Toffitt looks for a while, but finds nothing of particular interest. Dyrant does a more thorough search with his acute eye appraising for value as well as interest. He finds two books he believes will go for a thousand gold each: Small minds make small clocks well and Celestial Guide to Demon Hunting. The guide looks like it would be useful, but unfortunately it all involves using celestial powers that neither Dyrant nor Aralynn possess.
Dyrant holds up his treasured finds (including the feline twins book) and pockets them for later reading.
"Maybe we should rest here, Finn. But after we explore that other room, yonder?" Dyrant points to the trashed north room. "Let's go there first, then decide. We really have no idea where this lamp is taking us, nor how far away it is."
Dyrant shoofs the party to the room.
Toffitt picks up another book and begins thumbing through it as the party walks to the other room. On the Celestial Celebration of Great Milestones: 10,000 Ballets. He begins to dance in a stilted but celebratory fashion.
"What's a yonder?"
Finneas spins around but can't seem to locate a yonder.
Atol climbs up on his hind legs and does a little jig he saw them do in line waiting outside Doctor Toffitts. Might be that the fact he has two whole legs makes it harder to do (rather than just the one and the peg the other dancer had), or maybe the fact he's not having a fit of sneezes, but the dance doesn't look half bad for all that.
Eventually, wheezing a little, he slows down, and then stops. He looks around and takes a bite of the bread he was holding the whole time.
"I don't need to stop and rest, I've another fight or two in me if we need it. 'course it depends on how tough that fight is! The lantern could be leading us anywhere, and the church is secure for now."
The next room is not nearly as interesting. Fifteen minutes of searching through the piles reveals 5,000 gp worth of random pieces of jewelry, art, etc, that other looters missed or thought to be worthless.
While there is no night and day on this plane, it's only been a few hours since the party last rested. Assuming the party follows the lantern for at least a little bit, it seems to follow a straight line northeast of the Cathederal. Eventually the party will discover they are in for several hours, if not days, of travelling. How would you like to proceed and who is holding the lantern?
Toffitt considers the juxtaposition of rivals and enemies. "Perhaps he means that we should focus our efforts on overtaking our rivals at all costs, and evade whatever enemies we may encounter who are not they. We will likely need to rest, but perhaps in as abbreviated a fashion as we can. Marching with light armor might then be necessary." Toffitt looks to Atol or Dyrant to bear the lantern.
Atol will bear the lantern. If we're forced marching again, he removes his breastplate relying on the still ongoing spells to keep him protected.
"I suggest we proceed rather than rest. It may be as Doctor Toffitt suggests - there may be others on the same trail as we."
Eight hours of travel and a couple random encounters later and the lantern still shines along the same path.
During the next few days the party eliminates several more demons, but there always seems to be another one around the corner. Obviously there are enough demons on this plane to easily overwhelm the party. Fortunately, there appears to be no order or leadership among them.
Midway through the fourth 12 hour day of travel the party comes upon a vast field of bulbous masses like cysts upon the skin of this plane. As the party creeps into the field, the lantern turns 90 degrees to the north.
Dyrant is less than pleased to have to walk across the abyssal plane, let alone against the countless demons that oppose them.
However, his is heartened by the teamwork of the Cauldron 5.2 and the collective unity the party shows in overcoming the demons.
Whether it is Finn's mighty blades or Doctor Toffitt's pointwork, Dyrant knows that few others could accomplish what they seem to be doingnow.
Dyrant smiles at Glim, proving that one's size does not matter as one's holiness truly defines greatness.
Atol, Steady Atol, Atol the Lantern bearer, Atol the Provider of Scones, Dyrant finds many names to describe the young priest and it fills Dyrant's heart with hope.
Dyrant trudges on.
* * *
Looking over the Field of Cysts, Dyrant groans.
Were we only all angels, we could skirt this area easily.
"Looks like this is the way, friends. Let us beware. These land cysts do not look friendly."
Not to be the only one missing an opportunity to show his moves, Glimmil dances in places, moving his hands in a gesture indicative of riding some form of small-sized pony.
**
Stepping upon the field of cysts, Glimmil pauses to scratch his head at the sudden change of direction.
"Why would it shift like that? Shouldn't it have kept us on a straight path?"
Glimmil meanders up to Atol and taps on the lamp to ensure it's working properly, and squints his eyes to see if the beam of light is moving at all, despite Atol standing mostly still.
"Well, let us don armor and protective spells, and follow the lantern."
As you draw closer to the cysts you notice dozens of broken weapons, shields, and the occasional bone litter the ground here. Every twenty feet or so, a translucent ovoid--like a cocoon of some kind--lies on the ground. Each has a black tube one one end that disappears into the ground at the other. Bipedal silhouettes are visible in some of the nearer ovoids.
"It must have been quite the battle between demons and angels. I wonder if the angels had won if such thing would exists in Celestia."
The party turns to see Kaurophon standing there behind them. He continues as if nothing is amiss. "The essence of the slain demons was likely absorbed back into the Abyss almost immediately, but Occipitus still struggles to absorb the fallen celestials. Some demons say that the more the cysts 'digest' the angels, the more good is infused into Occipitus and the more dangerous it becomes for fiends here."
Most of the cysts are 5' tall and 5' wide, but some are large as 10' tall and 10' wide. The end result is a twisted maze of a celestial graveyard.
"Are we certain they're all dead? It would be a pity to leave living angels trapped here." Toffitt approaches a cyst and checks it for signs of life.
Dyrant turns to sneer at Kaurophon.
"Hmmpf. Welcome back." Dyrant says somewhat coldly, but not too coldly.
"Can these angel's be redeemed? Can they be taken home?"
Dyrant stays within the lantern's light but inspects some of the cysts.
Cast Detect Magic.
"Kaurophon, how is it that you just show up here without passing the tests yourself? Are we to clear all of the obstacles for you?"
.. the more the cysts 'digest' the angels, the more good is infused into Occipitus..
While listening to "The Phon", Glimmil trots up next to one of the smaller cysts and prods it with the tip of his lance before making an eww expression.
"Erm. That's.. err.. good. I guess?"
Shifting anxiously on Cog's saddle, he gives the others a look.
"Maybe we should go around? Since we're such do-gooders and all, maybe the ground will try to absorb our goodness here?"
Kaurophon's assessment of the situation appears accurate to Dyrant as he tries to recall anything about planes digesting creatures.
Toffitt looks inside a cyst and hope that nothing is still alive and found a new meaning of pain and suffering as it was slowly digested over a 1000 years.
Dyrant detects faint transmutation magic in one of the cysts 20's ahead.
"Kaurophon, how is it that you just show up here without passing the tests yourself? Are we to clear all of the obstacles for you?"
"Just lucky I guess. However, I don't possess that fine lantern and you do. After a day of traveling in a straight line it wasn't hard to tell where the lantern was going to take you. I have spent much time studying this place after all."
@ Toffitt: He definitely is glad to see you have succeeded and hopes you will succeed with the second test.
"Very interesting indeed. We're certainly grateful for this chance to subvert the Cagewrights' plans, but I assure you we'll fare better knowing you're safe and well removed from conflict. Surely news of our victory will please you just as well if you hear it on Oerth. Tis certain you'll be more comfortable, and safer." Perhaps it is better to keep your enemies close, but I do not trust his motives.
Finneas calmly trudges, ignoring as best he can the horrors of the plain around him.
Even the orphanage wasn't this bad.
"So...this place is eating the angels? And it can absorb their goodness?"
"I hate tests."
Finneas will move next to Dyrant and pray for the ability to see magic as well.
"What do you see Dyrant? Oooh, shiny. I should do this more often. Look how Glimmil glows. Uh...Dyrant? Is Glimmil wearing...magical boxer shorts? I guess that's a gift from Skie? Oh, protective magic, that's handy. Why would it only be his shorts though, you'd think...maybe I just don't have the hang of this aura thing."
Turning his gaze on Kaurophon Finneas grimaces.
"The scone thief has returned. The judgement of Kord has yet to visit you for the theft of my scones, but rest assured when we have completed these tests my wrath shall be great upon you."
They were just scones.
Fifth: They were not just scones! You should know as well as I scones are the holy breakfast of Kord and they are only for the worthy and the strong.
Not for the hungry?
Fifth: You mock.
Dyrant nods at Finneas, magical visions shared.
"Magical boxers? I would think that would be the domain of Kord...well, if they were loincloths, that is."
"Yep. See that glint over there, Finn?" Dyrant points to the buried aura, 20' distant. "That's an angel relic, right there. Why don't you go get that and I'll show you how you figure out what it is."
AngelRelic. We could have been destined to find it.
Gr. False Life temp hp
Mage Armor, extended (Dyrant)
Mage Armor (Aralynn, recast with Pearl o' Power)
Prying Eyes
Left Hand: Metamagic Rod, Extend
Right Hand: Free
Toffitt takes a sample of whatever gooey tissue he finds in the cyst and rejoins the others.
"If all but one of us die here, please don't leave my body to be slowly absorbed... Not that I claim to be an angel. Although if I were, what a clever deception that would have been. Don't you think, Dyrant?"
"Ok."
Finneas nods at Dyrant after checking out Glimmil's shorts and the Scone Burgler, then heads over to the aura and cuts the cyst open with his sword.
Female: I don't think
Male: this is such
Fifth: a good idea...
On entering the graveyard, Atol shudders. He takes off his pack, unbuckles his armor, and slowly gets into it.
At the realization that each cyst is a dying or dead angel, he weeps openly. It is several minutes before he gets his composure back and drifts back into the conversation. He takes a deep breath, takes out his cudgel, and prepares for battle.
He does not offer Kaurophon a scone today. This is no time for pleasurable eating.
Atol waits for the find of Dyrant and Glimmil.
Trotting backwards, Glimmil pivots about to get a better view of the others and realizes that both Dyrant and Finneas are looking at his... midsection.
Glimmil looks down as well to ensure that he's wearing pants, since sometimes that's an easy step to skip when donning armor after a long day in Oxy-Pitus. Relieved to see his armor, he nods to himself with certainty that Dyrant and Finneas were simply admiring the quality of his riding saddle.
Trotting over, smiling, Glimmil wonders to both quietly (out of Kaurophon's earshot).
"Isn't Kaurophon a rival, of sorts? He did want to task the test himself right?"
Finneas goes up to the cyst and slices into it. A sickly smelling fluid seeps out as Finneas fishes a pair of bracers from inside the cyst. There are a few bones left inside, but fortunately the bracers are not on any of them.
Once back with the rest of the party, Dyrant and Finneas can examine them.
"There you go, Finn. Whatcha got there?"
Spellcraft
Dyrant examines the bracers and points things out to Finn.
"Cool, huh?" Dyrant says, offering the bracers to others.
As Dyrant moves along, he will occasionally scan for magic as he walks.
Might be more Angelrelic around here.
Kaurophon wishes the party good luck and plane shifts away. The party starts to follow the lantern through the cysts when they notice a spider the size of a bull elephant emerge from behind one of the larger cysts. It rears up on its back four legs in a violent challenge, eyes shimmering with magical energy.
Initiative
Atol
Dyrant
Finneas
Finneas Bonus roll
Glimmil
Toffitt
Spider
Round 1
Finneas = 27
Atol = 22
Dyrant = 18
Spider = 13
Toffitt = 11
Glimmil = 10
Round 1, Init 18
Dyrant snuffs at the spider as it appears.
Spider? Why'd it hafta be a spider?
Know (Arachnicana) on Spider
How can we kill it? (DR?)
What are spell or spelllike abilities?
What is it's reach?
Unless there is something really strange comes up from the questions above, Dyrant will beg Aralynn for flight and ascend 30' straight up, mindful of the plasms above.
Round 1 Init 27
HP = 85/85
AC/T/FF = 22/13/21
Weapon Equipped = +1 Holy Cold Iron Greatsword
Speed = 25' (30' unarmored)
Rage/day = 8/8
Hero Points = 2
Moment of Clarity (1/rage) = 1/1
Dancing Lights (1/day) = 1/1
Ghost Sound (1/day) = 1/1
Guidance (1/rage) = 1/1
Mage Hand (1/day) = 1/1
Oracle Spells Left (CL 7, +12 melee touch, +9 ranged touch):
3 4/4 Magic Vestment, Cure Serious Wounds, Deadly Juggernaut, Dispel Magic
2 7/7 Resist Energy*, Cure Moderate Wounds*, Fog Cloud, Levitate, Minor Image, Grace, See Invisibility, Augury, Heroic Fortune
1 7/7 Divine Favor*, Shield of Faith*, Remove Fear*, Enlarge Person*, Cure Light Wounds*, Protection From Evil*, Enhance Water*
0 (at will) Purify Food and Drink*, Create Water, Stabilize, Ghost Sound*, Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Light, Spark*, Mending
* Allows save DC = 12 + Spell Level
Status Effects = None
Finneas drinks the extract of shielding provided by the Doctor before drawing his sword.
"That...is a big spider."
Male: That's all you've got?
Well it is.
Unless there is something really strange comes up from the questions above, Dyrant will beg Aralynn for flight and ascend 30' straight up, mindful of the plasms above.
Dyrant sees some plasms above, but they don't seem interested in him yet.
Round 1, Initiative 22, Location R32->Q32
Angel HP: 35/35
Weapon Equipped = none
Conditions = Ablative Barrier, Mage Armor, Bless 1 of 10
Channel Energy Left: 8/8
Healing Touch: none
Resistant Touch Left: 8/8
Strength Surge Left: 8/8
Bestow Resolve: 1/1
Purifying Touch: 1/1
Pearl of Power Left: first (2/2)
Cassock of the Clergy: Spark, [x]Bless, Sanctuary (DC11)
Spells Remaining:
0) Create Water, Guidance, Light, Purify Food & Drink, Stabilize -- Arcane Mark, Detect Magic, Read Magic
1) Bless, Ant Haul, Bless, Command, Obscuring Mist, Protection from Evil, Protection from Evil
2) Bull's Strength, Pilfering Hand, Restoration(lessor), Sound Burst, Spiritual Weapon, Suppress Charms and Compulsions
3) Magic Vestment, Create Food and Water, Daylight, Invisibility Purge, Resist Energy(communal)
4) Spell Immunity, Blessings of Fervor, Blessings of Fervor, Spiritual Ally
5) Righteous Might, Breath of Life, Summon Monster V
Atol looks at the giant spider and considers what it's webbing must be like. He sticks to the usual standby for now and casts Bless from his Cassock of the Clergy.
"The blessings of St. Cuthbert grant us the edge against this spidery beast! I wonder if it is a competitor?"
Atol then steps back from the front of the party a little ways (5' step) and puts away the lantern (move).
After Atol takes his 5' step, the entire party finds themselves transported back to the beginning of the field of cysts. The spider rushes effortlessly over the cysts, its many long legs allowing it to move along as if it was traversing a flat plain. It then stops behind one of the larger cysts and a ray of fire shoots forth from one of its eyes and hits Toffitt.
Party up
Round 1
Toffitt = 11
Glimmil = 10
Round 2
Finneas = 27
Atol = 22
Dyrant = 18
Spider = 13
Round 1, Init 11 {>H47}
Active effects/conditions ablative barrier (40), ant haul, darkvision, endure elements
Init +8 Perception +16 Sense Motive +15
AC 26 / 27 crowd control (18 touch; 24 flat-footed; uncanny dodge)
25% chance to avoid crit/precision damage
CMB +10 CMD 26
HP 44 / 69 (69 - 30/5 nonlethal + 5 hp/5 nonlethal)
Fort +10 Reflex +13 Will +7 (+2 v. enchant)
Weapon Equipped Dueling sword
Shield Equipped none
Mutagen ACTIVE (+4 Dex, +2 AC, -2 Wis, 90 minute duration)
Elixirs
1 Ant haul ACTIVE 18 hours
- Endure elements ACTIVE 24 hours
- Expeditious retreat
- Shield (Finneas)
- Shield
- open
2 Ablative barrier (Atol)
- Ablative barrier ACTIVE 9 hours (40 of 45 hp remaining)
- Alchemical allocation
- Darkvision 9 hours
- open
3 Fly
- Fly
- Heroism
- open
Controlled Rage 0 of 5 rounds used
Healing touch 5 hp of 45hp used
Boro Beads 0 of 2 used
Preserving flask Shield
Slippers of spider climbing 0 of 10 min. used
Wand of Shield 21 charges
Wand of See Invisibility 8 charges
Toffitt ingests his mutagen and moves in front of his more lightly armored friends. He heals a bit of the lethal and nonlethal damage he took from the eye beam.
"Why are we back here? "
Dyrant keeps his previous action, but adds a *facepalm* and a glare at Atol at the beginning of his action.
"Finneas: fog!"
Round 1, Init 10
"Maybe we can go the long way around the spi---"
*zzzaap***
Glimmil glances at his new position.
"Hmm, or we can fight the spider here and now."
Glimmil lowers his visor and trots ahead of the others until he gets a clear lane to the spider, whereupon he brandishes his lance to get its attention.
"Hey! Spider! Over here!"
Round 2 Init 27
HP = 85/85
AC/T/FF = 26/13/25
Weapon Equipped = +1 Holy Cold Iron Greatsword
Speed = 25' (30' unarmored)
Rage/day = 8/8
Hero Points = 2
Moment of Clarity (1/rage) = 1/1
Dancing Lights (1/day) = 1/1
Ghost Sound (1/day) = 1/1
Guidance (1/rage) = 1/1
Mage Hand (1/day) = 1/1
Oracle Spells Left (CL 7, +12 melee touch, +9 ranged touch):
3 4/4 Magic Vestment, Cure Serious Wounds, Deadly Juggernaut, Dispel Magic
2 7/7 Resist Energy*, Cure Moderate Wounds*, Fog Cloud, Levitate, Minor Image, Grace, See Invisibility, Augury, Heroic Fortune
1 7/7 Divine Favor*, Shield of Faith*, Remove Fear*, Enlarge Person*, Cure Light Wounds*, Protection From Evil*, Enhance Water*
0 (at will) Purify Food and Drink*, Create Water, Stabilize, Ghost Sound*, Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Light, Spark*, Mending
* Allows save DC = 12 + Spell Level
Status Effects = Shield
"What? Ok."
Finneas drops a Fog Cloud between the party and the creature.
"Like that?"
Round 2, Initiative 22, Location Firmly at F49
Angel HP: 35/35
Weapon Equipped = none
Conditions = Ablative Barrier, Mage Armor, Bless 2 of 10
Channel Energy Left: 8/8
Healing Touch: none
Resistant Touch Left: 8/8
Strength Surge Left: 8/8
Bestow Resolve: 1/1
Purifying Touch: 1/1
Pearl of Power Left: first (2/2)
Cassock of the Clergy: Spark, [x]Bless, Sanctuary (DC11)
Spells Remaining:
0) Create Water, Guidance, Light, Purify Food & Drink, Stabilize -- Arcane Mark, Detect Magic, Read Magic
1) Bless, Ant Haul, Bless, Command, Obscuring Mist, Protection from Evil, Protection from Evil
2) Pilfering Hand, Restoration(lessor), Sound Burst, Spiritual Weapon, Suppress Charms and Compulsions
3) Magic Vestment, Create Food and Water, Daylight, Invisibility Purge, Resist Energy(communal)
4) Spell Immunity, Blessings of Fervor, Blessings of Fervor, Spiritual Ally
5) Righteous Might, Breath of Life, Summon Monster V
Afraid to move lest he teleport the party again.. And I did that how exactly? Atol will cast Bull's Strength and touch Finneas with it.
"Go, go get the beast and bring it to it's knees. I'll wait here."
Atol, often confused by combat and the basics of life, plants his feet firmly and does not move.
Round 2, Init 18
Dyrant will smile favorably upon Finn and giggle about it.
Dyrant will 5' flap lower and away from the spider.
Toffitt drinks his mutagen and moves between Atol and the spider. Glimmil seeks a charge lane in the maze of cysts and actually finds one. Finnesa provides cover to the party in the form of fog while Atol returns the favor and gives Finneas Cuthbert's strength. Dyrant hovers a bit lower and also gives Finneas Cuthbert's favor.
Another ray shoots forth from one of the spider's eyes and hits Glimmil; this time with cold instead of fire. The spider than scurries behind the larger cysts and Glimmil loses his charge lane.
Party up
Round 2
Toffitt = 11
Glimmil = 10
Round 3
Finneas = 27
Atol = 22
Dyrant = 18
Spider = 13
Round 2, Init 10
"Eee! Cold. Cold! COLD!" Glimmil shivers in response to the freezing ring. Breathing out some warm air, he shivers and looks over his shoulders to the others.
"Spider's all clever, it's shooting its ray-things and pulling back!"
Glimmil swings his shield around to his back and touches himself with his free hand .
He continues to hold his position, invoking the divine guidance of the Great Garl.
Glimmil Status:
HP: 87/102 -39 +24 =-15
AC: 26
Spells:
1) [X] Divine Favor [ ] Keep Watch [ ] Lesser Restoration
2) [ ] Paladin's Sacrifice [ ] Litany of Righteousness
Smite Left: 3/3
Lay Hands Left: 6/7 (5d6, +1d6 if no mercy used)
Cavalier Challenge Left: 1/1
Cog Status:
HP 81/81
AC 29 (AC32 with Dyrant's Ward)
Round 2, Init 48 {>N48}
"Rivals. Enemies. Hm. Keep moving! It's not our rival! At least, I don't think." Toffitt drinks an extract of expeditious retreat and moves in the direction indicated by the lantern.