Seeing that it was going for him, Gazul had to decide whether to try and finish it off or to retreat. He knew that if he was engulfed then it would be the end. There were no more second chances. Trusting in the gods, he swung his axe, knowing that he could not leave them in danger regardless of the risk.
With the marauding cube defeated...somehow, Kasana slides down to the ground in relief, still a little shaken but what they had just fought. After looking around to confirm if there are any other threats, she asks, "Is everyone alright? And what in the hells what that!? Something like that shouldn't be possible.
Some sort of aberration I fear... the question is, how is friend Gazul?
"You two are a bloody mess. Are we able to heal them up." The gnome looks concerned.
In too much pain to answer, a badly burnt Gazul instead quietly drank the group’s last potion of healing. He felt his the worst of his wounds heal.
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Sarya quickly cleaned her sword of the acid, hoping it didn't ruin her blade. She took a while to make sure her heart was still beating before checking with the others. She watched Gazul chug down a healing potion and his wounds mending up made her feel easier. Still, she noted "Well, after seeing this... thing, I can barely smell the troglodytes anymore."
She was still badly hurt. In order to hide the fact that she wanted to just lay down and pass out for a few hours, she just drank some water and pulled out a piece of cheese and started to chew on it. The salty cheese surely helped her feel better.
Sarya noted "Uhm, this passage here, to the west, seems unused. Not like that one to the east. I think the troglodytes have something in there that they like. But this way, there seems to be either something they fear or is completely unused. Maybe this is the way the cube came from?"
Sarya used her natural darkvision to see through the east passage without actually stepping through. She moved her hand closer to it, but stopped mid air and retracted her hand. The elf's hesitation had undoubtedly something to do with her health state, and she said "We should really investigate everything. I hope we're in condition to face whatever's in there."
She thought Now, there is some thing the elves never taught me, this oozing cube. Maybe I have some things to learn from this dwarf. If only I could understand all those magic lessons I had, maybe I can protect myself better. Unconsciously, the elf made some gestures attempting to remember her lessons, but came empty. Suddenly self-aware, she assumed a heavier tone and said "Gazul, you seem very knowledgeable of the underground. How about you take point this time? Just this time."
Gazul nodded. ”Aye lass. Take a breather here while I check out the tunnel that seems unused. Let’s see if I’m a better scout than warrior.” Slowly he got to his feet and quietly began to move down the passage.
Sarya used her natural darkvision to see through the east passage without actually stepping through. She moved her hand closer to it, but stopped mid air and retracted her hand. The elf's hesitation had undoubtedly something to do with her health state, and she said "We should really investigate everything. I hope we're in condition to face whatever's in there."
"Well we've done what we've done and come this far already so we might as well finish up our investigation of this place. Especially if this is still your group's preferred choice of refuge." Though aching a bit herself, she knew that they needed to see this search through till completion. There was no way you could bring innocents into a place like this if there were more monsters similar to the cube lurking beneath everyone's feet. Seeing a magically rejuvenated Gazul take the lead, Kasana took the rear and said, "I'll take the rear, Orthos, Sarya, Cheshire, follow in behind Gazul." Drawing her bow and moving as she could, she kept an eye out behind her any more movement...or wobbling cubes.
Gazul nodded. ”Aye lass. Take a breather here while I check out the tunnel that seems unused. Let’s see if I’m a better scout than warrior.” Slowly he got to his feet and quietly began to move down the passage.
The chamber beyond the hidden door was all but buried in a pile of rubble. Finished walls encircled part of the room but ended in a collapse to the south. Dried flesh and wisps of white hair still clung to a handful of ancient bones lying on the floor.
This was a smithy that employed a forge powered by natural gas vents from far below. There were four skeletons currently working the place and were not aware of the dwarf spying on them.
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OOC: I've assumed only Gazul did the 'scouting' this time.
Gazul made his way back and reported the discovery. ”Good news and bad. The good is that there is a finished chamber with a working forge. Perfect for us to make a base here. I can work with it. Bad news is that there’s four skeletons working it. Didn’t notice me but we’ll need to remove them. They can wait until we explore the other path as they don’t appear to be leaving. Or we can handle them now. I’d recommend we start off with a firing line. Bows, me crossbow, and plenty of magic n’ prayers. With any luck we could take them down before they even get close.”
"What was the condition of the chamber? Could we cause a partial cave-in somehow and and potentially crush them before they even know we're here?" Kasana asked the dwarf.
Nehthys may scare them into a corner... I suggest Sarya eat 5 of my remaining good berries. This leaves 3 and a healing spell if we get into trouble... Yes?
”Cave-ins are tricky business. Need proper engineers for that. Nay easy to do, and can quite easily kill all of us too. I’ve nat the skill for it, and it’d ruin the forge. I think in this case we should trust in Nethys.” Gazul responded, after considering the proposals.
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Sarya considered everything that was being said, but couldn't form a thought. She said "Are we really doing this? It's not that easy damaging a skeleton with a weapon like this. Do the troglodytes have a club or similar that we can use for this?"
She was considering not actually bothering the skeletons until the underground was completely safe otherwise, but she felt she might not be thinking clearly from her headache and the memory of her last encounter with living skeletons. That was how they met Orthos, and how Kudvathalas died. Orthos was proving a very compassionate and helpful ally, but the memory of her lost elven friend made her shiver.
"I suppose you have a point Gazul. If we're going to follow your plan though, I recommend we focus our power on one or two at a time or else we may be overwhelmed."
Maybe a rest is in order, hmmm?
"Yes I agree. Kasana replied as she leaned against a wall and slowly slid to the ground. Assuming we can carefully reseal that door without them knowing until we're ready to move.
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Sarya agreed with the others silently. She desperately wanted to rest, but didn't want to show it. "We should rest outside. This smell is sickening.", the elf said.
Sarya walked checking if there was something that could be used to break the skeletons' bones, such as things that resemble clubs. She said "It's a crude weapon, but I think it will be more effective against the skeletons."
Cheshire points back up the way they came. "I think a few of them had clubs. The big trog had a big spikey club if I remember right."
"Take a rest I will keep a guard up for you." The gnome winks.
"Aye lass, yer wounds need some time. Hopefully the berries will help. And I've got me light hammer. Usually doesn't pack nearly as much of a punch as me axe, but against a skeleton it should be just fine."
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, fail
, fail
, fail
, fail
”Kasana, Sarya, with me! Orthos and Cheshire to the rear. Let’s lay down some fire.” Gazul said, crossbow in hand, as he moved into the center chamber and shot.
Kasana followed Gazul's lead, and stepping forward a bit, fired off an arrow at the same skeleton that he had just attacked.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, Gazul
”Leave the others and surround it!” Gazul said, hurriedly dropping his crossbow as the skeleton came at him.
Cheshire sent a bolt of fire at the skeleton that the party was aiming it.
Cheshire sent another bolt of fire at the skeleton that the party was at.
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Sarya changed her weapon to the greatclub they retrieved from the troglodyte above and attempted to break the skeleton. She moved to a favorable position and swung the thing.
The heavy thing lacked the finesse she was used to and she couldn't swing it properly. The club merely brushed against the skeleton, glancing off. She looked at it and said "So uncivilized..."
In his rush, Gazul was only able to get his hammer out. He hoped that it would be enough, as he did not like the idea of fighting without the protection of his shield. He felt the satisfying impact of hammer on bone, making it a question of whether his offense was good enough to cover for his lack of defense.
The heavy thing lacked the finesse she was used to and she couldn't swing it properly. The club merely brushed against the skeleton, glancing off. She looked at it and said "So uncivilized..."
With the first threat down, Kasana drew another arrow and fired it off at the next closest skeleton, hoping the repeat their success a second time.
Stuck in an airport. Recap tomorrow.
Game on!
The priest holds off to see if his companions have damaged but not dropped a foe... and if so throws fire at it.
but pulls his shot at the last minute, aiming high in fear of hitting an ally.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, hit
, miss
Cheshire launched a firebolt at the next skeleton.
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After dodging the attack, Sarya swung her club at the creature, trying to shatter it.
After making a very dramatic attack on the ground, the elf let go of the club and said "Ok, enough of this useless piece of wood." and drew her pointy thinblade. She felt inelegant from speaking like that and immediately assumed a straight stance, ready to fence with the skeleton.
[b]”Flank it with me.”[b] Gazul said as he came in with hammer and shield. Moving to the opposite side of the skeleton, he swung once it’s back was turned.
Firebolt at Cheshire's target...
for
Dropping her bow for a moment, Kasana stepped forward and drew her rapier. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike, she stabbed her sword forward and gave it a solid strike to one of its joints...at least as far as she could tell.
Recap tomorrow evening.
Game on!
Gazul stood before the skeletons, axe and shield in hand. He dug his feet into the ground and held the line against them.
"Alright, shoot 'em down. They won't get by me while I stand."
Kasana stepped back to pick up her bow she'd dropped on the ground earlier and fired a shot at the skeleton that began to charge forward.
Cheshire sends a firebolt in the hopes of ending the fight.
OOC: I intend to recap later today...
Questions?
Game on!
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, hit
, miss
, miss