"Ah, the ranseur," Cimrôdel remarks as he examines the weapon more closely. "It is indeed a minor combat enchantment. The blade hums with a faint arcane energy, and I can confirm it appears to do increased damage die. This means it will likely prove most effective against tougher opponents."
He pauses, looking over the party as the discussion turns toward the next steps. "Now, as for our course of action..." he continues, "Given the nature of this ancient Thassilonian place, I propose we move to the left—through the eastern passage."
Cimrôdel points to the door in question. "Thassilonian architecture often incorporates symmetrical design principles, with the left passageway frequently aligning with key locations—be it vaults of knowledge or areas of significance. This might lead us to something crucial for our continued success."
He gives the group a nod of encouragement. "I believe this is the most logical approach, though, of course, we should proceed with caution."
"Well, you're the expert on Thassilonian ruins, Cimrôdel. Me, I was just going to pick a door at random, figured we'd end up trying them all anyway. If you say east is the way to go, then let's try that one first."
Saria moves away from the southern door to the eastern one, opening it and peering beyond, alert for any danger.
Saria steps forward to the eastern door and the other stack up with her, prepared for what lays beyond. When she opens the door it reveals a 10 wide hallway that runs for about twenty-five feet before opening on room overlooking a set of stairs leading down. Standing in the room, directly across from the door are two skeletal shapes with limp muscle or skin that hangs off them like wax. They are both armed with spears and come alert when the door opens.
Nupperibo: low level, mindless, devil used by other devils as basic minions and guards.
DR 5/Good
Immune to fire and mind affecting effects.
"Ah, yes, these creatures," Cimrôdel says, his voice calm but clearly filled with knowledge. "What we have here are Nupperibo—low-level, mindless devils often used by other, more powerful devils as minions or guards. Their physical forms are weak, and they are typically little more than animated skeletons with remnants of decayed flesh hanging loosely from their bones."
He gestures toward the creatures, observing their stance. "They're immune to fire and, as you'd expect from their fiendish nature, they are resistant to certain types of damage, especially from non-magical attacks, except from Good sources. We should keep in mind that they are immune to mind-affecting magic as well, which makes them difficult to manipulate with standard enchantments or illusions."
Cimrôdel tilts his head slightly. "They're not particularly intelligent, so expect them to behave in a simple, aggressive manner. A straightforward combat approach should suffice, but we must remain mindful of their fiendish resistance. I trust we will all be ready to handle them accordingly."
"Well, at least they ain't lemurs," mutters Doc. "I read about a Pathfinder who got eviscerated by a devil lemur. Nasty big eyes. I'm guessin' we don't got anythin' to make our weapons good? Well, then I guess we just got to do as much damage as possible."
"Electric it is then!"
I am ready to roll
Aurie announces
Stacked at the door with Saria and Shathee up front both Doc and Molasbar are the quickest to assess the situation and prepare to take action. Aurie is a bit slower as she ponders an appropriate quip.
Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Molasbar 29/29;<<<
Saria 31/31<<<
Shathee 24/24<<<
Cimrodel 23/23<<<
Nupperibo Uninjured / uninjured
Aurie 26/26;
"Doesn't seem to be much room for all of us in this hallway. They seem to have noticed us, and if they're not particularly smart, why don't we lure them out here and prepare to strike as they charge? Probably best if we move a bit back from the door, so we all have enough room to attack."
Doc nods. "Good thinkin'," he says, and backs up to try and strike at the devils as they emerge from the doorway. He gives Aurie a better position, since she is more likely to deal damage than he.
"Agreed!"
Cimrôdel will ready to hit one with a "ray of electricity" when the first one gets within 30'.
vs Touch
Shathee keeps his swords in his hands and stands readied by the door.
Molasbar pulls back his bow, aims past Aurie and targets the devil before her.
To hit , Damage , cold iron with silver blanche arrow.
Edit: Alas, concern over hitting Aurie accidently causes his arrow to go wide.
Cimrodel's ball of electricity scores a mark on the chest of one of the devils just as Molasbar's arrow skips off the hide of the other. Then the two devils hustle down the hall but Aurie is just transfixed or indecisive and doesn't step back in time. Either way, the two jab their spears at her, one finding purchase (dmg 4). Saria, ready for their assault, hits the devil on the left but her weapon barely gets penetration. Without the devil coming into the room Shathee does not have a good angle of attack and his sword skips off the doorframe. Doc finds himself just out of reach as the creatures stop in the hall. (Technically, I think Doc could take a 5' step and then make his readied attack but it misses anyway)
From the sides of the far room, two more devils appear and make their way down the hall as well.
Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36
Molasbar 29/29;
Saria 31/31
Shathee 24/24
Cimrodel 23/23
Nupperibo -3 moderately injured / uninjured / uninjured / uninjured
Aurie 22/26;<<<
DEVILS! VIVE LA REPUBLICQUE DE LA GALT
Aurie Bloodrages. While she was born in Galt, she didnt grow up there, which in Galts case greatly increases the degree of patriotism she feels for that nation.
Aurie goes all out, accurate strikes slicing into the creature in front of her
Aurie's falcata cuts deeply into the body of the one beforehand but it remains standing. Then she follows up with her mithral dagger which cuts through their flesh like normal. Her slice takes the thing in the neck and totally removes its head.
Round 2
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Molasbar 29/29;<<<
Saria 31/31<<<
Shathee 24/24<<<
Cimrodel 23/23<<<
Nupperibo -3 moderately injured / uninjured / uninjured / uninjured
Aurie 22/26;
Cimrôdel will fire another Electric Ray at one of the ones in the back.
vs Touch
Cimrodel's tiny lightning bolt takes the lead devil in the chest leaving a singe mark.
Round 2
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Molasbar 29/29;<<<
Saria 31/31<<<
Shathee 24/24<<<
Cimrodel 23/23
Nupperibo -3 moderately injured / uninjured / uninjured
Aurie 22/26;
Molasbar shoots another arrow into the melee.
To hit , damage
Molasbar's arrow strikes the lead creature but skips off its dense hide.
Round 2
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Molasbar 29/29;
Saria 31/31<<<
Shathee 24/24<<<
Cimrodel 23/23
Nupperibo -3 moderately injured / uninjured / uninjured
Aurie 22/26;
Saria takes another stab at the devil in front of her, hoping to at least soften it up for the others to bring down.
Saria gives the lead monster a good jab poking a hole in it and causing it to leak a dark reddish ichor.
Round 2
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Molasbar 29/29;
Saria 31/31
Shathee 24/24<<<
Cimrodel 23/23
Nupperibo -5 critically injured / uninjured / uninjured
Aurie 22/26;
Shathee swipes at the fiend with both of his weapons, hoping to cut through and drop these foul creatures.
Shathee cuts down the front devil.
Round 2
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Molasbar 29/29;
Saria 31/31
Shathee 24/24
Cimrodel 23/23
Nupperibo uninjured / uninjured
Aurie 22/26;
Doc grumbles at the change of plan, and draws his crossbow instead. He loads it with a bolt and prepares to fire next turn.
Being the mindless drones that they are the devils do not use any tactics but merely continue straight on toward the team. Aurie receives both attacks. The first she parries and her return attack cuts the monster down. The second she sidesteps and avoids the spearhead.
Round 2
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Molasbar 29/29;
Saria 31/31
Shathee 24/24
Cimrodel 23/23
Nupperibo uninjured
Aurie 22/26;<<<
Round 3
Arodus 14, 4712
2130, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Doc adams 36/36<<<
Molasbar 29/29;<<<
Saria 31/31<<<
Shathee 24/24<<<
Cimrodel 23/23<<<
Nupperibo uninjured
Aurie 22/26;
"Well done, everyone! Let's see if we can bring this one down as well!"
Saria thrusts her spear at the remaining devil, hoping the combined attacks of the party are enough to bring it down before it can harm anyone.
Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé !
Singing the Galtese anthem at full belt, Aurie strikes again
but less accurately then before
Cimrôdel turns his arcane arts against the next devil in the line...
vs Touch
Saria and Aurie drop the last creature. The room is otherwise empty with a buildup of dust. There are stairs on the west side that lead down. From the head of the stairs you can see to the bottom ten feet below, presumably into another passageway.
Shathee wipes the ichor off of his blades, but otherwise keeps them in his hands and ready to go. He wasn't liking the number of fiends they were beginning to uncover down here and hoping they would hit a dead end soon so they could turn around and head back the way they came. Hoowever, he silently leads the way quietly down the hall, watching for traps and trying to stay as quiet as possible.
Shathee reaches the bottom of the stair, the others moving about halfway down the stairs so as to keep him in sight. At the bottom he comes to an intersection. There are several options. Straight ahead a passage leaves this one ten feet past this intersection and just before another set of stair down. The passage to his immediate right is fifty feet long ending at a door. Halfway down the passage on the south side is another passage entrance.
Hearing nothing coming from either passageway, he signals behind him using the silvery blade to reflect the magical light of the party behind him. He turns to the right and carefully approaches the next intersection, peeking around the corner to see if there is anything of which to forewarn the party.
As he approaches the next intersection, Shathee notices the passage he is in opens into a room before the door on the far wall (eastern wall). He see's nothing of interest or threat in the room. The passage to the south extends beyond Shathee's vision but it too seems to open into a room.
Shathee moves up and listens at the door, hoping it's just an empty closet so they can move further south down the hall.
Aurie moves about 30 feet behind Shathee, to not give him away.
Shathee hears nothing but when he cracks the door a forlorn face of what appears to be half melted waxy flesh turns its head to look at him. In the rest of the room are several other nupperibo. He quickly shuts the door. There is no immediate pursuit.
"Well done, everyone," Cimrôdel says, a faint smile of approval on his face as the last creature falls. "That strategy worked very well, I must admit. We should consider adopting a similar formation as we move forward—Shathee and Saria on the front lines, ready to engage, with the rest of us prepared to support from a distance. This arrangement provides a good balance, allowing us to capitalize on each individual's strengths."
He pauses for a moment, glancing at the stone walls of the dungeon around them. "In fact, there may be a specific reason why this formation worked so well, especially considering the Thassilonian design of the halls. The culture's architectural patterns often include 'transition zones'—areas meant to draw attention and direct movement, making it easy for defenders to funnel invaders into choke points. This is likely the case here."
Cimrôdel gestures toward the passage ahead. "The eastern path seems as good as any, but given that this structure is filled with traps and defensively designed areas, it would be best to move cautiously. It would make sense for us to continue with our current approach—let us move in formation and deal with whatever challenges lie ahead, one careful step at a time."
Shathee’s breath stills for a heartbeat as he shuts the door, his pulse quickening at the sight of the misshapen fiends. In a fluid motion, he spins his blades into a ready grip, the mithril and steel catching what little light filters from the party's lights behind him. With a practiced step, he shifts to the side of the doorway, feet bracing against the stone, his stance wide and ready. His eyes flick to his companions, the warning unspoken but clear.
"Makes sense, Cimrôdel. But I'm not as quiet as Shathee when I move around, so I guess I should let him scout out a bit ahead and move in if he spots any dang..."
Saria cuts off as she sees Shathee swiftly close the door he just opened and ready his weapons. With a silent nod to him, she sprints forward and takes up position besides him, readying herself to hit anything that comes charging out the door.
Everyone waits, ready, but nothing comes through the door.