Unsure about the creatures' defenses, Akku moves behind Leon and empowers him instead.
Galadhan kneels down, aiming at the blue spider-y creature. Unfortunately for the creature, both arrows dig deep into it's side. *bam bam*.
Akku touches Leon's shoulder as the burly man feels empowered.
Siiska moves forward, shimmering with hatred for these creatures. She slams down hard, nearly knocking out the spider creature.
Farrar attempts to lull them to sleep, but they seem unaffected by the bardic spell. Perhaps they just don't have the brains to be affected.
Leon then comes in and swiftly finishes off the beast. The other two barely take notice - all they care about is the next meal.
Both the spider-like creatures pounce - one one Leon, one on Siiska. Their mandibles nearly salivating at the thought of some fresh meat.
--------
The creature barely scratches Leon's armor, but the one that attacks Siiska takes a decent chunk out of the phantom.
------------------
[u]Round 1-2[/u]
Galadhan
Akku
-Siiska (Hateful Aura 10ft) (-16 hp)
Farrar
Leon (14 temp hp, AIDED - +1 morale on attacks/saves against fear)
Creatures
-Blue
-Red
-Yellow (-3 hp)
Nyx
Farrar throws up his hands, These audiences, I cannot work with them! and begins singing a song to inspire his comrades.
Nyx will summon two balls of lightning onto one of the creatures.
"They don't appreciate your talents, Farrar. How lowbrow of them."
Nyx manages to summon electric balls, damaging the creatures. The hair on their back stands straight up!
Farrar sings a beautiful song, the spider-y creature not appreciating it though!
With the help of the song, the yellow spider-y thing dies to Leon's strike!
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[u]Round 2[/u]
Galadhan
Akku
-Siiska (Hateful Aura 10ft) (-6 hp)
Farrar
Leon (14 temp hp, AIDED - +1 morale on attacks/saves against fear)
Creatures
-Blue
-Red (-24 hp)
-Yellow
Nyx
Siiska steps forward and goes nuts.
And with that, the last of these creatures drops down, slowly wiggling till it's last breath. The room is now quiet with no sign of this Shevarimarr you were tasked to find.
Examining a nearby crate, it's obvious that whatever these creatures were came from this crate and only recently escaped. The scrolls they had started to eat were non-magical scrolls, e.g. scrolls with unique recipes on it, to-do lists written in foreign languages, etc.
The room to the east is locked () but the door to the south is unlocked. No sound seems to emanate from either room.
"Someone was storing some strange pets..." Leon considers the dead spiders and their former container.
"Whatever is behind the locked door can wait. Let's try the other one first."
As Leon goes to open the door to the south, it creaks open. The chamber is just as cluttered as the rest of the shop, but contains no furniture. Instead, items are stacked haphazardly across the floor or in teerting piles against the walls. A few tapestries featuring abstract mixtures of texture and color adorn several of the walls near iron hooks, and two incredibly lifelike statues (a drow and a hobgolib) lean against the south wall.
On one of the hooks is a rather large object that almost looks like a hanging cloak. On closer look, one can see the cloak inhale, then exhale.
Farrar spots the cloak 'breathing' and calls out, Hello there? and waits to see what happens...
The 'cloak' shudders before falling off the hook. It quickly hovers, then turns around, before dusting itself off with its fins.
In front of you, a large manta ray-esque creatures stands/hovers before you. His large fanged mouth gapes open and his beady red eyes stare at you as he crosses his fins. A large golden necklace dangles off his neck.
.
"Wha... who... oh I was just meditating. Hours can go by in a blink of an eye.". He barely registers that you are there, then focuses in on Farrar.
The bard starts to ask, "Are you ..." before the creature cuts him off and finishes Farrar's sentence. "Shevarimarr, yes, yes. Welcome to my humble brokerage. What can I do you for? I have some scrolls that you may enjoy. A fabled instrument from Tien Xia perhaps?"
Then his eyes narrows, "What is this? How curious.... you seem to be affected by the shadow plane.". Shevarimarr starts rattling off any information about your shadowbound corruptions (if you didn't know it already). "Come, come, let's sit down and talk. You don't seem to like the Reborn, eh? I may be able to tell you some relay some information if you'd like. Pay me 5,000 gp. Or purchase 7,000 gp worth of items here and pay 1,000 gp. I know a thing or two that'll help you take down those (swear word) Reborn."
Shevarimarr is vain and has the tendency to finish your sentences for you (though usually in a manner entirely unlike what you had planned to say).
Akku nods and peruse his wares, interested to spend some more gold whenever he gets the opportunity...
Interesting, thank you for sharing that information about the shadow plane. May we see what you've got in your inventory for purchase, we're always willing to do business... the bard smiles at the creature, Musical instruments you say, I'm quite the aficionado.. and we did rescue your scrolls from some creatures which were busy eating them
"I'm afraid I'm not familiar," Leon begins before being cut off.
"I take it you've had dealings with the Reborn before?"
"My price is firm. The Reborn are not friends of mine, nor are they enemies. I try to avoid their ire, but I deal with information." Shevarimarr states. "My prices are fair, but firm. If you want any information, you'll need to hand over 5,000 gold. Or purchase 7,000 gp of my wares in addition to paying 1,000 gp."
He leads the Pathfinders to the locked room, which he has the key for. The room is lined with shelves holding dizzying assortment of jewelry, magic items, and works of art.
Also, Farrar knows that Shevarimarr is a cloaker, aberrations created by and served alghollthus in order to spy on their Azlanti thralls. Now, most are free, but remain mysterious and paranoid. Shevarimarr also seems to have some innate magics (i.e. he has some sorcerer levels).
Akku reaches for the staff of healing, its powers connecting immediately with the spiritualist's psychic powers...
"Oh! that would be nice to have! I could be a backup healer if Nyx is busy... and both Nyx and I could use it at its greatest potential I believe... and even Farrar and Leon as well, in a limited fashion I think... Sir... is there a tiny discount possible for it? it will... help us fight more of the Reborn for sure!"
"Oh! and we should also buy the wand of healing too, for sure... right?"
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Farrar nods, I think those are excellent ideas Akku, thank you for the thought!
"Hmmm..." Shevarimarr strokes his 'chin' with his whip-like tail. He glides over to a rather large box, opening it up slowly. "Ah, yes. Here it is! You know, this once belonged to a crusader from the Worldwound. How it came here... that's a story for another time.". He pulls out a rather large, gnarled oaken staff, emblazoned with a holy symbol of some long forgotten god. He also hands over a smaller oaken wand.
"Take good care of these items. I don't want to see them again!"
The cloaker then squints his eyes at the Pathfinders in front of him. "Your journey isn't over, I assume. Let me tell you more about your shadowbound manifestations.".
"But your adventure ahead may lead to more intense manifestations of this corruption. Be warned - the influence with the shadow plane will be strong as you fight the Reborn."
He flaps his 'wing' almost as if he were shrugging. "I've heard of these Cradle of Night too. Did you say the Reborn has one now? Destruction of the one they have will likely end your shadowbound corruption. Due to it's strong alignment with the shadow plane, you'll need to take it and expose it to direct sunlight for a majority of the day. But it cannot - and I repeat cannot - spend any time in shadow or darkness. Once it's in a fragile state, it is much easier to destroy.". He eyes Leon and his muscles. "Just smash it on the ground or something and voila! No more corruption. But that's just the word on the street. I have never seen anything like that before."
Once again, he 'flaps' his wings in a shrug. "There is a drider named Ezurkian - she was involved in the raid on your friend Aiyana's estate. She has some prisoners that are likely held in her lair in Ragtown. She keeps strange allies, but I know very little about her. Which is unfortunate for me as an information broker."
"Lastly," he continues to glide around, "you'll need to know the phrase 'Veilisendri lifts the veil.' It is a passphrase that new recruits of the Reborn use to gain safe passage to the Ancestors' Isle. You'll need to go there to the Forsaken Fane to encounter the Reborn. I know very little about it as well, but I do know it is heavily guarded."
"What is a Cradle of Night, exactly? You speak of them as though multiple were made, but we were only aware of the one relic."
"Ah, yes, yes. I read about them in an old tome passed on from one scholar to another. The Cradle of Nights, you see, were powerful artifacts created by powerful, but mysterious demigods known as the Foresaken for the caligni long long ago. No one knows why these Foresaken created the artifacts nor their plan. All of these Cradles of Night were deemed destroyed or lost... that is until the Reborn have found one again."
"I believe you are familiar with Haramil, the legendary warrior. The histories claim he had one of these artifacts, which gave him increased strength, health, and healing capabilites with a supernaturally long life span. Unfortunately, all records state that prolonged exposure to the Cradle of Night will spread to the bearer's allies. Now that I think of it, I've heard this prolonged exposure was the reason for the various distinct caligni races - you'd know as dark creepers, dark stalkers, and the like."
As one of you likely asks about the Foresaken, Shevarimarr rudely interupts. "Yes, the Foresaken. They were shadowy deities that held sway over the dark folk, universally evil. Worship died out long ago and has been forgotten by all caligni. The only thing I know is that they saved fleeing refuges from the surface city of Calignos from the destruction of Earthfall... but the details are very slim. I believe that these refuges were the ancestors of the dark folk."
Farrar takes mental notes of Shevarimarr's accounting of the histories of both the Cradle and the Forsaken....
We should free Ayiana's crew before we confront the Reborn themselves. Can you tell us anything else of their captor?
"All I know of Ezurkian is he is a torturer and a dabbler in enchantments, dwelling in a pair of hollow stalagmites in central Ragtown called the Sadist Spires. He somehow managed to track and murder a renegade drow arcanist living in the spires only a few years ago, then claimed the spire for his own. I know that he and his allies rarely use the front door, instead using one of its many balconies or bridges connecting the two spires."
"Beyond that, I know very little of the inside nor of Ezurkian himself or his allies."
The Pathfinders make their way to the lair of Ezurkian - the Sadist Spires . Slick condensation covers the stalagmites and few people hang around the neighborhood.
.
The Pathfinders congregate at the front door, large and made of heavy fungi planks equivalent to strong wood. It doesn't seem to be well used. There are also two balconies, one on each spire, as well as a wooden bridge connecting the two spires. How will the Pathfinders find their way in?
Farrar looks up at the walls, and considers his own frame, and then looks back to the door of fungi, then to his companions, Okay, who's got a bright idea? Can anyone magically float up there? I saw an actual bog witch do that once -it was terrifying...
Above the Sadist Spires, you spot four monstrously sized, undead bat creatures. They haven't seemed to notice you, but hanging outside the spire too long may draw their interest.
"I can fly for a little while if I drink this," Leon says holding up a Potion of Fly.
By now the lad had come into full manhood, and it was hard to miss the bulging muscles that threatened the structural integrity of his trousers in the quadriceps and calves areas. Thankfully the mithral shirt he wore was largely sleeveless, which allowed his now massive biceps and forearms some freedom.
"Huh, Misters... I can fly most of you in, back and forth, and Leon has his own fly potion. I recently remembered that spell in a dark corner of my mind... I think I can lift all of you in one go, but if not, I can do separate trips... hey Mister Farrar: can you make us all invisible? that would make our infiltration much easier..."
Farrar listens to Akku's plan, noting the transformation which has come over the young man since they went into the subterranean city, Its a good plan, but I don't have the magic to make us invisible, but I think that's a good plan to try and get in together without things going badly...
|
Galadhan holds a hand up. ”Good plan Akku…but let me try the door first…”
”Bah! Won’t be easy…but I think I can crack it…it’ll take time though…should I try?”
While he awaits an answer, he looks at the way up, checking out the path Akku would take them…
”Uhhh…flying might be problematic…there’s four mighty big bats up by the Spires…”
You believe that the undead flying bat creatures will see you before you finish unlocking the door/taking 20. They don't look particularly strong though... A few arrows may knock them out (CR 5 creatures). They also look like scavengers, rather than patrols/guards.
As Galadhan points out the undead mighty bats, they take notice of him! The elf doesn't have enough time to open up the door nor does Akku have enough time to fly everyone up to the bridge!
---------------
[u]Round 1[/u]
Galadhan
Leon
Undead bats
Aleks
Akku
Nyx
Farrar
The bats swoop down 80 ft and are now 20 ft above you.
---------------
[u]Round 1[/u]
Galadhan
Leon
Undead bats
Aleks
Akku
Nyx
Farrar
Akku and Siiska prepare to strike any bats who will manage to pierce through Galadhan's barrage of arrows!
"Come and get it you old dry bats..."
Farrar looks at the creatures, bringing his crossbow up and propelling a bolt toward them...
Farrar knows these are called skaveling, basically large undead bats, also known as ghoul bats. Their bites can cause disease and paralysis. Surprisingly, they are intelligent (INT 8) and speak Undercommon. They also have a loud screech than cause you to get stunned. Looks like these skavelings are more opportunistic and taking advantage of a quick meal.
Galadhan's arrow flies true and slams right into the nearest bat (the blue one). Even with the multiple arrows, the bat still continues its descent.
Farrar is unfortunately not as accurate and his bolt flies through the air.
Akku and Siiska prepare for the onslaught! Will the bats notice (unlikely).
The bats swoop down, yattering at each other. The blue one let's out a loud screech while the others swoop in for an attack.
--------------
[u]Round 2[/u]
Galadhan
Leon
Undead bats
-Blue (-37 hp)
-Green
-Purple (-40 hp)
-Red
Akku
Nyx (-13 hp)
Farrar