Hru once again calls on Gorum's power and a wave ethery goodness spreads from hit mighty blade-like holy symbol. "Gorum show us favor!"
The wailing woman attempts to retreat and, finding Rellios and Klyndak in her path, suffers an attack from both of them before scrambling down the wall of the well. Her 25' of chain allow her to move deep beneath the surface of the water.
"'Elp me lads," I say, and I grab Clareg and start dragging him back and away from the well, at least 30 feet from where the chain is embedded in the rock.
When that is done, I work to reload my crossbow with one of the magical bolts.
"Now the question do be," I say, "Whether she'll be after comin' back up without one o' us actin' as bait."
No worries.
Hru pulls out the wand and attempts to rouse Clareg
3 charges = 18 remaining (1d8+1=8, 1d8+1=9, 1d8+1=5)
"Clareg, wake up there's Gorum's work to done!" Hru looks up "I'm afaid that won't hold the likes of that hag back for long, so I suggest we surround that well and prepare for some knife work...er" he falters as he draws his sword-like holy symbol once again and stares at it quizzically for just a moment, 'going to be, yes going to be.." he's heard to mutter under his breath before exhorting "LOOK ALIVE, BY GORUM!!" He then move over, taking a ready postion and begins to edge towards the well.
"We tried surroundin' 'er once. I vote fer seein' if she's dumb enough to come up ta the end of 'er leash 'n we can deal wit' her then."
"But iffin' yer goin' ta be gettin' close on yer own," I say to Hru, "I'd advise ya ta be backin' up as soon as she be comin' out. We've done 'er some damage, but she seems ta be a tough 'ag... Course it might be bein' a moment till she's over that fright ya were givin' 'er."
"'Elp me lads," I say, and I grab Clareg and start dragging him back and away from the well, at least 30 feet from where the chain is embedded in the rock.
When that is done, I work to reload my crossbow with one of the magical bolts.
"Now the question do be," I say, "Whether she'll be after comin' back up without one o' us actin' as bait."
In order to keep 30' away, you've had to retreat all the way back to the iron cage.
"Is she dead? I mean not undead?"
After half a minute, the hag's head emerges from above the water, the hate-filled eyes glare into Hru's. "Preacher!" she says glaring at Hru but quite possibly seeing someone else entirely "Preacher! Did you join them too? Even you Canyonfather?" The voice seems to begin with the woman but it also comes from all corners of the room. It is a voice from a human throat but also a voice from beyond this world.
She grabs ahold of the chain and with surprising quickness begins to climb. Hru notices as she does that the wounds given to her in the battle are no longer visible. She's up to full strength again.
"Is she dead? I mean not undead?"
Before the hag reappears, I answer Clareg, "The priest was after drivin' her inta the well. We'll be waitin' fer her to be comin' back up."
"Be backin' up lad," I advise Hru, "'Ere is a foe twill be 'ard fer us ta deal wit'."
"Woman," I yell towards the hag, "We be not yer ancient enemies. All you 'ave 'ated are after bein' dead 'n gone. Why do ye not rest easy?"
Hru's backing up to just before the cage, and in his mind he's just about had enough of this "Don't make me angry...you won't like me when I'm angry" Hru hisses out from between the grim smile formed by his jutting canines.
... The gaping wound left in her flesh by Clareg's axe has begun to close as whatever power has kept her from rotting away to nothing continues to work on her.
"Be backin' up lad," I advise Hru, "'Ere is a foe twill be 'ard fer us ta deal wit'."
"Woman," I yell towards the hag, "We be not yer ancient enemies. All you 'ave 'ated are after bein' dead 'n gone. Why do ye not rest easy?"
"No, Regent. You are not dead. Not dead. Not yet."
With that she flings herself forward, falling over benches but pulling herself upright and forward. She staggers as far as her chain will take her, which is to the foot of the iron cage. The party is driven back either into or on either side of the iron cage to avoid her talons as she stumbles at the end of the chain. Lying on the ground she still claws angrily. She grips the metal frame of the cage and pulls at it until you think she might succeed in tearing herself apart just to get to you. The hate-filled voice cries "Not dead, Regent, not yet."
Keeping out of her reach, I switch out the magical bolt for a cold iron bolt in my crossbow and holding in my revulsion, I steady my aim and fire.
Shooting a cold iron bolt: (1d20+2=20)
Damage: (1d10=1)
Though it just grazes her, I watch with interest to see how fast the wound heals.
Then I reach into my pack and pull out the lamp oil.
"Anyone o' you be 'avin' a torch ye can be lightin'?" I ask conversationally
She heals that wound within seconds and continues to scramble helplessly at your feet.
Ranged Touch Attack with Oil Flask: (1d20+2=22)
I unstopper the flask of oil and then shatter the bottle on her face.
Ranged Touch Attack with Oil Flask: (1d20+2=22)
I unstopper the flask of oil and then shatter the bottle on her face.
Hru loses control of the orc savage that lies within him, and with a growl that sounds near to Gorum falls upon the hag.
"I really could be usin' a torch lads," I say, "Or a candle, or a bit o' rag. Anything that be burnin', really."
As I make my request, I cast Enlarge Person upon myself.
The wailing woman continues to struggle to sink her talons into you. At one point, Hru is so incautious with rage that he does get close enough for her to slice his boots and ankle to shreds. Clareg pulls himself to his feet and uses his waraxe to chop her apart as well. After half a minute, the wailing woman no longer pulls and twitches at her chain.
With my ten foot reach and greater strength, it's fairly easy to strike her and pulp her with my massive hammer. Even if it is a little harder hitting the little hag.
"Good job lads," I say and then I light the oil.
The deed is done.
"Let's be seein' about those jewels now," I say after the flames have died and I have a look to see what she was carrying, casting detect magic.
Once I have searched her, I have a look at the chain to see if it is the same sort of magic as the one in the room above.
"Hru, Clareg,... Why don't the two o' you be checkin' on that water. I doubt its fit ta be drinkin' but mayhaps the priest can be fixin' that fer us in the next few days. Rellios, do ya want ta be checkin' out this room 'n the next 'n be seein' what else be down 'ere?"
Hru draws upon Gorum's positive energy once again to smote goodness down on the area.
channel positive energy (1d6=1) CLW on Hru (1d8+1=7)
Hru then moves over and peers into the well Perception (1d20+7=11)
Rellios nods in agreement. Before proceeding ahead, he'll do a quick appraisal of the gems, just out of curiosity. Appraise (1d20+6=13)
He'll then proceed to scout the room for doors and traps. I'll take 20, if no one minds the delay.
Last on his list will be a scan of the well, to see if he notices anything interesting in it's depths. Possibly using a lowered lantern to see if anything becomes apparent under the water. Perception (1d20+7=25)
"I'm not sure 'ow you can lower a lit lantern under the water," I say in confusion when the elf announces his plan... "Now a light spell. I can do that and be droppin' it in the water. That might be after workin'."
"I'm not sure 'ow you can lower a lit lantern under the water," I say in confusion when the elf announces his plan... "Now a light spell. I can do that and be droppin' it in the water. That might be after workin'."
A rock is enchanted with light and cast into the well to aid us in our examination of it.
At the bottom of the well, you see a small, well-preserved skeletal figure.
The feeling of despair remains.
"If I was after understandin' aright," I say to my comrades as I survey the bottom of the well, "that there is after bein' the prince o' the Foe'ammers. Iffin' we can, we should be givin' 'im a proper dwarven burial someplace. I 'ave some thought on that but they'll 'ave ta be waitin' fer the moment. Shall we see what else be down 'ere or are you lads ready fer a rest 'n some fergin' 'o swords?"
Iffin' we can, we should be givin' 'im a proper dwarven burial someplace. I 'ave some thought on that but they'll 'ave ta be waitin' fer the moment.
Rellios will volunteer to scale down the well and retrieve the remains if it will help. "I would rather we wait, however, until we finished our investigations of this floor."
A search of the room reveals that the other 3 double doors appear unlocked and untrapped. The jewels that didn't fall into the well are thirty 50gp value garnets. They are all evenly sized and appear to have been set in something but to have been removed from their setting. Several others fell down into the well and it would be a feat to collect those. Hot steaming water continues to enter the well in short bursts through several small openings. Near the bottom of the well, other pipes drain the water. All of these may have been plugged at some point but the plugs are no longer present.
"Iffin' that water isn't after washin' those stones away, I can be gettin' them outta there tomorrow," I say as I look down into the heated well. "That little fella may be bein' a bit harder ta pull up, dependin' on how much he be weighin'."
"Rellios, do you want ta be listenin' at those other doors afore we be makin' any decisions?"
"Iffin' that water isn't after washin' those stones away, I can be gettin' them outta there tomorrow," I say as I look down into the heated well. "That little fella may be bein' a bit harder ta pull up, dependin' on how much he be weighin'."
"Rellios, do you want ta be listenin' at those other doors afore we be makin' any decisions?"
The bones at the bottom of the well are calcified but about infant sized.
The bones at the bottom of the well are calcified but about infant sized.
The bones at the bottom of the well are calcified but about infant sized.
"Well...drowing infants...can't at all see why she might be cursed," Rellios mumbles - slightly shocked.
Rellios gives a listen at the doors to see if any noise (say the scuffling of zombies, etc.) makes itself apparent. Perception (1d20+7=17)
When Rellios listens at the door opposite the one you have entered through, he hears the very faint sound on scraping of metal on stone.
The bones at the bottom of the well are calcified but about infant sized.
"So what are ye 'earin'," I ask Rellios, "More o' the walkin' dead? Or the sound o' food I be 'opin'?"