"I do. I conjured it this morning. I thought it would be nice to have prior warning of all that approaches us. He will only last seven days. I am still not accustomed to losing them so soon. It is easy to get attached to them."
Ohrmizd looks distractedly to the dragon as the prey hits the ground and the red tears it into pieces for food "You are... probably right Jafar... At this point embracing the wilderness is more likely to prevent more prying eyes than the main road"
The Keleshite turns to look to the east where the Sun is still raising "Let's do this then. Let's travel to the east"
As for what to do with Radi, Ohrmizd already pointed his preferred resolution of using him to deliver a fake scroll, but he will agree with whatever solution that does not involve outright killing the miscreant.
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I will enjoy creating this forgery with exploding runes. "You know best, Ohrmizd." Samuel equips his spring loaded wrist sheaths with a wand of shocking grasp (reach) and touch of gracelessness (reach). He taps himself with a wand of mage armor and will do so again in seven hours. He motions for Red to take to the sky and the dragon enthusiastically obeys. Samuel will move about the group always staying behind and within 40 feet of Radi to detect scrying and not be observed should such occur. He places a blank parchment in a handy pocket inside his cloak.
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"It's nice to have the skies on our side for a change," Heshan smiled, when though their encounters with flying creatures hadn't been that kind to them.
When their route was decided, he nodded in agreement. The scenic route it is then."
He positioned himself to be in the middle of the party, paying close attention to Radi in case he tried to do anything funny.
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Radi is dug out again, rolled up in rope and taken along until the rest of the plan comes to fruition.
The path leads along the almost dried out river. The sun burns down on the hot ground through a steel blue sky.
With evening, an oasis comes into sight. A green spot in a dried out land, that invites travelers of that route for a nightly rest.
Red leaves the party to check in detail something that caught her eye. On return she swoops down and hovering over Samuel.
"Good boy. How many, Red?"
Maybe two dozen.
Sam moves up to Ohrmizd who is in the lead. "Couple dozen gnolls hiding behind a dune up ahead."
Red prances over to Swiper and telepathically says "Samuel told me you are not food. Want to play?"
Omari hears what Samuel has to say and suggests "We could bypass the oasis, Erastil's blessings will provide water , but they might follow and sneak up on us when we camp. Besides dead gnolls are good gnolls. What are they armed with?"
After consulting red about the question Samuel conveys that red cant tell the pointy metal sticks humanoids use apart.
"Omari, I would rather fight them in the open than risk a sneak attack at night. I have an idea that could seriously cripple the lot them. How can we draw them out into the open without any of us being in the fray?."
Ohrmizd observes how the dragon looks at Swiper and comes concerned to his master "How did you get this creature under your control Jafar? Are you sure he is not going to eat any of us while you are looking to another side?"
As the news of the gnolls arrive the Keleshite brings his hand to the holy symbol of Sarenrae "Let me infiltrate their ranks. You can pose as slaves while I talk with them. It is not the first time and we might actually gain some information. Most probably they are not even looking for us"
"I created him. He is naturally a good creature. Do not fear Red. If you have this experience, by all means it is worth an attempt."
Omari casts a skeptical eye on Ohrmizd, "I think you might have trouble selling that story. Do you have some magical disguise for the rest of us? We're very heavily armed for a bunch of slaves..."
Samuel looks at the wizened M'wangi with surprise and back at the talented Keloshite. "Perhaps something in the middle, Ohrmizd. You do not want to be on the field when I cast this spell I have not prepared." Samuel chuckles.
"We will load the largest weapons on our mount along with the rest of our supplies so you have them at hand if a fight starts, and you can easily conceal smaller weapons, plus you have Kheldron with you my friend" Ohrmizd gives it a think checking for hooded tunics or whatever other clothing they have at hand to protect themselves from the Sun "If you prefer you can try to remain concealed with some hooded clothing. As long as you do not try to talk, I think it can also work"
And looking at the conjurer "A spell? What are you thinking Jafar?" he smiles.
"Thinking of ruining someone's day."
As long as it is not us, we should be fine," Heshan quipped.
"I have some invisibility that can last a few minutes. I would at least give us a bit of time before we strike."
Omari is blunt "Samuel, we cannot make a good plan with you trying to be mysterious. What is this spell of yours and what will it do? Do you even have this spell available?"
"Grasping tentacles via shadow conjuration, cleric. If we can find a way to populate the area with gnolls, that should be a fine way to greet them."
"We can try that. Some of us go invisible, I can make some invisible too Heshan, some disguised" follows up Ohrmizd nodding in agreement "And if things go badly... you throw your spell Jafar"
"Any better plan?"
The path in front of you leads to the field where the slaughter happened and behind that to the left lies the dune where the dragon saw the gnolls hiding. Behind to the right is the oasis. Left and right of the path grow small cacti. They are far enough apart to not step into one, but too many to run there.
The summoner begins tapping each of you and imparting resistance. "I have no idea what this plan is but this will help if you get caught in the tentacles.Remember, it is more illusion than reality. Whatever the plan let us do this. I would feel better if you had heavenly air support." Samuel summons an augmented lantern archon for 10 rounds.
He tells it "Use your rays. Stay aloft and menace those evil gnolls. Please obey any commands your allies give you."
"Red, you are with me." He points to the ground at his left hand side.
Red telepathically tells the fox Maybe you can chase me later. He walks over to Samuel and takes his place one step in front and to the left of his master.
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"I can at least give invisibility to your flying friend to keep him hidden for the time being. The rest of us can arrive as slaves before we spring our trap."
"Good call, Heshan."
"Your approach seems to point towards a direct confrontation Jafar, involving teleportation judging by the short duration, is that the plan?" Ohrmizd is still vouching for an infiltration mission, but if Omari and Roryx also prefer the wizard's approach, he is more than fine to go and kick some more gnoll asses.
"I have no plan at this time. Just over preparing. Following the party's lead."
The lantern archon moves across the killing field and towards the dune the gnolls are behind.
The lantern archon flies ahead at top speed leaving the party behind.
"I have terrible experiences with cacti before. Whatever we do, we better take the field path." sentences Ohrmizd hoping Manuun was here to tell the others about the dangerous nature of cacti.
Seeing spells being cast, Ohrmizd quickly reacts casting heroism, shield of faith and invisibility before moving forward.
If combat is to erupt, he will dismiss the heightened awareness for extra initiative.
Everyone prepares for battle and moves toward the dune. As you approach the battlefield you recognize the extent of what happened here. Scattered along the shore of the oasis are several mangled and quite dead bodies - gnolls and hyenas, although it’s impossible to tell how many of each due to their fragmentary state. Coils of rope, nearly 200 feet in all, lie sprawled along a 30-foot swath near the bodies, snapped and half-melted so that no single piece remains over 10 feet in length.
Everyone prepares for battle and moves toward the dune. As you approach the battlefield you recognize the extent of what happened here. Scattered along the shore of the oasis are several mangled and quite dead bodies - gnolls and hyenas, although it’s impossible to tell how many of each due to their fragmentary state. Coils of rope, nearly 200 feet in all, lie sprawled along a 30-foot swath near the bodies, snapped and half-melted so that no single piece remains over 10 feet in length.
Omari pauses as we approach, holding up a hand, he mutters a prayer and ponders how rope could be melted?
7 rank +3 trained+1 guidance
7 rank +4 wis+3 racial
"The ground is shaking a bit. Move back, quickly!"
As he speaks, Omari and Khedron back off the way we came...
A huge open maw followed by a huge tube like body breaks through the ground.
Samuel casts a shadow conjuration of a Sundered Serpent Coil. CMB +12, CMD 22.
A Large decapitated snake erupts from the ground and wraps around the worm.
He tells Red to "Blow and go." while moving back 30 feet. He also yells at the archon, top of his lungs."Over here, archon!"
Red retreats to the western sky.
The decapitated snake flails at the hard skin of the huge worm in vain. The worm doesn't even notice it.
"Hooo boy!" Omari is clearly impressed with what has erupted from the ground. Still, trained reflexes have him step into drawing his bow and firing twice, even as he command Khedron "Attack"
5 bab+3 dex +1 enhancement -2 rapid shot (no penalties for shooting into melee or 1 person worth of cover)
+2 str +1 enhancement
+2 str +1 enhancement
4 bab+6 str +1 enhancement -1 size +2 charge
+9 1.5Xstr +1 enhancement +2d6 powerful charge
Red burns the worm some. Omari fails to make his arrow stick. Khedron is quite the beat now and rams its large antlers into the worm. But it shows that the worm is very sturdy and even Khedron's attack leaves only a big scratch.
The worm comes down on Khedron.
With a single word of power Ohrmizd envelopes his scimitar into the flames of the faithful "Well it seems there is no other option then..." and activates his purity judgement.
He clenches his teeth and advances forward, hoping his invisibility will preserve him from any attack of opportunity.
The man tries to identify the worm powers, and what type of creature is for bane.
So much for the element of surprise. And it was the second time a worm had thrown a wrench to their plans.
Heshan wasn't sure where exactly the inquisitor was at the time, he he left out his most powerful spell for now. Instead, he lifted a hand to unleash a series of shots at the creature.
The worm can spit acid and lightning.
Heshan burns the worm, which is hard to miss due to sheer size.
The archon returns and hovers 20 feet above the worm.
The Sundered Serpent Coil continues its attempt to grapple the worm. CMB +12, CMD 22.
Samuel moves 30 feet toward the worm. He activates the spring loaded wrist sheath to produce a wand of Touch of Gracelessness (reach) .