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You should have hurled burning arcs from the safety of Sandpoint. It's the only practical strategy. On a serious note, before I disappear into the ether again, you could maybe do a heavily modified (or custom-built) dhampir. Even if it functions nearly identically to a vampire after the rules tinkering, it would alleviate the need to slide entirely into FEED ON THE LIVING! undead territory. That might not fix other underlying issues, but it's a possible bridge for the current impasse.
Man, I cast like twenty burning arcs from the townsquare in Sandpoint. And people still died?
In light of severe inactivity on my part, and no signs of the situation improving, I've decided to withdraw from many of the PbPs I'm currently involved in. This is not any sort of commentary on the games I am a part of; not a slight or disapproval of the games in any way. Were they not enjoyable I would have withdrawn from them. I have hit a wall lately though, so I'm going to pare down the games I'm involved in. I apologize immensely for doing this. I know losing players creates balance issues and role gaps. But given an absolute failure to keep my head above the water, so to speak, this is probably necessary. (And yes, I'll be copy-and-pasting this liberally) As most are aware, Thron and I are swell chums IRL and I've already talked to him about this. Xamarath is retiring from the adventuring life, but he may still be an occasional appearance back in Sandpoint proper. I'm going to be working on getting his little Red Wizard enclave going via the Downtime rules in the background. While he won't be dungeon delving or traveling with any longer, he may be in the business of forging all kinds of magical goodies in the future (all pending Thron's approval and input, of course). So. . . I'm only mostly withdrawing.
"No idea. . ." Xamarath begins, trailing off as he hobbles forward weakly on his staff. "I'm thinking blast it if it decides to be violent. Sound good to you guys?"
Xamarath mutters at the unsightly creature and sends a trio of arcane bolts flying into its form, each exploding with a loud, wet thud as it impacts.
S word. I meant S word.
I hit it with my sword.
"Perhaps there lay riches enough to accomplish that within this labyrinth? I am willing to venture further if necessary. If it bears even a glimmer of a chance of reviving Kala, I will press on."
Out of town until Monday Night, taking a trip with the family and catching a Browns game.
"Maybe we could barricade ourselves somewhere? I'm not sure what to do with Baern. I don't recall seeing any other kin or dwarves back in Sandpoint. Dwarves are usually interred in tombs though, yes? Maybe we can even turn this place into a place worth visiting again, instead of a hive for goblinkind." Xamarath shrugs helplessly. His heart sinks a bit at the sight of Kala's ruined form.
Xamarath shrugs, the beginnings of a response lost to the roar of Ulfen and bear alike. He unleashes another blast of force into the creature's hide before calling out over the din of combat, "Pile it on while the pilin' is good! Don't give it a chance to make good on its threat." The Thayvian finds himself sorely wishing he had reserved a spell or two for such a foe.
"Over here, friends. I suppose a lusty princess would be too much to hope for, but maybe there's some treasure beyond?" Xamarath steps away from the door, recalling the last time he entered a vault alone.
Xamarath fastens the sihedron upon the table into the door's indention and gives he handle a jostle.
Does the amulet we got off the deaders fit the slot on the door?
Xamarath listens with a similar sense of wonderment next to Zoli. It is several moments before he realizes the immense northman and a bear have joined their assembly. His eyes remain flat, and his features bereft of reaction for a short time. Eventually he finally responds with a smile and an elaborate bow, first to the bear and then to its owner. "What a pair! You're as big as an Uthgardt, good fellow. And about twice as handsome. . . take that as you will. I take it you're an adventurer? Ruins delver? Come to share in the splendors of the mayhem and merrymaking?" Then, turning to Zoli, Xamarath says, "He's probably the custodian of this place. Some old crochety bag of wind who took a little too much pleasure in treating others like door rugs. Seems strange to charge a coin to hear some pointless rambling, though. Maybe something else is hidden in here?"
"Red Wizards, my dear!" Xamarath corrects Zoli playfully, donning a mock tutor-esque look as he wrinkles up his nose, deepens his frown, and raises a hand and outstretched index finger. "My kind have killed for less! But they're pretty stuffy. Most of them are a pain in the ass to be honest. Wrong kind of people to have all the power they do, like these Thassilonians of yours." Looking now to the golden pillar, he continues "Speaking of which, I can't say I've ever seen something like this. Then again, I'd need to know what it actually does before I could make a worthwhile comparison. I'll wager there's something to trigger it in this ruin somewhere. Hopefully. Possibly."
"Hmmm. . . not to use a trick too often, but. . ." Xamarath gestures again and speaks into a cupped hand. Nualia's voice rings out from the western reaches of the entryway beyond the trap that had nearly claimed Orik, "" Then, to the others, Xamarath says "I can totally see her going for a shawl."
"Keep an eye out for some Thassilonian coinage, if you could." Xamarath nods to Crichton and jerks his head towards the door. The bird sighs heavily before bobbing off in search. "There's some slots here. Could be a trap. Could be a lock. Could be nothing."
I am going to miss calling him everything but his actual name. *pours one out*
Xamarath unrolls a clasped scroll and begins chanting the arcane formula contained thereon. As he concludes, a swirling mass of crows appear behind Orik before careening towards Nualia. Unfortunately, several of them pass directly through her without any appreciable effect.
Xamarath utters a small cantrip and a flock of squawking crows begin to sound above Nualia, beating wings and eager for a taste of demonic-lady-eyeballs. Feeling the pressure from the negative energy, Xamarath then retreats further into the room, away from her profane attacks.
"You're awfully bashful for a bugbear-f%$&ing, demon-worshiping madwoman. And a terrible host! Living in a goblin chief's basement, at that. Maybe you should consider calling it a day. Go back to the drawing board. Contemplate what series of idiotic decision-making landed you in these dire straits." Xamarath continues goading the woman, while stretching out to infuse Kala with more energies from the rapidly draining wand.
Uweheehee! Diamond Spray is going to be fun too! It even hurts golems! WAAAAGH!
Xamarath shrugs in reply to Eugeni, then has an idea. "Cover me!" he says, with a wink to his fellows. Then, with the same trick he used several times during the Swallowtail Festival, he cups his hand and whispers an illusion into being. Ahead in the billowing mass, the sound of heavy footsteps thump their way down the corridor.
Mage's Tattoo (+1 caster level); Spell Specialization (+2 caster level); and the Lore Seeker trait (+1 caster level)
Xamarath frowns when Baern continues to remain motionless beyond. The lecherous Red Wizard is forced to confront the fact that the object of his current and rapidly shifting affection is some sort of demonic harlot with designs on murdering his friends, starting with Shalelu's bow. Maybe there's a silver lining here, Xamarath ponders to himself, sparing an appreciative glance Shalelu's way. He usually didn't go for the elven ladies, as they were too patient for his appetite, but he is willing to make an exception for this elf in particular. "Whoah-hoah-ho there, pretty lady. There's no need to go breaking other people's things. The manners on this broad!" Through a grin, Xamarath continues, "If only there was some way to make her as hot in her loins for me. . ." He punctuates the remark by unleashing an arc of fire directly into the loins in question. Following the burst, the conflagration arcs into the yeth hound and the annoying wizardess behind, with poor results. Satisfied with his handiwork, Xamarath steps away from the dog, lest he face its gnashing retort.
So long as someone is occupying the first square of entry, I don't think they can go any further without a bull rush or other movement-forced maneuver of some sort. THey can't 5-ft. around a corner.
Xamarath gives Zoli a zap from the oft used wand.
Xamarath hustles into the room and continues to the western wall, seconding Eugeni's greeting to everyone present. "You think I'm Lualia's type, Orik? All this talk about Vanguards and sacrifice. . . you know love is predicated on sacrifice, right?" the Red Wizard jokes behind the newest addition to their little dungeon delving expedition.
"Hold up, ironbreeches, let's get some of Uncle Xamarath's special love in your veins before you keel over from envy." The Thayvian sprints to the immobile dwarf and allows a fragment of his wand's vile energies to seep into Baern's form.
Xamarath lets out an appreciative whistle and says, "Hubba hubba!" A brief chuckle later and he follows it up with a yell, "Hey guys, maybe goin' over to the dark side ain't such a bad idea after all!" Though his words are obviously a jest, he inwardly laments that someone so beautiful will have to be put down—whether by present hands or criminal execution at a later date. When the woman's weapon bites into the malodorous dwarf, eliciting a pained cry, Xamarath winces with the bearded fellow. "Fish in a barrel an expression that holds any meaning for people on this world? Give us some room to work with, would ya?"
Xamarath arches an eyebrow at the narrow, cramped passage ahead. "Even were I able to assist, there's no room with the Bronzenoggins clogging the path."
Xamarath watches on uselessly, the immediate comedy of the situation giving way to a morbid sympathy.
"Whatever we decide, we had best understand that his former accomplice absconded with knowledge of our presence. Put more bluntly: they know we be a'comin'." Xamarath gives the subdued man another poke in the face.
Much like he had done with the restrained quasit in a different ruin, Xamarath pads over to where Orik is held down and begins poking him in the face with his quarterstaff. "Here's where you tell us what's what in this stinkpit, then we'll decide if it's worth forgiving what you did to our friend."
"Have it your way, turd huffer." Xamarath steps forward and unleashes an impressive--for Xamarath, anyway--strike from the butt of his quarterstaff.
After landing a solid thwack across the armored man's lower abdomen, Xamarath edges his way back into the previous room, allowing his companions room to maneuver past the Thayvian wizard.
Can't do much beyond club him atm, but I'll get a post up shortly. Figure I'd better hold onto the spells I got left for "last boss" encounter.
"We should probably come up with a name for our little band of merry adventurers. Something fierce, and intimidating. . . like 'The Sand Saviors!'" Xamarath calls after Zoli's advancing, diminutive form. When the woman across the room vanishes and beats a hasty retreat, Xamarath rolls his eyes and clacks his staff against the stone floor twice, loudy. "Come on, Champ. We murdered our way through a tribe of goblins and worse without breaking a sweat. Your friend already wet herself and booked it--no reason to end up a red stain on the floor due to stubbornness. Who wants to die for a bunch of goblins and demon cultists, anyway?"
"They look a little too human to be goblinoid, don't ya think?" Xamarath asks, angling his head down to regard Zoli. "Seem plenty dumb enough. Maybe it's a crafty disguise!" "Hey! Why are you two helping a bunch of green knee-biters, anyway? I can't imagine the little buggers pay too well."
Xamarath presses the tip of his wand into Morythine's wounds.
"Silver is the secret ingredient, folks! Too bad we sold all that silver dust back in town, huh?" Xamarath chuckles, then turns and plants his quarterstaff into the nearest dog's face, offering a few distracting pokes to the creature's snapping maw before he turns to make room for Eugeni's approach.
Xamarath takes advantage of the opening and steps forward, summoning up a well of energy from within his waning reserves of power. With a swift gesture, the Red Wizard unleashes a blast of blue energy into the wretched canine squaring off with Kala. "I expended much against the goblins above; I'm afraid I've not got many tricks left to unleash."
Unable to gain access or a line of sight on anything, Xamarath remains on the staircase until there is an opening to be exploited.
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