Omen steps forward down the passage keeping himself angled to face the vile creature. As he does so, a blast of electricity arcs from his extended hand and then strikes the hound which causes the lightning to course through its body. It yelps in pain and then barks, bearing its sharp white teeth.
The kobold warriors begin to surround the creature. One of them appears around a column directly behind it, while another slips past Rogan to where Omen was standing, but not before the beast turns toward him and strikes:
The creature strikes the kobold in his side, slicing its teeth through his leather armor. The kobold warrior cries out in pain as his body bursts into flames and collapses to the ground.
Kimi’s eyes widen further and she steps back while continuing to hold onto her spear.
Rogan speedily looses a jagged arrow at the creature at point blank range:
The arrow strikes the hound’s throat and fully makes its way straight through, hitting the stone wall on the other side. A gash of blood and smoke erupts from the wound as the creature’s yelp, which sounds more like a growl echoes throughout the cramped passage. The hound convulses on the ground for a few seconds and then turns into a pile of ash.
Frustration rumbles out of Omen in a pain-filled growl as he looks at the hell hound lying limp on the floor. The clouds leave his eyes as he looks up to the group.
"Hrmmm... these beasts hunt in packs, often chasing and herding... hrmmm... prey into others lying in wait. We must be as vapors on the wind and ever watchful."
He kneels down to the kobold at his feet and checks to see if he survived that blow from the hell-hound.
Omen, you bend down and place your hand on the kobold's wound and keep pressure on the bleeding until it seems to stop. The kobold has a pulse and is breathing but is still unconscious.
Omen looks toward Rogan and then to Noctem. After holding each of their gazes for a few moments, he'll look leadingly toward the kobold he is kneeling over...
Rogan simply nods at Noctem. Noctem clearly shows some reluctance but then steps over and laps his tongue over the kobolds wound. The wound quickly begins to close, however it leaves a visible scar through the dried blood. The kobold awakens but is visibly shaken. He does not move and simply lies there too weak to stand.
Omen nods toward Noctem and then looks back up to Rogan. He begins speaking to him in orc once more...
"Hrmmm... this one does not think we can continue much farther... hrmmm... without it costing all our lives, friend Rogan. This is one and several scaled ones are... hrmmm... gravely wounded." His face remains characteristically stoic.
Rogan looks around at the group of unlikely allies. "You speak truth." He says to Omen in orc. Then he turns to Edgrin.
"Can you ask our fellow warriors if they know of a location we could rest for the night? Somewhere safe where we will not be disturbed."
Rogan looks around at the group of unlikely allies. "You speak truth." He says to Omen in orc. Then he turns to Edgrin.
"Can you ask our fellow warriors if they know of a location we could rest for the night? Somewhere safe where we will not be disturbed."
Edgrin speaks with Kerrdremak for a few moments and then looks to both of you.
"He says there is a room where the Monk's used to have their bedchamber. It has been empty for quite some time and there are still beds in there. It is located near the entrance down the left hall."
Rogan glances at Omen, "I think that will meet our needs. Do you agree?"
Omen nods once and turns his attention back to Rogan. Once more he addresses him in his native tongue.
"Hrmmm... it does friend Rogan, but this one thinks the decision before us is more difficult than that." He glances toward Kimi then returns his eyes to Rogans, "The bold one has seen much today her... hrmmm... eyes are too young for. This one and the scaled ones are wounded, but if we tarry, the other children... may return to the earth. Should we rest or should we press on and rest when the fate of this... hrmmm... nearest child is known?"
Rogan thinks for a moment before answering. "Second time you speak truth. My arrows are... still sharp and my hands are not tired. My power has not left me, so I may... still fight. But your power is, um, setting as the sun? Kimi will not this night sleep - for many nights not sleep. Her..." He pauses for a moment, his face contorted slightly as he thinks. And thinks. Finally, he says in common, "Innocence," before returning to orc, "is defeated."
He looks to be composing himself for a moment before continuing. "Today yet we should find other child. Tomorrow we slaughter the ones who have done this, if not made sooner. Put wounded with guarding children. Noctem can be front line, and I if have to."
Omen's face squinches up as he tries to follow Rogan's words. A few moments after he finishes, Omen slaps his forehead and runs his hand down his face. "Grah! Rogan needs practice with his words! But this one understands nonetheless. This one will... hrmmm... walk with the brave warriors and the scaled ones."
With that, Omen will stand and help the kobold he has been tending to its feet. As he walks past Rogan, he will place his right hand on the elf's shoulder and hold his gaze for a moment. With a nod, he'll pass his hand over one of Rogan's arrow heads and cast light on it. Once in the back, he will also cast dancing lights.
Your party continues down the passage quietly. The loud sounds of the billowing forge continue and grow louder as you approach the room ahead. The passage curves around to the left and then curves back on itself to the right slightly leading into a large chamber.
A loud crackling sound fills the room. The smoke that pours from it is blistering hot and lit with a strange orange light. A massive forge responsible for the hellish atmosphere takes up the entire far wall of the cavern. Between the forge and the entrance stands a massive anvil, and nearby rest hammers, prongs, and other blacksmithing tools. A faint whimpering sound is almost lost in the roar that comes from the forge.
Standing right near the forge is what appears to be a dwarf utterly consumed in chains which wrap around his entire body, from his hands to his feet. Only a husk of flesh remains on his bones and his face appears partially decayed. He lifts up a hammer and slams it down on an unmolded chain link lying on the anvil sending a loud, harsh bang as metal meets metal.
Behind the anvil is the shadow of what appears to be a humanoid. This seems to be the source of the whimpering.
Rogan nocks an arrow to his bow and draws a bead on the hideous apparition before him. He looks to Omen, waiting for him to open the floodgates of combat, should he so desire.
Knowledge (Religion): (1d20+1=12)
Omen
The dwarf does not appear to be aware of you, and you remember that Edgrin told you that the boy was captured by the creature before they could escape this room, so you imagine it is aware of the child. There isn't much tactically in this room. The anvil appears unmovable, but the forge is large enough to fit the dwarf, although it is on the opposite side of the anvil with his back to you and the anvil is about 5-10 feet from the forge.
The dwarf continues to pound on the anvil and the whimpering begins fluctuating from loud to quiet. It sounds strained as if whatever is causing it is quite wounded.
With a brief arcane word, Omen waves his hand in a specific manner and suddenly a clang is heard as a pair of tongs fall off of the anvil across the room. The dwarf creature looks up and then steps around to the other side and looks down. As it does so, you notice a heavy stream of gray smoke pouring from what actually looks to be the creature's beard. It bends over to pick up the tongs.
With a brief arcane word, Omen waves his hand in a specific manner and suddenly a clang is heard as a pair of tongs fall off of the anvil across the room. The dwarf creature looks up and then steps around to the other side and looks down. As it does so, you notice a heavy stream of gray smoke pouring from what actually looks to be the creature's beard. It bends over to pick up the tongs.
The creature looks up directly at Omen. With an other-worldly yell that causes a great amount of smoke to shoot up from his soot-covered beard, the creature grasps onto the chain hanging down from his body on each side and prepares to attack.
Pathfinder Beta Rules[/b]]Bull Rush
You can make a bull rush as a standard action or as part of a charge. You can only bull rush an opponent who is one size category larger than you or smaller. A bull rush attempts to push an opponent straight back without doing any harm. If you do not have the Improved Bull Rush feat, or a similar ability, initiating a bull rush provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.
If your attack is successful, your target is pushed back 5 feet. For every 5 by which your attack exceeds the DC you can push the target back an additional 5 feet. You can move with the target if you wish but you must have the available movement to do so. If your attack fails, your
movement ends in front of the target.
Rogan grins as he watches Omen's plan unfold. "Your idea, Omen. Take him out. I'll see if I can soften him up for you." He adjusts his aim and lets fly his arrow.
Rogan grins as he watches Omen's plan unfold. "Your idea, Omen. Take him out. I'll see if I can soften him up for you." He adjusts his aim and lets fly his arrow.
The arrow flies by and misses the dwarf's broad chain-covered shoulder and continues to bounce harmlessly off the northern wall. The creature glares at Rogan with it's pale white eyes.
Bull Rush Combat Maneuver: (1d20+3+2=25)
Omen charges towards the dwarven creature and easily leaps over the anvil separating him from the undead abomination. He makes contact with it but not without realizing that the chains wrapped around the strangely armored foe are barbed and contain hooks of sorts which penetrate his hands as he pushes the creature toward the furnace on the north side of the room.
Despite his wounds, Omen fiercely cries out as he continues with great momentum and pushes the undead dwarf straight into the fiery furnace. Omen slams the creature through the opening in the furnace, however as the flames engulf it, it seems to cause no further damage.
Lightning Arc (Ranged Touch Attack): (1d20+2=10)
Damage: (1d6+1=3)
Omen stands before the undead dwarf and extends his hand as a blast of lightning arcs out and strikes the creature.
Rogan rapidly looses two arrows directly at the creature within the forge hoping to finish Omen's assault:
The first arrow deflects off of the dwarf's chain-linked armor while second strikes in between the chains around his neck.
Noctem charges into the room and attempts to leap over the anvil:
Noctem easily clears the anvil and attacks the dwarf.
Just as Noctem bites hard at a bare opening on the dwarf's thigh, the dog yelps in pain and pulls away almost immediately.
The creature lurches backward with a horrible yell and then corrects himself as he swings his hammer mightily at Omen:
Omen sees the blow coming and barely dodges it's crushing might as the creature steps out of the forge unsinged.
The kobolds rush into the room at the sound of combat and prepare to charge into battle. Kerrdremak stops as he sees the undead dwarf and then steps to the side shaking his head as he mutters something in draconic.
Utilizing total defense, I will move to the far side of the anvil and play an encouraging tune on my ocarina.
Inspire Courage!
+1 morale bonus to hit, damage, and against charm and fear.
Utilizing total defense, I will move to the far side of the anvil and play an encouraging tune on my ocarina.
Inspire Courage!
+1 morale bonus to hit, damage, and against charm and fear.
Rogan feeds off of your inspiring tune and looses another quick volley of arrows at the undead dwarf:
The first arrow finds a small opening within the creature's chest located directly where it's heart would be. The dwarf yells maddeningly as it grabs and breaks the arrow as Rogan looses another arrow at the creature which wedges in between a chain link in it's arm. The dwarf stumbles back a foot and moans appearing deeply wounded. A thick batch of smoke pumps out of it's beard and spreads out as it makes contact with the ceiling.
Noctem, seeing this, attacks despite the apparent danger of it:
As Noctem bites through the same opening in the chains, the dwarf yells horribly, it's chains rattling as it extends it's arm out in one last feeble attempt to stay standing and then collapses into a heaping pile of smoke.
The creature yells loudly and again swings his hammer at Omen:
As the hammer meets Omen's chest, a chain attached to the dwarf whips up from the ground seemingly on it's own and with the speed of a viper, attacks Omen. Omen, as you see the chain darting towards you, you see a greatly disturbing sight. Each link of the chain appears to hold the visage of some ghastly soul trapped within the confines of the unnatural weapon.
The weapon strikes down Omen's torso and bursts into flame which
seethes into the now open wound.
The whimpering continues as you notice a young boy lying up against the anvil facing the left corner. A look of sheer terror covers his face and he stares ahead blankly with tears that stream down both sides of his face. His mouth is covered with a black cloth tied up behind his head and his hands are bound.
Omen will unbind the boy and pat him on the head gently while fishing the repaired tin soldiers out of his pack. "Hrmmm... are you alright, brave one?" He offers the little boy the toy as the black rag flutters to the ground. He will help the boy up if necessary and lead him back to Kimi and the others announcing, "This one has found another of the brave strong warriors! Let us find a place to... hrmmmm... rest now."
Omen will unbind the boy and pat him on the head gently while fishing the repaired tin soldiers out of his pack. "Hrmmm... are you alright, brave one?" He offers the little boy the toy as the black rag flutters to the ground. He will help the boy up if necessary and lead him back to Kimi and the others announcing, "This one has found another of the brave strong warriors! Let us find a place to... hrmmmm... rest now."
The boy looks up at Omen with wide, wet eyes. He coughs and nearly topples over from weakness. He merely stares at the toy soldier when you hand it out to him and opens his mouth but no sound emerges. It looks as if he would scream if he had the energy. You attempt to lift him up and find that he is extremely limp and wounded with several scratches along an open wound in his chest. Despite this, you are able to get him on his feet.