Round 6
Mukluk is sure Rory and Storm will pause to allow to help Kisaiya act first, and therefore make it easier for the halfling carrier to do some damage.
He moves for a shot of spit at the creature.
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+1[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+2[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+2[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+3+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+1[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +2/+3/+7
HP: 17/17
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Mule bites: 0/7 used
”Holy g#!+%#n.”
Not looking or feeling like another blow of that sort, Kisaiya withdraws from melee with the decapus, retreating back through the side tunnel towards Durgan and the rest.
HP: 11/31
AC: 21/12/19 (+4 all vs decapus)
Saves: F5/R3/W5
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 1/1
Lay on Hands Used: 2/3
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Shield Gauntlet Style, bless, smite evil
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+3[/dice] damage.
Durgan moves up drawing the magical cold iron morningstar and swings at the foul creature, now that it is within reach.
He clobbers it hard.
Rory and Storm move in, but can’t land a blow. Durgan steps up and smacks the critter, nice and hard! Mukluk tries the tried and true attack - and succeeds! Kisaiya heals and withdraws. Kelda steps up and swings her longsword around the corner. She looks rather more comfortable with that weapon.
vs DC 16
The decapus falls to the floor. It’s not stuck to the floor as it was flying when hit, but it is unable to fly for now - and likely the rest of its life!
Kelda connects at last, grinning as her blade strikes home! The creature is, at last, bloodied.
The creature lashes out at Rory.
It hits twice, and considers the grapple, but doesn't even try.
Kisaiya steps forward to lean against the cover of the pillar and leans around it to fire another shot at the fiend.
HP: 11/31
AC: 21/12/19 (+4 all vs decapus)
Saves: F5/R3/W5
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 1/1
Lay on Hands Used: 3/3
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Shield Gauntlet Style, bless, smite evil
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+3[/dice] damage.
Durgan swings wildly, then steps aside to make room for Kelda.
Round 7
Mukluk moves to shoot acid at the sticky creature.
touch to hit; (-combat)
acid
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+1[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+2[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+2[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+3+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+1[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +2/+3/+7
HP: 17/17
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Mule bites: 0/7 used
Rory and Storm also withdraw, trying to stave off death at the hands of the monstrosity. Durgan takes a swing and misses. Mukluk just misses, even with the dex loss. Kisaiya manages another shot, threading through the front line! Kelda, even faster while she’s raging, takes advantage of cover to circle around and setup a flank with Durgan. She strikes again!
Kelda hits again, laughing as she does so - enjoying the battle.
The creature lashes out at Durgan as it steps out of the tunnel.
Sadly, Desna turns her face away, and the tentacled creature cannot land a blow!
Round 8
Mukluk shoots and moves away.
touch to hit; (-combat)
acid
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+1[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+2[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+2[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+3+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+1[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +2/+3/+7
HP: 17/17
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Mule bites: 0/7 used
Kisaiya lets out a breath as the fiend’s attacks find no purchase, not realizing she had been holding her breath to begin with. With a clear shot lined up, Kisaiya fires again with her bow, praying under her breath to the Empress of Heaven that she can fell the monster.
HP: 11/31
AC: 21/12/19 (+4 all vs decapus)
Saves: F5/R3/W5
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 1/1
Lay on Hands Used: 3/3
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Shield Gauntlet Style, bless, smite evil
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+3[/dice] damage.
Durgan tries again to hit the creature, but does not succeed.
Rory heals up a bit and preps his sling. Durgan swings, trying to keep the creature from shifting, but misses. Mukluk misses with the acid again, but the sticky nature of his expulsion is still causing all kinds of trouble. Kisaiya slams another arrow however, supported by her god, into the evil critter. Kelda moves again, into flank with Durgan, and stabs!
Though she does indeed hit, by the time she gets there it’s clear that the party has already made the killing blow. Being of a like mind to Mukluk, she swings anyway, crushing a part of the skull as the wand clatters to the floor.
As the creature falters and collapses, it cries out - ”Father! Help! Faaaathhhherrrr! Pazuzu!”
Alas… nothing happens and the room goes quiet save for the raspy blood filled breathing of the decapus.
Durgan makes sure the creature is dead, smashing its head one more time with the morningstar.
Then he channels the power of Abadar to heal the party (and Kelda).
The coupe de grace does the job and the creature of Pazuzu dies prior to the channel.
Durgan casts another spell to heal Kisaiya.
Durgan makes sure the creature is dead, smashing its head one more time with the morningstar.
Mukluk nods appreciatively, more for the thoughtful couping of the bad guy than the channel, but he appreciates the healing too.
”That guy was quite nasty, wasn’t he? Good think he didn’t give me the stink eye, I would have been in trouble, I would have,” Mukluk mutters as he looks to make sure Rory and Kisaiya are already too.
He does go to check the wand, hoping there are charges left.
Spellcraft
And then he will cast Detect Magic and examine the area for things of interest.
Perception
”I bet what we’re looking for is somewhere in here. I betcha.”
Kisaiya breathes easier now that the fiend has fallen for good. ”What a frightening foe. That could have easily turned against us! Good work. And thank you for the healing, Durgan.”
Kisaiya leaves the wand for Mukluk as she looks over the rest of the creature for any other items of power and mystery.
You search about and find that the Wand of Scorching ray has 26 charges remaining. Further, the circlet on his head was none other than a Circlet of Persuasion! How odd. It did make the bluff nearly impenetrable - though you managed none the less.
Rory tumbles to the ground below. He bounds around a bit here and there. Kelda slides down the slope behind him trying to keep him in sight so the party doesn’t split overmuch.
You find that the northern tunnel is just that - a tunnel. It leads out eventually to a secret door facing the other way in the cliff face along the water. A back door! The next tunnel leads to a largish chamber filled with the sorts of loot that Kelda was sent here to find! It seems the locals revered this decapus and offered it some of the wealth they had collected.
Light Steel Shield, +1 light fortification bearing the image of cattle Brinewall
Starknife, +1 returning
Pearl of Power (first) (1,000gp ea, x2)
2,320gp in assorted coins & 800gp in jewelry and gems
You find two darkwood and silver discs each decorated with an intricate etching of Brinewall. One depicts Brinewall under a sun, the other a full moon. These seem to be what you need to open the iron portcullis in the other stairwell.
You also find a stone statuette of Pazuzu depicting the demon lord as a bird headed four winged humanoid (image). The statue glows softly under the detection of magic, but is not readily identified (gotta roll).
Kelda helps herself to the shield, casting hers aside as she tries it out, clanging her longsword against it loudly and violently. ”This will do!” she cries triumphantly.
The third tunnel leads to the secret door you found in the prison chamber.
Mukluk would like the wand if no one else minds.
Spellcraft - Statuette
"You're taking that shield, are you?" Mukluk notes under his breath at the retreating Kelda, not wanting to get murdert over it but not likely thinking it's fair payment for the flurry of javelins that were air tossed near the creature.
Mukluk puts away his pick and only has the wand in hand. He can't wait to give it a go.
Kisaiya smiles as Kelda takes the shield. Considering what she had to go through to get here and the help she has provided, it seems fair spoils. Kisaiya decides this is an opportune time to broach a subject she had been thinking on. ”You know, Kelda, we have a caravan and if you are the only one left of your crew, then…well I mean to say that if you would like to join us after we are done here, I’m sure we could use another hand.” She waves her three-fingered hand. ”No need to answer now. We still need to figure out what all is left here.”
Kisaiya picks up the circlet of persuasion, not knowing of an obvious choice to give it to. It might be worth keeping herself, honestly, to help make up for her own deficiencies in talking to people. And she hasn’t taken much so far. She holds it up. ”If none of you want this, I’d be fine taking it.”
Durgan looks at the amazing finds.
"That circlet would indeed be useful. You can take it if you like Kisaiya but I hope we shall find another someday."
Durgan looks at Kelda taking the shield. It would be great for him to have, but his Shield spell is made even more useful by those Pearls of Power.
"Rory, do you mind if I take those instead?"
"You want someone to say something to her? maybe freeing her should be treasure enough?"
Mukluk looks at Rory, trying to make up his mind. He knows Moose wouldn’t take no guff from no one, but he wasn’t Moose and wasn’t about to give a talkin’-to to a Kellid(?) that make him murdert very quickly. He shrugs.
It just don’t seem fair.
To move us on a bit, there are two more chambers down here, but both are (basically) empty. One is rather damp, and the other isn't. Neither is terribly interesting however. Kelda begins to worry that there isn’t anything but the decapus to kill and mentions her frustration.
Kisaiya decides this is an opportune time to broach a subject she had been thinking on. ”You know, Kelda, we have a caravan and if you are the only one left of your crew, then…well I mean to say that if you would like to join us after we are done here, I’m sure we could use another hand.” She waves her three-fingered hand. ”No need to answer now. We still need to figure out what all is left here.”
”I owe you a debt, and am more than happy paying it in your caravan for a time. Where are you headed?” She asks though doesn’t seem to care as it’s a debt of honor.
You do have two disks for the portcullis...
Mukluk hands the discs to Rory and backs up a few steps. He hopes the portcullis is designed to lift up rather than fall backwards up the stairs. Why it might be designed that way, he doesn't know, but then again, he's not sure why they would lock a portcullis with two discs.
"Moose might know, but I don't." Mukluk says aloud, as if others were privy to his internal monologue.
You insert the disks in the holders, where they each turn a quarter turn and the portcullis, somewhat rusted in place, begins to shudder.
Looking beyond, the walls of this room are of smooth stone, spattered with ancient bloodstains and deep, violent gouges. Deep drifts of dust lie on the floor, while immense stone doors hang open to the southwest, revealing empty vaults beyond.
As the portcullis eventually raises, the dust on the floor swirls into the air, coalescing into an ominous shady form that takes on the ghostly image of an old but handsome Tian man. The spirit adopts a defensive pose, his katana held before him menacingly as he eyes you.
Wraiths are undead creatures born of evil and darkness. They hate light and living things, as they have lost much of their connection to their former lives.
- - -
Round of Surprise
Perception
Mukluk leans over to see what he can see and then wishes he hadn't looked.
"Oh, there could be a worse reaction to us intrudin'," Mukluk mutters, looking at the creature and noting the defensive posture.
From the looks of the blood in the place, he died in this room defending it from the oni those many years ago.
- - -
Mukluk uses his action to mutter words, given the defensive stance of the apparition.
"Roresy? Doesn't that look like Ameiko? I mean not *like* Ameiko, but like if Ameiko was old and male and mostly dead, maybe? Don't you think?" Mukluk says to Rory. "Or maybe it might look a lot like her right now, seeing as she's wasting away and all with disease and whatnot. Good thing Moose stayed behind to keep her company. That's for sure, he's a good mule."
Mukluk nods at Rory, sort of agreeing with him.
"That it does. That it does," he says as he uses his move action to move up the stairs to let others have a look and see if they have a good plan here.
Mukluk isn't going to talk so that when the party ends up murdert it won't be his fault.
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Kisaiya gasps. She’s seen this person! Well a depiction of him. That’s Rokuro Kaijitsu, Ameiko’s grandfather! Kisaiya kneels and bows her head before beginning speaking in Minkaian.
”Kaijitsu-sama, this humble one who stands before is known as Shiraishi Kisaiya, granddaughter of the Shiraishi Reiko that served you and your family as retainer. We are here at the behest of your honored granddaughter to learn of her family’s history. We mean no disrespect or desecration.”
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He lowers his sword, then says in a mournful voice in Minkaian, “I... know... these... naaaaaammmmmeeeeees...”
A moment later, he raises his arms and cries out in anguish, then turns to face you, tears of dust running down his incorporeal cheeks. He says, “Take the Seal away from here - take it to my grandchild - it is no longer safe - and I am no longer worthy of guarding it...”
The wraith points importantly toward the eastern wall with his katana. Then, with another agonized cry, he flies apart into dust and is destroyed forever!
The dust on the floor is as if undisturbed.
Rory pokes around a little at the wall, but cannot find anything. He spends several minutes looking, and in fact would not have found it had the wraith not pointed out the exact stone to press.
But he finds the first secret door which leads to a small chamber with a chest of diamonds (2,000gp). However, a sneaking suspicion that the mere wealth is not what was hidden here, he continues the search. Another few minutes go by as he presses this and pulls on that, before the second secret door is found.
There are two great darkwood chests resting in this chamber each securely locked, but not trapped, as far as Rory can tell.
Mukluk will help Rory examine the walls and stones, knowing that dwarvenkind oft has some skill in such things...except that Mukluk can barely tell the difference between a granite mule-shaped rock and his own ass.
Perception
Mukluk tries to estimate how big/heavy the chests might be, and considers carrying them back to Ameiko.
"Maybe she should open them."
The chests seem to be fixed to the floor. They are both very large and very heavy to boot - even if you could pry them up (possible but tough).
Nope. They keys do work on the doors in the outer chamber. Vaults which once held the wealth of Brinewall Castle, but have long since been plundered.
These chests were never found, and have clearly been unfound and untouched since the castle fell two generations ago.
Mukluk checks the locks to see what kind of key might work in there, and then again, if the party has keys that might work because his brain doesn't remember seeing them.
He scratches is head, confused.
"Maybe we need to bash them open?"
There is no one at the caravan, save perhaps Ameiko, who can pick the locks. Of course, currently Ameiko can't do it either. You can spend a little time double checking that you didn't miss anything in the castle - but no keys are found. Seems your only choice is to hammer away.
Kelda offers, curious to see what is inside the chests. She doesn't seem interested in further loot - happy with her new shield.
Let me know if that is agreeable, and I'll describe the contents.