The Avalon noble upbringing returned. "Mistress Moonsong. Please allow me to introduce Prince Arthur Stavian, skilled nobieman from Parts Unknown. Air First Mate Saffire Ravenclaw, highly tactical and competent fighter. Ed the Wonder Dog, an awakened being with power over his form. And Saronis, Elven weapon master."
"This whole adventure was a means to find my inheritance. Along the way, these people have become family. Outside these doors are several powerful altars to various Gods. These altars appear to be part of a ruined complex, which may be where my inheritance lives. There is an unexplored watchtower Neary we were going to explore until The Mistress brought us to you."
Cyril blinked. "M-Mistress Moonsong. Finding you all was by Chance, or by the Goddess's Design. Help us storm this ruin and the watchtower, and help us find my inheritance here, or the next step in the journey. Please?"
Cyril considers for a moment, dwelling the the meaning of an accord. "I think we need to sit down and hammer out accords later. As for forces, I feel that with your addition, we should be well-manned to at least investigate the watchtower and it's environs."
Cyril draws The Mistress Blade from his hand, and quietly exits The Mistress Altar, sawing goodbye to those who are staying. The investigative wizard talks up to the watchtower, looking for an entrance.
He quietly states, "Yes indeed, if he needs help we are ready to rush in. Though we do like to know what we are dealing with before rushing in. Well maybe not Ed." He pats the dog on the head. In a baby voice he states, "You are such a faithful companion, not that it is bad that you protect us."
Ed wags his tail and waits for a command. Enjoying the pets from Arthur.
She quips, "Yes, most of us are in armor or not that trained in stealth!"
He offhandedly states, "We are all a bit stealthy but nothing compared to Cyril."
You notice there is a light down in the ruins.
Perception DC 20:
There is a tower which is radiating the light from its top. It seems to be at least 80 feet in the sky.
Perception DC 25:
You notice that the light down in the ruins is likely at the center of this massive cavern.
You think the light is that of a crystal magnifying a light or daylight spell.
---
Now much closer you see that there are all sorts of altars, temples, and other buildings in these ruins. Luckily you don't see or sense anything that is living. That is likely a bad omen though, as the undead likely will be present.
You slip behind a slightly broken wall and look at the front of the tower. You see five medium sized icy statues stand a head taller than a normal human. A rime of frost coats it, and razor-sharp shards of ice adorn its limbs.
Cyril stays low, and returns to the others.
"I am back", Cyril states. "The towers is guarded by several ice golems."
"I also noticed how devoid of life the other altars and other buildings. Could be undead", Cyril said with a smiling eyes to Arthur and his other friends. "And the light I saw within the ruins leads to a large cavern, more than lightly fueled by a daylight spell cast on a large crystal."
"Okay, plans or suggestions on how to handle the ice golems?"
Cyril lays out the specfics on ice golems:
DR 5/adamantine
Immune: construct traits, cold, magic
Weaknesses: vulnerability to fire
cold breath weapon (20-ft. cone)
Cold (Ex) An ice golem’s body generates intense cold, dealing 1d6 points of damage with its touch. Creatures attacking an ice golem with unarmed strikes or natural weapons take this same cold damage each time one of their attacks hits.
Icy Destruction (Ex) When reduced to 0 hit points, an ice golem shatters in an explosion of jagged shards of ice. All creatures within a 10-foot burst take 3d6 points of slashing damage and 2d6 points of cold damage; a DC 13 Reflex save halves the damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Immunity to Magic (Ex) An ice golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance, with the exception of spells and spell-like abilities that have the Fire descriptor, which affect it normally. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature.
"Well, for my capacities, if I plan accordingly, I can cast six fireball spells, five if I keep a fly and use a aerial assault. I can also cast a total of eight scorching ray spells, as before, if planned correctly", Lord Cyril commented, while looking over his spellbook.
"Arthur? Mistress Moonsong? Do either of you have fire magic to bring to bare? My inital thought is to have the magic and divine casters deplete our fire spells, then have our fighters mop up those left standing."
He states directly, "You know me I can inspire and smash."
She fumbles a bit as she says, "Ummm... I have a flaming rapier but no spells. Just a swashbuckler over here."
"Currently, I have four fireball spells and four scorching rays spells prepared" Cyril reported. "Should we wait for tomorrow, so I'll have my full set of fire spells, or are we daring enough to attack now?"
"Unleash hell and we will buffer them when they come charging. Remember to miss us if possible but we understand if we come out a bit singed." He states and prepares for battle, once everyone agrees he summons his protective spells. Then he waits to inspire the group when they get into melee.
Cyril releases his choice of fire spell to start the party.
golems
27 Cyril
12 Everyone else
10 golems
6 Saffire
Round 1
The ice golems charge forward 60 feet toward Cyril. Cryil... The others wait behind Cyril in cover.
Round 1
Cyril casts fly on himself before leaving. The wizard keeps his altitude about 60 ft. above the ground. Then when within range of the ice golems, Cyril casts fireball in as much the center of the ice golems as possible.
[dice=fireball]5d6
As the fireball goes off the ice golems try to jump and hit Cyril with their 20-ft. cone breath weapon. Failing to jump the 40 feet.
Round 2
Round 2
Noticing the ice sprays are getting too close, Cyril raises his altitude to 70 feet.
Round 2
The ice golems scrambled around randomly and screech.
A window opens and a barrel of a rifle aims up at Cyril. A stressed female voice comes from the window, "What do you want with the lighthouse? Answer before the master wakens!"
Cyril notices the firearm pointed at his floating form.
"Parlay! Parlay! We'll cease our attack, if you come out to talk!" The floating noble suggested.
The voice comes back, "Okay, you head down and I will summon the golems." You could easily move faster, it takes her a few rounds to get to the bottom floor and open the door. Then the ice golems go into the tower. She stands there in a craftsman outfit, still holding the musket.
Cyril tries to do the polite thing, and lands 30 feet away from the musket-armed craftsman. "We were under the assumption this area was abandoned", the wizard began. "The powerful altars to the Gods we have seen. I saw sought to see what was in the watchtower, only to find ice golems. I had thought they were just dangerous tower guards to an empty tower. My apologies. May I please ask your name?"
She nervously says, "Oh uh... yes most of the ruins are abandoned. There are drakes and such further back. I see. You didn't destroy them and I can repair them without waking the master. I am Zelidda Swift Arrow and you are?"
"I am Lord Cyril Lucan of Avalon. And these are my teammates, assuming they have come out of cover. Now, whom is your master?
And is he the Master of these ruins?"
He casually walks forward and offers, "We just didn't want to overwhelm him/her, Arthur Stavian at your pleasure." He slaps Cyril on the button for fun.
She looks a bit alarmed and motions to quiet down, "My master is not to be named for he will awaken. He just protects the lighthouse. He truly just slumbers until called upon. Would you like to come in for some shaved ice or a drink?"
She nods to Arthur and the others as they come forward to introduce themselves. She leans down and pets Ed.
"Well thank you very much", Cyril bows to Zelidda, but before going inside shoots a look to the others, a meaning of cautiousness.
Arthur and Ed enter in carefree. Quickly finding a nice place to sit down...
The bottom floor you see is covered in ice. Piles of it here and there. Several golems likely being constructed and the two that were hurt standing to the side vigilantly.
Zelidda leads the group up some stairs to the second floor. There are many cushions and a few chairs around a small table. A simple kitchen of a pot upon a fire and a few cutting surfaces. Knives, tools, pots, and pans hang from a metal rack above near the kitchen. "So what will you have shaved ice or tea? I can add some bourbon or whiskey to the tea. I also have some lemon and honey." She puts her musket in the corner farthest from the group near the kitchen and begins to get ready to serve.
"I shall have shaved ice and bourbon", Cyril stated. "So, Miss Swift Arrow, are you a golemist by trade or by passion?"
She slips downstairs and returns with cups filled with shaved ice. Taking them to the kitchen she adds a syrup of red or blue coloring. She then offes them to those who asked for it, served with spoons. She then checks on the kettle pouring the steaming water into several clay cups adding the requested options. She brings Cyril's first then the others.
As she does this she states, "Neither it is my master's hobby. I enjoy combustion, including most firearms. My tendency to makes things go boom was the reason for my exile. Luckily I knew of these abandoned ruins, my main source of resources. You would be surprised how well undead are a source of boom. What brings you here? The red is strawberry as the blue is blue berry."
Interested he asks, "What flavors are the blue and red? Okay may I have the strawberry please."
"So, your unnamed Master, who if named, would awake. This Master orders you make ice golems while giving you the freedom to experiment with firearms", Cyril pieced together out loud. "And you choose this area to make your golems, but more importantly, use the undead to test your firearm upon. And that does not pierce the fact the said ruins hold some of the most powerful altars to various gods known."
"Many of us are here to look for clues to the whereabouts of my father's belongings. Have you investigates the deeper ruins. Find out why there is a crystal with a daylight spell cast upon it deep with the cavern?"
The Avalon noble takes a bite out of his shaved bourbon ice.
At each sentence she nods in agreement. She offers, "The alters are not necessarily here. It is a portal of sorts. Connections to Sigil and other such places. No I haven't been around much, plenty of room in here. The crystal with daylight on it is near the top of this tower. It's used to keep the ghosts, wraiths, and other incorporeal entities out."
"Interesting", Cyril contemplates as the takes in this information. "Someone must have created these portals to access these powerful altars. Intriguing."
"So logically, there are many incorporeal dead on the outskirt of the lighthouse radiance."
Looking at the others of his party, Cyril adds, "Might be worth a look?"
The investigative wizard turned back to Zelidda. "Do you know if your Master create the portals or the lighthouse?"
She continues to nod in agreement with your statements.
She thinks on it for a few minutes before answering cautiously, "No... well to be honest I don't know. It never came up, I didn't ask at least. Hmmm..."