Knowledge (planes, dungeoneering or religion)
Ugh. Let's give a try for Wisp .
Probably not.
"The statue's weapon appears separate from the statue, you say? We should go in expecting the statue may be a magical guardian as well that may animate and attack."
It is a demon larva, an evil mortal soul that went to the abyss and starts to become a demon. Depending on its sins during life it will become various demon types. Being on the prime plane it must have been summoned which would stunt its development. For those who have traveled the abyss they say the larva are aggressive but relatively harmless equivalent in danger to a dog.
Saria gets three additional questions.
Doc looks at the creature with disgust, and then returns to report what he sees. He also peers at the statue, trying to determine if it's animate.
"Yeah, I don't reckon we want that thing behind us, that's fer sure! Probably best to just gang up on it. If that statue steps in, we'll need to take it down quick with some heavy blows, though."
** spoiler omitted **
"That's a demon larva. An evil soul in the process of becoming a demon. Aggressive, but not particularly dangerous - no more than a wild dog, most say. Give me a moment to see if I recall anything special about them, and then I say we go ahead and step in."
Lets kill it before it became a Bailout? Bondor? Balar? Something big firey with a vorpal longsword that explodes when it dies because adventurers cannot have nice things! My mother told me these are the worst demons!
It is an abyssal larva, an evil mortal soul that went to the abyss and starts to become a demon. Depending on its sins during life it will become various demon types. Being on the prime plane it must have been summoned which would stunt its development. For those who have traveled the abyss they say the larva are aggressive and moderately dangerous but nothing a crew of 4-6 prepared adventurers should not be able to handle.
maggot spray: abyssal larva can spew a stream of maggots at a single opponent within 20 feet often causing the target to wretch.
Its mind is in torment which makes it aggressive and immune to mind affecting effects.
It has minor resistance to acid, cold, and fire.
"So, huh, a minor correction to my previous assessment." Saria says, apologetically, as she considers the foe behind the door. "I think it's an abyssal larva. Same basic idea, but quite a bit tougher. I think we should be able to face it, as long as we're prepared. Things to watch out for: it can... spew a stream of maggots at someone about 20ft away, which I'm guessing is enough to nauseate whomever it hits. It's pretty aggressive and immune to mind affecting effects, seeing how it's mind is in constant torment. And it should have some minor resistance against acid, cold and fire."
"Very well, then I shall attack it with electricity!"
"Twenty feet or so, understood."
Molasbar readies his bow, and nocks an arrow.
"Indeed, Saria," Cimrôdel continues, his voice both calm and slightly amused, "I have no intention of getting too close to this creature, at least not in the immediate future."
He looks around at the group, clearly weighing his next words carefully. "While you formidable warriors will no doubt want to rush in and deal with the beast head-on, I shall remain at a comfortably heroic distance—where I can observe the creature’s actions, avoid its... well, rather unpleasant maggot-spewing capabilities, and still contribute to its eventual demise."
He gestures toward the others with an open hand. "Once we are prepared and you’ve dealt with the creature’s more immediate attacks, I will begin launching electrical spells from a safe distance. Given the creature’s resistance to acid, cold, and fire, my electric-based spells should bypass those defenses."
Cimrôdel pauses, glancing around at the party with a small, knowing smirk. "I shall do my part, but you all shall certainly lead the charge. I am merely ensuring we are positioned to exploit its weaknesses at range while maintaining a degree of safety."
He steps back slightly, ensuring that he remains well within the comfort zone, clearly content with his strategy. "Shall we proceed, then? The sooner we deal with this threat, the better."
Shathee nods at the discussion and shivers at the thought of the slug-like creature spewing maggots. "Disgusting, he whispers under his breath. "Demons and their kind are not unheard of where I am from, but they are far from common. I assume Aurie and I," he briefly glances at Doc, "and possibly others will try to hold it at bay and melee with it while the others exploit its weaknesses with magic?"
He takes a deep breath and brings a sword into each of his hands. "Sarenrae be with us, he whispers as he steels himself.
I am ready to stab, slash and dice it, but even though its overall shape is subtly reminiscent of an Andoran dish called "Taco" I dont thinks its very edible.
Shathee nudges the door with his foot so that it swings open. The door opens on an octagonal room with a door to the north (yours), east, west, and south. In the center of the room stands a full sized statue of an athletic woman with a furious look on her face holding a ranseur. It seems to be a likeness of the same woman you have noticed in several of the murals throughout the structure. Just behind the statue is a large, about ten feet long, bloated worm like creature with a vaguely humanish face.
Odd to notice at this point in time but you can tell that the ranseur is not part of the statue and could likely be removed.
Surprise (one standard action)
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Shathee 19/19<<<
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Saria 18/25<<<
Cimrodel 18/18<<<
Molasbar 22/22;<<<
"That polearm ain't attached to the statue," Doc mutters. "Odd to notice that at this point in time, I reckon, but there ya go."
He advances behind the others with better armor, his rapier and tankard drawn.
When the door opens, Molasbar quickly sights the larva and aims. He looses an arrow at it before any of the warriors can obscure his line of sight.
To hit , Damage . The arrow is cold iron blanched with silver, if that matters.
Cimrôdel follows the warrior in and finds himself a place 25' away from the beast.
Saria moves forward into the room, figuring her insight into the creature gives her the best chance of evading its attacks. She eyes the creature cautiously and gets ready to defend herself if needed.
Molasbar's arrow goes whizzing into the room and hits the monstrosity but seems to just stick in its outer hide and has no effect.
Surprise (one standard action)
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Aurie 26/26;<<<
Shathee 24/24<<<
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Saria 31/31
Cimrodel 23/23<<<
Molasbar 29/29;
Shathee springs forward and to his right as he darts around the statue. He is wary about the comments that the weapon isn't part of the statue, but he dismisses it with a wary look. The abyssal spawn was definitely more of a concern at the moment.
With a slight flourish, he stabs his mithril shortsword towards the blob of the creature's disgusting body. He was just glad the human-like face was on the other end.
Aha, excellent Saria, was not aware of the stone shield immediate action. It was Shathee and Saria I was wondering about.
Aurie also moves into the room taking a more circuitous route to avoid nips from the beast as she sets up for a flank with Shathee. The dim witted larva seems totally surprised by the influx of beings and is slow to react.
Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Aurie 26/26;<<<
Shathee 24/24<<<
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Saria 31/31<<<
Cimrodel 23/23<<<
Molasbar 29/29;<<<
Larva uninjured
Given the size of the beast, Cimrôdel will target it high up, away from the combatants with an electrified ray of energy...
vs Touch
He will then move himself back out the door, to be slightly further away from the creature and more protected.
Saria moves forward to stand with Aurie and takes a stab at the larva, letting her knowledge of the creature guide her spear to a particularly vulnerable spot.
The little electrical ray zaps the thing causing its skin to ripple where it hits. Then Saria drives her spear into the monster. The head finds good purchase, separating the skin, allowing the spear to drive deep. When she draws her weapon back, black liquid covers the spearhead and oozes from the wound.
Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Aurie 26/26;<<<
Shathee 24/24<<<
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Saria 31/31
Cimrodel 23/23
Molasbar 29/29;<<<
Larva -29 moderately injured
Doc hustles forward to the other side of the larva, swearing under his breath. He stabs at it with his rapier.
Seeing Shathee and Saria lining up on the opposite side of the disgusting slug, he spins and moves around Doc to take full advantage of splitting the creature's attention.
Coming around on the other side of Doc, he plunges his sword into the creature. "Good hit, Saria! Bring it down!
Aurie rushes in!
BLYAD
And fails completely!
Cursing, incidently in Abyssal, as she does so.
Doc moves up and punctures the bag of vileness and then Shathee slides up beside him and punctures the thing as well. Black ooze flows from the punctures, the creature lets out a huge sigh, and maggots spill from its mouth onto the floor. In a quick moment it seems to deflate before the assembled group.
"A most impressive effort, everyone!" Cimrôdel begins, his tone both appreciative and academic. "The coordination and precision in your movements were most effective. That creature hardly stood a chance."
He pauses for a moment, as if preparing for a lecture. "Allow me to offer a more scholarly evaluation of our results."
Cimrôdel motions toward the creature's remains, particularly the maggots now littering the floor. "The Abyssal larva—fascinating, in its own twisted way. Clearly, the creature had been a breeding ground for these maggots, an essential part of its life cycle. These maggots, while a horrific spectacle, are likely a necessary phase in the larva's natural growth. It's not unusual for certain demonic or abyssal creatures to use maggots or other vermin in this way, accelerating the decomposition of organic matter to nourish their larvae."
He crouches down slightly to get a better look at the creatures squirming about. "The maggots themselves are not just a nuisance, but likely a form of biological weaponry. As the larva deflates, they spill out and potentially carry with them the creature's vile energies. This is no random occurrence; the maggots could have been meant to overwhelm or weaken us over time, should we have engaged with the larva long enough."
After a moment, Cimrôdel stands up and surveys the group. "In any case, it seems we've handled it with remarkable efficiency. I commend your tactical approach—timely, yet with enough room for flair."
He gives a small nod of approval before continuing. "For the record, I may have spoken too soon about how electrical energy would be most effective against such creatures, but I see it was well chosen. A creature that exudes biological filth like that is bound to be susceptible to certain elemental energies, even if their resistance to typical energies is considerable."
Cimrôdel takes a step back, admiring the group's work. "In conclusion, while the maggots certainly posed an immediate threat in terms of overwhelming force, our swift response neutralized it. I think we can safely say that, for now, the worst is behind us." He offers a final appreciative glance to the party. "Well done, everyone."
Molasbar will case detect magic and detect poison on the statue and the remains of the slug.
Molasbar finds that the Ranseur is magical. Upon closer inspection you even find it is made of cold iron. However, the statue has a tight grip on it.
The statue is of Runelord Alaznist, Runelord of Wrath.
Knowledge (history)
Saria looks with disgust at the ooze still dripping from her spear, and tries to shake some of it off, without the success she'd hoped for. With a shrug, she turns her attention to the ranseur the statue is holding, trying to help the others in identifying its properties.
Right, I totally planned not hitting that thing so my blade doesnt get goop on it
Aurie says
Nah, who am I kidding, great job everyone but me! She continues with a smile
Huh, that redhead is so aggressively angry it is actively unattractive.
Shathee wipes the black ichor off of his silvered blade on the base of the statue of the strange woman.
He then sees Molasbar looking intently at the weapon and sees the statue is holding on to it tightly. "Let me see if I can wiggle the ranseur free."
Cimrôdel will also try and identify the weapon...
+2 to ID magic item properties
Shathee works and works at the thing using a spit and a lot of elbow grease and finally wriggles the ranseur free. Cimrodel confirms it is a minor combat enchantment (it counts as magical and its damage die is increased to 2d6).
"Nicely done, Shathee. Is this weapon something one of you can use? I'm neither experienced with these kinds of weapons, nor strong enough to use it effectively even if I was."
Saria looks around the room at the three doors, shrugs, and heads towards the southern one, trying to make sure it's safe.
"Shall we press on, then? Any preferences on which way to go?"
Saria hears nothing. Checking the other doors for sound Saria hears nothing either. Working alongside her, Shathee finds no traps or locks on any of the doors.
After she and Shathee do what they can to ensure all the doors are apparently safe, Saria ponders their choice for a moment, shrugs, and moves back to the southern one. She opens and looks through it, her spear at the ready just in case there's something dangerous on the other side.