Well, both of them are stable, at least... but *heavily* unconscious.
Jack manages to talk calmly to whomever is inside the cabinet, and after a few tense moments, they cautiously open it, revealing an obese, middle-aged scribe, who introduces himself as Saldak.
His jowls quaver and shake with terror as he recounts his tale.
"The offices suddenly flooded with a strange mist early this morning, and that tendrils of it seemed to pour down Kadarnik’s and Yannis’ throats moments before they went stark mad and beat Milgen to a pulp! Nigel was taking stock of the pieces in storage in the East Exhibit storage room at the time, whilst the idols were in the main exhibit hall to the north.
I'm certain the Tik Taan idols are responsible for the museum’s current predicament - I smelled something wrong with those hideous monkey-faced things as soon as Lugizar brought them out of his pack. I’ve a nose for trouble, I do! No one listens!"
Seeing the cloth that you recovered, his eyes light up.
"The script on the cloth details not only a warning against the idols’ corrupting powers, but also a powerful chant that dispels their influence over men. If you have any skilled bards in your group, it could prove to be invaluable!"
He then coaches you through it.
A bard with the countersong ability may speak the chant aloud (using countersong while doing so) to break the hold of the Tik Taan over any listeners. When employed in this manner, the cloth is a reusable item, allowing a bard to use it for as many rounds as he can countersong. Any humanoid affected by the mists who hears the chant gains another saving throw against the mist each round it hears the countersong, but it must use the bard’s Perform skill check result (any Perform skill) for the save.
Once informed that the path to the entrance is clear, he immediately legs it, but not before rummaging through the top shelf of the cabinet he was hiding in, and tossing you a scroll bundle.
"I hope those help!"
A scroll of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of false life, and a scroll of dispel magic.
Female Human Core Druid 1 | HP 14/14 | AC:18/T:13/FF:15 | CMD:16 | Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +3 | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Speed 20'
Paloma does as Cortina bids and rips away a part of the wounded men's already damaged clothing to wrap over their nose and mouth while the men investigate the whimpering cabinet.
Hearing the scribe's explanation, she picks up the bark-cloth scroll and plops it into Faldon's hands.
Still a bit bruised and battered she hefts the bag of gold speculatively as she turns to Jack. "If not, we might use these funds to buy some."
Maybe Jack, Paloma and Cheeper could get away with heading out of the museum to hit the Drive-Thru Apothecary for some pots of CLW? =D
Female Human Core Druid 1 | HP 14/14 | AC:18/T:13/FF:15 | CMD:16 | Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +3 | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Speed 20'
Hrmmm. Well, Paul and I should both be up to 9 now. That's just -1 for him and -5 for me. Maybe we can squeak by, if we hide behind Jack and Ryul. XD
Paloma shrugs and puts the bag of gold down and reclaims her shield, nodding as if reaching a decision. "He said the idols are in the Northern Exhibit Hall. I say we go there directly and end this fell menace with all haste. We risk encountering more afflicted museum workers otherwise. Faldon has the scroll, maybe Paul or Jack carries the Kukri." Paloma says confidently, looking around at the others for their approval.
LG Elven Fighter 1 | Mods: None | HP 15 (-0) | AC/Tch/FF 16/13/13 | CMD 15 | F/R/W +4/+3/+0 (Immune vs. Sleep, +2 vs. Enchants) | Speed 30ft | TBD | +2 Star Folio Re-Roll 1/1, Spells NA | Perc: +2 (LL), SM: +0 | Init: +3
Dang y’all post fast, which is great! I missed a couple posting windows so I’ll just jump in here.
Ryul watches as his companions easily handle everything, then joins Jack on the super quick sprint to ye olde potion shop. On the way he comments, ”I did not name my sword. It is just a tool, nothing more. My comment was related to the blessing from our Priest of Desna right before my deadly swing. I did not expect the strike to be so strong.”
We also have the scroll of CMW.
When they return he suggests, ”Or the East room to find Nigel? He may need rescued from the curse and might have more information.”
I am totally cool going straight north, but think Ryul would want to find Nigel first so that is his vote.
Female Human Core Druid 1 | HP 14/14 | AC:18/T:13/FF:15 | CMD:16 | Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +3 | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Speed 20'
Paloma sighed in defeat as she retrieved her lighted bullet. "After you, then." She said, motioning for them to lead the way.
She hands Cortina the healing scroll, and the scroll of false life to Faldon. Then she tucked the scroll of dispel magic into her own belt. "I think I will stay closer to you, if you do not mind." She said with a wink at the dwarven cleric and a slight wince as she hefted her shield with a bruised arm. Cheeper rubbed her head against Paloma's leg and purred affectionately as she reached down to scratch her ears.
A large placard above the entryway to this hall reads “Hunting the Beasts of Legend” in great block letters. This gigantic chamber is relatively free of mist, and darkness is held at bay by braziers of radiant light. Behemoths occupy these halls, great taxidermy nightmares such as a two-headed bear easily taller than an ogre; a great desiccated beetle, its carapace larger than the face of the clock tower of Absalom’s Clockwork Cathedral; a massive specimen of chimera, its jaws open in a mock roar; and an assembled skeleton of a tyrant lizard. The walls here are studded with strange masks, staves, spears, and other implements of long forgotten
cultures, most likely used in ritual hunts of the beasts preserved here.
The party is caught completely by surprise when two of those masks crack and crumble away... revealing a pair of (apparently) severed heads, which take to the air by flapping their comically oversized ears!
With the scroll-like material safely in his pouch, Faldon had been (hoping) planning for more ape-enchanted men, with a thought of quickly settling the entire situation here. However, the sudden emergence of the flying heads literally made him jump!
"Gah!" He oh-so-cleverly said.
I'm unclear if this is a surprise round or not. If so, he's done. If not, Faldon will save his singing, and instead move 20' to the left, and fire his bow at the closest head-thing.
@Faldon: No surprise round. Technically, them breaking free would count as the 'surprise round'.
Ryul strides forward and hits one of the heads, leaving a satisfyingly deep laceration in its leathery flesh.
Both heads then shriek in indignation; the one in melee with Ryul then 5' flaps up, out of harms's way, whilst the other flaps up even higher.
I need *two* Fort saves from everyone in the room.
The Better Part of Valor, Round 1/2:
V (-7, -)
Paloma and Cheeper (-5, -) **Fort save x2 for both
Jack **Fort save x2
Cortina **Fort save x2
Faldon **Fort save x2
Paul (-1) **Fort save x2
Ryul **Fort save x2
Uh oh... >.<
I really need clarification on if I get a reroll, lol!
Reroll, if I get one:
Paloma Fort Save+3 star:1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 3 = 21
Paloma (hopefully) shakes off the effects of the shriek and draws her sling and fires one off at the one Ryul has already hurt.
#06-10 The Wounded Wisp (Core) Female CG Dwarf Cleric 1 | HP 10/10 | AC 14 T 10 FF 14 | CMB +0, CMD 11 | F +4, R +0, W +7 (+2 vs. Poison/Spells/SLAs, +2 vs. charm/comp.) | Init +0 | Heal +5, Perc +6 darkv. 60' (Stonecunning: +2 extra), SM: +5 | Speed 30ft | Lucky Number: ?
fort:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23(+2 vs. Poison/Spells/SLAs, +2 vs. charm/comp.) fort:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12(+2 vs. Poison/Spells/SLAs, +2 vs. charm/comp.)
Cortina 5-foot-steps over to Paul and touches him lightly on his left arm, again invoking Desna's blessing. Paul gets Bit of Luck. Then she grabs her longspear again with both hands, ready to fend off any attackers.
possible AoO: cold iron longspear:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6 Piercing:1d8 ⇒ 4
"Shoot them again, Paul!" she exclaims.
Bit of Luck: Until Cortina's next turn, each time you roll a d20, you may roll twice and take the more favorable result.
...show their interest in a rather uncomfortable manner. Fortunately, that is enough to shake her from her paralysis... although the memory of what just happened will linger for far too long.
I need you to roll two Fort saves, before doing anything else.
The Better Part of Valor, Round 2/3:
V (-13, -)
Paloma and Cheeper (-5, -(Paralysed)) **Fort save x2 for Paloma
Jack (-)
Cortina (-)
Faldon (-)
Paul (-1)
Ryul
Party is up!
Note: They are currently 5' off the ground, so whilst 'normal' melee attacks can now reach them, you can't flank them.
Female Human Core Druid 1 | HP 14/14 | AC:18/T:13/FF:15 | CMD:16 | Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +3 | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Speed 20'
Didn't even buy me a drink first... rude! Ryul brings up a good point... just how do they manage to kiss me with a scarf over my face? *shudder* Then again maybe I don't want to know. XD
Paloma Fort Save:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10Oh for f@#&'s sake! Paloma Fort Save:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 I most definitely get my reroll now. Bought a lanyard and a bushel of pins! Paloma Fort Save Reroll:1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 3 = 18
Paloma nearly retches as she recovers from the paralytic effects of the creature's otherworldly shriek. "Going... to need... alcohol! So much!
Female Human Core Druid 1 | HP 14/14 | AC:18/T:13/FF:15 | CMD:16 | Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +3 | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Speed 20'
Oh I am... I know what they are/do, even if Paloma remains blissfully ignorant. I'm not even sure it would have been possible to resolve with a brand new character with no fame or PP.
Paloma slashes wildly at the horrid thing encroaching on Cheeper. Punctuating each swing with her angry words. "Not! Without! My! Permission!"
#06-10 The Wounded Wisp (Core) Female CG Dwarf Cleric 1 | HP 10/10 | AC 14 T 10 FF 14 | CMB +0, CMD 11 | F +4, R +0, W +7 (+2 vs. Poison/Spells/SLAs, +2 vs. charm/comp.) | Init +0 | Heal +5, Perc +6 darkv. 60' (Stonecunning: +2 extra), SM: +5 | Speed 30ft | Lucky Number: ?
Seeing the fixation of the heads on Paloma, Cortina decides to invoke Desna's blessing Bit of Luck on the druid. Then she 5-foot-steps away over to Paul.
possible AoO: cold iron longspear:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1 Piercing:1d8 ⇒ 5
Bit of Luck: Until Cortina's next turn, each time you roll a d20, you may roll twice and take the more favorable result.
#06-10 The Wounded Wisp (Core) Female CG Dwarf Cleric 1 | HP 10/10 | AC 14 T 10 FF 14 | CMB +0, CMD 11 | F +4, R +0, W +7 (+2 vs. Poison/Spells/SLAs, +2 vs. charm/comp.) | Init +0 | Heal +5, Perc +6 darkv. 60' (Stonecunning: +2 extra), SM: +5 | Speed 30ft | Lucky Number: ?
"Curses!" The cleric extends a hand to Paul's shoulder, granting him another Bit of Luck. Then she 5-foot-steps away. "Now stab that abomination and end it!"
possible AoO: cold iron longspear:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6 Piercing:1d8 ⇒ 4
Bit of Luck: Until Cortina's next turn, each time you roll a d20, you may roll twice and take the more favorable result.
Faldon takes in the situation, holding back from firing another arrow. "They're just too quick and nimble..."
The bard frowns, then adds, "Curses. I want to try and save my voice for the scroll Performances in case we need it. Ah well."
And with that, Faldon launches into a melodic but simplistic halfling war chant he had learned from a drunken stoutfoot gambler way back when he was a child growing up in his uncle's tavern.
Inspire Courage +1: For self and allies: +1 morale vs charm and fear, +1 competence to hit and dmg.
