He circles back so you can grab on if needed. Then he guides you over to a ledge. He climbs out of the water struggling a bit.
Saronis is tied up with rope and chains. A rope and gag over his mouth.
Cyril claws out of the water and over to Saronis. The wizard carefuly checks the elf's well-being as he attempts to ungag the fighter.
The elf looks at you and once the gag is removed he shakes his head. "Cyril! It is so good to see you and Ed! I tried following you but ended up in this strange place. Then the creature above drew me into her clutches. Did you get her?"
Cyril shakes his head as he unties the elf. "Greater teleport", the wizard added.
"Now the current problem is getting out of this cave. I have one fly spell left. So my thought was you and Ed swim to the trap door, give me a signal, I'll cast fly on myself and quickly fly everyone up and out before the spell fades."
"Sounds good. I dont have any of my gear so swimming will not be a problem. Will the fly speed affect us all?" He asks.
"I will be with you for the swim but I will transform into my hawk form to fly out on my own." He states.
"Sounds good. I dont have any of my gear so swimming will not be a problem. Will the fly speed affect us all?" He asks.
"Yes. Because of your added weight, I'll fly a little slower", Cyril explains, then looks at the under-geared fighter. "Do you have any idea of the whereabouts of your gear?"
He gruffly replies, "Most likely with that entrantress, or worse in her lair."
He looks around but finding not much else around on this ledge he jumps into the water.
"Ed! Bark loudly so I can hear you! Then I'll cast my fly spell!" Cyril called to retreating canine.
"Actually I might not be able to fly if I am wet. I will go ahead and see if I can find some rope." With that said Ed transforms into a hawk and takes flight. He lands on Cyril, "Do you only have one light spell?"
"No. I can cast it multiple times", Cyril explains. "I'll take out another copper coin and cast light on it."
The hawk takes the coin and begins to look around as Cyril casts the spell again. The hawk caws in dismay as he is plunged into darkness. He flies up and out to the opening above.
"While we wait for Ed", Cyril began. "tell me what happened exactly, Saronis." The investigative wizard checks the elf's health.
Saronis has 3 negative levels, which can be fixed using a restoration spell for each negative level.
"I followed you just like everyone else. I assume. I appeared in this forest and found her hut. She enticed me into her hut with food and her body. Her suggestions made me lose a lot of life force. I was knocked out due to time and her draining me. What a way to go! I can find... no feel, my Mistress Blade. I know which direction to go, North West away from the river. Do you have a spare weapon?"
Back into the water you feel the movement again...
With the light spell you are able to see them as they approach with hunger in their eyes. These minuscule creatures resemble a newt with three tails. There is at least ten of them.
Cyril hands Saronis a masterwork rapier. "My old blade will serve until your Mistress Blade is returned."
The wizard seems the strange newts approach. "And with perfect timing. Look!"
This minuscule creature resembles a newt with three tails. It’s covered in a transparent slime, and looks hungry.
Implant (Ex) As a full-round action, an alpluachra can crawl into the mouth of a helpless creature (no more than three size categories larger than itself) and implant itself into the creature’s throat. Once implanted, anything that the creature ingests is instead consumed by the alpluachra, including such substances as elixirs and potions or ingested alchemical items, diseases, drugs, or poisons. Once the alpluachra is implanted, the host creature begins suffering the effects of starvation and thirst (Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook 444). Due in part to its numbing slime, an implanted alpluachra is difficult to detect. Each time the host creature ingests anything, it gains an automatic Perception check against the alpluachra’s Stealth. After the newtlike fey is detected, it can be removed either by consuming at least half a pound of salt or a gallon of salt water, by a remove disease spell cast on the host creature, or by treating the host with a successful DC 15 Heal check. When a Heal check made for this purpose fails by 5 or more, the host creature takes 1d6 points of damage. If the host attempts to remove the alpluachra by eating salt or drinking salt water, it must succeed at a DC 12 Fortitude save or become sickened for 1d8 hours from the reaction with the alpluachra. If the alpluachra dies or becomes unconscious, it is immediately detected by the host creature, and can be removed safely as a full-round action. While implanted, an alpluachra is considered helpless.
Numbing Slime (Ex) Any creature that deals damage to an alpluachra with a natural attack or an unarmed strike, comes into contact with an alpluachra, or is host to an alpluachra must succeed at a DC 12 Fortitude save or take a –4 penalty on all tactile Perception checks, as well as other skill checks requiring tactile senses (such as Disable Device and Sleight of Hand) for 24 hours. A host creature that fails this saving throw takes the penalty to detect the alpluachra implanted inside it. If the host creature succeeds at the saving throw, it can’t be affected by the same alpluachra’s numbing slime for another 24 hours.
Vulnerable to Salt (Ex) Half a pound of salt or a gallon of salt water poured over an alpluachra or consumed by a creature an alpluachra has implanted itself in deals 1d3 points of damage to the alpluachra.
Description
These strange and insatiable fey prowl bubbling brooks, sauntering streams, and slow-moving rivers in a constant pursuit of food, but the extremely lazy creatures often tire of hunting. Alpluachras find it much easier to slip down a sleeping creature’s throat, fall asleep, and dream of fantastic feasts and warm bubbling pools while its host does the eating for it. Because of this, alpluachras always keep an eye on riverbanks, looking for creatures napping near waterways. Once they find potential hosts, alpluachras stealthily slither up and slide down their snoring gullets.
Once inside, an alpluachra rests along the walls of the esophagus and devours all the food that comes down the host’s throat. The host often starves to death in the process, as the parasite becomes more ravenous over time.
Despite their propensity to slowly kill their hosts, alpluachras are slothful rather than cruel. They have no concept of the harm they are doing, lazily enjoying the benefits while the host is still alive.
Round 1
He has no problem staying a float and stabs at one of the diminutive creatures.
Skewering the critter.
Round 1
Ten turns into thirty, then fifty. They are swarming over you.
vs. AC 16 Saronis
vs. AC 20 Cyril
Saronis takes damage but heals it back.
Round 2
They truly turn into a swarm...
Fort DC 15 to not be nauseated.
Also Fort DC 12 for numbing...
Round 2
Everything inside Cyril is telling him to scream in fear, or a warning. But the wizard is deathly afraid of alpluachra; they have been the bane of wizards for centuries. And in fear, Fear can make you do mad things.
Cyril does the unthinkable and casts fireball, centered on him.
Round 2
Cyril swims and hits himself with the fireball. Burning and boiling many of the fey. Saronis swims beside you, glad for the spell. Both of you swim strongly enough to get out of the area of the swarm.
Round 3
Saronis continues to swim out of the reach of the swarm...
Round 3
Saronis laughs and states, "I like your thinking. I will keep my fire effect until we stop moving. You might want to blow another of those fireballs."
Round 3
Frantic, Cyril casts another [i]fireball[/], this time trying to miss himself and Saronis.
Round 3
The swarm seems to disperse.
Round 4-6
You swim until you are under the hole in the ceiling with a bit of light coming from it. You also notice a rope hanging from it.
Round 6
Ever the Avalonian gentlemen, Cyril makes sure Saronis goes up first before him.
He offers the rapier back, he then climbs up the rope quickly with confidence.
Once all three were back on solid round, Cyril rushes at Saronis, pulling the elf to the ground.
"Open your mouth! OPEN YOUR MOUTH! We need to check each other for parasites! Right now! Open up!"
After an extensive search you believe Saronis to not be infested.
You are sure you are safe as well.
Cyril also checks Ed for parasites.
Ed is clear as well.
"I will take that rapier back if you don't mind. Much better than my hands." He asks Cyril.
He also looks through the hut for any other loot or weapons. If he finds anything of value and use then he would take a bit longer.
Saronis finds kitchen supplies, tools, and ingredients. But no weapons within the cottage.
As you move outside and look around, you spot an ax lodged in a stump next to a pile of wood.
There is a dirt road leading off into the forest.
He picks up the ax as well and begins to move down the road.
Ed is clear as well.
"Thank The Mistress!" Cyril exclaimed. "Those 'newts' were called alpluachra! They crawl inside your throat and eat any food you consume! Once I came across the alpluachra, I've been deathly afraid of finding them! Then I find an entire swarm of them!"
The wizard left out a shiver of disgust.Saronis and Ed follow the elf warrior down the road.
He snarls, "How gross! I can tell why you are afraid of them. Are they just magical beasts or worse, were they fey?!"
After a while he steps off the dirt road and begins taking an unused deer trail. Eventually he finds a crack in a boulder. He moves in but stops. "Got a light? My eternal torch is missing..."
With light he wonders out loud, "If this is her lair, there will likely be traps. I will follow you!"
He snarls, "How gross! I can tell why you are afraid of them. Are they just magical beasts or worse, were they fey?!"
"Fey, of all things!" Cyril said incrediously. "Low intellect, nearly mindless."
After a while he steps off the dirt road and begins taking an unused deer trail. Eventually he finds a crack in a boulder. He moves in but stops. "Got a light? My eternal torch is missing..."
The wizard finds a small pebble on the path, then cast light on it, and hands it to the elf.
With light he wonders out loud, "If this is her lair, there will likely be traps. I will follow you!"
"Agreed" Cyril takes back the light pebble and examines the way forward.
Uggghhh! He groans in agreement.
"Thank you!" Saronis says as he takes the pebble. Then returns the pebble.
Even though you walk at a normal pace you find the first trap, a trip line. The floor beyond the trip wire is different too, like it has a metal sheen to it.
Cyril kneels a few feet away from the trip line. The Mistressian opens his Cosmic Ring to access his thieve's tools within.
Cyril carefully takes his time and uses his thieve's tools to disarm the trap.
With a few well placed rocks and cutting of some of the line, the trap is disarmed. Though the powdered section seems to be a trap as well.
Cyril addresses the powdered section next.
Once disarmed, Cyril casts acid splash on the powder, watching it fizzle then go inert.
It takes a few acid splashes, but soon the acid steam stops, and you think it is safe to cross.
Down the tunnel you go and find that there is a step about every eight feet.
60 feet and you find another trip wire, disable it easily enough and cut it with the tension still holds on either side. Here is a switchback. Another 60 feet forward and you find a lit circular room filled with burning coals, five cauldrons filled with hot boiling oil, and three torches. The room is about 25 feet across and you don't see any path forward.
Unsure of what he's seeing, Cyril casts heightened awareness on himself. If Saronis is with him, the wizard beckons him forward. If not, Cyril goes to get him.
"Well this looks dangerous... did we miss a door?"
"I didnt smell any trails, no one has been through here in weeks. Cyril take your time we dont want to rush this."
"Saronis, do you still sense your gear's presence?" The wizard inquires.
"A vague sense of down. I wonder if we need to solve the puzzle? Can you move a torch? Mage hand maybe?"