Chaucair and Rocko may act in Round 2.
Rocko will grit his teeth and growl at the toughness of these creatures.
"Gotta be careful with you lot, eh?"
He'll focus his strength into one mighty slash this time. And in a rare display of clever strategy, he'll aim at the damaged one between Djack and Amideo with intent to focus damage on one foe at a time.
Rocko's attack slams into the creature's upper section and bits of rocky flesh fall from it's side.
Chaucair is pretty sure he's heard stories of such creatures from the Elemental Plane of Earth. They're called Xorn, at least by some. He's aware that they're somewhat resistant to piercing and slashing attacks, as well as fire, cold, and electricity. But they are not immune to any of those, and a powerful or accurate enough strike will indeed injure them.
Top of Round 3
Djack, Amideo, Yoltzin and Chinuye may act.
Amideo, is this helping?
Amideo, is this helping?
Zia sends a second Magic Missile into the same one that she (formerly Chinuye) hit last round and that Rocko has damaged, hoping to eventually wear down their numbers.
Taking advantage of his position, Djack tries to avail himself.
Aargh!
Amideo shakes his head, ”My blade is near useless against these foes! Let us try something new!”
He sheathes his sword and smashes his shield into the xorn. It
The elf grits her teeth as she finds herself pressed up against the wall by the earth spirit, "Help to give me some space, and I can call fourth an ally."
Try as he might, Djack cannot get a good thrust in. Amideo, however chips away at the creature's health with his shield bash.
The creatures continue their assault
On Amideo:
On Djack:
On Amideo:
On Djack:
On Rocko:
On Yoltzin:
Chaucair and Rocko may act in Round 3.
Rocko will do his best to meet Yoltzin's request. Using his shield for leverage, he'll try to push the beast right in front of him enough forward to get it out of swiping range of her.
"My friend needs room, so you's got to move!"
Rocko manages to unbalance the rock creature, forcing it back 5'.
Top of Round 4
Djack, Amideo, Yoltzin and Zia may act.
Yoltzin thinks back to legends she's heard about rock creatures from other planes. She considers it a strong possibility these creatures eat gemstones. Perhaps they're hungry.
Acting on more a whim than anything else, the elf fumbles for a pouch containing some of the rare reagents she'd need in future rituals. Hoping that it would buy them some space, she tossed it overhead of the stone creatures. When it landed, the chunks of black crystal scattered accross the cavern floor.
If they take the bate, the elf quickl moves backwards in retreat.
All three of the creatures retreat across the room about 15', quickly grabbing fallen stones.
Map updated.
As the xorns flee, Amideo says quietly, ”And now, we remind ourselves pf the greater part of valor, knowing when to live another day. I say we run.”
"I am in favor of this." Yoltzin says, raggedly.
Djack happily slinks away... hand upon one of his bruises.
Back in the "Face" room, the party regroups. Though you are only a few yards away, it does not appear the Xorn are interested in following you.
You MAY be safe here, but if you wish a longer rest, you might also retreat further up the stairs and to the entrance cavern. The gigantic bats almost certainly are still healing from their first encounter with the party, and (by Rocko's estimation) would be acting against their nature to attack you again.
Yoltzin frowns as she checks her pouches, having had to sacrifice some of the precious commodities. Such was the nature of the strong versus the weak, and in this instance they were certainly the latter. "While they are not following us yet, there's nothing stopping them from acxoating further if we were to rest here alone."
Rocko is still pondering what he watched.
"I sure have heard of beasties that eat rock and such, but never seen one 'til now. Might be better to trick 'em or just plain feed 'em if'n we gotta go through there."
He looks at his own bruises and those around the group.
"I think we could use a break and some feedin' of our own whilst we gnaw on what to do next."
"Yes. Let's leave while they're content to eat what I've given." She agrees.
Guess we could leave what's beyond them for last... maybe we'll come across some more gems. A respite would be good.
The afternoon and evening pass uneventfully in the upper cavern. One of the giant bat-creatures stirs sometime in the first watch, but it flies harmlessly out of the cave exit, presumably to hunt some less offensive prey. It returns sometime in the third watch.
Februm 28
The morning dawns cool and clear. A gusty breeze blows through the cavern opening, promising a warm day ahead. At least outside. In the caverns the temperature will remain more or less constant.
Descending back down the stairs, you find yourself once again in the room with the speaking "Face" (Room 1). No matter which of the two exits you approach, it tells you that is not the way.
The elf stretches her arms, her back stiff and sore from sleeping upon the hard stone flooring. Truly, caves were the absolute worse thing to be crafted by divine hands. If there was a low point in theory workings it would certainly be this. "Do you think there is another passage we are not seeing?"
Rocko... what did you see in there? Djack points.
Rocko thinks back to what he saw.
"Blood and bones and a lot of mess? Don't recall no monsters or such, but we best be careful when we head that way."
He grins in a toothy, reckless way
"Wouldn't want us adding ourselves to that mess, now would we?"
Djack carefully moves in that direction.
Indeed, that cavern (room 3) appears to be a long cavern with a lot of bones of various creatures littering the floor, and a large pile of them a few yards in. There appear to be two exits, though it's difficult for Djack to see for sure without moving into the cavern further.
It's ugly... shall I? He waits for the others to indicate readiness. Then he enters.
The bones crunch beneath Djack's feet as he strides carefully into the room. An eerie uneasiness fills the young scout's heart as he visually explores the cavern. Djack is able to confirm that yes, in fact, there are two exits on the west side of the cavern: a larger one to the north and a more narrow one just south of that.
Djack motions for the others to follow, and moved towards the narrower opening.
The elf is quick to come along, taking a momment to pay propper respect to the dead as she moves.
Amideo follows along, musing quietly to himself about the barbarity of the heinous acts that lead to so many bones being present here.
As Yoltzin, Amideo, and the rest enter the room, the odd column of bones begins to rattle a bit. Within seconds, a swirling, 10-foot-high funnel composed of thousands of jagged bones whirls in an animated vortex of death. Most likely a "gift" from a certain long-dead Necromancer.
Bone Swirl:
Amideo:
Djack:
Zia:
Yoltzin:
Rocko:
Chaucair:
Yoltzin, Amideo, and Rocko may act before the bone swirl.
"<Incredible...!>" She couldn't help but utter even as she reared back in preparation to cast.
Friends of yours? If I've wet my pants... Djack quips towards Yoltzin.
The youth is clearly surprised and concerned.
Yoltzin understands this to be a rare undead phenomena known as a colloquially as Bonestorm. It is immune to cold damage. It is known to be very fast-moving and hard to out-run, and does damage that is partially physical and partially negative energy. It can be damaged by normal means, and as the skulls within the swarm somehow motivate the whole, it is vulnerable to precision damage.
"Those skulls," She shouts out. "That's where the animate spirit dwells. Aim your attacks there!"
Gathering up her magics, she calls fourth a sturdy spirit of Earth on the opposing side of the bone storm. With it there to lend aid, Djack shouldn't need to try getting behind the creature.
Rearing up as much a creature of it's size could, the stony creature launched forward with a strike.
Rocko blinks in shock and amazement for a moment.
"You gotta be gnawing my leg."
He then takes a step up and gives the monstrosity a hefty swipe with his shield, figuring it will be more effective than the axe.
Yoltzin's elemental slams into the flurry of bones, but seems to do minimal damage.
Rocko swings his shield hard, but at the last moment the bone cyclone swings wildly, avoiding the blow entirely.
Holding on Amideo.
Amideo follows Rocko's example, moving up to the bone storm and smashing his shield into it's whirling bulk.