Ephie nods. We should solve the Yaashka problem first.
Rulean nods his agreement.
He asks “Should I use my powers to heal us or should we spend the time using bandages?”
Once the healing is complete, he moves over to the west. He gets his pick and shield ready.
"Hrrr," Chani chuffs. "We should take a few minutes at least to tend properly to our most wounded." He looks over at Rulean. "You got burned pretty badly there and I want to at least take a look at you."
"Yeah, let's take a few minutes before we push on any further," Clover agrees. "Hopefully these guys weren't expected anywhere anytime soon."
Though she usually doesn't have much reason to pull out her own healer's tools, she reasons it might be best to do what she can so Rulean can focus on his own wounds.
Chani and Clover assist Leaf-on-Wind, and your wounds are swiftly cleaned and dressed.
Givzib leads you around the north hallway--after you collect a pouch full of cracked rubies and a magical shrunken head from the pile of supplies the xulgath have left in the hall. "They are not particularly tidy people," the quasit comments.
On the other side of the complex is a door. "Yaashka is probably still in here worshipping their demon lord," Givzib says.
Listening at the door, you hear a voice that could indeed be a person in prayer. Once ready to face more hostile xulgath, you open the door.
This abandoned chapel is shrouded in gloom, which Rulean's light pierces. To the east, a broken slab surrounded by marble debris is all that remains of a large statue. Atop the broken slab stands a crude altar of wood and stone bearing a human corpse. A gash splits the dead man’s throat, his decaying face frozen in a final mask of terror. A strange symbol carved into the man’s abdomen undulates with foul energy.
Rulean, Clover, Snowball, and Chani are assaulted by the xulgath stench, but they bear it without significant difficulty. Caught in the midst of their worship, Rulean and Clover have the jump on the xulgath demon-caller and the three xulgath warriors.
"That's one of the people Mistress Dusklight brought," Givzib comments.
Interrupted Worship. Round 1. Bold may act.
Rulean (68/68) (immune)
Clover (90/90) (immune)
>Snowy (48/48) (immune)
Demon-Caller (round dash)
Warrior (square dash)
Chani (68/68) (immune)
Warrior (red)
Warrior (blue)
Ephraim (62/62)
Leaf-on-Wind (78/78)
Song-of-Air (60/60)
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Rulean casts his spell to summon a divine javelin and strikes at the xulgath closest to the makeshift alter with it. He then brings his shield back into place to protect himself. He silently promises himself to aim before casting next time.
"Okay Snowy, be careful," Clover warns. She focuses her attention on Blue Square, marking them as her prey, and then beckons for her badger friend to follow as she maneuvers just a little ways into the chamber.
______________
Snowy growls and follows Clover, moving into the chamber and into the nearby corner next to her.
The demon-caller steps forward, chanting. The xulgath makes a gesture toward the Rulean's spiritual weapon, and the javelin winks out of existence .
One of the warriors charges Clover and swings his axe in a wide arc. Fortunately, his blow was so telegraphed that both the halfling and the badger can easily duck under it.
Interrupted Worship. Round 1. Bold may act.
Rulean (68/68) (immune)
Clover (90/90) (immune)
>Snowy (48/48) (immune)
Demon-Caller (round dash)
Warrior (square dash)
Chani (68/68) (immune)
Warrior (red)
Warrior (blue)
Ephraim (62/62)
Leaf-on-Wind (78/78)
Song-of-Air (60/60)
No specific weaknesses.
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Atop the broken slab stands a crude altar of wood and stone bearing a human corpse. A gash splits the dead man’s throat, his decaying face frozen in a final mask of terror. A strange symbol carved into the man’s abdomen undulates with foul energy.
"That's one of the people Mistress Dusklight brought," Givzib comments.
Chani walks into the room on Clover's heels. He looks at the mutilated corpse for a couple of moments. A strange mix of emotions going through him. Fear that he very well could have ended up like this. Relief that he didn't - that he escaped and found his way to a better place. Anger that someone of his own species could be so cruel. Regret that he couldn't do more to help this particular person before they came to this horrific end.
But he puts his musings away quickly and brings his amulet to bear. He pulls his gaze to one of the Xulgath warriors next to the altar and searches his pockets for a leaf or petal that resonates appropriately.
He draws his mace and watches silently for an opportunity to present itself.
The remaining warriors move to block the doorway as best they can. One swings his greataxe in a wide arc. The stone axe swipes too short to endanger Rulean, but it does manage to cut a bloody wound across Clover's shoulder.
The other advances next to the first and swings his axe at Chani. The stone blade cuts into the catfolk's chest, and then he painfully rips it sideways. The magician quickly swings his amulet to obviate some of the damage.
Interrupted Worship. Round 1. Bold may act.
Rulean (68/68) (immune)
Clover (75/90) (immune)
>Snowy (48/48) (immune)
Demon-Caller (round dash)
Warrior (square dash)
Chani (61/68) (immune) (reaction used) (Fortitude DC 20 vs. Enfeeble 1; CF 2)
Warrior (red)
Warrior (blue) (p.a. 5)
Ephraim (62/62)
Leaf-on-Wind (78/78)
Song-of-Air (60/60)
Chani grumbles at the pain, but the wound doesn't seem to have caused any debilitating injury.
Chani endures the blow.
Interrupted Worship. Round 1-2. Bold may act.
Demon-Caller (round dash)
Warrior (square dash)
Chani (61/68) (immune) (reaction used)
Warrior (red)
Warrior (blue) (p.a. 5)
Ephraim (62/62)
Leaf-on-Wind (78/78)
Song-of-Air (60/60)
Rulean (68/68) (immune)
Clover (75/90) (immune)
>Snowy (48/48) (immune)
Rulean decides it might be useful to create a gap in their defensive line. He calls on Kurgess for power and then tries to push the xulgath back. Then he raises his shield.
Epiie moves and flings rubble at Red, who is hopefully prone.
Leaf maneuvers to where he can get a better view of their foes and takes aim at Red-Dash...
______________
Song-of-Air spins up an inspiring performance before stepping behind Rulean and also firing a shot at Red-Dash...
______________
As arrows come whizzing over her head at Red-Dash, Clover decides to take advantage of it and shifts her focus to the same foe. "Snowy, get 'em!" she cries as she jabs at the xulgath with her fork.
______________
Snowy is eager to please and snaps at Red-Dash twice, with great relish!
______________
Rulean shoves the xulgath in front of him further into the room and then raises his shield. Ephie telekinetically strikes that xulgath in the head with a chunk of rubble. Leaf-on-Wind sinks his first arrow deep into another xulgath's shoulder, but he finds their hide is tough as the other two arrows glance away.
Song-of-Air finds herself nauseated by the xulgath stench, but that does not stop her from inspiring her companions with her artistry. She then fires an arrow into xulgath in front of her and sinks it deep into its chest. The xulgath is gravely wounded but fights on despite the pain.
Clover drives her fork into the faltering xulgath and drives him to the ground. She commands Snowy, who rushes in and bites the nearest xulgath savagely.
The demon-caller steps forward and strikes at Rulean with a gauntlet covered fist. He invokes demonic power and touches the xulgath warrior next to him, healing his wounds slightly.
Interrupted Worship. Round 2. Bold may act.
Demon-Caller (round dash)
Chani (61/68) (immune)
Warrior (red) (-10 hp)
Warrior (blue) (p.a. 5) (-15 hp)
Ephraim (62/62) (immune)
Leaf-on-Wind (78/78) (immune)
Song-of-Air (60/60) (sickened 1)
Rulean (68/68) (immune)
Clover (75/90) (immune)
>Snowy (48/48) (immune)
Chani steps farther into the room to get behind his foe, then begins bludgeoning the xulgath with his empowered mace. "Hrr. They smell bad and are not very friendly."
Chani steps forward in order to club the xulgath. The creature's skin sizzles where the amurrun's weapon strikes. Chani's second swing glances off of the xulgath's crude armor.
The xulgath next to their demon-caller pummels Rulean with his greataxe. The first strike cuts off the corner of his shield , and the xulgath drags it painfully across Rulan's scales. The next blow bypasses every defense and cuts into the iruxi's shoulder .
The other warrior steps away from Chani. He moves towards Clover, who he sees as weaker prey. However, the halfling deftly dodges every swing at her.
Interrupted Worship. Round 2-3. Bold may act.
Demon-Caller (round dash)
Chani (61/68) (immune)
Warrior (red) (-10 hp)
Warrior (blue) (p.a. 5) (-29 hp)
Ephraim (62/62) (immune)
Leaf-on-Wind (78/78) (immune)
Song-of-Air (60/60) (sickened 1)
Rulean (42/68; shield -8 hp) (immune) (Fortitude DC 20 vs. enfeebled 1 / 2 on CF)
Clover (75/90) (immune)
>Snowy (48/48) (immune)
Rulean manages to avoid a cut to his muscle.
He raises his shield and swings his pick twice at the demon caller.
Fatal d10
crit, die increase, extra die for fatal
Fatal d10
crit, die increase, extra die for fatal
Ephie lasers in on the demon caller.
He then wings his granny's antique axe at the caller…
The acrobatic medic cracks his head slightly and sends a bunch over at the reddish warrior -- if the target needs more healing, it's less healing that the casty-type can use on themselves. (Red Warrior)
While several in the group focus on the demon-caller, Clover shifts her attention to Blue Warrior that moved to engage her. "Come on Snowy, keep up the pressure!"
______________
Knees in the morning, knees in the evening, knees at suppertime~
______________
Rulean rips a wound in the demon caller's arm. The creature dodges away from the second swing, but manages to get shocked by Ephie's magic. The warrior between them is especially flat footed and looks charred.
While Leaf-on-Wind's arrow leaves the charred and smoking warrior unsteady on his feet, he seems to have enough energy to deflect the rest of the arrows.
Clover impales the warrior in front of her. Snowy runs over to bite at the heels of the remaining warrior but finds the scales tough.
Interrupted Worship. Round 2-3. Bold may act.
Demon-Caller (round dash) (-38 hp)
Chani (61/68) (immune)
Warrior (red) (-39 hp)
Ephraim (62/62) (immune)
Leaf-on-Wind (78/78) (immune)
Song-of-Air (60/60) (sickened 1)
Rulean (42/68; shield -8 hp) (immune) (Fortitude DC 20 vs. enfeebled 1 / 2 on CF)
Clover (75/90) (immune)
>Snowy (48/48) (immune)
Song-of-Air enters the room and fires an arrow at the warrior, which pierces his heart. She fires an arrow at the demon caller, but the cultist manages to duck in time.
The demon caller speaks some fiendish incantation right before he touches Rulean, trying to steal his life force. The xulgath then speaks a word of warding.
Interrupted Worship. Round 3-4. Bold may act.
Demon-Caller (round dash) (-38 hp) (shield)
Chani (61/68) (immune)
Ephraim (62/62) (immune)
Leaf-on-Wind (78/78) (immune)
Song-of-Air (60/60) (sickened 1)
Rulean (42/68; shield -8 hp) (immune) (Fortitude DC 24 vs. 21 negative damage)
Clover (75/90) (immune)
>Snowy (48/48) (immune)
◈
◈
Rulean goes down to the bad touch from the Xulgath demon-caller.
As Leaf-on-Wind sees Rulean collapse he blurs into motion with incredible alacrity...
...slaps a bandage over the worst looking wound...
...before patting Rulean on the shoulder with the glove he just applied the bandage with.
"Get up! The show's not over yet!"
"Hey! I've had enough of you and your dark magics!"
As Leaf moves to see to Rulean, Clover circles around to come at the remaining xulgath from the side, striking out with her fork.
"Snowy, get 'em!"
______________
Snowy is happy follow Clover's commands, whipping around and darting forward to snap at the last xulgath!
______________
Chani considers the remaining Xulgath spellcaster.
"Hrrm. Smelly and eldritch." He pulls a strip of pine bark from a pocket and coats his mace in the powder it creates when slipped through the hole in his amulet.
Then Chani moves around behind Clover to get close enough to use the mace.
Though not very effectively.
Rulean raises his shield to protect himself, grabs his pick, and then stands back up.
Ephie moves in for a clear shot…
While Rulean collapses under the xulgath's vampiric touch, which causes the demon-caller's wounds to heal, Leaf-on-Wind is quick to move to the iruxi's side. The tengu applies his skills to restore Rulean's vitality.
Clover and Snowy tear into the demon-caller, bleeding away what vitality he had regained and then some. The xulgath knocks the debris that Ephie telekinetically flings at him.
The demon-caller proves to be a fierce opponent despite his slimmer build compared to the xulgath hunters and warriors you have faced. You press him hard, and he eventually falls though he gave back as well as he received.
"Yes! Givzib knew you would triumph!" the quasit says as he materializes next to Chani.
The body on the ruined alter is a brown-haired human man in workman's clothes. He has been sacrificed for some infernal purpose, though there is no trace of what that purpose might have been. You do find a magical aura about the body, though. This leads you to a folded lace handkerchief. It bears the Celestial Menagerie's logo.
Rulean recognizes the symbol carved into the stone hanging from the demon-caller's neck. It is the symbol of Zevgavizeb, the qlippoth lord, older even than the demon lords.
Leaf-On-Wind works on party injuries, patching folks up and cleaning wounds as he gives a glance over at the handkerchief.
"Well, I'm glad we got out before we got sent here, at least? I wonder if this is where some of the folks who 'disappeared' from the Menagerie ended up?"
Looking at the body, Rulean says “The type of people that would do this are unlikely to see any reason to stop.”
Rulean thanks Leaf for tending his wounds.
“Now what?”
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Having come to the Moonstone Hall based on clues in the succubus Balenni's journal that you found in the Tower of Erran to find the source of the xulgaths invading the island, you have been successful in finding a gathering of powerful troglodytes. The quasit, Givzib, with whom you have a cautious truce, has warned you that even more powerful xulgath work below on something that even he is not privy to. Furthermore, you have found some circumstantial evidence that Madame Dusklight is bringing sacrifices to the xulgath in exchange for something.
Your unconscious captive in the other room--the only xulgath so far to speak Taldane--would certainly be a hostile witness. "You will get no help from Yaashka," Givzib advises. "All these xulgath hate you people on the island. Humans especially."
"There was another that you mentioned as well," Chani mentions quietly. "Kalagash, was it? The one who conjured you. And is in a lower level."
"And there is possibly one other that you named, Uzenshell, but we may have already met that one." Chani thinks for a moment, then mentions to the other people in the group, "We should be sure of that though and clear this level."
"Yeah, let's at least do what we can and finish clearing the rooms on this floor. Then we can decide how to move forward from there," Clover agrees.
______________
Rulean agrees with Clover’s plan.
On the north side of the buried temple, you appear to have dealt with all of the xulgath. "That was Yaashka," Givzib says, pointing to the slain xulgath. "One of the demon-callers. You have Zunkri, an arcanist, tied up in the other room."
You return to the defaced entrance chamber with the Eye of Aroden mosaic on the floor. You bring the quasit into the haunted sanctuary and show him the first xulgath you fought. "Well, you took care of Uzensshel."
There is an open room to the south of the entrance chamber.
Walls of smooth rose marble surround a pool filled with a purplish sludge. A golden statue of a winged eye rises from the center of the pool, dripping dark tears from its corners into the noxious substance below. Faded mosaics on the walls surrounding the pool have been disfigured with ghastly illustrations painted with smeared blood.
Rulean, Chani, and Ephraim immediately recognize the winged eye statue as a representation of Aroden. Ephrain recognizes the pool is carved from cryptstone, which has divine powers and wards away undead. However, Chani believes that the pool is carved from moonstone, which has intrinsic mystical attributes. It is clear to all of you that the water in the pool is tainted.
Looking at the polluted water, Rulean says “I can do nothing today, but we will want to purify that water.”
Gesturing towards the disfigured mosaics, he adds “We will want to clean that as well.”
"The way down is back in the private quarters," Givzib says. "Through a door in the sanctuary. Watch out for ghosts."
"What do we know or have on hand for dealing with that sort of thing if it's not just echo-stuff?" Leaf-On-Wind inquires -- if the thought process can get started now maybe folks will have a better idea for handling it further on.
"What kind of ghosts are we talking about? Human? Xulgath?"
"Human?" Givzib guesses. "Looked like humans. They killed one of the xulgath who got too close to the dais."
Ephraim informs you that he thinks there might be a clue to purifying the pool on the walls under the filth.
While you consider that, you carefully return to the sanctuary. It is simple enough to stay against the wall and away from the dais where the haunt had manifested before. Through the door that Givzib indicates is short hall. The marble walls are smeared with blood. A thin, greenish haze fills the air, giving off a smell of sodden leaves and decay.
Clover sees nothing to worry about, but once you turn the corner, a horse-sized reptile with a spiked neck frill, broad, armored scales, sickle-like claws, and a long tail lined with spines. The beast is fierce and the battle begins frantically. However, after less than a minute, the beast simply disappears. You take the time to bandage Clover's and Chani's wounds.
There are two small doors on the south wall and a larger door at the end of the hall.
Chani looks around after the reptile creature vanishes. "Hrr. That did not look like a Human ghost."
After getting patched back up, Chani continues along the hallway towards the smaller doors, keeping a close ear out for anything making noise.
"Yes, that was...really strange," Clover agrees, rubbing at her arm where a jagged gash had been only moments before. "Why would there be ghosts here, anyway? Did the people who lived here meet a bad end?"
Once everyone is ready to continue forward Clover beckons to Snowy and the pair cautiously proceed down the hallway...