"Please, you don't understand. Horgus's words are not as misplaced as they might first appear. He is mistaken in some regards, but I cannot fault him for that, because I share in some blame that has caused harm to the crusade. Perhaps we can speak of it later."
Dorek shrugs. "W-well, like I s-said, we all make m-mistakes. I s-still haven't told you how I got b-behind the lines in the W-worldwound - s-suffice to say I've m-made a fair n-number of my own."
As the vile arachnid scuttles out of the darkness, Dorek scowls and lets go of Aravashnial. "H-hold on - this w-won't be a m-minute..." With a flick of his wrist, a dagger appears in his hand...
...and the enormous spider falls without fanfare, its thorax caved in by Cecily's powerful blow. Dorek stands there for a moment, dumbfounded, before blinking. "H-huh. D-didn't know hands could d-do that kind of t-thing." He pushes his dagger back up his sleeve with difficulty, a metallic click indicating the presence of some sort of mechanism strapped to his arm.
With his dagger secured, Dorek looks around, dusting off his hands before continuing to guide Aravashnial. "Y-you're right, T-tandyn. Let's not d-delay. T-there has to be some exit to the s-surface, or else h-how would that s-spider have gotten a-air to breathe?"
Tandyn looks between the two narrow exits.
"I'm going to see what's on the right. Stay close."
He readies his sword and shield, walks to the crevice, and begins sidling between the rocks.
Seeing the spider of unusual size no longer scraping its legs against stone, its abdomen no longer shining black and red. Venom no longer dripping menacingly from its fangs, the Blue-scaled Kobold saunters back to mingle with the group.
Purposefully rubbing elbows with those that look tough, Ahmose nods and chuckles.
Smart thinking whomever alerted us with that loud fiery booming noise!
He slaps the Knight on his armored (lower) back. Absently massaging his now stung hand, the Alchemist smiles.
Nice work being all shiny and delicious looking like an oyster. Everyone knows that Spiders enjoy a fresh oyster from time to time. Quick thinking!
The draconian then approaches Cicily.
For the record that was badass!
The Blue was seen tucking a Silver Scale away.
Ahmose glances at Dorek, as the Tiefling replaces his unspent dagger. Being not from around here (or not trained in knowledge local) the Alchemist just secured that knowledge for any necessary dinner conversations.
Peering into the darkness before then, the Kobold shakes his scaled head .
So, anyone know where we are and where we should go? Not fancying waiting for more spiders to check us out.
Seeing the Knightand Fancy Dude preparing to investigate the Right (Correct?) passage, the Alchemist prepares to follow at a discreet distance....
Aroden says nothing about what he sees.
He casts Mage Armor, draws his sword, and follows quietly behind Sir Tandyn.
After giving Aravashnial a shower of healing sparks too, Thawm looks to make sure they aren't leaving anyone behind that isn't hurt or Horgus and finally notices the shining scales that weren't picked up yet. She gathers them up and follows the others.
"We're not so hurt, we'll check ahead and come back for you." she explains to the three that are getting left behind temporarily.
Dorek grimaces as Tandyn takes point, letting go of Aravashnial as he rushes forward. "W-wait! What d-do you t-think you're d-doing, charging in like t-that? Your a-armor clatters and c-clangs - y-you'd be more s-stealthy with a small o-orchestra!" The spindly tiefling pushes past the crusader, his lanky form easily folding into the small space between the pieces of rubble. "L-let me go ahead - I'm g-good at skulking in the s-shadows."
His ashen skin and drab clothes blend quite well with the stone around him, and a casual observer might easily overlook the one-eyed locksmith. As he moves forward into the darkness, he mutters something about crusaders and subtlety, wincing at every metallic noise from the armored warrior behind him.
"Be my guest..." Tandyn steps back for Dorek to slip through and tries to move a little more quietly...
but seems to make even more noise by trying to avoid it.
"I'll enter in one minute."
one, two, three...
Ahmose walks behind Sir Tandyn. The Blue-scaled Kobold in exact step with the armored Knight.
Try stepping in the loudest person's shadow. It works.
The snickering Alchemist then takes out a parchment and coal.
Actually, that gives me an idea... banana peels, bacon grease and a touch of paprika....
The draconian then approaches Cicily.
For the record that was badass!
Cecily dusts her hands off and frowns at the ichor now splattered over her already-soiled dress. She nods solemnly at the kobold when he addresses her. "That was a fine bit of sorcery yourself, Mr. Mose. Thank you for the distraction."
As the group continues forward, she hangs back with Sir Tandyn. "Sir Tandyn, it's up to us to protect the rest of this group, I think. I pushed forth to do so when it looked like you couldn't. I expect you will do the same if the situation is reversed. The people come first."
Dorek scouts ahead while the rest of the party remains close by...
twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two...
Tandyn nods at Cecily. "Well said. I'm sworn to serving Iomedae. That includes not abandoning companions in need."
twenty-three... no, skip some... thirty, thirty-one...
The Blue-scaled Kobold frowns at Cicily's mispronouncement of the Alchemist's name. He speaks in a purposefully slow cadence.
Ah...mose. Ah..mose There is no Mister. Ah...mose.
He smiles at her as if that solves it....
Ahmose then turns to look ahead
Where did that sneaky Tiefling get to? Probably found some out of the way breakfast nook! Be right back...
He taps the Knight on his shoulder.
Count to 30...
The Blue-scaled Kobold then proceeds to do some Stealth stuff to go find Dorek....
A moment after Ahmose leaves to follow him, Dorek returns to the group, the two survivors apparently having passed each other in the dark without realizing it. "T-there's a way f-forward through here! S-slopes upward, too, it seems, so it m-might lead to the s-surface! A s-satchel, too - could have v-valuable tools to e-escape - but it's t-too high for me to r-reach. S-sir Tandyn, you seem pretty s-strong - you any g-good at climbing?"
He falters as he notices that Tandyn and Cecily are already in the middle of a conversation, and a look of worry crosses his sharp features. "I'm s-sorry - you were h-having a talk, and I i-interrupted. It's p-probably nothing I should be c-concerned about."
"Perhaps we should check the other way too, we'll want to make sure we don't leave any other survivors behind." Thawm suggests.
"Welcome back Dorek. Thank you for looking ahead. I don't climb that well in this armor, perhaps someone else is better suited. Cecily and I were just talking about our responsibility to protect everyone." Tandyn quickly looks around the group. "Speaking of which, do you think that we can get everyone up the slope you saw or should we check the other path?"
And now for Ahmose... let's start at ten, eleven, twelve...
Aroden gives a slight smile at Sir Tandyn's comments on serving Iomedae. She is a worthy Inheritor, is she not? Remarkable how she rebounded after... after...
He looks lost in thought.
"I could attempt a climb. I have some limited ability to glimpse the future, and perhaps could tell if my attempt would be successful before trying. As well, I wear no armor, and I am decently strong."
"Or... how high is this ledge? Could one of us boost another of us up to reach it?
I am afraid that I do not have any magic prepared right now to assist, but with a few minutes I might be able to prepare a suitable spell."
Ahmose watches Dorek pass his position as the Blue-scaled Kobold Stealthily maneuvers between the stalagmites and rubble strewn about the tunnels flooring.
Blue eyes following the flow of the fissure, the Alchemist views a stone ledge jutting out at a right angle on the south wall of the cavern, fourteen feet off the ground. Also noticing the leather strap of a backpack hanging from the edge of the ledge, while above, a narrow fissure yawns up into the dark, Ahmose, the Blue Whisper smiles.
Rubbing his claws together in anticipation (not an Ant companion), the Blue activates his Silver Scales. Suddenly surrounded by pure white mist, the Alchemist begins ascending upward to the ledge.
Blue eyes on a swivel, Ahmose peers about for any shananagins prior to appropriating the backpack.
Grinning, he snatches it up and floats back down to return to the group.
Suddenly appearing right next to Aroden, the Blue-scaled Kobold holds out the found backpack.
This backpack? I found it up on a ledge ahead.
Questing to the other direction you find that the cave circles back to your starting point. You find a campsite. A torn bedroll lies next to the cold remains of a fire. A pile of bones, broken equipment, and rubble lies just past the campsite. In addition to the bedroll you find, three candle stubs (30 minutes of burn each), a bent fishhook, 10 feet of frayed hemp rope, and a copper brooch depicting a bat perched on a mushroom, both of the eyes are tiny amethysts. The brooch is worth 200gp.
Only one way forward.
Still holding the backpack, the Blue-scaled Kobold's blue eyes shine. After rifling through it (and noticing how not heavy it is), the Alchemist decides to empty his normal backpack into this not as heavy backpack. The whole while taking inventory of the findings.
Lucky break! So, shall we travel further on? Can't be dawdling.
Finding themselves circling back like in a circle, the dizzy Kobold frowns.
If we are ever followed, do that a lot.
Glancing suspiciously at the broken campsite, the piles of bones, the broken equipment, the Blue-scaled Kobold begins shaking his head.
Were dat there before? We are going in a circle? Not a normal circle, but a freaky circle.
The freaked out Kobold just stares at the copper brooch depicting a bat perched on a mushroom, both of the eyes are tiny amethysts.
The brooch is worth 200gp. But I ain't touching that thing .. probably cursed ..like this circle maze tunnel ...
Ahmose looks a bit fidgety, frazzled, far from full of faith....
"Speaking of which, do you think that we can get everyone up the slope you saw or should we check the other path?"
Dorek shrugs. "It's not t-that steep - there s-shouldn't be any p-problem climbing it." The gangly tiefling glances around at the irregular walls of the cavern, rubbing at the base of one of his horns. "T-this place was all w-water once, I b-bet. R-rivers flow through the r-rock, carve out c-channels as they go - the c-city must have been built o-over these old caves. W-wonder how far they g-go..."
As the group makes their way into the abandoned campsite, Dorek addresses Tandyn, his brow furrowed. "L-looks like we've got a m-minute here - I was w-wondering if you could t-tell me about your c-crusader goddess. I've h-heard so many t-tales of her fighting m-monsters and k-killing foes - it must be t-tiring to have a goddess who f-fights all the time." The tiefling returns his attention to the path as he ducks to avoid a low overhang, but after a moment, he turns back to Tandyn. "I k-know my happiest m-memories of my g-goddess Azilash are d-different. Mostly, they're just t-talking, laughing, s-singing - ordinary t-things, but all the more p-precious in these dark lands f-for it. You k-know, the s-stars are still b-beautiful, even in Kenabres - r-reminds me that the demons haven't w-won everything just yet." He grins. "I r-remember the first t-time she showed me how to m-make things - the f-feel of the k-knife in my hand, the s-smell of the wood s-shavings as they f-flaked off like raindrops from a c-cloud, the j-joy of watching that scrap of w-wood becoming a b-beautiful carving of a s-sunrise. L-little things you remember, c-cherish as you grow o-older." The towering locksmith glances back at Tandyn, confusion again on his features. "B-battle's all well and g-good, when it's n-needed, but d-don't you Iomedaeans have any s-simple stories of your g-goddess? I k-know gods are d-different in the south, but don't you ever just s-sit and share a m-meal with your g-goddess?"
At the campsite, Dorek's lambent eye takes in the ransacked equipment and ruined sleeping gear. "S-someone was d-down here before us. It's a g-good sign, t-tells us that p-people can get i-in and out of here - but s-something destroyed this p-place, and I don't w-want to take the chance that it was j-just the spider Her Ladyship k-killed." He narrows his eye at the sight of the brooch. "H-here - let me s-see that..." Reaching down with one clawed hand, he plucks the copper item from the pile of broken equipment. "G-good craftsmanship - v-very good c-craftsmanship. W-whoever left this b-behind didn't mean to, I'll b-bet. L-looks like there's an i-inscription here, but I c-can't make it out - t-too worn. If w-what you say is t-true, Ahmose, this could f-feed a family for a y-year." He glances around at the rest of the group. "It doesn't s-seem cursed to me - just something f-forgotten in the s-struggle."
Tandyn opens the pouch of his adventurer's sash and takes out a silver sword-shaped holy symbol. "There are many gods for many things.
Many of them are truly wonderful. Iomedae stands as a protector and a light against the darkness. Can you think of what could happen if she and her followers were not there? Would the demons just stop? Where would the fighting reach?"
He turns the symbol over exposing numbered inscriptions with small corresponding pictures. "Her mortal acts start from that fight against darkness. Yes, she defeated many foes. Are there stories beyond fighting? Certainly." He points to the sixth inscription. "She reforged Heart's Edge which was shattered by none other than the Whispering Tyrant." His finger moves to the seventh inscription. "She called the Undenying Light to the Starstone Cathedral." His finger jumps down to the final eleventh inscription. "And she cast her cloak into the Pit of the Starstone which formed a bridge. No, none of these tell you if she had a family, enjoyed art, or could tell a story. We celebrate her Acts as she guides us to our own. Your goddess sounds wonderful and worth protecting, are there stories of her acts?"
Cecily looks over the campsite and the cave construction without much thought or comment, but the broach catches her eye and she examines it after Dorek. She squints at it and wrinkles her nose at the odd choice of theme. "It's a bit gauche." She hands it back to him.
She listens through Sir Tandyn's examples and swishes her dress, which prominently features stylized Iomedean swordbursts around the hem, and adds on an example of her own. "Iomedae ruled Kantaria justly while it was under siege too, protecting it for a year and a day. We must be ready to fight for as long as needs be to protect our charges."
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"Iomedae... once upon a time she walked the earth as a mortal, as Sir Tandyn said. She led the Knights of Ozem, you know. She was not yet a goddess, but on her way."
A far-away look comes over the wizard's face and his voice softens and takes on a slightly archaic accent.
"In the mess tents in the war... a prolonged and tragic campaign, but even then, moments of camaraderie. Except that she could not jest. She tried. To bond with her officers and ameliorate tension, so by Cayden's Ale did she try.
Her delivery was terrible, her timing was atrocious. She had a friend, you see, a gnome bard, and her laughter at his jests was uproarious. Yes, she laughed. She tried in his manner, but she could no more put on his manner than could she put on his boots.
Oh, Iomedae. Rousing speeches like no other. But she could not jest. I think after a time she realized she was awful, and kept at it knowing that it would boost morale, seeing that she was willing to put herself out on a limb like that. She was human."
Aroden returns to his regular voice and demeanor, seemingly unaware of what he just said.
"The Shining Crusade. It was a long and tragic war, with a bittersweet triumph at the end. I am sure she must have shared meals with commanders in the field. Maybe even stopped to smell a flower. But those stories are not what has been passed on, you see. The Acts of Iomedae focus on the great and magnificent deeds, not the quiet moments or the humanizing ones.
And now she and her followers must guard Golarion against great evils. The demons of the Worldwound, the Whispering Tyrant in Gallowspire."
My old enemies. Some of them, anyway.
"We may wish that victory would be complete and there would be no need to battle. But I do not expect to see that day."
"If we are to move on, should we bring Horgus, Aravashnial, and Anevia with us? I would suggest not leaving them too far behind."
"Yeah." Thawm agrees with a nod and a... very poor impression of a stern face.
Thawm goes to Anevia first, seeing if she can provide enough support for the woman with a bow.
Ahmose just nods at the repellent brooch before moving off closer to the fancy robed wizard. Listening to his compelling commentary on Iomedae, the Alchemist pauses for purpose at the more intimate details delivered a bit disproportionate from his initially instructed information.
Did you say your name is... Aroden? Curious.
Ahmose then winks at him.
Shall we continue or is church going long this afternoon? I could use the time to brew another Mutagen....
The Blue-scaled Kobold grins.
Just asking... Cayden Cailian is a bit less... complicated. Drinks!
Dorek listens intently to Sir Tandyn's statements, nodding when he is finished. "Iomedae's a g-good goddess, though I u-understand her faith's r-rare enough in Kenabres these d-days - t-true faith, I mean, not the L-low Templars' f-faith." At the knight's question, however, he blinks, taken mildly aback. "A-acts? Not m-much that come to m-mind - Azilash is our h-household goddess, you s-see, not some w-warrior like Iomedae." He grins. "My b-brother is a god caller, and our m-mother before him, so Azilash has been by my s-side since I was very young. Her a-acts are small ones of k-kindness - a delicious m-meal, given freely to one in n-need; a piece of w-wisdom that makes others' l-lives just a bit b-better - but they are a-all the more valuable f-for it. Not everyone can be g-great warriors like Iomedae - a-all can be kind like A-azilash."
As Aroden speaks, he smiles, nodding. "You're q-quite wise, A-aroden. Are you a g-god caller, by any c-chance? R-really, I'm s-surprised more don't k-know such tales. C-can't you just go to your g-god palaces... what is the T-taldane..." He thinks for a moment, then snaps his clawed fingers. "...T-temple! That was i-it! Why don't more just g-go to the temple and a-ask the god callers t-there to c-call down Iomedae?" The gangly locksmith seems to have a somewhat... skewed view of what temples of the southern gods are like.
"If we are to move on, should we bring Horgus, Aravashnial, and Anevia with us? I would suggest not leaving them too far behind."
Dorek nods. "Of c-course! We should b-bring them, if it's s-safe - I just d-didn't want to take them s-somewhere it would be d-dangerous." He rushes back to the cavern with the now-dead spider, helping guide Aravashnial as before. "H-here, master elf - there is a s-safe place up ahead."
Tandyn smiles and feels thankful as his companions add to the Iomedea discussion. He could never quite expound upon it like a priest. Somehow he'd been so distracted by their situation that he hadn't even seen Cecily's dress pattern. He was about to gesture to his own tabard, but all it currently displayed was filth. Then Aroden switched voices and recited things he wasn't sure he'd heard before causing him to listen intently. What is this?
He chuckles at the mention of Cayden.
As Dorek responds, Tandyn nods. "Well, I certainly enjoyed this conversation. Would either of you" he looks at Ahmose as well "like to look ahead this time?"
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The natural tunnel winds its way for over 1,900 feet which takes over 25 minutes of walking, in part due to Anevia and Aravashnial having to hobble and carefully tread.
You finally come to a point where the path splits, one leads further into darkness, the other is a 5ft wide opening:
A single sizable 20-foot-tall building remains in the center of this 30-foot-high cave, a bunker-like structure with no windows and walls of worked stone blocks. A 10-foot-long carving of a hammer decorates the building’s facade. The ruins of collapsed buildings stand to either side. The building is lousy with enormous pallid flies, buzzing and crawling on the side and top of the building.
Thawm leads Anevia close to the wall before the split. "Wait here for a bit, please." she explains as she readies her crossbow.
"That hammer looks like Torag's. I bet he has followers inside that need our help."
The wizard is leading Aravashnial by the hand.
Upon seeing the hammer sigil, and hearing Thawm's explanation, he nods sagely.
"Yes, Torag. A steadfast champion of Order against the forces of Chaos."
"I am unfamiliar with flies like that. Hmmm. Perhaps we might find an even bigger frog... failing that, I think we shall have to slay the flies. Whether there are followers inside or simply a defiled temple to cleanse."
Thawm nods and looks expectantly at the others, since the mere possibility of people in need is obviously reason to risk life and limb.
Then she gets an idea.
"A big frog, huh? Is everyone ready? A big croak will be the signal to go get the probably demon flies."
As the temple comes into view, Dorek freezes, moving Aravashnial to the wall as he draws his long knife from its scabbard at his hilt and checks the sheaths on the multitude of daggers on his bandoliers. "W-wait here, Aravashnial. T-there's enemies a-ahead." At Thawm's statement, he nods. "J-just let me k-know when."
The young locksmith glides through the darkness like a shadow himself, readying his weapon for the moment when his allies strike.
"I'll try to get their attention on your signal." Tandyn prepares to slowly approach the temple with his shield raised and his blade poised to strike.
"If only that spider had come this way."
Cecily readies up and approaches cautiously as well, ready to take the fight to the flies.
Dorek manages to evade the flies for the moment.
Once the others are in position, Thawm casts Ghost Sound (DC 14). A large croak, a quarter the volume of a lion's roar, echoes through the cavern.
Round 1
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Thawm produces an illusory noise which reverberates throughout the cavern, which causes the flies to take flight immediately.
Ahmose watches for the most opportune moment prior to realeasing the kraken!
Sir Tandyn. If you could get them to gather together, please.
The Alchemist does seem to be absently mixing some vials together with a grin on his blue-scaled kobold face....
As the flies lift from the ground, their vicious mandibles clicking with excitement, Dorek jerks back involuntarily with a curse as one of their membranous wings brushes his nose. "GAH! I h-hate bugs!" He flails blindly at the insect in front of him with his blade, slashing a gash across its wing with the wicked talons of his other hand.
Aroden sees a glimpse of the future in which he is fairly successful at... something.
He waits for the vision to clarify.
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While Ahmose and Aroden wait and see, Dorek takes the initiative but fumbles the follow through, perhaps due to his fear of the giant insects. His blade fails to penetrate the nearest fly’s thick exoskeleton but he manages to hook a claw into one of their wings ripping it and pale blue hemolymph leaks out.
Two of the flies swarm the exposed rogue. While the remaining two fly around in random directions. Perhaps looking for a frog to eat.
Horrendously large mandibles clamp onto Dorek’s shoulder and leg, cutting deeply into them easily piercing his protective leathers. They begin to spit their saliva onto the wounds and suck up the blood slurry greedily.
Ahmose frowns at the misdirection perpetrated by those Giant flies other than Black and Green. The Alchemist shrugs.
Dorek! How's your Fire Resistance?
The Alchemist follows that up with an explanation of inquiry!
He tosses a Bomb at the injured Fly!
A brief moment of panic rushes through Tandyn as Dorek is taken down by surprisingly precise mandibles before he can even react, but he shakes it off quickly. He steps forward and lashes out at the same fly Dorek had attacked.
"Dorek!" Thawm explains as the tiefling collapses from the pain.
Instead of firing her crossbow, she let's go with one hand and gathers a bunch of sparks together in it. She lobs the tiny fireball at her collapsed ally.
"Lousy bugs!"
Cecily lowers inter her fighting stance again and approaches the flies menacing Dorek.
Then she attacks!
Aroden moves up behind Dorek and draws the healing scale of Terendelev.
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Despite missing a direct hit Ahmose’s bomb splashes against the stone surface of the temple, lighting it on fire into a smoldering pile. Sir Tandyn follows through, skewing the other fly near Dorek into a twitching mess he has to fling off his sword. Thawm manages to bring Dorek back to consciousness, although barely and Aroden gets ready for a follow up.