Ordagg smashes into the annoying parasite with the full force of his hammer, shattering the creatures face and sending it down into the water for good!
The abomination chases Rin as he swims and dives under water, lashing wildly at him, all the while destroying its own body from the contact with the blessed water, and still missing Rin.
The blessed area in the cavern emanates an aura of benevolence. Any evil creatures within the cavern will get a feeling of disorientation and suffer a -1 to attack rolls, and -1 to all defenses until the Tree of Life is corrupted once more.
The Triangles represent deeper water that acts as difficult terrain. Anyone in that deeper water may make a Stealth check to submerge under the mire and gain total concealment. The effects of this on the parasites are unknown...
Round 10
Initiative Order
Rin- (19)
Sturdy- (14) Dying (1/3);
Ordagg- (13)
Floating Abomination- (12) Bloodied; -1 to attack rolls, and -1 to all defenses;
Ottarr (11)- Dying (1/3);
Rin is up
Aware that time is running out for all parties, Rin tries to blast the floating horror before swimming desperately around the heart to win himself cover.
Rin's missiles impact the creature hard, this time knocking it somewhat off its balance, as its flesh falls off from the aura and the damage it is taking.
The blessed area in the cavern emanates an aura of benevolence. Any evil creatures within the cavern will get a feeling of disorientation and suffer a -1 to attack rolls, and -1 to all defenses until the Tree of Life is corrupted once more.
The Triangles represent deeper water that acts as difficult terrain. Anyone in that deeper water may make a Stealth check to submerge under the mire and gain total concealment. The effects of this on the parasites are unknown...
Round 10
Initiative Order
Rin- (19)
Sturdy- (14) Dying (1/3);
Ordagg- (13)
Floating Abomination- (12) Bloodied; -1 to attack rolls, and -1 to all defenses;
Ottarr (11)- Dying (1/3);
Ordagg is up
If a goliath warden is going to die, then in the roots of the Tree of Life is the place to go.
Ordagg points his hammer, again tearing a hole in reality, this time over the flying creature's head and unleashing a torrent of hellish rain.
The acidic rain from Ordagg's spell rains down on the abomination, withering its flesh, sending chunks of blackened skin into the blessed water, which disolves it upon impact.
The abomination floats over to Rin, as he hides underneath the blessed water, and continues its relentless assault on the wizard. The creature splashes the water everywhere as it pounds Rin with its barbed tentacles, all the while unconcerned with the damage the water inflicts upon its own body. It howls in pain as it attacks, and its form is nearly destroyed, with only small chunks of flesh on its bones...
Total Damage
Takes 24 damage.
The blessed area in the cavern emanates an aura of benevolence. Any evil creatures within the cavern will get a feeling of disorientation and suffer a -1 to attack rolls, and -1 to all defenses until the Tree of Life is corrupted once more.
The Triangles represent deeper water that acts as difficult terrain. Anyone in that deeper water may make a Stealth check to submerge under the mire and gain total concealment. The effects of this on the parasites are unknown...
Round 11
Initiative Order
Rin- (19) Dying (0/3)
Sturdy- (14) Dead
Ordagg-(13)
Floating Abomination- (12) Bloodied; -1 to attack rolls, and -1 to all defenses; blinded (grant CA/-5 to hit) till end of Ordaggs next turn (RD 11)
Ottarr (11)- Dying (1/3);
Ordagg...it's up to you...
Rin's last conscious thought is unprintable as he fails to get out of the way for the last time.
Ordagg watches Rin drop in horror. He takes a second to tend to Ottar before trying to circle around to Rin.
Ordagg quickly binds Ottarrs wounds before rushing off through the water; his form blurring with the movement.
The abomination turns its attention towards the dwarf, its form nearly gone, it makes a last ditch attempt and barrels down upon Ordagg, kicking up the blessed water as it flies across the chamber. The last thing he sees is its black-skinned form smashing into him head-on before everything goes black...
...and then you find yourselves, lying outside in a impossibly green forest. The location seems familiar, although for some reason you cannot place it. Things are hazy as you look around, seeing your companions in various places, but you all were lying on your backs up until this point. Now you sit, surrounded by spring and fall colored tree's, engulfed by an endless gathering of flowers, while tuffs of pollen and leaves float serenely to the forest floor; every now and then an errant tuff of pollen lands of you face or nose or hair. Everywhere around you the call of birds can be heard, singing a lilting tune that can soften even those most hardened heart.
"Dying is good. I like dying."
Rin's voice is dreamy. Then some of the errant pollen gets up his nose and he sneezes.
"Hayfever? I'm pretty sure that's not part of the afterlife."
A pause while he takes a little more stock and registers his companions.
Rin looks around, taking in his companions and realising that everyone looks much better than they have done for a while. Still uncertain about where they are or even if they're still alive, he ventures a cautious question.
"Does anyone know what's happening?"
Sturdy gives himself the once over to check for injuries. "Strangely, I feel fine. Where are we?"
Ouda wakes in the beautiful forest throughly confused.
"I did it!... Wait... did I? We are all here so I must have?... Hmm... the last thing I remember was... Argh! My back... Was I..? Was I..? Dead?...
"We may all be. I was drowning, Ottar went down, Sturdy was in bits and so were you. Ordagg was still alive last I saw. I don't even see any wounds, so dead and in an afterlife is a possibility."
Rin pulls himself together a bit and turns his attention to the situation. Rather groggily.
"Well, technically Agni did it- oh, good of you to join us." Ottarr looks up at the raven now sitting in the boughs above his head. "Well, I'm reasonably certain we died. We saw your corpse, at least. Wait one moment." Ottarr stops to check if the witch's mark is still on his arm.
" Good job! Agni!" Ouda calls up to the raven and seeing Ottarr checking for his mark, Ouda reaches under his armor to feel for his own mark then sighs and lays back down in the grass to soak in the moment.
A benevolent feeling fills your hearts as deer, bears, squirrels, birds, and other denizens of the forest gather nearby. They seem to emanate a very palpable feeling of love coming from them, although you are not quite sure why you can feel it. Then as you talk amongst yourselves, you see an impossibly bright light appear out of nothingness. It grows in size till it is the size of an ogre, but its light does not blind you, but instead fills you with hope and love. Whispers swirl into your mind, and what you perceive, is your own thoughts...but strangely enough, these are not yours. "Praise you all. You have healed that which was corrupt, and in your sacrifice, you have gained your lives. This is no payment, but a matter of course, that which would naturally occur. And so you bathe in the water of Life and so you will have life." With that the light grows impossibly bright and you are all consumed by its energy...
You wake rather calmly within the massive cavern of the Tree of Life, but what you once remembered as an oppressive, malicious presence, is now replaced with benevolence, love, and compassion. The heart beats steadily before you, although it is now white, with a radiant aura that emanates from within. The heart pumps out the blessed water in strong torrents, leaving you feeling at peace and strong. Nothing remains of the vile presence you once faced and for once, all seems right in the world...
"Agni, I owe you a - Ottar, what does Agni like best? I've under-informed on ravens."
Ordagg stays quiet during the "awakening", only certain that he didn't make the right choices.
Sturdy investigates the area to determine the party's whereabouts.
Sturdy investigates the area to determine the party's whereabouts.
You arrive at the home of Deimos to the smell of food drifting through the night air, with Deimos giving you the most laconic of greetings. “You have done well”, is all the old shaman says to you as he motions for you to sit near him on the floor of his hut by his litter. Moments pass as you sit around the fire, hypnotized by the rhythmic dance of light and shadow that plays across the grand chamber, when Deimos finally breaks the silence. “I am glad to see that my judgment was not in error. You have passed many trials. For this you should feel honored, but the final trial is to kill the witch in her lair. Karuu lives within the swamplands, two days travel north west from here. Her lands are cursed by her malignant spirit, and as she grows in power, the lands surrounding her begin to lose their ties to the Great Spirit. Eventually everything will become corrupt and mired in swamp...unless you can stop her.”
Deimos pauses for a moment to sip his tea from a makeshift wooden cup, slowly taking in the liquid, savoring it, and swallowing with a satisfying gulp.
“Her lair is guarded by lizard-folk that revere her as a goddess, and they will defend her with their lives, as long as they fear her. Kill her and they will scatter. Time is short however, and with every day she comes closer to freeing herself from the magical binding that I have placed upon her. In her current state, she is considerably weakened, but if she were to regain her old power, she could make matters much worse for those that live in the Great Forest, and even the surrounding human villages and cities. Although I have weakened her, it was not without price, and I fear that I would not be able to counter her and her minions. And so I turn to you, my friends. I will do what I can to aid you, but in the end the fate of these woodlands, the fate of the surrounding lands, and my fate rest in your hands.”
Sturdy fills his waterskin with purified water from within the cave beneath the Tree of Life.
Still somewhat stunned by the turn of events, Rin remains unusually silent on the journey back. At length though, he finds his tongue, long enough to ask Deimos something.
"Some of us were marked by ... the witch." Prudence and maybe fear prevent him speaking the name aloud. "Do you know what that may do to them? And can you offer us any advice, Deimos? You've fought her and you know her weaknesses - if she has any."
Sturdy fills his waterskin with purified water from within the cave beneath the Tree of Life.
Still somewhat stunned by the turn of events, Rin remains unusually silent on the journey back. At length though, he finds his tongue, long enough to ask Deimos something.
"Some of us were marked by ... the witch." Prudence and maybe fear prevent him speaking the name aloud. "Do you know what that may do to them? And can you offer us any advice, Deimos? You've fought her and you know her weaknesses - if she has any."
Deimos takes a moment to ponder the question, although it does seem to appear that he is asleep...but then a moment later he responds saying, "The marks...yes, the marks. Karuu is fond of marking her belongings, and thus she marked you. The marks mean ownership and control, and that means she may have some control over you. She is a manipulative creature, that one. Beware her charms, for the mark allows her easier access into your souls and minds. Now you must kill her or be forever hers."
For a moment he remains still, his brow furrowed in thought. "Her weakness...hmmmm that is hard to say. She is a vain, contemptuous creature, but I know of no element that she fears."
"Well, I suppose her greatest fear would probably be her own mortality, so we just have to kill her... Wait, that can't be right..."
"Her charms wore a bit thin after she tried to kill us, but we'll take heed."
Sturdy shows the group the witch's brand upon him.
"The K'sher marked me as well and in a vision she promised to kill friend Rin by my own hand. Those words have haunted me ever since."
"People are always threatening to kill me, don't worry about it. I've had some near misses, but so far it's never quite worked."
"Deimos, we encountered an armored warrior who had "passed" some time ago leaning against the Tree of Life..." Sturdy continues to describe the skeleton figure, "Do you know who this may have been or anything about this apparently magical sword he(she) was carrying?" Sturdy points to the bastard sword in Rin's possession.
"Also, I do not mean to press you in your current state but I believe you spoke in our first meeting of some items that would aid our quest to contain this witch once and for all."
Ordagg keeps his head down on the walk back. At one point he walks along side Rin, then Sturdy, and then Ottar and asks each of them the same question: "Do you remember anything?"
At Deimos' home, Ordagg is quick to gather his belongings and suggest the party be off. Focusing on the task at hand seems preferable to brooding on the recent near-failure.
Rin looks steadily at Orgdagg and answers quietly.
"I was sure we had failed. Agni took the potion to the heart and that began the healing, but we weren't strong enough to overcome the dark guardians. Ouda was in bits. Sturdy not much better, Ottarr looked bad. The last thing I remember was being pulled under water by a floating thing and wishing I was faster, or better or even just less of an idiot. What about you?"
"I remember all that. I'm trying to fill in the gaps. I dunno..." Ordagg lowers his voice to a whisper. "Ouda was dead. Did we all die?"
"Maybe. I did wonder if we are all dead and don't know it. How could we tell if we were?"
"Deimos, we encountered an armored warrior who had "passed" some time ago leaning against the Tree of Life..." Sturdy continues to describe the skeleton figure, "Do you know who this may have been or anything about this apparently magical sword he(she) was carrying?" Sturdy points to the bastard sword in Rin's possession.
"Also, I do not mean to press you in your current state but I believe you spoke in our first meeting of some items that would aid our quest to contain this witch once and for all."
No to the sword, mainly because Rin stuffed up his Arcana check. Can try again though, as some time has passed.
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 - id on sword.
Level 11
The true severity of this weapon comes at a cost to the
wielder’s own vitality.
Damage: 1d10+3
Critical: 3d6
Power (Daily): Free Action. Use this power when you hit
with the weapon. Spend a healing surge, and instead
of regaining hit points, you cause the target to become
weakened until the end of your next turn.
Writing: On the blade is the phrase “With your blood;
wither your foes”.
[ooc]The Rope: Rope of Climbing
Did you post a wishlist? I didn't see one on the OOC chat or your character sheet.
No problem, I'll just need a few to pull something together for that.
Rin comes to his senses enough to identify the sword and the rope.
Just a quick heads up, I'll be out of town from the 25th to the 29th and won't have much internet access and time to post, so if you could sit tight till then, and then I should be able to reward you all with fun and fantabulous trinkets.