"HA! Sounds like my kinda Guy! Wiggle your fingers, and stuff catches on fire! Could be very usefull indeed!"
"Desna's blessings are normally a bit more subtle than blowing things up. Perhaps your force can help when my more gentle touch is not as useful and vice versa. And it is fun to watch things blow up sometime, I have to admit."
Bwana simply smiles and nods at the new addition, while Motokono looks on with his typical dour expression.
Hrafen gives a self-deprecating smile.
"Whilst Skerrin was always a Scholar, I am afraid that I have always been more of a soldier - subtlety was never my strong suit.
On the plus side, I have become quite proficient, as you put it Augusto, at 'setting things on fire', although my repertoire is a little more extensive than just that."
He frowns for a moment.
"So where exactly are we heading?"
** spoiler omitted **
"We are Headed to a place called "Vordakai's island" it is far our, past the Valley of the Dead. We where headed that way after speaking with some of the Nomen Centaurs, when we where approched by a Phase Spider requesting help with some Nasty Xills."
"Speaking of such, we where gifted some Items as a reward for helping the Spider. A ring that we where able to Identify, but the Cloak and Wand we where not. being a Wizard, could you take a crack at it?"
"Hmmm... I am afraid that the name means nothing to me. Does it have some significance?"
Hrafen gives a curt nod.
"I will see what I can do."
Seeing the mage looking the other two magical items, Elisen remembered the wand she had examined earlier. "Hrafen, is there any chance you could make some use of this arcane wand we were gifted earlier? It has several charges remaining and can be used to take short dimensional hops through space. Desna has gifted me with a similar ability, but I can make no use of the wand."
"I will see what I can do."
Ring of Water Walking
Cloak of Resistance +2
After distributing the items and someone giving Hrafen a ride since he has no horse, the party continues its trek toward the Valley of the Dead. By mid-day, you reach the entrance to a wide valley, which is marked by a series of posts decorated with bones and skulls every 50 to 60 feet for as far as the eye can see. The valley extends southward for some miles.
Undeterred, the party continues forth. A mile past the bone totems, the first of what appear to be gravestones appears. These 6- to 10-foot-tall stone steles are badly weathered—many are partially or wholly collapsed, but each bears strange runes.
Hrafen will pause briefly to examine one of the gravestones.
"Intriguing... I wonder whom these markers are for; I can make neither heads-nor-tales of these runes..."
He then turns to the others.
"Still, we should probably keep going - you said that our target was on the other side of this Valley?"
"I agree. We can always come back and examine these in more detail later."
As the party continues its trek, you lose count of the seemingly thousands of gravestones within the Valley of the Dead. During the six-mile trek through the Valley, the more a strange feeling of oppression grows; the wind seems oddly muted as it flows through the trees and grass, the birds and insects grow quiet, and the unusually regular crags along the surrounding mountains seem almost to crouch in expectation of the PCs’ approach. Yet nothing leaps out at the party. At the farthest western point in the valley, where the ragged Tors of Levenies rise 300 feet above the surrounding foothills, a crack in the cliff wall allows a 15-foot-wide stone stairway to wind up into the mountains. This path is not conducive for horses so the party must make it on foot.
Bors has no problem taking the point, but does not yet seem ready to proceed. He spends some time scouting around the foot of the stairs and the lower rise, looking for tracks and signs.
Before we proceed further, we should prep ourselves fer tha battlin' ta come. Do ye spell-slingers hae everythin' worked out a'tween ye, who gonna's be blastin' fer what an when? I hae nae idea what we be up a'gin, but a cyclops horror from ages past hae gotta be havin' a few tricks ta throw our way. Afer all, he done took out tha 'hole village o' Varnhold. We got a little time left til we find the island, but I wanna hae a plan ready.
Bors continues looking around the area, especially scanning the skies and horizon. Shame tha bird took flight outta 'ere, coulda used his eyes bout now
Hrafen nods at Bors' words, reflexively stroking the wing-feathers of the Currawong that sits patiently on his shoulder, before giving a somewhat predatory grin.
"I think I can handle the blasting... My plan is simple - go in, and blast anything that moves, if it appears hostile..."
"...However, this should help us coordinate battle more effectively...."
Motokono moves with an animal grace, long ape arms swinging and feet padding on the dirt, coiled and ready for danger, the eidolon stays characteristically quiet.
Bwana prepares for danger by casting barkskin on himself and greater magic fang on Motokono. He offers to cast barkskin on anyone else who doesn't have an amulet of natural armor.
Bors cannot identify the tracks on the steps though he does see some recent smears, maybe as fresh as a week ago.
These tracks be too weathered ta make out clear, but it seems someone, or somethin', was out this way nae but a week ago. Coulda been this Vordakai beast, but I doubts it. Though the tracks be too smeared ta judge by size or shape, I be fer thinkin' we mae be lookin' ta somethin' more normal in our midst. Mayhaps the brute has 'imself some allies now. Best ta be on guard 'ere on out, just in case. If'n possible, we mae look ta shelter near tha island an' hit im in force fresh wit tha dawn. Hafta wait an see tha looks o' tha land therebouts.
The stone staircase winds up 40 feet before twisting out of line of sight.
"Well, if everyone is ready, let's go see what is ahead," Elisen says, absentmindedly grasping at her holy symbol hanging around her neck.
On spacin', let's keep a bit o' distance a'tween us climbin' tha stairs, roughly 10' a pace, yea. No needs fer slammin' walls, shiftin' stairs, or big block falls fer catchin' us all unawares.
Augusto Draws his Blade, and says a quick Prayer, Preparing for what ever may come
I can Magic Vestment on myself, Ac jumps to 22
The party follows the staircase through the mountains for about 10 minutes through its winding path, when suddenly, as the party turns a corner, Bors and Motokono spot a 10' giant humanoid wielding a battleaxe apparently standing guard 30' away in the middle of the path. The pair also notices that the creature is rather ragged looking, with grayish skin. Part of its chest is missing and they can see its tendons and muscles, and half of the creature's guts are hanging out from its ribcage. Yet despite its apparent condition, the creature immediately notices with its one eye in the center of its forehead the ape and the swordsman as they round the corner.
Great, the beast brought back his family ta guard his lair. Lady Iomedae grant us courage.
Bors casts Barkskin, increasing AC to 22. If possible, he then draws his adamantine sword.
The undead cyclops, garbed in leather armor, charges towards the party, moving 20 feet, lunging forward, screaming in what sounds like gibberish to the party (language=Cyclops), and attacks: .
The great ape roars a challenge and steps forward its fist igniting in flame as it punches at the creatures midriff.
plus fire
Bwana is up next, he casts fly on himself, muttering incantations and chants, he lifts into the air, drawing his bow as he flies diagonally up to F17.
Round 1:
Hrafen rushes up the stairs (15' to I 17), and throws four bolts of pure force at the creature!
Empowered Magic Missle: *1.5 = 24 Force Damage.
Knowing the nature of giantkind, and the massive power a single blow can achieve, Bors goes defensive, and shouts a warning to Motokono.
Ware 'is reach and might Moto, aim well an' strike 'ard. We'll hold 'em ta tha sides til tha casters make their move.
Bors then takes a 5' step to F14, drawing his adamantine longsword, then swings handily at the undead abomination's knee joints.
Fighting Defensively as Full Attack Action, two-handed.
(-4 to hit, +2 dodge to AC, +2 strength bonus, +2 favored enemy 'giant' bonus) AC = 24
First swing Damage
Second swing Damage
I hope Moto hae tha sense ta clear a path fer the caster's. Living giants be bad enough, the dead I 'magine are somewhat worse
Augusto Says a Quick Prayer to Erastil, and Disapears!
"Hang in there lads! Helps on the way!"
Cast Invs. on myself, Move 40 to D11
Current AC: 22 (base +2 magic vestment)
Spells Cast:
1st:
2nd: 1
3rd: 1
Judgemnts used:
Bane used:
Running Spells:
Magic Vestment (8 hours)
Invisibilty: (8 mins)
Bors then takes a 5' step to F14, drawing his adamantine longsword, then swings handily at the undead abomination's knee joints.
Bors' sword gashes a deep section of the giant's calf muscle, while Hrafen's magic missile blows off sections of its torso. Motokono's attack however only scorched the creature's leather armor. The undead giant then grunts and speaks more gibberish, though you do hear in Common: "Die!"
It looks down at Bors and brings down its axe on the warrior's head with perfect precision, nearly cleaving the warrior in two! Its second attack also connects, spraying Motokono with his guts, as the ranger falls, so close to a personal enounter with Iomedae! It then attempts to slam and bite Motokono but misses. It then beats his chest three times with his off-hand, as it grunts at the party!
()
Elisen moves quickly, seeing Bors get massacred by the cyclops. She quickly asks Desna for powerful curative magic, to help his wounds heal.
CCW
Round 2:
Hrafen regards the Giant with annoyance, 5' steps , and unleashes a blast of flame at the creature!
Both of Hrafen's rays of fire hit, burning the creature, the second one blasting the giant's head off, as its corpse crumbles to the floor.
Elisen looks down at Bors, still bloody from those blows from the giant, "You still with us, Bors? Blink twice if you can hear me."
"You still with us, Bors? Blink twice if you can hear me."
If'n tha sassenach be 'avin more o' those beasts, we need ta call fer 'elp. I dinnae thin' we can take too many at a time.
Looking over to Hrafen, Bors gives a solemn nod and weak grin while returning to an upright position. Skerrin 'as tasted but a fraction o' justice today, an fer tha' an' more, I thank ye. If'n we work tagether like tha' in tha lair, we jus' mae hae a chance.
Turning to Elisen, Mistress, I thank ye an yer ladyship fer tha healing ye blessed upon me. I will do me best ta prove worhty o' yer efforts.
And my Lady Iomedae, I humbly thank you for granting me a repreive on my pending judgement. May I bring further service to the cause before you finally call me to count. I only ask you to let me bring justice to the Varnhold before all is said and done.
Looking to the beast, Bors begins prodding through it's remains and belongings, tossing anything of value or interest to the side. His movements are slow and stiff, his mind still foggy from his near death experience and numb from the pain still wracking his closed, but unhealed wounds.