|
Nicky passed on the information of what he sees to the others
There's two doors that stem off this room. Daehalya appears to be heading towards the northern section.
The Iron grating pillars looks really funky. I'm thinking this room is dangerous.
Nicky covers Daehalya with his crossbow.
He looks further at the room.
|
|
Much like the mass to the south that you bypassed by way of the bridge, Nicholo notices something od about this as well.
Demonic vegetation has crept into this filtration system and grown into a monstrous mass. It looks eager to absorb new nutrients and becomes more active the closer you draw to it.
"Perhaps that's another trial -- or something we need to deal with to get to a trial," Daehalya says. "I think there's only one way to find out, unfortunately."
Once everyone is prepared, she braces herself and moves toward the demonic vines.
|
|
The slurry of the clog slowly unheaves itself as Daehalya draws ever closer. It makes a wet plop as its main form falls free to the ground. Vines pulling around every crack and crevice.
A vine lurches out from the side to grab ahold of Daehalya.
The vine wraps tightly around her chest and squeezes hard making it difficult to breathe.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
The Clog
➤ Onye
⠀⠀➤ Uhu
➤ Nicholo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Alvarius
➤ Grundle
HP 83/83
AC 25 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +11, Ref +17, Will +12 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 3
Deviant backlash DC: 5
Effects:
Despite expecting exactly what happened, Daehalya still doesn't react quickly enough when the clog attacks.
Moments after Daehalya is grabbed by the mass of vines, the amurun chants the words of transformation. White mist envelops him and recedes even as the giant hunting cat bounds toward the carnivorous plant. Or demigod.
|
|
Damn it! Vines, why did it have to be vines! I'm standing here holding a crossbow and rapier-- when I really need an axe or machete!
◆ Recall knowledge - occult. +14. Arcana +14
◆◆ Devise a stratagem
Piercing - +1 Crossbow of striking.
Maybe I can shoot into the body of that glob, vs trying to cut the vines.
◆◆◆ Shoot/Strike
Drop crossbow.
Alvarius takes a couple careful steps forward, hands making arcane gestures that cause crackling electricity to form betweek his skeletal fingertips. With a quick movement he hurls the arcing lightning toward the... otyugh?
|
|
Onye envelops into mist as he transforms inot his more powerful form, moving in to protect Daehalya. Nicholo looks for his machete and finds that he left it many miles away at home.
Nicholo immediately recognizes this strange abomination as an otyugh! The demonic presence over the centuries as leeched into the clogged plant-life giving it some semblence of life and a thirst for nutrients as this Lord of sewers and ditchs seems hungry and surprisingly not very talkative. The vine-like appendages are generally weak against slashing weapons unlike his rapier.
He aims his crossbow at the central mass and misses as the bolt breaks against a nearby pillar.
Daehalya barely manages to wriggle free from the chocking grasp as she tries to swat her staff at the foe.
Alvarius manages to send a small shocking bolt across the wet mass.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
The Clog
Onye
⠀⠀Uhu
Nicholo
Daehalya
Alvarius
➤ Grundle
|
|
It's an Otyugh! Man o' man. I don't have my machete. I promise upon promises that I'm going to get myself a magical belt that gives me superhuman strength and I'm going to buy and carry a slew of weapons on my person. Be ready for any creature at anytime.
Even though common sense would dictate that I couldn't possibly sit down or tumble or anything with so many protruding weapons. I promise on promises, that's what I'm gonna do if I survive this creature!
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"This creature, a grotesque lord of filth and decay, embodies the corruption that has seeped into this forsaken place over centuries. Its form is both a testament to resilience and a manifestation of the horrors that thrive in the shadows.
"Observe its vine-like appendages—sluggish, unrefined, yet eager to ensnare. If we are to confront this abomination, let our blades be sharp and decisive, our strikes swift and relentless. The otyugh hungers, but let it learn that those who descend into the depths of rot may find themselves consumed not by appetite, but by the resolve of those who refuse to be its prey."
Grundle looks for the sharpest debris he can find and hurls it at the trash demon.
He then sends an Amped Message to Onye. Now is your chance! Strike!
...Or Stride. Or Shove...or Trip...
Amp Heightened (4th) The target of the message can choose to Shove, Strike, or Trip with its reaction instead.
As his body quickens under Grundle's magical prompting, the giant cheetah slashes at the carnivorous vegetable.
Daehalya ducks away from the otyugh. "Ugh!" she groans as she realizes what they're facing.
|
|
Grundle's debris misses the trashy demon but it does give Onye a chance to strike. His claws scrap across the carnivorous vegetable but it gets caught and is resisted slightly.
The vines grab onto the pillars dragging the clog further into the room as it bites at Onye.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
The Clog
➤ Onye
⠀⠀➤ Uhu
➤ Nicholo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Alvarius
➤ Grundle
The spotted hunting cat attempts to entangle and trip the mass of vegetation with erratic and unpredictable steps while he bites and claws at the tenacious mass of vines.
HP 43/83
AC 25 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +11, Ref +17, Will +12 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 3
Deviant backlash DC: 5
Effects:
Daehalya steps back forward and lashes out with her staff, trying to knock the clog free.
Alvarius intones the works to a spell, creating a clawed spectral hand. The hand flies out toward the otyugh, slashes at it, and then fades from view.
Alas, there's not much strength in the attack. "Drat!"
The vine-like appendages are generally weak against slashing weapons unlike his rapier.
His claws scrap across the carnivorous vegetable but it gets caught and is resisted slightly. Resist Slashing 5
The demon plant's unexpected resistance to the slashing of claws sends Grundle's fragile psyche into a tailspin.
(Unleash Psyche)
He first attempts to mend Daehalya's wounds through some benevolent gaslighting ("Are you sure it even got you?")
◆ Restore the Mind (regain 16 hp)
He then releases his violent thoughts into a violent burst of psychic energies
◆ Psi Burst
And finally sends a Message to Daehalya, "You do you"
◆ Amped Message
HP 59/83
AC 25 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +11, Ref +17, Will +12 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 3
Deviant backlash DC: 5
Effects:
Feeling much better, Daehalya lashes out again at the creature at Grundle's urging. This blow seems far more effective!
|
|
Grabbing the acid flask he has, Nicky tries to use the timing of him hitting this creature to give Daehalya a better opening to strike.
◆ Devise a Stratagem with shared stratagem.
If success, Shared Stratagem The creature is off guard vs. Daehalya.
◆ ◆ Ranged strike with an acid flask.
If crit, damage times 2+ double pers damage.
◆ ◆ ◆ Dazzling Feint from my Glamourous Buckler
◇ ◈ Faint -
I hit that thing RIGHT in the ba-boom-badoom!
|
|
Onye catches te slower moving Clog completely off guard as he pounces left then right. His mighty jaws and claws sinking into the strange demonic tainted presence, though not as deep as he would have hoped.
Nicholo grabs a flask and flings it inot the mass of vines and necrotic plant-life. It sizzles and pops but ultimately doesn't seem to care. The glamorous buckler distracts the Clog, but only momentarily.
Daehalya manages to knock the Clog over and trip it for a brief moment. Her first attack misses but she feels Grundle give her a message and is able to connect the second time.
A mysterious spectral hand leaps from the shadows, tries to gouge the Clog and misses. This sends Grundle into a bit of a tailspin as Alvarius casts his spell a vine lashes out at the undead.
The vine smacks Alvarius and rocks his skull around the base of his neck sending it spinning.
Grundle releases a violent outburst of psychic energy that batters the Clog and heals Daehalya slighty.
Nearly half a dozen vines burst loose from the damage as the Clog goes on a rampage targeting Onye and getting back to its feet.
Onye dodges the attacks as he strikes back into the Clog with a bit of retribution from hitting Alvarius.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
The Clog
➤ Onye
⠀⠀➤ Uhu
➤ Nicholo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Alvarius
➤ Grundle
HP 59/83
AC 25 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +11, Ref +17, Will +12 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 3
Deviant backlash DC: 5
Effects:
Daehalya continues to move around the clog, staff trailing as she tangles vines before pulling at it to send the thing back to the ground and following up with another blow!
Alvarius flickers eerily as the attack comes at him...
... and he is spared from being hit!
Deciding that he doesn't like being so close, Alvarius takes a careful step back before hurling more magic at the otyugh.
With the vegetation's attention split, the giant cheetah pounces upon it with a growl enhanced by a flare of flame in his eyes and a roar of wind whipping around his body.
|
|
Everything I do, doesn't seem to affect it. It's kinda frustrating. I will instead pull out a healing potion and prep it to give to someone. Maybe I can divert it's attention and soak up a vine swipe.
◆ Pull out a potion of moderate healing.
◆◆ Stride into combat range.
◆◆◆ Raise Shield. Prepping the buckler.
|
|
Onye is unabe to demoralize the clog of vegetation and fungus and instead resorts to biting and clawing into it with ferocity. Nicholo readies himself with some potions from the sfety of his position.
Daehalya is able to keep the demonic moss prone as she clobbers it with her staff where Alvarius' electricity is able to make it stop pulsatig for good.
With the clog defeated, you spot two arrows poking out of its central mass. Both are pieces of spellstrike ammunition type III—one arrow already holds a spell of earthbind, but the other is empty.
The giant cat fades into mist and leaves the amurrun behind. "The beast was decidedly unpleasant," he comments. "Let Onye Dinta tend to the wounds."
"Yes, and while it was a test, I think I was wrong -- it wasn't one of these tests we were looking for down here," Daehalya agrees. "But" -- she holds up the arrows -- "it appears our efforts won't go unrewarded."
She waits for everyone to be ready to proceed, including her own bruises, and then sets out again to find the god's tests.
|
|
Like the Howlingblood Well, this simple cylindrical chamber resembles the bottom of a dry well except for an ominous cloaked statue along the southern wall.
This well shrine is inhabited by the Sarkorian god Enaaku, last called upon by the god caller Jaki Allriver. As in the other two extant well shrines, the god manifests in a spectral form as soon as Sakuachi approaches the statue. Enaaku resembles a horse‑sized silver ferret with the horns of a ram and large, furry moth wings. Two ice-rimed entities shaped like owls emerge from behind its wings. "You must prove yourself worthy and tested as a God Caller." The trio immediately attack.
The rush of spiritual energy pushes oppresively against everyone in the room.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Test of the Godcaller
➤ Onye
⠀⠀➤ Uhu
➤ Nicholo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Alvarius
➤ Grundle
Aspect of Ruun (Red)
Aspect of Ruun (Green)
The amurrun grimaces beneath his mask under the spiritual onslaught, though he weathers it well.
He interposes himself between the owl-like beings of frost and his tribe. Then he attempts to assuage the angered spirit.
HP 68/83
AC 25 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +11, Ref +17, Will +12 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 3
Deviant backlash DC: 5
Effects:
Daehalya winces as the spiritual energy hits her but chooses to deal with the seemingly more imminent threats, moving toward Ruul's aspects. She jabs at the red one to disrupt its flight, then swings her staff around in an arc to hit it again
|
|
I was going over my assertion that the last creature was an Otyugh. I firmly believe I was wrong. Big-Time Sorry to all my peeps for that wrong call.
But these things- They are Owls. I know it. Buff owls, but Owls.
I can use the rapier against Owls.
DC 25
Nicky tries to work out how to appease the GodCaller.
◆ DC 27.
◆◆He then advances on the Big owls. Stride.
◆ ◆ ◆ Shameless Request!
Aspect of Ruul! I demand that you submit to your betters! As a proper GodCaller, we don't need to be subject to trials and tribulations. Submit and take your proper place so we can defeat the true enemy- The demon!
.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Seeing Nicky struggle to appease the Godcaller, Alvarius tries to find the right, different words to quiet the spirit.
"Hey, ugly spirit! You're not here, so you've got no power!
He then erects a magical shield. "Look, sometimes you got to piss things off to get results."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Grundle is surprisingly resilient to the spiritual force in spite of his tiny old weird body.
"Something about this horned giant silver ferret with moth wings is...unusual."
He then attempts to haunt the haunt.
"As the air quivers with your presence, Enaaku, I name you as you are known in the forgotten tongues, in the whispers of the void: Zarrek-Thar, the Veiled Hunger, whose shadow devours the moonlight. By the scrolls of Ashen Khalith, you are called the Warden of Splintered Realms, whose wings carry the dust of forgotten eons. I have read of your dominion in the tomes of Karesh Dhu, where the ink bleeds the color of despair and speaks of the blackened fields of Ekranoth, where time itself fractures beneath your tread.
You are the Herald of the Pallid Spiral, the Sower of Discord Among the Stars. Yours is the breath that chills the hearts of dreamers, the horned scourge whose path leaves even the immortal undone. I name the Silent Hive of Krythian Hollow, your birthplace, a realm of ceaseless whispers where the very soil writhes with torment. I have glimpsed your kind in the cursed reflections of the Lamented Lake, where reality bends to the will of your kin, and all who gaze upon it are lost.
Enaaku, creature of dread and majesty, know that I have seen your end prophesied in the Hymns of Shattered Light. The silver of your form tarnishes, the wings that defy gravity will falter, and the worlds you haunt will turn against you. You are not eternal. Your power wanes as all do who clutch the essence of the void too tightly. Flee now, or face the tide of inevitability, for even gods meet their reckoning in time."
Critical Success The target becomes confused for 1 round and frightened 1.
Success The target becomes frightened 1.
Failure The target is unaffected.
Critical Failure You get overly caught up in your own words and become frightened 1.
If I have a hero point, I may spend it on that last roll.
|
|
Onye interposes himself in between the spiritual owls as the oppresive forces press down on his body. He stares back into the spirits letting them know he won't be backing down.
Nicholo feels the God Caller's true might as he is nearly pressed to the ground offering his rediculous request and demands.
Daehalya is able to bring one of the owls down to the ground though it seems her staff blow slows considerably as it enters the spiritual form.
Grundle and ALvarius work the Occult together. The air itself quivers as your words cause Enaaku’s phantasmal manifestation to cease its attack and calmly regard Sakuachi as she steps forward. "I offer up my favorite furs. I earned them during my first successful seal hunt as a teenager." She removes her furs and lays them before the satiated spirit. Her offering is accepted as both the spirit and furs turn to small motes of light disappearing into the statue once more.
Sakuachi turns to you and looks exhausted. "Two down." Her hand shakes slightly bu she seems eager to continue.
The catfolk nods to Sakuachi and then looks to the others. "Gather round and Onye Dinta will tend the wounds."
Daehalya moves toward Onye, eager for her wounds to be healed, though her gaze strays to the other door. "I wonder if the next test will be in there. I feel like this was almost more than we could manage, but I suppose we don't really have a choice."
|
|
With a few gentle touches from Onye you leve the chamber. As the door closes behind you the room fills with water, emptying even more of the central chamber.
Heading north you enter another shrine, fulling expecting a third test of the Godcaller.
The fiery griffon god Posololo, last called upon by the god caller Gennin Wintersun, inhabits this well shrine. As soon as Sakuachi approaches the statue, the god awakens.
The room fills with ice as a pair of ice rimmed owls emerge from the statue's base, pulsating powerful energy from the core.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Test of the Godcaller
➤ Onye
⠀⠀➤ Uhu
➤ Nicholo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Alvarius
➤ Grundle
Aspect of Ruun (Red)
Aspect of Ruun (Green)
|
|
Nicky is not at all happy with Cold. He has fire hand beams, so a GodCaller of cold is NOT his favorite peep.
Will Save DC 25
He also thinks about how the God's history and Gennin Wintersun might work to solve this challenge.
DC 27
As the power of the creature washes into him and hurts Nicky, he exclaims.
Sakuachi! Isn't this the point where you donate your skivvies or some odd thing? This Godly protector seems fairly powerful!
HP 69/83
AC 25 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +11, Ref +17, Will +12 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 3
Deviant backlash DC: 5
Effects:
She winces as the god's appearance still manages to catch her by surprise, despite thinking she'd prepared herself.
"Like before, some of you try to calm this god, while we keep the owls from killing you," Daehalya says, elf stepping toward the nearest bird, staff flashing.