The westward passage quickly branches, with an open tunnel heading north and a door set into the stone wall to the west. The passage to the north twists quickly out of sight. There are no torches on the walls of this area and except for the sunlight coming in through the opening to the east, this section of the complex would be quite dark.
The barrel shaped squid thing suddenly leaves its post near the opening and starts shuffling westward towards the group. It moves quite slowly and will not be hard to outrun if you should so choose.
"West. And, Blackwing, stay on my shoulder," says Mitnal glancing behind him nervously.
** spoiler omitted **
"Where did that guy, Orik, go?" Jessa complains, "Darn it. If we could have caught up to him, we might at least have learned where Nualia is..."
"We'd better keep moving, I just hope Orik did a runner, rather than staying with Nualia."
The westward hallway is lit with toches. It leads to a large four way intersection, with slightly ajar double doors to the west bearing unholy images.
You've come in a full circle back to the spot where you first saw Orik to the south.
"Hmm, Yes, I do think we've been here..."
"Sandwich time?"
"Yeah, I think we were here before. Why did we leave again?"
"Yeah, I think we were here before. Why did we leave again?"
You went tentacle-monster hunting and we all got carried away and followed you."
I smile at the big man, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
"Yeah, I think we were here before. Why did we leave again?"You went tentacle-monster hunting and we all got carried away and followed you."
I smile at the big man, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
Mitnal stares at Gyorgy completely confused and then finally mumbles, "Magic" and shoots a glare at Jeslara.
"So, which way were we going before I was magicked?"
Jessa shoots a glare back at the big barbarian as if to say, 'Don't blame me!'
The westward hallway is lit with toches. It leads to a large four way intersection, with slightly ajar double doors to the west bearing unholy images.
"Ummm...were those doors open like that the last time we passed by?" she asks aloud.
Something moves on the other side of the door and there is the faint sound of something whining, a bit dog like.
Something moves on the other side of the door and there is the faint sound of something whining, a bit dog like.
Mitnal smiles, "Making friends and bringing home pets."
He heaves his warhammer and steadies his klar.
"Wait. We haven't met a single friendly animal yet," Jessa says, "It could be another of those nasty dogs the goblins seem so fond of..."
"Wait. We haven't met a single friendly animal yet," Jessa says, "It could be another of those nasty dogs the goblins seem so fond of..."
"There was the rabbit, and the horse ... they were friendliable. And that cat might be okay if he trusted you. ... Let's see what's behind the door."
Mitnal prepares to hit anything that comes out but waits for someone else to open the door.
I do!
Jessa stands back, fearful of both the animal sounds and the memory of whatever pitiful howl sent Mitnal fleeing last time.
"Are you guys...s-sure about this?" she weakly interjects.
"Are you guys...s-sure about this?" she weakly interjects.
"I'm sure that he's going to open the door," says Mitnal.
Jessa stands back, fearful of both the animal sounds and the memory of whatever pitiful howl sent Mitnal fleeing last time.
"Are you guys...s-sure about this?" she weakly interjects.
tralalala
Jessa stands back, fearful of both the animal sounds and the memory of whatever pitiful howl sent Mitnal fleeing last time.
"Are you guys...s-sure about this?" she weakly interjects.
Eugen swings the door fully open revealing a large room on the other side.
Stone fonts containing frothy dark water sit to the north and south of the eastern entrance to the room, and twin banks of stone pillars run the length of the long chamber. At the western end, shallow stairs rise to a platform about two feet off the ground. The walls surrounding this platform are lit by hanging braziers that emit glowing red smoke, giving the place an unnerving crimson lighting that throws the bas-relief carvings of countless monsters feasting on fleeing humans into lurid display.
A black marble altar stone, its surface heaped with ashes and bone fragments, squats before a ten-foot-tall statue. The sculpture depicts a very pregnant but otherwise shapely naked woman who wields a kukri in each taloned hand and has a long reptilian tail, bird-like taloned feet, and the snarling head of a three-eyed jackal with a forked tongue. Its left kukri flickers with fi ery orange light while the right one glows with a cold blue radiance.
Two hairless hound like beasts stand within the room. They growl as the doors open and it is evident they are not very friendly.
"Uhh...th-those don't look like goblin dogs!"
"Well then, what are they?"
"I'm not sure they'd I'd want one of them to follow me home."
"hmmm," I say, thoughtfully.
initiative:
Initiative:
Hounds in the Temple - Round 1
Mitnal: Initiative 22
Hounds: Initiative 21
Jessa: Initiative 16
Gyorgy: Initiative 14
Eugen: Initiative 11
The two "hounds" are thin and emaciated, with a cruel look to their massively fanged jaws. Their eyes glow red and theit skeletal tails sway menacingly, almost cat-like. The first is fifteen feet away from Mitnal, the second is twenty-five.
Hounds in the Temple - Round 1
Mitnal: Initiative 22
Hounds: Initiative 21
Jessa: Initiative 16
Gyorgy: Initiative 14
Eugen: Initiative 11The two "hounds" are thin and emaciated, with a cruel look to their massively fanged jaws. Their eyes glow red and theit skeletal tails sway menacingly, almost cat-like. The first is fifteen feet away from Mitnal, the second is twenty-five.
Mitnal decides not to both checking if they're friendly. They don't look very friendly.
He charges into the room and tries to use his klar and warhammer on the closest one.
Mitnal strikes a glancing blow with his warhammer. The hound seems completely unaffected by the attack.
The hound Mitnal attacks attempts to retaliate...
Bite Attack:
...but Mitnal manages to keep its jaws from attaching.
The other hound lets out a loud, mournful howl.
"It's magicking me!" yells Mitnal, covering his ears.
Jessa blinks at the mournful howl of the dog. 'So that's what caused Mitnal to flee last time...' She's relieved to see the barbarian stand his ground this time, but worried that his hammerblow doesn't seem to have fazed the beast.
Guessing that magic might stand a better chance of harming it, she realizes she doesn't have much at her disposal. So, she quickly fires off a ray of ice at one of the animals, shouting, "Heladoviga!"
Then, she draws the iron wand they took from the ruins below Sandpoint, hoping its electrical energy might help...if she can get close enough to apply it.
That also reminds her of the wand Gyorgy took from Lyrie when they captured the wizardess upstairs. "Gyorgy! Use your magic!" she encourages her sorcerous friend.
second will save against howl (1d20+3=9)
"Aaaaaargh!"
will save:
there's something nasty about these guys. I charge .
charge:
Jessa's spell strikes one of the beasts, but the small patch of frost that appears on its hide does not seem to greatly hurt it.
Gyorgy turns and flees towards the stairs, his mind filled with dread thoughts.
Kenzo moves into the room and drawing his spear out he charges.
Charge:
Damage
His spear however slides harmlessly along the flank of the beast, not even drawing blood.
Eugen's charge brings him up next to the hound thing attacking Mitnal but his sword glances off the hide of the thing without actually hurting it.
Hounds in the Temple - Round 2
Mitnal: Initiative 22
Hounds: Initiative 21
Jessa: Initiative 16
Gyorgy: Initiative 14
Eugen: Initiative 11
The three warriors, Mitnal, Eugen and Kenzo, are all fighting one of the hounds. The other is still back away from this melee. Jessa has moved into a position to also attack the first hound with her shocking grasp if she wants.
Jessa summons forth the energies of the iron wand, wreathing her hand in crackling electricity. Then, she steps forward to try and touch the seemingly invincible dog.
Jessa:
For Wicht:
Mitnal attacks with his hammer and klar attack again:
For Wicht:
** spoiler omitted **
Mitnal's massive hammer blow, strong enough to fell many a man, crunches against the hound and it whines in minor discomfort.
The other hound charges in at Kenzo:
damage:
And the first bites at Mitnal:
damage:
Jessa's subsequent crackling, electrical touch seems to hurt the creature more than Mitnal's hammer and it writhes as its skin blisters and cracks.
Now it appears mad.
"They're yeth hounds! Only magic or silver can harm these things!" Jessa calls out to everyone, "And Gyorgy just fled!"
I move to flank the creature attacking Mitnal and attack:
attacking:
damage:
"I have some silver coins," I yell, "but they're not very sharp!"
A floating free part of my mind suddenly thinks, 'those would be embarrassing last words'...
"I have some silver coins," I yell, "but they're not very sharp!
"Great! Maybe after they eat us, it'll give them a tummy ache..." Jessa quips.
"They're yeth hounds! Only magic or silver can harm these things!" Jessa calls out to everyone, "And Gyorgy just fled!"
"Figures," mumbles Mitnal. "About the magic or silver, I mean. Not about Gyorgy."
Mitnal will, as soon as permitted, use his hammer and klar to defend but not attack.
"Are you..." (slash! stab!) "oof, saying we can't win..." (duck! parry!) "until we get some different, oops, augh! uh, weapons?"
"Anything can be beaten down if you hit it hard enough," Jessa replies while dodging the snarling teeth of the feral dog, "And, we do have magic on our side. Still, it would be better if Gyorgy were still here with that wand he took from Lyrie."