Spell Completion
This is the activation method for scrolls. A scroll is a spell that is mostly finished. The preparation is done for the caster, so no preparation time is needed beforehand as with normal spellcasting. All that’s left to do is perform the finishing parts of the spellcasting (the final gestures, words, and so on)....Activating a spell completion item is a standard action and provokes attacks of opportunity exactly as casting a spell does.
Heal check (1d20+7=15)
Salome examines Vesh while Zieke continues to hold him. "He is asleep," she says. "Get him out and tie him up. Majji, how long should this last?"
Will save vs. Statue (1d20+6=16)
Religion check (1d20+7=15)
Salome, didn't you say you had something that could boost a person's resistance to outside influences? You might want to give that to Zieke in case he needs to re-enter this chamber.
"He is asleep," she says. "Get him out and tie him up. Majji, how long should this last?"
"Not long. A few minutes at most. Long enough for us to deal with this. I hope." He says, looking directly at the statue for the first time.
Sweat forms on Slidell's brow, and he seems lost in thought, looking at the statue,...
Then he snaps his fingers, and hastily begins emptying his pockets.
"Ah-HAH!" He cries triumphantly, holding up two scrolls.
"C'mere Ehlissa, hurry!" He cries, ripping the neatly tied ribbon off of the first scroll with his teeth as he strides toward the warrior woman. He spits the ribbon onto the floor with the rest of the junk from his pockets.
"Alright, Protection from Evil." He says hastily waving the untied scroll almost in Ehlissa's face. "Should protect you from the statues effects for a full minute! Easily replaceable." He pulls it open and reads softly. At the end he looks up and places a hand on Ehlissa's shoulder.
"Vyraelol thys Aelor!" He intones, and a silver sheen expands from where his hand lies on her shoulder, rapidly expanding to cover the woman as fully as her armor. It then dims slightly, but does not fade from sight as when Slidell uses the spell on himself. Instead the light in the room seems brighter around her, and her chin rises as the pressure of the statue's influence lifts from her.
Slidell hastily stuffs the now empty scroll into a pocket and waves the other one. "Enlargement spell. Will double your size and increase your strength. Also lasts for one minute. More than enough time to topple that with the added height for leverage. But, Haven't had time to copy it into my spellbook yet. So this is a one-shot deal. But if it helps us destroy this thing,..." He finishes with a raised eyebrow. He then continues without waiting for a response.
"Look. Physically, I'm a wimp. And while my intellect gives me admittedly formidable willpower, even I'm not egotistical enough to believe that I'm a match for a deity. In the long run. Yet. I'm going to have to leave the room soon or risk falling victim to the enchantment from the statue. And You and Salome seem to be the best, temperaments, for dealing with this from a dedicated faith standpoint. I might actually be a detriment if the ritual requires unbiased faith. I put my faith in this,..."
With that he pulls the ribbon from the other scroll.
"Thanks, Slidell. Good thinking." Ehlissa says with a smile. "Ha- Zieke, we need all of us to try to topple this together. Salome can you see any weak spots?"
"Ha- Zieke, we need all of us to try to topple this together..."
"Be right there..." Zieke calls, "Here, Mal...finish this...and make sure he doesn't get free."
Zieke finishes up and then heads for the door. He pauses just outside the door, and the statue's influence. "Salome? I'm ready. If you've got a blessing to help shield me from turning on the rest of you, I'll be happy to help..."
Will save to re-enter room... (1d20+2+1 = 13)
Zieke can feel the menacing effect of the statue bearing down on him, almost as if seeking to savage his mind for taking away Vesh as the shrine's last guardian. He attempts to shrug off the effect, but finds that his own willpower isn't sufficient. Only by the grace of Sarenrae and Salome's blessing does he summon up a shield to hold off Lamashtu's influence.
"Okay..." Zieke says between gritted teeth, "I'm alright. Let's do this..."
He hurries to join Ehlissa and Sli. "Where's the best place to push?" he asks, "Do we have any tricks that might make this easier?"
"Where's the best place to push?" he asks, "Do we have any tricks that might make this easier?"
Sli and Veran's Per Checks vs statue:
(1d20-1=14, 1d2 5=6)Slidell examines the statue for 'weak spots', or to see if it is unbalanced, maybe making it easier to push/pull from one side rather than the other. Veran on the other hand, is mesmerized by a shiny bit of flotsam in the corner, and is absolutely no help.
"Veran! Get your head out of the clouds!" The mage snaps at the raven, glad that it is only a bit of metal that has hypnotized him and not the statue. "We're on a tight schedule here, the statue please? Weak spots?" he asks, placing a hand in front of Veran to block his view of the 'shiny'.
Slidell looks back to see Zieke re-entering the room, sweat beading his brow as he concentrates. Slidell looks at his scroll again, then between Ehlissa and Zieke. He taps the scroll against his chin thoughtfully.
Zieke finishes up and then heads for the door. He pauses just outside the door, and the statue's influence. "Salome? I'm ready. If you've got a blessing to help shield me from turning on the rest of you, I'll be happy to help..."
"Wait right there," says Salome, walking around the statue and assessing the problem. She moves to the door and pulls out her ankh. Saying a few words in Qadi, she touches the symbol to Zieke's temples and the center of his forehead.
Zieke can feel the menacing effect of the statue bearing down on him, almost as if seeking to savage his mind for taking away Vesh as the shrine's last guardian. He attempts to shrug off the effect, but finds that his own willpower isn't sufficient. Only by the grace of Sarenrae and Salome's blessing does he summon up a shield to hold off Lamashtu's influence.
"Okay..." Zieke says between gritted teeth, "I'm alright. Let's do this..."
He hurries to join Ehlissa and Sli. "Where's the best place to push?" he asks, "Do we have any tricks that might make this easier?"
(1d20-1=14, 1d2 5=6)
Slidell looks back to see Zieke re-entering the room, sweat beading his brow as he concentrates. Slidell looks at his scroll again, then between Ehlissa and Zieke. He taps the scroll against his chin thoughtfully.
Zieke wears a sickly expression, as if fighting some kind of inner contest of wills.
"Stay close," he whispers to Salome, "I can feel the goddess trying to get inside...and the madness that waits behind it. This must be what Vesh felt. It's a total loss of control."
"Alright, let's get started," he then says a bit louder to Ehlissa and Slidell, "We won't have much time..."
;)
"Stay close," he whispers to Salome, "I can feel the goddess trying to get inside...and the madness that waits behind it. This must be what Vesh felt. It's a total loss of control."
"Alright, let's get started," he then says a bit louder to Ehlissa and Slidell, "We won't have much time..."
Slidell nods. And after placing another scroll conspicuously sticking up out of his colorful vest where it is immediately accessible, he unrolls the scroll he was holding and scans it. He looks Zieke in the eye and says, "Aelasi Vaesyl!" There is a thrum of power being released, and a flash of light.
Zieke blinks, and wonders why Slidell, the only one in the party who can come close to looking him in the eye without a stepstool, suddenly seems shorter. Slidell seems to diminish faster and faster and Zieke gets a sudden attack of vertigo. He closes his eyes out of reflex. When he opens them again, he is staring into the face of a monster. He starts and then realizes that he is looking the statue in the face.
Slidell looks up, and up at Zieke with a big grin on his face. "Well, that worked better than I hoped! Now I have to get another copy! How's the weather up there?" He laughs. He then turns and runs around to the back of the statue. "Well, don't just stand there big guy, this thing's not gonna fall over for us if all we do is look at it!"
Slidell waits for Ehlissa and Salome to join him. Then says, "One,... Two,... Three,... PUSH!"
Sli's Str (Aid Another)check: (1d20=10)
Slidell waits for Ehlissa and Salome to join him. Then says, "One,... Two,... Three,... PUSH!"
Vesh feels nothing. Not Zieke starting to tie him up, not Mal finshing the job...
I am hunted, chased across the grasslands like a wounded horse being chased by feral dogs. Zig-zagging, zig-zagging, faster and faster, the sound of shushing as I run--flying almost--through the grass.
My feet are soft, though, not hooves like a horse's. Am I a feral dog? I sniff the air, a mix of blood and grass and wind and fear assaults my nose. And something else. Recognition. I am a wolf...but not the hunter, not this time. The fear I smell is mine.
I break through a wall of grasses, into a circular clearing where the grass is crushed and lying flat, as though some giant beast had bedded-down there. There is a woman in the middle of the clearing, the stench of terror comes off of her in waves on the wind. I cannot see her clearly. Dark clouds make it night-like. I can hear her, though. She is calling to me. Growling my name.
She steps forward and for a moment I can see that she has the head of a dog. A Jackal. My hackles are raised. I growl and bare my fangs but do not move. She touches my furry forehead with a long finger like a knife.
Lightning peels thunder off the roof of the sky, and I am alone in the clearing. The dog-woman is gone, the scent of metal hangs in the air. White flower petals are falling from the sky--they stand out against the darkness--landing on something in the middle of the clearing.
I approach slowly and sniff around it--nothing comes to my nose. A man. I lick his face--cold--and recognize him. She called him Vesh. He used to scratch my head. He lies motionless. Then his eyes open. They are lifeless, white. His scent finally comes to me. He smells like death, like a corpse.
He makes to stand as I back into a crouch. He opens his mouth, but makes no noise. I lunge before he is up. My fangs sink into him--cold skin, cold blood--this thing was once a man I knew. She called him Vesh, and he used to scratch my head.
I tear out his throat.
Vesh jerks awake on a cold stone floor and screams. He tries to feel for his throat but cannot.
His hands are bound firmly behind him.
"Zieke, can you look at this?" Salome calls out from behind the statue. She points out a square plate on the floor at the base. "It's heavy iron, set to look like the floor stones. Do you think you can move it?"
"Zieke, can you look at this?" Salome calls out from behind the statue. She points out a square plate on the floor at the base. "It's heavy iron, set to look like the floor stones. Do you think you can move it?"
Zieke peers around the statue, still feeling somewhat ungainly with his new 12-foot height.
"Of course," he rumbles, stepping next to the priestess with thundering footfalls. He draws his oversized dagger to use as a prying bar for the task and kneels down to examine the plate. Once he finds a large enough crack, he inserts the dagger and tries to loosen the mechanism so he can pull it aside.
Vesh struggles against his bonds, but it is no use. He sees Mal hovering above, and he renews his struggle.
Slowly, Vesh recognizes the rogue. The rush of adrenaline wears off. Pain assaults Vesh's senses. As he forms the question, What happened?, in his mind, darkness closes-in around him.
Vesh passes out.
Slidell hastily steps aside as Zieke comes stomping by, holding out his arms for balance.
"Watch your step big guy. I don't want to end up Mage Putty!" He smiles as the now 12' tall Zieke lowers himself to the ground and begins working on the plate.
The mage turns to smile at his familiar, then furrows his brow. "What are you still doing here? This is getting too dangerous. I can feel the statue's enchantment trying to beguile me even now. Why don't you get out of here? Go and keep an eye on Vesh. And holler if you see anyone look like they're trying to take a drink." He adds as an afterthought.
Veran looks at the statue, but for once the mouthy avian doesn't back talk. He simply bobs his head in silent agreement. Slidell walks towards the door where Mal and Vesh are, and when they are within arm's length the raven launches himself through the doorway with a single sweep of his wings. He settles to the ground and leans his head to the side, looking at Vesh.
Slidell turns and lets his long legs carry him back towards the statue. He bends over, and producing a couple of long, thin sticks from his pockets, begins to gently prod at the ground where the milk has collected in the seams of the stonework.
'Now, what have we here?,..." He asks no one. He continues muttering about 'acidity', 'porous mortar', 'decomposition' and 'foundation' as he pokes and prods various areas of the floor.
Shining a light and pressing your face to the floor, you see that the statue is anchored by rods and a plate set into the bottom of the hollowed stone cavity. You reason that if the rods were bent or broken, the statue would topple in a stiff breeze.
Zieke resheathes his dagger and this time draws the ancient longsword recovered from the mutant goblin not all that long ago. It's now grown along with him, several inches wide, close to seven feet long, and thicker than any normal sword would have a right to be.
Tapping the scroll case tied to his waist, Zieke then summons the energy of the scrolls of Tian Xia to imbue the blade with an extra measure of magical power. He thrusts it down inside the open cavity, wedging it between the rods holding the statue in place. He sets his foot against the flat of the blade, intending to use it like a giant lever.
"Ehlissa," Zieke calls, "Can you and Salome get your arms on either side of this? Reach past the sword. Be careful not to cut yourself or hold close to the edge of the blade. We need to bend those rods and it should make toppling this statue that much easier..."
After pondering for a few moments, the thought suddenly occurs to you. The Milk is acidic and the mortar is composed with lime - an alkaline material. If mixed together, the mortar and Milk should react to each other and the resulting substance should be easier and safer to remove/dispose of.
;P
Slidell pokes and prods at the floor, chewing his lip in concentration.
"There's got to be a way to get rid of this safely." He muses, completely oblivious to the noises coming from behind the statue. He pokes at the floor seams once more, and his eyes light up like a Midwinterfeast Tree.
"Of course!" He crows. "Even back in Thassilonian times, they had to use basic building techniques! Lime for mortar! If mixed properly, The mystical properties of the Milk should be enough to break down the mortar, and reactivate the lime's original alkaline properties. Which should in turn be able to negate the Milk's acidic properties, rendering it inert! Or at least inert enough to move safely. Simplicity itself!"
Stepping away from the Milk contaminated area of the floor he swiftly kneels and pulls out a small rolled leather case. Unrolling it on the floor it turns out to be a kit with a small hammer & chisels, a tiny pick, and brush. Happily humming a nameless tune to himself he begins excavating mortar from between the flagstones, brushing it up, and depositing his collection into his hat. Once he's gathered a few handfuls he rolls up his tiny tool kit and carries his hatful of mortar to the statue.
Pursing his lips, he idly dribbles some powdered mortar into a pool of Milk on the floor and observes it's reaction. He repeats the procedure in another spot. Nodding in satisfaction if not joy, he approaches the large collection of milk on the floor under the basin. Brow furrowed in concentration, he takes a handful of mortar and begins pouring it into the puddle. Counting under his breath, he stops, counts, and continues. Keeping a wary eye on the powder-covered slick on the floor, he carefully reaches over the main basin of the statue and begins pouring a handful of powder into it.
"Don't mind me." He addresses the statue as he grabs another handful while keeping count with a bob of his head. "Just adding a little seasoning, be done in a jiffy!" He smiles as he adds more mortar to the mixture in ever-increasing handfuls and speed,...
Zieke can tell Salome and Ehlissa are having trouble applying much pressure on the rods from their awkward stance. Gritting his teeth, he pulls on the enlarged sword in an effort to make up for it. His giant muscles strain with the effort and he can hear the groan of the metal rods beneath the statue...
"C'mon..." he mutters, "This thing's got to be old and weakened after all these years. Bend you son-of-a..."
And then he feels something start to give inside...
...Zieke has enough leverage to bend the bars, and, as the ladies step back, snap them in half. The statue sways clumsily, but does not topple - yet.
"Ah...I think we found the answer," Zieke smiles.
Meanwhile, Salome and Slidell gather mortar and measure a few handfulls into the basin. The Milk hisses and bubbles angrily, sending a cloud of choking grey mist into the air.
Fortitude save... (1d20+6 = 24)
Zieke coughs and turns his head, thankful that he can find a few pockets of clean air from his height advantage. He looks down at Salome and Sli's efforts curiously.
"What are you two doing?" he asks, "Let's push this thing over and get out of here..." He sheathes his longsword and moves behind the statue, waiting for the others to line up next to him for one final push.
Salome turns away from the acrid gas coming off the mixture, instinctively reaches for a scarf to cover her face, and wishes again that her scarves hadn't burned in the quasit's fire.
"What are you two doing?" he asks,
"By the grace of Sarenrae, this should make the Milk of Lamashtu safer for us to destroy," answers Salome, satisfied with the grey swirling sludge.
"Let's push this thing over and get out of here..." He sheathes his longsword and moves behind the statue, waiting for the others to line up next to him for one final push.
"Agreed," answers Salome, joining the oversized warrior.
;P
Slidell is adding the handfuls of powder in a carefully calculated rhythm. When the dark liguid begins to bubble and smoke angrily, the tall chelaxian instinctively ducks down and raises his cloak, placing him below the rising acrid vapors and avoiding the worst of their effects.
"What are you two doing?" he asks, "Let's push this thing over and get out of here..."
"Just a little cooking, Aaaaand I think we're done here!" He smiles at the grey sludge, and follows Salome around to the back of the statue.
"Sounds like a plan. Let's dump this thing before that fountain begins to generate more Milk and undoes our hard work!" He smiles at Salome as he takes his place behind the statue with the rest.Sli's STR Assist Others Roll: (1d20=19)
;P
On Zieke's signal, and despite her small frame, Salome pushes with all her might.
[ooc]I haven't seen Fabes lately, so I'll go ahead and have Zieke give a push without Ehlissa involved. Two successful Aid Another checks means an extra +4, so...
Zieke's STR check... (1d20+8 = 17)
"PUSH!" Zieke commands, straining and wrestling with the heavy stone statue in an attempt to lift it from its mooring and send it smashing to the ground.
Religion check with bonus (1d20+7+4=28)
Leaving others to pick up the jewels and daggers, Salome takes the vial of holy water and the bag of silver dust out of her pack, miraculously unharmed from the earlier fire. As she methodically circles the room, chanting in Qadi, silver dust pours like the desert sand through her fingers. Then she reverses course, retracing her steps and sprinkling holy water onto the silver dust. Near the center of the room, where the statue once stood, Salome traces Sarenrae's symbol in the dust and kneels on her singed prayer rug to pray.
"Lady of the Dawn, may thy grace penetrate this room, dispel the evil that dwelt here, and protect thy children from the influence of evil," she says, looking pointedly in Vesh's direction. Rising, she reads from the precious scroll, which seems to glow gold in her hands...
Ehlissa kneels as well clasping her longword (blade downwards) "Sword-maiden, Ldy of Light, aid us now in purifying this dunnest smoke of hell."
;)
At Salome's gesture, Slidell nods assent and assists Mal in picking up the unconscious Vesh, and carrying him into the room near the circle. The tall mage avoids looking at Vesh's face, possibly afraid of what he might see there.
Once again displaying that rarest of skills, when to keep his mouth shut, Slidell offers no assistance or commentary as Salome carefully diagrams her Holy Circle and empowers it with water and prayers. But Both he and Veran, once again ensconced on his familiar perch, keep their eyes constantly moving over the entire scene so as not to miss a single detail.
At one point when Salome and Ehlissa are deep in prayers, Mal notices Slidell's hand make a gesture. His fingers all bunched up together, Slidell moves his hand in a rising, curving motion, and ends by spreading his fingers wide. He recognizes it as a gesture used by followers of Nethys to ward off evil. Slidell's eyes never leave Salome as she reads from her glowing scroll.
Vesh's eyes flutter with the surge of warmth that comes from Salome's healing prayer. As the warmth fades, he feels the cold stone floor against his face. His muscles ache. He discovers--rediscovers as he remembers--that his hands are bound behind him. He does not remember who he attacked or when, he doesn't remember being subdued, but with a sinking pit in his stomach, he knows what must have happened if he has been tied up.
Eyes still closed, unable to right himself and look around, Vesh says a muffled, "Can someone please untie me?" His voice is hoarse, he must have been screaming he realizes.
"Whatever came over me has passed."
;)
;)
As the golden glow permeates the room, Slidell closes his eyes reflexively. As the glow fades, he blinks, relaxing muscles that he hadn't even realized he was holding. He breathes in a deep breath, and smiles.
"Can someone please untie me?" "Whatever came over me has passed."
Slidell looks around, a puzzled look on his face. Then notices Vesh at his feet. He helps Mal get Vesh up and on his own feet.
"Welcome back." HE says lightly, carefully scrutinizing Vesh's hands and face for any remaining signs of the Milk's effects."How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened? How many fingers am I holding up?" Holding up a single finger with the last, almost poking Vesh in the nose with it as he intensely stares at Vesh's eyes.
"How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened? How many fingers am I holding up?" Holding up a single finger with the last, almost poking Vesh in the nose with it as he intensely stares at Vesh's eyes.
"Not well--disoriented. No. And, I'm not sure as I've yet to open my eyes," says Vesh quietly without hint of sarcasm.
Slowly, he opens his eyes. He flinches at Slidell's finger, but you see nothing in them but the dark brown you've grown accustomed to. He looks at each of you and seems to gather himself for the answer as he says, "Tell me. What did I do?"
"Tell me. What did I do?"
"Does it really matter?" Zieke's voice drifts down from somewhere in the dark above. His 12-foot frame still hasn't returned to normal yet and the lights from Ehlissa's sword and Slidell's lantern can't seem to illuminate the big warrior's face that high up.
"You're alive," he continues, "Salome's faith has driven away the madness of Lamashtu from this place. And you caused no permanent damage to anyone. Be happy with that. Because anything more specific will only make you feel worse about it. And it'll make me angry all over again."
"Slidell?" he asks, "How much longer is this spell of yours going to last? I don't imagine it'll make for easy travel back through the portal and tunnels. Can you end this...?"