Sebastian stands still just smiling.
Ustemir leans towards Shae. "So, uh... What are they saying?"
"Something about a Dwarf ghost down that way, and then a well-guarded elevator that's also trapped, and something called a Forge Guardian. Standard dungeon stuff to get to some Kings throne room".
Stepnik casually explains as he fiddles with his vials and reagents making sure he's ready to continue.
Ascaede nods at Stepnik’s summary.
”Kerrdremak not only provided extremely specific directions to approach Merlokrep’s chambers directly once we pass down through the elevator, but he also provides us with the services of Vrerkrik…though I am uneasy with the mode of service. Essentially, Vrerkrik appears to have been Kerrdremak’s enemy and/or prisoner, and is now….ours…”
Pacing toward Vrerkrik, Ascaede addresses the pitiful creature in Draconic.
Ascaede then explains to the group.
”I told Vrerkrik to lead us to Mighty Merlokrep, and that we would tell Merlokrep how his loyal servant…served us. I must admit, I am none too pleased to now be Vrerkrik’s mistress in bondage…”
Vrerkrik picks himself up off the floor, and after glancing down at the body of his fallen mate, bravely lifts his gaze to meet Ascaede's, and spit at her feet.
The captive kobold then squirms a bit and continues:
Perception (Sense Motive).
Stepnik scowls at the squirming spitter and steps off to look at the interesting slag and blood in the east.
Perception search stuff.
I think we need to tie this one up. WAedin observes. Can someone patch up the pick gash on me before we get going further in?
Ascaede attempts to stem the flow of blood from the doughty dwarf's wounds, to no avail.
The acolyte then tries to heal her own wounds...with even less acumen.
Scowling at her own lack of ability, she takes one of Stepnik's elixirs and drinks it...
"Well, is someone else among us able to treat Waedin? And Waedin - do you wish to investigate this "Dwarven Ghost"?
The Bard points at the Alchemist.
Stepnik has his Versatile Vials that he can continuously use.
Ustemir looks about. "I was planning on resting a bit and licking our wounds. If we have time now."
Then he looks at the kobold. "Well, they did try to kill us, so..."
He shrugs. "I know it sounds cruel, but we either let him go or we don't. And I'm not lugging him around."
Ascaede makes a face, either of distaste or weariness. She points at the kobold prisoner with the handle of her blade.
”We tie his hands. He can walk as he is able. If he attempts to flee then we…deal with him. Or Kolek does…” she offers as a compromise between Waedin and Ustemir’s wishes…
The lizard is definitely going to call out and warn their friends. So whoever is tying them up better gag 'im
"Yes. Here. Take as many as you need".
Waedin drinks one of Stepnik's concoctions, rests for 10 minutes and is good to go.
Let's be careful about all of this and just clear the place room by room. We'll check out the Dwarf Ghost when we run into it. I'm just trying to find this Wizard person who left that little girl alone.
The drommar sighs and raises his hand. "I think it just complicates things. For instance... this elevator you mention can supposedly only move one person at a time. After that, the kobold will surely alert his friends when we approach." Ustemir pats his knees and shrugs. "As far as I can see it. And we can't let him run either. We are in their territory now. The kobolds may have secret passages all around. It's either knocked out or dead."
He pulls out his blade. "From a practical standpoint, I choose the latter."
Once Kerrdremak leaves, the question remains what to do with the prisoner.
Stepnik can tell this Vrerkrik is obviously lying about the route directly to the north.
Meanwhile, Ascaede tries to tend to the wounded, but is unsuccessful.
Luckily, Stepnik whisks up some more healing droughts.
Meanwhile, Vrerkrik is restrained, hands bound, and gagged. While the group debates about what to do with their new prisoner, Stepnik takes it upon himself to explore further the room to the east.
He enters the room with the glowing pit of molten slag and blood, but his eyes water and sting from the heat and soot which hangs heavy in the air, and he doesn't notice the strange beaked wormlike creature crawling out from the vent in the ceiling above.
As Stepnik wanders off, Ustemir gets an uneasy feeling.
Ustemir turns around to see the creature squeezing itself through something that seems like a hole in the ceiling. "Stepnik! Above you!" he runs to the creature, drawing is blades and getting ready to defend.
◆ Manipulate Draw weapon, ◆ Manipulate Draw weapon, ◆ Stride
Vrerkrik, being bound and surrounded, remains still for now.
The wormlike creature clings to the ceiling and lashes out at Ustemir with long tentacles.
Well, this time it's Ustemir's turn to wade into battle and immediately fall unconscious.
The terrible wormlike creature eyes? Ustemir's bleeding form hungrily.
Sebastian watches the Darkness pile drive the Orc into submission! Winces with each tentacle touch, the Bard immediately casts Soothe !
The Bard then Inspires!
Grah! Garna protect us in this death trap!
Waedin thomps in, smacks and raises her shield.
Of a sudden, Stepnik was…gone. And then, sounds. Then, upon more suddens, likewise were Ustemir, Kolek and Waedin gone, and a creature appeared, and then suddenly, Ustemir was down. Only for Sebastian, also gone, but now there, to revive Ustemir. Ascaede blinks quickly. And rushes to the fray…slashing at the strange beast…
◆Stride ◆ Step ◆ Strike
◆ Quick Alchemy - Frost Vial
Strike (Use Bomber so not damage to allies).
Cold Damage, +1(+1?) Splash damage, -5 Speed penalty
◆◆ CAST Electric Arc (Basic Reflex DC18)
Electric Damage
Sebastien provided Ustemir with some soothing words that magically heals his wounds. Well, some of them. Our half-orc springs back into the terrible, horrifying world of consciousness!
Waedin wades into danger, wielding her magical maul turned warhammer against the tentacled worm. Sebastien kindly reminds her of his inspiring words, and she whacks the hardened hide of the creature.
Ascaede is right behind her, her sword likewise cutting through the tough hide, although its flesh seems resistant to her blade.
Stepnik overthrows an icy bottle at the creature in hopes of slowing it down. The splash seems to have no effect.
He then follows up with an flashy spell.
The creature is shocked. SHOCKED!
It squirms and thrashes about, realizing this meal isn't as easy as it thought.
Vrerkrik glances at Kolek, and decides it's better to not end up as bear food. He remains still and waits to see how this fight turns out.
"Kolek!" Ustemir regains his wits and shouts for his fuzzy friend. As he does that, he attempts to kick the creature from the floor. Kolek charges from the hall and snaps his jaws at the thing.
Ustemir: ◆ Command Animal, ◆ Hunt Prey, ◆ Strike
Kolek: ◆ Stride 25ft, ◆ Strike
Kolek loyally obeys Ustemir's command and rushes to his master's aid. Ustemir tries to pull off one of those fancy capoeira kicks, but he's no monk. Luckily, Kolek leaps up, bearing his fangs and viciously bites into the thick skinned tentacle worm, bringing it down to the ground with his weight, his jaws crushing into the creatures brainpan. Sickly purple ichor gushes from between Kolek's jaws, and everyone should be struck dumb with awe/terror.
Vrerkrik sulks in his binds.
Sebastian watches on his bardic heart overwhelmed by such courage.
"Good boy." Ustemir lays flat on his back as he rests for a few seconds before slowly standing up. "If you like the taste, eat up." he pats Kolek, and adds a quiet "And hope you can digest it." to the party. He picks up his blades and walks back to the kobold to stop him from having any ideas. Having the kobol in sight, he turns to the party again.
"It got me good. Do you mind if we rest for a bit? I need to lick my wounds."
Yeah we should do that. Good bite on ya Kolek!
"Here. Take a couple of these".
Stepnik hands Ustimir a couple of Elixers of Life.
Ustemir takes them, but looks at them curiously. What if we need these later? I can try to bandage my wounds. A bit. I mean it got me pretty good, but that just comes with the job."
Sebastian nods in affirmation.
Ustemir shrugs. And chugs down three vials between his bandaging.
"That hits the spot. Nice job, Stepnik. Thank you."
I believe I still have 1 damage remaining, but I'm fine with that for sake of saving time.
Ustemir tends to his own wounds under the red light of the strange glowing pit of molten slag and sizzling blood.
With the vicious tentacled worm terminated, you have an exit from this chamber to the north. However, Vrerkrik is urging you north from the monolith room, while Kerdremak had suggested you go west first before proceeding north. What's your next move?
Let's go West. I'd much rather trust someone whose dirty work we're doing rather than this little fanatic
RK: Religion (Using Crafters Appraisal Feat)
"This is powered by some ancient magic. It might be possible to silence it by using either some holy inspiration, or perhaps a little slight of hand... neither of which is my strength".
Sebastian approaches the strange forge. The Bard begins taking out his Thieves Tools.
I am only Trained, so if someone is an Expert? I can also Inspire Competence too.
Once he is done cleaning up the blood, Ustemir walks up to the monolith and ponders the inner workings of it and how to disrupt them.
With Stepnik's suggestion, Ustemir takes a look at the mechanisms of the forge, and figures out how to disable it, for the time being it seems.
Once that is taken care of, the group heads west and arrives at a set of double doors, where Kerrdremak warned a Ghost Dwarf resides. To you can see the hallway connects to where you had chased Vrerkrik down before Kerrdremak dragged him back. Oh, and speaking of Vrerkrik, you drag him along, bound and gagged.
Ascaede looks to Waedin.
”Do we investigate? This isn’t exactly our dedicated mission, but I have found that gaining as much intelligence as possible is crucial to a well rounded execution…”
I ain't afraid of no ghost!
"Not scared, but I don't know about any of this ghost stuff, so I'm not sure whether I can be helpful. I'm not stopping you, if that's what you wanted to know." Ustemir shrugs.
I think we need to clear out as much as possible. So let's go through the doors. And wasn't someone looking for a Dwarf who disappeared a while ago? Seems like this Ghost might be him.
The party pushes through the double doors and enters into a long room that extends northward. It appears to be a barracks or dormitory, with bed-frames and wooden trunks lining the western wall. Dust and cobwebs cover the ancient furniture, yet the stone floor seems strangely immaculately polished and clean.
As you enter into the room, you hear a strange hissing sound from the north end of the room. Looking in that direction, you see the image of a dwarven skeleton, bedecked in armor and holding a battleaxe high, glowing in a pale green light, floating a good foot off of the ground and slowly creeping towards you.
A few of you (Sebastien, Stepnik, and Waedin) recently had a showdown with a ghost just a few days ago, and... something seems different about this one...
You notice the skeleton does not seem animated by itself, but rather suspended in a 10ft cube of clear gelatin, illuminated from within by the glowing axe blade.
As the door opens and the skeleton hovers closer, Ustemir pulls out his two blades. "I'm not saying it's aggressive, but it doesn't seem overly friendly either. If you want to try talking, I suppose this is the time."
◆ Seek Perception
◆ Stride (Leap up on bed)
◆ Strike (Throw Alchemist Fire).
Throw
Fire, +1 Persistent, +1 Splash (Using Bomber to only do splash to target).
Stepnik lobs a bomb across the long hall and it explodes in fire, however, not on its intended target. Instead, the flames lick up the side of a transparent gelatinous cube.