Zelphari swings, but can't quite get the angle right without falling onto the glass, and the bear dodges the blade.
The bear tries to bite Khaul.
plus
Furious at missing, he swipes.
plus Knockdown
Khaul partially blocks the swipe, but he knocks Khaul to the ground!
Round 3/4: Bolded may act!
Daraj (-0 hp)
Bina (-4 hp)
Zelphari (-7 hp)
Bear (-19 hp, 1d4 persistent negative, sickened 1, enfeebled 2)
Red Troll (-10 hp, -weakness x2)
Orange Troll (-10 hp, -weakness x1, 1 persistent fire)
Travis (-3 hp)
Khaul (-2 hp, prone)
Itka (-0 hp)
What's that old saying? Always poke the bear?
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
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If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. Zelphari has lived by that motto pretty much his whole life and he keeps going at it now.
Again, he summons his arcane energy to grant him an insight into the path of the bear so that he can strike just right.
Lifting up his guisarme, he swings again.
Daraj stabs twice with his longspear, the first catching it on the shoulder, and the second in the neck. Zelphari takes the opportunity to carve up the bear's body. The bear teeters for a few seconds, and then collapses.
As the bear dies, the storm subsides.
---
The artifacts in this exhibit are from Old Koloran, a cyclopean empire that once occupied a vast territory centered on modern-day Iobaria.
The west area is centered around a platform that held a black obelisk. While the mysterious merged figure stole the obelisk as the Pathfinders entere, the placard at its base that indicates the obelisk was donated to Blakros Museum by the Pathfinder Society and was discovered in Iobaria’s Finadar Forest.
A sketch of the obelisk on the placard matches the one in the hide drawing the Pathfinders discovered earlier.
Fragments of stone tablets line this chamber’s back wall, and display cases contain ceramics, potsherds, and scraps of baskets and fabric. Display cases contain relics from recent excavations of an ancient Cyclopean city in Iobaria called Min-Khadaim. These relics include stone statuettes, jewelry, and tools, with placards under the artifacts indicating that the Pathfinder Society excavated them.
The east area is flanked by the stairwells and showcases Iobarian plants (including eshlen flowers) and two taxidermy animals: a gray-furred Iobarian ashback bear and a peryton. A mural of an Iobarian wilderness landscape serves as the backdrop, and placards identifying each plant indicate they’re on loan from the Absalom Horticultural Society.
After the Pathfinders report to Ambrus, he remarks, “We saw the fireworks from here! You faced more opposition than I expected, but you handled yourselves well. I’m impressed. What did you find?”
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After the ordeal at the museum, Itka's mind turns inward, mulling over the events and discoveries of the day. Her jaw works as if she's chewing cud as the cogs of her mind turn.
After the Pathfinders report to Ambrus, he remarks, “We saw the fireworks from here! You faced more opposition than I expected, but you handled yourselves well. I’m impressed. What did you find?”
"Hmp. Signs of a cult of Urexhl. And a foe that was always one step ahead of us." Here she pauses, jaw grinding from side to side. If no one else jumps in, she'll briefly mention the cyclopean zombie in the sewers, the sabotaged shrine and mural, and what they witnessed inside the museum. Then she'll stop to let the others fill in the rest of the details.
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Yeah. "Well." She scowls at the compliment, not really feeling like she was terribly useful. Guess I should be used to it by now.
Realizing she hasn't engaged in the conversation at all, she tries to think of anything Itka missed. "The symbol of Urxehl we found was with a badge of the Sleepless Suns. When we talked to Shristi, he thought perhaps someone was trying to infiltrate the Sleepless Suns, but it was only a theory. No proof one way or the other." She fiddles with the worn hem of her mauve cloak absently. "The one-eyed figure has to be a cyclops of some kind, right? I mean, one-eyed and all, plus the cyclops zombie in the sewers and the cyclopean exhibit at Blackros. It's gotta be connected. I just wish we could have found some clue as to Dreng's whereabouts. The longer he's missing, the less likely he gets found alive."
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"Aye, they speak the truth. We saw the figure ourselves, but it vanished, leaving behind water, glass and animated figures. Not a big battle, but long enough to cover its retreat."
"There be a cult here, that is one step ahead of the watch. And of us. And they be grabbing artefacts from the museum that had connections to both the Society and cyclopes. "
Valsin grumbles a bit that the Pathfinder Society has once again had to send agents to clean up a mess at the Blakros Museum and wonders aloud where the museum’s curator, Nigel Aldain, was during all this mess.
Over the coming days, rumor of the Pathfinders’ exploits against demon cultists swirl around the Grand Lodge, each more outlandish than the last. Of Drandle Dreng, there is no sign.
In recognition of the Pathfinders’ hard work and the perils they overcame at the Blakros Museum, Ambrus Valsin gives them a pair of barkskin potions.
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Bina gives a half-hearted wave to the others before slouching down the hall toward her quarters, wondering if she should spend her pay on better equipment or ship fare back to Bloodcove. It's the same debate she has after every mission, but four missions in and she has yet to leave, so she supposes she probably won't this time, either.
Maybe I can buy some dancing shoes, she thinks with a mirthless laugh.
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"Hmp. If you want to learn how to fix that shield yourself, I can teach you." Heaving herself out of the chair with some effort, the hunched half orc shifts her pack on to her shoulders, giving herself quite the Quasimodo look, and begins hobbling out the door in an unhurried manner. Stopping just before she exits, she half-turns to the remaining Pathfinders and scowls in their direction. "Hmp. Who wants to join me at the Lodge for a drink?"
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"A drink is always appreciated." nods Khaul. Who for a dwarf, especially a religious dwarf seems oddly at least with the orc-blooded witch.
"Wash the dust of battle off me armour. As for fixing it. I know the basics. Hard to not if you are a follower of the Forgemaster himself you know. But I've not the natural knack for it that some folks have."
"Good working with you all. You saved my bacon more than once. And speaking of bacon, I'll arrange for a free meal for each of you at the restaurant where I work in the Coins."