Rocko blinks in response to Yoltzin's explanation.
"Say what now?"
"It's body is not rea. Anything that happens to it is only in mimic themselves.">/b] She explains further, turning back to fave the frog she still held.
[B],"the bats body.will be left behind for this reason."
Rocko finds at least a portion of bat left behind, and is able to stow it away in a bag for later eating.
Moving on, the group heads down the stairs, their light source breaking up areas long dark. After descending the long flight of steps, you pass into a natural chamber some 70' wide and 50' deep. Now you see a foreboding face carved in bas-relief on the northern wall of this cavern. There is a narrow exit to the south, and a tunnel leading west. Nothing else in the chamber seems remarkable.
Maybe one day, I'll be important enough to have my face... Djack cringes. Nah...
The young man begins to look around.
If it's getting dark, Rocko will have a torch out along with his shield, just to be safe. He'll bring the light closer to the carving of the face.
Rocko will give the face a polite nod and greeting as he gets a better look. "And a good day to you."
As Rocko approaches the face, he's shocked when the mouth moves and, in a mournfully dire tone, speaks "TURN BACK...THIS IS NOT THE WAY!"
As it does so, Djack sees a glint of purple deep inside the face's mouth.
Hunh... something purple in there.
Probably; it's back about 2'.
Not the way... where? Djack asks. He moves closer.
Djack concentrates, and can see the movement of the mouth as it "speaks" is an illusionary effect. However, the face, mouth, and the purple glint, are all real physical objects.
Cautiously, the young man tries to slip his hand "into" the mouth to retrieve the object.
Djack sticks his hand in up to the elbow and grasps what feels like a large gem; pulling it out, he is startled when the mouth suddenly snaps shut. Fortunately, he was speedy, and was able to pull both arm and gem out before getting "bit". There are only minor scrape marks on his hand.
The gem is a particularly large amethyst.
The elf gives Djack a waning look, "That was very foolhardy of you. Why risk permanent injury for the sake of a stone?"
Rocko pokes at the now closed mouth.
"Why even put them shiny rock there? This Gally guy be very strange."
Honestly... right the mouth was just an illusion of sorts, a trick of the mind.
He offers the gem, not being particularly possessive.
The elf shakes her head, truthly thankful that Djack did manage to not sustain injury for his actions. Pointing to the southern opening, "I'd like to investigate this first, if we could."
Yoltzin pokes her head into the southern hallway and sees it widen into a larger cavern. She can see a broken battle-axe lying on the floor not far into the room.
Rocko switches the torch over to his shield hand and pulls out his battleaxe, all while looking toward the western hallway.
"You all head that way. I be keeping a nose out to that burrow ifn' any beastie or bad guy be sneaking up on us from that way. Howl, and I can come runnin' to help with any trouble you find."
Djack is ready to lead the way south. He starts that way...
"You all head that way. I be keeping a nose out to that burrow ifn' any beastie or bad guy be sneaking up on us from that way. Howl, and I can come runnin' to help with any trouble you find."
Description Cavern 2
This cave is composed of slate and shale. The flat gray and blue-gray stones seem to absorb light. There are several weapons scattered around the place-a spear, a battle axe, a bastard sword, and a pair of daggers.
As Djack enters the cave, he perceives almost immediately that things are not as they seem. Three rock formations near the center of the room are way too symmetrical, and he could swear for just a second he saw an open eye on one of them, seeking this way and that before meeting his gaze.
Description Cavern 3
One look around this gruesome place shows that something awful uses this place as a disposal area. The bones of countless creatures, crushed into jagged points and portions beyond recognition, litter the floor. Worse, what at first seemed to be a rock formation is, in fact, a tower of such bones.
I think that... rock is looking at me.
The elf frowns at Djack's comment, and draws forth her bow. When she clutches for the tip of her arrow, she illuminates it with a divine glow, before knocking it back. After taking careful aim, she let's it fly forward in attempt to illuminate the mysterious rock from affar.
The light of Yoltzin's arrow lights up the center of the room effectively. Soon enough, three strangely symmetrical tripedal rock creatures come to life.
Initiative:
Creatures:
Yoltzin:
Djack:
Chaucair:
Djack may act first. Yoltzin may also act before the creatures.
Those three were right up front. The rest of the party is not really in a position to take combat actions, though preparations can be made this round.
Map updated.
Amideo rushes into the cavern, seeing the burst of light as something definitely not normal.
Taking a half step back, she reaches out to touch Djack and bless him with a touch of luck.
Why must everything be so... violent?!
Djack is both nimble and quick as he charges the phantasmagorical creature to his left, narrowly out of the other's reach.
Unfortunately, Djack's rapier hits the creature's rocky hide, flexes a bit, and does not pierce the surface. He's going to have to be a little but more accurate against these.
Amideo makes his way into the room just in time to see one of the creatures attack Djack.
The other two lumber toward the rest of the party.
Amideo, Chinuye (still in room 1), Rocko (still in room 1), and Chaucair may now act in Round 1.
Djack recoils from his surprise that the creature is so well... fortified and, then physically as he's assaulted.
Fralk! I'm not used to crackin' boulders... gunna need the big blades! I'll get shredded! It's a heated whisper.
The elf flinches as she felt the the threads of fate fight back against her manipulations, a warning of Xenxolotl. If she hoped to make sure their skills could save them from these beings, what magic she tapped needed to used sparingly. Taking a half-step back, she tried to pull upon her knowledge of spirits upon seeing the earthen creatures.
Sadly, it seemed at this time she could only draw blanks.
Amideo takes a valiant swing at the rocky beast in front of him, but his blade bounces off it with no effect.
Upon hearing the commotion, Rocko will lower his shield and use it as a bulwark as he rushes forward to muscle his way into the room. He's described this well enough to his companions that they can get out of the way. Rocko knows he will be open to attacks from the enemies he encounters, but he thinks it worth the risk to get into the fray.
"Comin' through!"
Rocko slams into the rock creature, but it's like hitting a wall. The gnoll merely bounces off.
Initiatives for Round 2:
Rocko:
Chinuye:
Amideo:
Top of Round 2
Djack, Yoltzin, Amideo, and Chinuye act before the creatures Rocko and Chaucair will go after. Keep in mind Chaucair is performing.
Unable to fire her bow like before, or even risk magic with these spirits so close, the elf is forced to pull forth her gnarled spear.
Yoltzin hits, but like Djack's sword, it merely glances off the creature's rocky hide.
Amideo takes another swing at the rocky beast in front of him, doing much better this time.
Though Amideo hits the creature, it's a glancing blow that seems ineffective.
Holding on Djack and Chinuye.
I'm gonna get pummeled...
Djack takes a fully defensive posture, stepping back to flank with Amideo. To his horror, This thing's got eye... in the back of its head. Does it even have a head?
Chinuye casts Magic Missile
Two missiles zip in and hit the creature directly in front of Amideo, weakening it somewhat.
The creature now flanked by Amideo attacks:
On Amideo
On Djack
The creature in front of Rocko
On Rocko
On Yoltzin
Lastly, the one that Djack attacked in Round 1 moves up and attacks Amideo: