Sebastian looks over the rune-hatchet.
The Bard smiles weakly.
Nat 20 for a +1 hatchet. M&%$** f*~+@@ better scratch an itch well!
The Bard doesn't even attempt with the religious seeming items. He seems a bit salty.
Noticing the shadows shift from his Light in the adjoining room, the halfling prepares for another beat down!
Shadows moving in there!
Linium and Ferrakus are mainstays of most dwarven faith. There was some major crisis of faith happening here. Some historian would be able to tell when this all happened I'm sure.
Ascaede nods annoyingly when Waedin mentions “historian” and peers at the religious book, Sebastien’s crybof alert for the moment superseded by lore and investigation.
”Linium is the Forgefather, “maker of ways”. A dwarven deity of Law and Magic, Crafting. As for Bhogkaldur, I have no idea who or what that is.”
Ascaede shakes her head, though whether from frustration or some darker emotion is unclear.
”Regardless, I agree with Waedin - it is evident that some crisis of faith and or fealty occurred herein. “Kamus”, mentioned within is either god or leader of some kind, and whoever wrote this sees Kamus as a kind of savior.”
The acolyte sniffs.
”Perhaps not exactly pertinent to our current predicament - what in all the hells is going on here, and what has Sebastien found?!?”
(Perception)
(Perception)
(Perception)
(Perception)
(Perception)
(Perception)
As Sebastien calls out the presence of something nefarious in the next room, he sees a BIG, BAD WOLF step onto the fallen column. It is much bigger than a wolf should be, with dark grey fur and glowing red eyes. It snarls at Sebastien and barks out, "Who are you who dare disturb my rest!? I should eat you alive where you stand!"
The talking wolf then crouches, ready to pounce if further threatened.
Stepnik steps into the room and goes to a corner to get out of everybody elses way. AKA move so others can get between me and the wolf. As he moves, he pulls a flask of exploding goo from his pocket and heaves it at the beast.
◆ Stride
◆ Toss Alchemist Fire (Quick Bomber)
Throw bomb
Flaming Welcome, 1-persistant, 1-splash
◆ Raise Shield
"Only thing you'll be eating is some of my fire! Get him guys".
Waedin casts Runic Weapon on herself in response to a talking wolf and stomps in.
Stepnik is quick to respond, rushing into the room but away from the grey wolf, he lobs a bomb that bursts into liquid fire!
Waedin's hammer glows with mystic runes as she enters the room. As she nears the talking wolf, he snaps his jaws at her.
Waedin avoids getting bit!
Sebastian frighteningly begins stuttering inspiration and such!
The Inspiration rains!
The stammering Bard then tries to toss a pewter cup at the big bad Scary wolf thang!
With Sebastien's performance playing counterpoint, Ascaede moves to support Waedin, reaching into her vestments and rummaging quickly among various incredibly well-sorted and even better-packed sundry small items.
Finally she pulls out a long red ribbon and waves it at the wolf before striking in a strange zig-zagging pattern, for all intents and purposes looking like she has cut the wolf in reverse before actually striking, "red" issuing toward the wolf as the blade descends...poorly, hitting nothing. The ribbon drops to the ground, useless as the blade misses and Sebastien's stutter continues...
◆ Stride ◆ Exploit Vulnerability ◆ Strike
Exploit Vulnerability [one-action]
Esoterica, Manipulate, Thaumaturge
Frequency: once per round
Requirements: You are holding your implement.
You scour your experiences and learning to identify something that might repel your foe. You retrieve an object from your esoterica with the appropriate supernatural qualities, then use your implement to stoke the remnants of its power into a blaze. Select a creature you can see and attempt an Esoteric Lore check against a standard DC for its level, as you retrieve the right object from your esoterica and use your implement to empower it. You gain the following effects until you Exploit Vulnerabilities again.
Critical Success You remember the creature's weaknesses, and as you empower your esoterica, you have a flash of insight that grants even more knowledge about the creature. You learn all of the creature's resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, including the amounts of the resistances and weaknesses and any unusual weaknesses or vulnerabilities, such as what spells will pass through a golem's antimagic. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis (see below). Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Success You recall an important fact about the creature, learning its highest weakness (or one of its highest weaknesses, if it has multiple with the same value) but not its other weaknesses, resistances, or immunities. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Failure Failing to recall a salient weakness about the creature, you instead attempt to exploit a more personal vulnerability. You can exploit only the creature's personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Critical Failure You couldn't remember the right object to use and become distracted while you rummage through your esoterica. You become flat-footed until the beginning of your next turn.
You can attempt to Exploit Vulnerabilities in one of two ways: either by invoking properties that repel that type of creature, or by attempting a more improvisational, ad-hoc method with your esoterica that can impose a custom weakness on any creature, albeit one that usually isn't as dire as a creature's existing weakness:
Personal Antithesis You improvise a custom weakness on a creature by forcefully presenting and empowering a piece of esoterica that repels it on an individual level; for instance, against a tyrant, you might procure a broken chain that once held a captive. This causes the target creature, and only the target creature, to gain a weakness against your unarmed and weapon Strikes equal to 2 + half your level.
Sebastien fearfully propels his allies forth, their hearts filled with courage, while his own overcomes fear. He also launches a stone across the room to no effect.
Ascaede advances and draws ribbon and blade. She strikes at the creatures personal antithesis, but fails to hit.
She does, however, identify the red-eyed, talking wolf as a Warg, and a mean one at that.
Ustemir follows up with Kolek moving in past him and up to the wolf.
Being aggravated by the sight of the red ribbon, the warg barks and snarls at Asceade, "You shouldn’t have come here, pathetic humans!"
Ascaede stands tall against the threat, but the warg attacks her anyways.
Sebastian Strides to Ustemir. The Bard begins casting Runic Weapon on the short sword .
Hit'em wear the sun don't shine!
Waedin is incensed at the talking Wolf. There's been a lot of people going missing around here. I think you're responsible. You coward.
And brings her shiny warhammer crashing down on his head.
Let Kolek go! she growls and then tries to swing again.
The second hit does not go nearly as well as the first, so she then steps back to allow Ustermir space to come in.
◆ Step
◆ Draw Dagger
◆ Throw Dagger
Hurling dagger
Point First (Piercing).
Talking Wolves... who would have thought.
Weadin takes a swing with her runic warhammer and smashes the wolf on its head.
Disoriented, as blood matts his fur, he snarls with Asceade gripped between his jaws, "It's too late for them. They've been taken below. They'll come for you too when I am finished!"
Stepnik throws a knife at the wall.
Ustemir: Command Animal, Manipulate draw weapon ( comp shortbow ), Strike
Kolek: Strike, Support
Ascaede seems to have the bit in her mouth. Or rather be the bit in the wolf's mouth...Or....no matter. She sees no recourse to escape, and idly wonders if sacrificing herself here means the wolf at least can't...bite anybody else.
Like some kind of rag-doll'd marionette whose strings are manipulated by a not exactly angry but possibly extremely upset puppeteer, the acolyte thrashes within the canine maw to make a strike with her temple blade. Then again, then, with such poor strikes, limply raises her shield...
◆ Strike ◆ Strike ◆ Raise Shield
Ustemir drops his two blades in favor of drawing his shortbow to attack from range. He has to shoot past Asceade to hit the wolf, and does so succesfully. As he hits, Kolek takes a swipe with claws, but misses with his jaws.
Meanwhile, Asceade tries to fight back, but finds it hard to do so with fangs actively ripping into her fleshy parts.
The warg looks in bad shape, but seems ready to fight to the death. He drops his hold on Asceade and snaps back with ferocious jaws.
With, perhaps, his final act, he moves through the crowded room to stop at the top of the stairs. "I will never let you descend below!"
He continues to burn.
After checking to ensure Ascaede is still breathing. Waedin stomps after the wolf and tries to repeat the success of her first attack.
It doesn't work.
She then steps backward to gives orders space to attack.
Sebastian just looks at a sharp, jagged, dirty even with like dirt and outdoors yucky stuff all over it rock!
The Bard then casts Shield.
Ascaede is not one to lose her temper. Generally, she likes to place it, very firmly where it is needed. And she thinks that she knows just about where to place it. Covered in mawslime, Ascaede scrapes a bit off on her blade. And thrusts twice in quick succession at the hairy beast…with less than stellar results, then brings her shield up to ward off any further canine aggression.
”Kindly take this back!”
Ustemir whistles for Kolek to do his thing, then fires two arrows.
Ustemir ◆ Command animal + 2x◆ Strike
Kolek ◆ Strike + ◆ Support
◆ [Manipulate) Ready Crossbow
◆ (Manipulate) Load Crossbow
◆ (Strike) Shoot Crossbow
Crossbow
Bolt (Piercing Damage)
Braving her injuries, Asceade follows on the heels of the wolf and swings, and misses.
This time around, Ustemir fails to aim his arrow around his companions, and Kolek has to spin on four heels to bite back at the wolf and is thrown off.
However, Stepnik takes careful aim and fires a bolt right between Weadin and Asceade's shoulders, directly into the wolf's back, severing his spine. The talking, red-glowing-eyed wolf falls.
Sebastian begins to sing in applause of Stepnik!
...now that the smoke's gone and the air is all clear...
Nice Shot Stepnik, you got first and last hit on that evil thing! If it was just a guard for whatever's below though... I think we'd better rest and recover if we're going to explore.
Waedin touches Ascedae to heal her.
After the warg falls and Waedin administer's healing, you have the opportunity to look around the room.
An earthy scent is barely noticeable above the smell of blood-matted, singed fur. A patch of black mushrooms grows in a dark corner.
Behind the fallen column from where the warg first emerged is found:
-A bag containing 345 silver pieces
-A finely crafted light crossbow
-A vial of alchemical substance
-A wand
Sebastian walks by the worg corpse, kicks it and takes a quick look at the found loot, shakes his Occult knowing head and kicks the worg corpse again
There's some doors further down the hall, and a couple of rooms overlooked near the main entrance. Down the Hall first, than hit those rooms on our way outside.
Ascaede winces a little, then smiles in appreciation as Waedin’s magic soothes and heals her wounds. Sadly, she is still clearly rattled, and even though she examines and handles the wand carefully she can only intone “It is a wand. And magical…”
The acolyte then nods to Sebastien.
”A good plan…check that which is close then, check that which we left originally…”
"Here... let me take a look at it I've got some scientific methods to identify nearly anything".
Crafting (Using Crafters Appraisal and Quick Identification to look for a minute instead of 10)
"That is a wand of Burning Hands without doubt".
Craft Alchemy (Using alchemy kit).
"Hmmm! Not sure what this elixer is. I'm a little short on Alum in my kit. Perhaps I can try again at a later time... when I'm not as tired".
Yeah, let's get it done with then. Waedin is ready to take the lead in Defend Mode.
But before that. Let's just take the warg's head. Don't want whatever's below to take it away!
"Agreed. I think we should take it slow. Clean up this floor, then move on to others. Don't want any nasty surprises if we need to quickly retreat for some reason."
Waedin goes through the gruesome motions of decapitating the warg's corpse for proof of eliminating the Darkmoon Beast which has been harrowing the local lumber industry.
Next, the group files back out into the narrow hallway to open the next door.
Inside is a small chamber, filled with cobwebbed weapon and armor racks, all empty and cleared.
Ustemir finds a bolt case with two crossbow bolts left inside. The bolts are dark blue and cold to the touch.
Stepnik discovers a secret door hidden in the northeast corner of the room.
Crafting (Identify using Crafter's appraisal, and quick ID).
"Hey! It looks like there is a secret door over here".
Sebastian looks at Stepnik's discovery of a Secret Door. The Bard prepares to open it....
Waedin is right behind Sebastien, defending.
Ustemir looks from behind with a doubting look. "Don't think something will be inside, but we will see."
He pulls out his blades just in case.
Ascaede readies her blade and shield, casting a fearful look behind the group.
Stepnik remembers that he can't take a prep action by pulling his weapons so decides to look for anything unusual.
Sebastian is found passed out with his arm still stretching out to open the door....
The Bard may be in need of a bit of a chiropractor appointment....
Everyone braces themselves as Sebastien bravely opens the secret door.
The halfling finds a small prison hidden behind the wall. One side of this cramped corridor is a wall of rusted iron bars. Decrepit iron doors hang open on rusted hinges, opening up to four cells. Within three of the cells, ancient skeletons begin to stir.
Sebastian looks around wondering who this brave halfling might be....
"What the hell are those?" Ustemir's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but he runs in with his blade drawn and whistles at Kolek to assist. He adjusts his grip on the main gauche and assumes a more defensive stance.
Kolek rushes in and immediately chomps on one of the creatures. (easternmost skelly)
Ustemir ◆ Command Animal ◆ Stride ◆ Using the parry trait for a +1 circumstance to AC
Kolek ◆ Stride ◆ Strike
Damage
Ustemir AC 20
Kolek AC 19
Ustemir leads the way in, trusty Kolek at his heels. The young bear bites the middle skeleton in the femur. It’d be a lot worse if there were any flesh left on them bones.
The skeletons claw back with bony fingers, unsettling yellow lights glowing in otherwise empty eye sockets.
Ustemir gets a nasty scratch.
Sebastian begins stuttering inspiration and such!
The Inspiration rains!
The stammering Bard then tries to toss a pewter cup at the boney skeleton!
He waves.
Stepping forward, Ascaede looks skance at clattering bones. The acolyte produces some jerky from her coat and rubs it against her temple blade, before weaving strange patterns and striking at the closest skeleton.
◆ Stride ◆ Exploit Vulnerability ◆ Strike
Exploit Vulnerability [one-action]
Esoterica, Manipulate, Thaumaturge
Frequency: once per round
Requirements: You are holding your implement.
You scour your experiences and learning to identify something that might repel your foe. You retrieve an object from your esoterica with the appropriate supernatural qualities, then use your implement to stoke the remnants of its power into a blaze. Select a creature you can see and attempt an Esoteric Lore check against a standard DC for its level, as you retrieve the right object from your esoterica and use your implement to empower it. You gain the following effects until you Exploit Vulnerabilities again.
Critical Success You remember the creature's weaknesses, and as you empower your esoterica, you have a flash of insight that grants even more knowledge about the creature. You learn all of the creature's resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, including the amounts of the resistances and weaknesses and any unusual weaknesses or vulnerabilities, such as what spells will pass through a golem's antimagic. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis (see below). Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Success You recall an important fact about the creature, learning its highest weakness (or one of its highest weaknesses, if it has multiple with the same value) but not its other weaknesses, resistances, or immunities. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Failure Failing to recall a salient weakness about the creature, you instead attempt to exploit a more personal vulnerability. You can exploit only the creature's personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Critical Failure You couldn't remember the right object to use and become distracted while you rummage through your esoterica. You become flat-footed until the beginning of your next turn.
You can attempt to Exploit Vulnerabilities in one of two ways: either by invoking properties that repel that type of creature, or by attempting a more improvisational, ad-hoc method with your esoterica that can impose a custom weakness on any creature, albeit one that usually isn't as dire as a creature's existing weakness:
Mortal Weakness After identifying a creature's weakness, you use a thematically resonant bit of esoterica to attune your attacks to your discovery. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes activate the highest weakness you discovered with Exploit Vulnerability, even though the damage type your weapon deals doesn't change. This damage affects the target of your Exploit Vulnerability, as well as any other creatures of the exact same type, but not other creatures with the same weakness.
For example, when fighting a pack of werewolves you might use silver shavings or crushed moonstone to deal damage that applies their weakness to silver to your attacks against any of the werewolves, but you wouldn't apply this damage to any other monsters with a weakness to silver.
Personal Antithesis You improvise a custom weakness on a creature by forcefully presenting and empowering a piece of esoterica that repels it on an individual level; for instance, against a tyrant, you might procure a broken chain that once held a captive. This causes the target creature, and only the target creature, to gain a weakness against your unarmed and weapon Strikes equal to 2 + half your level.
◆ Stride
◆ Quick Bomber throw Versatile Vile (Acid)
Throw
Persistent Acid Damage (Flat Check DC 15 to end).
1-splash damage to second skeleton
◆ Raise Shield
"Eat this!