
Yellow
Mukluk
Prism
Red
Niksi
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HP 54/54
AC 21 (22, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +9 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 3
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Mukluk [], Prism [], Niksi []
Arrows used: 0/23; Stones used 0/7
Effects: Hunted prey (yellow), inspired?
"Stay away from that rune!" Rova calls out, since it seems likely responsible for what happened to the xulgath.
Studying the nearest foe, she fires a stone, hoping it can serve as a warning shot.
"Thkrull, don't let them get close!" she tells the elephant.
HP 32/32
AC 19 (20, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6 (+1 to all when inspired)
Perception +5, Acrobatics +6, Athletics +7, Intimidation +4
Effects:
Thkrull trumpets and prepares to bring the smack (and his trunk) down on any stinky lizards that get too close.
Rova sends a warning shot, and Thkrull gets ready to fight the stinky lizard people!
You realize that these particular xulgaths' necks have bile-filled pustules all over their necks.
One of them runs over to bite Mukluk!
plus a Fort save
Failure
You are fatigued.
Critical Failure
You are unconscious for one minute.
But misses completely!
The other runs over to Rova and Thkrull and squeezes out some foul-smelling bile!
Failure
You are slowed 1 until the end of your next turn and take a –2 circumstance penalty to Fortitude saves against xulgath bile for 1 minute.
Critical Failure
You are slowed 2 until the end of your next turn and take a –2 circumstance penalty to Fortitude saves against xulgath bile for 1 minute.
Initiative!
Rova
Blue
Yellow
Mukluk
Prism
Red
Niksi
Round 1
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Parry.
Fort
Mukluk avoids the bite and lashes out with Coldy and The Poker.
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
damage
[ dice=ColdyVonPierceFace]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d6+4[/dice] cold iron damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
ColdyVonPierceFace
AC: 21 +1 with parry action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 10/10/10
HP: 58/58
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Prism's stomach stays in a constant state of churning as bile rises once more. "These things are awful." She breathes out each word as she circles around to flank with Mukluk.
HP 48/48
AC 21 (AC 23 w/ Shield and Inspire Defense)
Spells: 1st 1/1
Hero Points 1/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Mukluk hits Blue while Prism moves around to stab them in the back!
Red joins the flank train, not knowing that Prism ignores it!
plus a Fort save
plus a Fort save
Failure
You are fatigued.
Critical Failure
You are unconscious for one minute.
Nevertheless, they hit once!
Initiative!
Rova
Blue, -22 hp
Yellow
Mukluk
Prism, -9 hp
Red
Niksi
HP 54/54
AC 21 (22, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +9 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 3
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Mukluk [], Prism [], Niksi []
Arrows used: 0/23; Stones used 0/7
Effects: Hunted prey (yellow), inspired?
"Get it, Thkrull!" Rova encourages the elephant as she drops her sling staff and pulls out her fork, stabbing furiously at the yellow xulgath as she catches it by surprise with the melee weapon.
HP 32/32
AC 19 (20, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6 (+1 to all when inspired)
Perception +5, Acrobatics +6, Athletics +7, Intimidation +4
Effects:
Thkrull trumpets full force as he gleefully stomps and stabs at the xulgath, hoping to stop it from trying to hurt his halfling again.
Niksi draws her whip and snaps it over Mukluk's head at the xulgath between him and Prism.
She incorporates her movements with the whip into a twisting, whirling dance.
Prism begins to look very tired as the Xulgath attacks her. This is unusual considering she just woke up.
Niksi lashes out at one with a whip while inspiring everyone's defenses. Rova stabs furiously at Yellow. Thkrull finishes it off.
Blue takes a step to one side and suddenly emits an extremely foul smell surrounds Prism, Mukluk, Rova, and Thkrull.
Failure
You are slowed 1 until the end of your next turn and take a –2 circumstance penalty to Fortitude saves against xulgath bile for 1 minute.
Critical Failure
You are slowed 2 until the end of your next turn and take a –2 circumstance penalty to Fortitude saves against xulgath bile for 1 minute.
Initiative!
Rova
Blue, -23 hp
Mukluk
Prism, -9 hp
Red
Niksi
Round 2
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Parry.
Fort
Mukluk lashes out with Coldy and The Poker.
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
damage
[ dice=ColdyVonPierceFace]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d6+4[/dice] cold iron damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
ColdyVonPierceFace
AC: 21 +1 with parry action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 10/10/10
HP: 58/58
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Prism shifts once more to flank with Mukluk as her sickle slices and dices.
Already sick and tired Prism completely forgets all about this next overwhelming sensation.
HP 39/48 (Sickened; Fatigued)
AC 21 (AC 23 w/ Shield and Inspire Defense)
Spells: 1st 1/1
Hero Points 1/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Mukluk's hit takes out the Blue xulgath!
Prism hits once on the last xulgath!
The last xulgath standing bites at Prism, then moves in and claws at Mukluk, who gets an AoO!
plus a Fort save
Failure
You are fatigued.
Critical Failure
You are unconscious for one minute.
to hit;
cold iron damage
Mukluk takes the last xulgath down as they approach!
Rova heals Prism for
Rova heals Prism for
It doesn't take long for Rova to patch up Prism.
Rova looks around.
"There's probably something bad over there," she says, pointing to the runes and the xulgath who was dead before they arrived.
She looks around to see if there's any clues about what the runes might be, or what they were doing in here.
Rova doesn't see anyone there besides the dead xulgath.
Mukluk paces for the 20 minutes that it takes for Rova to fix up the fast talkin' walkin' rainbow. He lets the smart people handle the smart people stuff.
"Thanksfor..thebandages! Areyou..runninglow?" Prims peers into the bag and sees plenty of bandages and smiles. She then hops up and begins scouting down the hallway, peering around the corner to the north as quietly as possible while Rova picks over the creature's bodies. This place made her very curious.
Niksi tries to carefully observe the runes near the dead xulgath.
Prism peers into the next room. The floor in the eastern half of this room bears runes similar to those in the chamber to the east. The western wall has been badly cracked, and a jumble of mudbrick fragments lies at its base. She sees nothing else in the room.
Niksi detects that the runes are conjuration magic. This is likely a summoning circle.
Mukluk and Niksi both notice a secret door in the back corner of the room.
Prism comes back. "Itcontinues..around intothe..nextroom." She points off to the northeast.
She points off to the northeast. "Armpit has a new perfume."
Mukluks looks at Prism, then at the rest of the party.
"Nah, don't go smelling her armpit now. Even if she is pointing to the exactly best place to sniff...I tells you now there is a secret door there that might help us here."
Mukluk stows The Poker and use his free hand to open the secret door and declines Prism offer to sniff.
"If it's a summoning circle, maybe whatever they summoned killed them? I think we should probably not go in it," Rova suggests. "Let's go on to the next room."
She creeps forward, following Prism.
Rova sees the same thing as Prism: an empty room with the summoning runes on the ground. The far wall is damaged.
Up ahead, you think you hear the sounds of xulgaths beyond another of those sets of stacked stones.
"It sounds like there's something there," she whispers. "They probably want to fight too."
She looks around to see if there's any trace of them in the hallway so she can discern more.
"Let us head on in then." She glancs at the dead xulgath. "Carefully, of course."
Mukluk follows Prism up and looks around the next room.
”Yeah, not sure what we’re supposed to do about that.”
Prism shrugs. "Can takealook...atit..oncethe..placeis..cleared." She throws a quick wink and smiles as she skips off to scout ahead.
A campfire illuminates this long room and the row of broad, square columns bisecting it. Rough pallets for a dozen xulgaths are scattered throughout the room, and the creatures’ foul stink is strong.
Initiative
Niksi
Mukluk
Green Xulgath
Purple Quasit
Prism
Rova
Cyan Quasit
Blue Xulgath
Ashagith (Yellow)
Three xulgaths and two quasits converse around a campfire. Suddenly, they notice a sound!
Niksi and Mukluk are first on the draw!
Round 1
Action 1: Stride.
Action 2: Duck for cover (wall).
Action 3: Parry.
Mukluk moves quickly to establish the fortified edge of the wall. He knows combat and killing are imminent, but hopes to forestall such ugliness if he can.
Being a true awful diplomat, Mukluk offers words of negotiation and compromise.
"You all smell bad and probably like to smell your own farts, but we don't want trouble and maybe you should leave here before we kill you all. It would be best," Mukluk utters, certain that no one will ruin his perfect tactical positioning by running ahead and getting themeselves kilt.
[ dice=ColdyVonPierceFace]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d6+4[/dice] cold iron damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
ColdyVonPierceFace
AC: 21 +1 with parry action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 10/10/10
HP: 58/58
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Rova tosses a quizzical look at Mukluk.
Why is he glaring at me? Oh! I bet he just realized I'm right about The End. A lot of people glared at us when they realized what was going on...
Niksi holds back and draws her whip, beginning to sing as she anticipates a poor reception to Mukluk's...direct...attempt at diplomacy.
One of the xulgaths runs over to Mukluk and tries to take a bite of him!
A quasit turns invisible!
Initiative
Niksi
Mukluk, AoO if you want to take one
Green Xulgath
Purple Quasit
Prism
Rova
Cyan Quasit
Blue Xulgath
Ashagith (Yellow)
HP 54/54
AC 21 (22, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +9 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 3
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Mukluk [], Prism [], Niksi []
Arrows used: 0/23; Stones used 0/7
Effects: Hunted prey (green), inspired?, sickened 1, –5-foot status penalty to its Speeds for 1 round. –2 circumstance penalty to saves to recover from the sickened condition.
Rova gags and then retches as the smell overwhelms her, though she tries to study the xulgath between heaves.
HP 32/32
AC 19 (20, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6 (+1 to all when inspired)
Perception +5, Acrobatics +6, Athletics +7, Intimidation +4
Effects:
Thkrull wrinkles his trunk and then trumpets in defiance!
Mukluk senses that he just might be able to sneak an attack in, trying to hit with ColdyVonPierceFace.
to hit;
cold iron damage
Prism tosses a small bit of magical fire at the Xulgath attacking Mukluk as she reveals her position.
HP 48/48 (Sickened; Fatigued)
AC 21 (AC 23 w/ Shield and Inspire Defense)
Spells: 1st 1/1
Hero Points 1/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Mukluk grazes the xulgath who approaches!
Rova tries to recover from the terrible smell as Prism tosses a handful of fire at the same xulgath Mukluk hit!
Another xulgath draws a club and moves up to attack Mukluk!
They hit, but Niksi's inspiration softens the blow.
The most powerful looking one draws a greataxe and wades into the fray!
Initiative
Niksi
Mukluk, -4 hp
Green Xulgath, -19
Purple Quasit
Prism
Rova
Cyan Quasit
Blue Xulgath
Ashagith (Yellow)
Round 2
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Mukluk lashes out at the most wounded foe (green) with Coldy and The Poker.
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
damage
to hit;
damage
[ dice=ColdyVonPierceFace]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d6+4[/dice] cold iron damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
ColdyVonPierceFace
AC: 21 +1 with parry action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 10/10/10
HP: 58/58
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Niksi starts a mental attack upon the xulgath in front of Prism as she continues singing.
Mukluk takes out the green xulgath with his second attempt!
Niksi tries to harm the leader psychically.
And succeeds!
The quasit suddenly appears in front of Rova, attacking her!
plus plus a Fort save
plus plus a Fort save
DC 17
Stage 1
poison damage
Stage 2
poison damage
Stage 3
poison damage and slowed 1 for 1 round
Initiative
Niksi
Mukluk, -4 hp
Purple Quasit
Prism
Rova
Cyan Quasit
Blue Xulgath
Ashagith (Yellow), -25 hp