Reeling from the spell (and the hit), Kolgradd realises he needs to be on guard for further casting.
◆ Enter Disruptive Stance
"Down here fiend!" he barks at his opponent, trying to draw his attention
◆ Strike
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On Difficult Terrain:
Wanting to get at least one of these fiends away from his friends, Kolgradd shifts his hammer into one hand, lowers his shoulder and drives at the nearest fiend. "Back Beast!" ◆ Step / Stride
◇ Activate Avalanche Boots
After the fight, Kolgradd's could barely sit still long enough to have his bleeding tended to. As soon as it was he had to run around like an excited child to get rid of some of his energy, blasting arcs of electricty as he went. Later, with the ritual complete, he is more relaxed. "Even if we fail in our mission, at least we'll have spared the world that monster's insufferable questioning! I swear it was worse than the flesh-rending" He puts on a face and a mocking voice "Is there a purpose? Is there a purpose? "What a moron. A ninnyhammer, an utter mumpsimus!" It's clear Kolgradd was rattled by the experience, but he catches himself before he gets too animated and clears his throat. "You're right Jevar we should complete the Stelae now we've activated these too, but if we can find Upianshe's sword before we return we may be able to put her spirit to rest. That's a good deed in and of itself of course, but if it means we needn't fight her again it benefits us too. Perhaps a quick scan about the shore? I'm loathe to actually enter that accursed lake" It doesn't occur to Kolgradd that having promised he'd do his best he'd normally be honour-bound to do so.
As Kolgradd is torn apart, an involuntary low growl starts in his throat, getting louder as he triesto defend himself and his flesh is ripped. When he's struck by magical lightning, it becomes an ear piercing scream.
Inside the cloud he reaches out to where Shohreh was just a moment ago ◆ Interact to tap Shohreh
But he can't find her, so he discharges some of the electricty in the direction of Aeptolinu... ◆◆ Thunder Strike
but the lightning smashes into the ground near him instead. Hearing the miss, Kolgradd adjusts and slams his hammer just to the right... ◆ Strike
"Yes yes, will you shut up man?" Absently Kolgradd brings his shield back up, and turns to Shohreh for even more aid as she patches up the vicous wounds he's taking. ◆ Cast Shield
"Thank you my dear this is quite trying" He turns back to the nightmare nihilist, holding his belief that he can win this as a shield against the empty nothingness of Aeptolinu. ◆ Strike
"Yes you fatuous nincompoop, yes! Aaargh!" Kolgradd swings from anger to pain quite quickly, but his legs have turned to stone and he can't even flee. When you can't flee, you fight! ◆ Cast Shield
◆ Strike
Since he seems to want to expose everyone to his nonsense, Kolgradd stays where he is an channels all the power and magic he has into his strike. ◆ Cast Sure Strike
"Of course there's a purpose! You're just too immortal to understand" He doubles down when questioned. "We make our own purpose. Of that I'm certain" Kolgradd can't believe the speed at which Aeptolinu moves, and he takes two nasty cuts before he can even move to defend himself. "Don't get close" he says to the others as he steps back, "he's too deadly" ◆ Cast Shield
"You have been corrupted Aeptolinu!" Kolgradd says as he draws his burning-glacier longhammer. ◆ Draw Hammer "You thought enlightenment would protect you from the horrors of this place," He sets his shoulders and grips the long haft of his hammer just so ◆ Enter Disruptive Stance "You were wrong!" He rushes up to put himself between the manasaputra and his friends ◆ Stride
"We need to activate these stelae" Kolgradd says by way of agreement. "We've started with one, so we should do this one next I think"
As Shohreh is tending to his wounds, Kolgradd is pensive. "That was a close one, I could have been worm food. Thank you my friend" He doesn't take his eyes off the lake the entire time though. "Is there no cure?" he asks of Aeptolinu when he prounces his sickness, but he soon stops worrying. "I trust Shohreh can keep me alive long enough to complete our mission. I've come this far, and I've still got a way to go" He puts on a brave face, but continues, looking at each of his friends in turn. "I don't want to become one of those things though, do you understand? You won't let that happen?"
Suddenly worrying about getting knocked out again and not being visible, Kolgradd tries another hit-and-fade tactic ◆ Step
Hammer duly swung, he swishes his cloak with his free hand and bamfs across the cave- swirling smoke surrounding both his previous and new locations. ◆ ◆ Activate Charlatan's Cape
Watching the thrashing worm smash into where he just was, Kolgrad makes a note to thank Jevar if he survives. He takes a couple of quick strikes with his light hammer ◆ Strike
Brings up his shield...
And then activates his helmet to "Charge!" away from the worm
Kolgradd staggers to his feet and takes in his surroundings. ◆ Stand "Thank you lass, now get to safety, it's going to thrash again" He wipes the blood from his beard, and conjures a shield to protect himself. ◆ Cast Shield
He then draws the light hammer from his belt and hurls it at the worm! ◆ Interact to draw +1 Striking Returning Light Hammer
I think this might be the first time Kolgradd's gone down? At least it's the first I remember. Thanks for the heal Shohreh! A quick point of order. Enlarge says Its equipment grows with it but returns to natural size if removed Does that mean his hammer shrunk down when he dropped it? That's kind of a cool visual. Also sorry about forgetting the Stupified check. I even saw that I was stupified 2 not 1 when I start writing the post and thought that would make the DC 7, and then forgot to roll it! Doh.
"Try to eat me will you?" Spitting out blood from a cut in his lip, Kolgradd casts a spell to make him harder to swallow! ◆◆ Cast Enlarge He then strikes at the worm with a quick feint to see how it reacts ◆ Combat Assessment
Before attacking the other fungal blob...
"Spread out!" Kolgradd barks out, his voice as sped up as the rest of him. With Jevar and Shohreh vanished he'll just have to assume they're following his advice. With his arcane alacrity, he dances in toward the big worm and back again after a quick strike. ◆ Stride
◆ Stride
Feeling the uneasy sensation from the lake, Kolgradd starts to panic slightly and spins like a whirling dervish, lashing out at anything within reahc ◆ Strike
◆ Advantageous Assault
◆ Advantageous Assault
Then feeling somewhat hemmed in, he tries to cast a spell of retreating ◆ Time Jump
The spell was strangely hard to cast, but time freezes eventually and he runs out of there to put some distance between himself and the worm.
"Hey!" Kolgradd shouts to try to draw the worm's attention. "Over here!" ◆ Step to aid with the distraction, he spins his hammer threateningly before snapping it at the worm. ◆◆ Intimidating Strike
Then the big fungal blob gets thwacked on the return swing. ◆ Strike
Torag's beard that's a big one! Hardly pausing for a second, Kolgradd continues to smack the fungal blob he's been attacking before beating a hasty retreat from the huge worm. ◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Stride
Kolgradd bursts into action, empowered by Jevar's spell, and heads straight to the nearest fungal creature. ◆ Stride "Back Beast!"
◆ Combat Assessment
Kolgradd holds his hands out to delay Jevar briefly and let Aeptolinu open up a little distance to give them some privacy. "I recognized him while he was talking. He's a manasaputra, specifically a manu, one of the celestials from Creation's Forge dedicated to bringing a specific species to enlightenment, in this case Humans" He nods exaggeratedly toward Jevar and Shohreh as he says humans, to explain the earlier comment. "I'd say that makes him an ally, but what was that about beasts? I don't like the way he looked at Boodidly and I- celestial calling notwithstanding. These celestials talk a lot about "mortal minds" but I don't think they're any better equipped than the rest of us. Let's follow but keep our eye on him" He then moves to follow.
Stroking his beard, Kolgradd listens to the answer to Shohreh's question before sighing. The rise and fall of empires? Is this a God? What a fascinating story they must have. They might have the power to kill us on the spot, but we have a job to do and it won't complete itself... "There is a Stelae near the shore, are we going in the right direction? Oh and we just left a tortured spirit, poor thing left her sword in the lake, goes by "Teralindor's Honor". I don't suppose you've seen it?"
Kolgradd takes the offered hand as he leads the climb, and then when the stranger appears azlanti looks confused at his arm. "Another spirit?" He whispers to Shohreh. To cover the whisper, he greets the Azlanti with a bow of his own. "Aeptolinu, I am Kolgradd Thunderiron, and these are my companions, Jevar Shadowmantle, Shohreh Kassar, and Boodiddly". With the introductions taken care of, he jumps right in. "The time of the Azlanti has long since past friend, how did you come to be here? And I'm rather hoping this existence hasn't failed just yet, I've become quite attached to it".
"Neither are welcome prospects. The lake contains the sleeping ... thing. But if we can return Upianshe's sword and give her peace as the last thing we do at least that's something" With an unconscious glance at where Shohreh is keeping the Necronomicon, Kolgradd leads the way to the lake.
When Shohreh had asked for the book, Kolgradd had rolled his eyes and blustered at suggestion it was doing something to him. He didn't want to let ignorance lead the way when such vibrant truths are so close. He trusted her though, and he knew first-hand how much such things can warp minds. He gave her the Necronomicon, and let his mind return to the wonderful things he has already learned from it. When Yrisolma returned, he was dismayed but ready. "This world and all the souls who live on it are threatened by Carcosa, and we need the book to have a hope of stopping it. You may join us if you wish, but if you stop us you will doom the world" He does not address the return of the Necronomicon, for he is conflicted on its destruction and he's not sure whether the bell will ring if he promises its return.
I'm heading off to the UK Games Expo shortly. I don't expect to be able to post until Monday, please bot me as necessary.
"Three days? Has it been that long? It seemed like only a few hours." When he catches up, Kolagradd explains that they must first attune the Stelae before attempting the Path to the Black Stars, so it maybe be a bit longer before they can leave, depending on how accessible the others are. It's not long in the conversation before he zones out. This book contains so much knowledge. It's evil of course, but isn't it also evil to throw away the higher calling of all sentient life- knowledge? We promised Yrisolma we would give it to them for destruction, but I didn't know then what I know now, and their morality seems so simplistic. Is the whole edifice of the outer planes nothing but a child's toy the gods have created to entertain the sleepi- He reacts with a start when he realises the others are waiting for him to respond to something, though he can't remember the rest of the conversation. "It's clear we must keep the book" he says emphatically, hoping his lapse goes unnoticed. "For the ritual to travel and return. Yrisolma will just have to wait."
"Now might be the time to consult this dread volume and learn the ritual we need. Our ghostly friend here, er, may grow tired of our company in a few days" He raises his eyebrow like it's not perfectly obvious to everyone he's saying she'll revert to her mindless-rage form in a few days. "Perhaps we should have just one of use consult the book, lest we all fall victim to its contents? The rest of us can monitor the reader"
"We'll do our best" Kolgradd promises solemnly.
Smiling at Jevar, Kolgradd nods. "Everything caught up to me at once" He waves vaguely in the direction of everything. "But back to business! These living who fought beside the thing, they are who we oppose I suspect. We must reactivate this stone to follow them and undo the damage they have caused. Perhaps then you can finally get some rest. You must have been here a very long time indeed"
Kolgradd laughs when the ghost says "inconvenience", and then continues laughing until he has to put his hammer down and wipe tears from his eyes. "Oh that's ok, just one of those, HA HA, one of those thi-" but then he collapses in into a laughing fit again.
"I'm sorry about that, it's not every day you're nearly eviscerated by a ghost who then apologies for it" He's still smiling, but the moment for laughter has passed. "What happened to you? Were you one of Lowls party? We're trying to stop his mad plan, or at least reverse what he's started"
Ice crusting his beard, Kolgradd forces his heavy limbs to move. He roars to try to wake himself up. "AAAAAAANGRADS BEARD THAT WAS COLD!" He rushes up to the ghost, his instincts telling him to back them into a corner despite the fact they can pass through it. ◆ Stride He then smashes the hammer into the wall by way of the powerful ghost. ◆ Strike
◆ Strike
After being hit with a devastating ghostly strike, being magically healed and then quickly bandaged, Kolgradd sucks in a ragged breath and steadies himself. "She is overcome with hatred for everything, but I think if we can just kill her it ought to calm her down" With no time to make any more sense, he immediately begins speaking the words of spells to try to get some completed before he has to take another hit ◆ Cast Shield
◆ Strike
Shouting out the words between breaths as he steps around the ghost and hurls his massive hammer around: "Who are you? Why are you attacking us?" ◆ Step
Kolgradd than tries to judge her fighting style ◆ Combat Assessment
◆ Strike
That seems perfectly reasonable to me. Can I Boulder Roll an Incorporeal creature? It's not technically a strength-based Check as there's no Check, but it's a close neighbour in requiring a save against a strength-based DC.
Heaven's that looks nasty Kolgradd rushes up to give the ghost something else to focus on ◆ Stride
Then attacks! ◆◆ Intimidating Strike
◆ Strike
With his enhanced speed, Kolgradd zips to in front of the rune-carved pillar the better to get a look at it. ◆ Stride
Looking around Kolgradd spins his hammer as he casts his revelatory spell and prepares himself for a fight. ◆◆ Cast See the Unseen
"I can't think of any books we have to trade at the minute sorry" Kolgradd gives Jevar a look that says I can think of several books of profane journals and a certain artifact of evil that we've promised to give to an angel, but we are certainly not trading those away!
"Wait Jevar," Kolgradd suspects some illusion, and would like to get to the bottom of it before they begin trading. "We want no fight either, but you seem strange to my eyes, a conglomeration of refuse shouldn't speak nor read in my experience. What manner of creature are you?"
With a slow nod while wiping himself off, Kolgradd agrees. "We need to follow Lowls put a stop to his madness, and the stelae are how we do it. There's a ghost up there the journals said, do we need time to prepare?"
Kolgradd flies after the Polyp, determined to bring it down! ◆ Fly
◆ Trip
◆ Strike
His balance is tested by holding the huge hammer in one hand and the kukri in the other, and despite his best efforts he poses no threat.
"...the GM will usually allow attacking the extended portion, even if you can't reach the main creature."
Not paying any attention to what's going on with the hurricane below him, Kolgradd shouts out what he's remembered while struggling against its grip. "Slash it!" Attempting to take his own advice, he lets go of his hammer with one hand, grabs hold of the Kukri he's been carrying and not touching for what feels like years, and tries to cut the appendage off! ◆ Cast Shield
◆ Strike
Kolgradd adjusts his stance the better to watch for openings, then grits his teeth and flies against the winds... ◆ Enter Disruptive Stance
Then strikes at what he thinks might be a telling part of its anatomy. ◆ Combat Assessment
A very good point thank you!
Kolgradd grips his Hammer firmly again, and starts running out of the cloud. He keeps to the ground at first until he's out of the magically still and/or excited air, then takes off. ◆ Interact to Re-Grip hammer
Seeing the massive monstrosity floating above them, Kolgradd releases his hammer and reaches for one of his scrolls. "Dammit, I just need a second!" ◆ Interact to draw scroll of Fly
"It seems to me that our only option is to study the Necronomicon for these rituals, and follow Lowls on this final leg of his journey" He coughs, and worries not for the first time about the fungus. "Whether we can return again I don't know, but it's a risk I'm willing to take." He looks at the others, both slightly embarrassed, but also checking their own resolve. "Whether we can survive learning and conducting the rituals is another matter. We have also promised to return the book to Yrisolma for destruction, so we'd best be quick about this"
Whoah massive infodump! I don't want to raise these questions in character because Kolgradd is very intelligent and I am not, but my understanding is: Lowls and friends have put the world in grave danger. The only way to stop it is for us to go to Carcosa and turn off their stelae. To do that we need to learn the rituals from the Necronomicon, activate each of the stelae in this weird city with the one ritual, then use the other ritual to teleport to Carcosa. There we can turn off the ones on that side and save the world. Is that right? I have futher questions but I can raise those in character if my reading comprehension is sufficient.
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