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Forgive my rudeness when I say this,TAK, but I was wondering when you would ask!
*Casts a spell on TAK, boosting his constitution considerably, so that now he won't die.*
I also have this to give you, keep on your person at all times. Keep it secret, keep it safe.
*Gives TAK a magical book of technomancy that will boost his intelligence (so long as he has it) and it will also let him craft and/or record all the inventions he encounters.*
Now that is done, let's keep moving forward! Come on!
*As the group moves on, a faint flicker of light continues to follow them.*
I use my Detect Alignment class feature to cast detect chaos.
*You are blinded by how much chaotic energy radiates from Schism.
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It would be better for you to detect evil rather than chaos, Malvel's beasts are usually NE.
*Everyone then stops as they hear the faint sound of running water.*
Sounds like there's a nearby underground stream up ahead, let's investigate, but stay alert.
*The light continues to follow the group, and shadows start to flicker unnaturally on the walls.*
That light is interfering with my darkvision.
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Be careful, Schism, something tells me that the source of that light is not what it seems.
*Cautiously steps forward, in the direction of the light, weapons at the ready.*
I can't help but feel that this is really familiar to me.
*Suddenly stops, looks down at the ground, then steps back with a worried look on my face.*
More birdlike footprints? That means we're dealing with Cornix the Deadly Trickster!
*Quickly moves away from the light source and the footprints and begins going down the tunnel.*
There's no point in stopping now, we must hurry, or else we'll be in even greater danger!
"Run Away! Run Away!"
*Eep!
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Don't worry, I've got this!
*Casts a spell that creates a brilliant, white light from the tip of the staff which then spreads out.*
This will keep the shadows at bay!
*As the white light expands in the tunnel, the shadows screech in fear and immediately retreat.*
Everyone, go now!
*While the light is still shining brightly, everyone heads further into the tomb.*
*Follows Aduro blindly.
tap tap tap
I examine the area.
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*The cavern is like the tunnels, a naturally made space with underground ferns and glowcap mushrooms growing in abundance. There are no torches in the walls, but the largest of the mushrooms more than compensates for this. The stream itself, splits the cavern floor in two. But there are stepping stones going across the stream, allowing access to the over side. On the soft, grainy mud that makes the cavern floor are the telltale signs of a large, bipedal, semi-aquatic beast in the form of week old footprints. There's also some scattered bones of various small animals.*
If any of you have provisions, I suggest that you eat them now.
*Starts smoking his pipe to help relax and concentrate on a plan.*
You had to say the 'E' word in front of Nasty.
He isn't dead, just taking a very big swig.
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*Goes to say something, when suddenly, Nasty Orc gets punched out of the water!*
Good grief! What is going on? Don't tell me we are in more danger now!?
*A large, green skinned creature steps out of the water. Its hands end in three fingers armed with sharp claws and its feet are just as menacing, the creature's glaring eyes as an ugly yellow and its mouth is lined with razor sharp teeth. On the creature's back is a brown, carapace shell and the top of its head is filled with water.*
Okawa the River Beast! Everyone run! Across the stones!
*Schism goes first but there's a light source on the other side of the water.*
Ooh, Shiny!
*Looks at what is making the light.
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*You see a figure which appears to be a woman with long, dark hair, wearing a scarlet robe and holding a lantern in her right hand. She beckons you forwards.*
Schism, look out, that's Cornix the Deadly Trickster!
*With her cover blown, Cornix lunges at Schism! This causes the scarlet robe to move, revealing that the creature has the body of a mangy crow from the neck down to her birdlike feet and instead of a normal face, Cornix has a sinister looking human skull with glowing red eyes.*
Don't let her touch you, or else you will suffer any icy death!
*This warning comes too late for Schism, however, as Cornix grabs her and Schism immediately begins to feel cold, like she is in the Arctic.*
Hold on, Schism, we're coming to help!
*As Nasty Orc engages in a fistfight with Okawa (and losing terribly), Aduro and the others race across the stones to come to Schism's aid.*
*shivers
S-s-s-so c-c-cold!
*Roundhouse kick to the Lantern!
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Tvashtri catches back up after recovering from the sudden shock of heightened power, gratefully integrating his old blueprints into his wondrous new tome, and recalibrating his mechanicals in light of his staggering new insights.
"What is this? A frosty fiend? A gelid ghul? Agni, ATTACK!"
A tiny copper statuette of a baroque efreet dutifully rolls forward, opens its jaw hideously wide, and spews forth a volley of fiery shuriken!
This is followed by a silver spider statuette, with a purple geode where its eyes should be, spewing a spritz of acid from an ominous chute...
...and a steel skeleton warrior wielding a tiny but wicked sword, shuffling up and attacking not with the sword, but a ray of ghostly power from its free hand...
...and one of Tvashtri's own crossbow bolts for good measure!
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*The shurikens deal the most damage to Cornix, the acid mainly hits her cloak (but she does receive damage from a couple of drops), the positive energy does nothing as Cornix is not an undead creature and the crossbow bolt misses Cornix and instead, lodges into Schism's right thigh. Either way, Cornix let's go of Schism (who begins to feel warmer, despite the crossbow bolt in her leg) and then the lantern (which was knocked out of the beast's hand and sent into the air) crashes down on Cornix, setting the creature on fire and causing her to run away. On seeing this, Okawa knocks Nasty Orc unconscious and quickly follows Cornix to help out his fellow beast.*
Either wake Nasty Orc up, or just leave him. Beyond that, let's go before they come back!
*Continues across the stones and leads into the next tunnel.*
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Yowch! Watch where you are aiming!
*walks over and waves a piece of pickled herring under Nasty's nose.
That should do it.
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*And so, the brave heroes had hastened along the tomb. Stopping for the night in an uninhabited burrow (no doubt made by some sort of giant rodent) and finally getting the rest that they needed.*
*For a brief amount of time, the heroes thought they would spend many untold years deep underground and at the mercy of Malvel and his beasts. Yet, they came to an opening that lead them out of the caverns and into a deciduous forest, with a warm sun beaming down.*
*Now at first, everyone thought they had escaped from the tomb of borrors. But Schism, TAK and Aduro could easily sense magical energy and realised that the tomb of borrors wasn't just an actual tomb, but was in fact an entire landscape which could be altered by the whims of whoever was in control (which, in this case, was the evil Malvel).*
*Many weeks had passed before anyone came to the conclusion that Malvel had no idea that they were not in the caverns anymore. It wasn't until the heroes had finished making midday camp on a rocky outcrop in the middle of the forest, and had just finished their meals, that TAK spied an odd mass of swirling blackness heading through the sky in their direction. To begin with, everyone assumed that they were migrating birds, until it was discovered (thanks to TAK using a specially crafted telescope) that the swirling blackness wasn't birds but bats! Aduro quickly realised that Malvel had sent the bats to see find the heroes and so, Aduro had everyone pack up the camp and hide. With everyone safely hidden and the camp packed away, the swarm of bats flew around the area and (finding nothing) soon left.*
*With the forest now compromised (as everyone knew Malvel would keep sending spies to search the area), it was then decided by the heroes that they should head north and cross the treacherous Rion Peaks. The journey across the mountains was slow and arduous no thanks in part to the frequent blizzards, made worse when Malvel had (going on instinct) cast a spell to create continuous rockfalls and snowfalls. This then caused the heroes to take emergency shelter in a cave and there they spent their days trying to figure out where to go (with the most often suggestion being to go back underground by the way of the Mines of Kayonia).*
*Due to the frequent debates, Aduro decided to give Schism a silver ring that (despite having no magical powers) granted her the title of group leader. So it was that Aduro soon said: "let the ring bearer decide!"*
*Thinking hard about what decision to make, Schism then stated that: "we shall go through the mines!" To which, Aduro simply said: "so be it."*
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*Just now realizes decision making was part of the ring deal.
Tries to pull off the ring.
It won't come off!
What have you gotten me in to?
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I merely presented the ring as a mark of leadership (and I felt you were the best choice).
*Looks at the silver ring on Schism's finger.*
As for the ring being stuck on your finger, my apologies, must have been leftover magic.
*Suddenly, the blizzard outside the cave stops and everything is peaceful.*
Perhaps we can discuss it later, we must hurry to the Mines of Kayonia!
*With those final words, the heroes set off for the Mines of Kayonia immediately.*
Hopefully, we shall reach our destination by nightfall!
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*Bewildered look on face.
But..., but...I make terrible decisions.
That's how I got here in the first place.
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*The journey down from the mountains to the Mines of Kayonia was long, hazardous and tiring. But eventually, the heroes had successfully left the Rion Peaks and arrived at the Golden Savannahs of Gwildor by the third midmorning sun.*
It won't be long now, we just need to head southeast of here and make for the Rainbow Fjord (where the entrance to the Mines of Kayonia are located).
*As everyone is enjoying the warm, sunny day (including Schism most surprisingly) and the gentle breeze whilst looking at a herd of zebras drinking at a nearby lake, a terrible roar startles everyone and causes the zebra herd to flee. Quickly, the heroes duck down into the tall grass as something approaches.*
Stay here everyone, I'm going to it check out.
*Cautiously, Aduro creeps through the tall grass towards whatever has shown up. Gently parting the grass aside, Aduro sees a giant three headed lion looking around and growling menacingly.*
*Despite being told to stay put, the rest of the heroes soon join Aduro.*
Be careful, that's Trillion the Three-Headed Lion. He's not one of Malvel's elite beasts, but he's no less dangerous!
*As Trillion keeps looking around, his front left paw touches the edge of the lake and as the water touches his paw, Trillion immediately retracts it and growls at the lake.*
What does horse riding have to do with anything?
AW! Poor kitty. I think I will go down and help her.
Those are the best kind.
Don't you know the story of Andokeys and the Beast with the thorn?
After Andokeys removed the thorn from the Beast, they became good friends.
"Oh Boy ... that pony looks really tasty." Looking at Schism.
"Can I eat it? .... PLEASEEEEEEE They taste so good."
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No, Schism, I do not know that story (as I'm from a different world to you).
*Casts a spell upon The Nasty Orc.*
With the enchantment I've placed on you, a pony will magically appear in your stomach.
*Grimaces slightly at the thought.*
And it will never be digested, meaning you will always feel full.
"Wait ... Big Serpent already in belly hmmm ... not make me any less hungry."
Indeed as the pony appears in nasty's stomach the curse he is under which can never be broken least the Midgaard Serpent be released upon the world still makes him hungry and the pony despite Aduro's powerful enchantments is dissolved by Nasty's stomach acids least Aduro wishes to release a more powerful world ending beast upon them and the world.
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*Comes up behind the Nasty Orc and taps on the head.
There, there.
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*Finds no trace of any heroes and grows frustrated because of it.*
*ROAR!*
*Begins to bound away, to search elsewhere, then spots the zebra herd.*
*Growls in evil delight.*
*Leaps towards the herd, pouncing on a mother zebra, eating her while she's still alive.*
*The heroes watch this and look away disgusted. Even Nasty Orc loses his appetite.*
*After devouring the zebra mercilessly, Trillion begins to move on, only to spot a zebra foal.*
*Once Trillion realises that the abandoned foal (as the herd has dispersed when he attacked) is the baby of the zebra he has just eaten, the Three-Headed Lion moves towards the frightened, little thing. Licking his lips eagerly.*
Hee! Hee! The circle of death.
*Watches in fascination.
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This isn't natural selection, Schism, Trillion the Three-Headed Lion is an EVIL beast!
*Gets ignored as Schism is too fascinated with what is going to happen.*
Any other time (and were I a different person), I'd throw you out there to fight him! But, seeing as he is distracted, we had best get a move on! The sooner we end the evil hold that Malvel has here, the sooner these great travesties will be no more!
*Everyone starts heading southeast, as Trillion attacks the unfortunate zebra foal.*
Never before, have I felt so helpless and unclean!
*With the foal's dying cries ring out across the Savannah, everyone feels guilty (even Schism).*
Bye Bye Kitty.
*Comes up behind the Nasty Orc and taps on the head.
There, there.
He looks around and sighs. "Hey get back in my belly." His prehensile tongue lashes out around the Midgaard Serpents massive body and suddenly pulls the entire creature back into his mouth as the colossal sized creature gets sucked back into his gullet. Nasty pauses for a moment almost has some clarity of mind and thought but that is lost once more as the huger returns as does the curse to help keep the world protected. yet the magical pony which almost destroyed this and many other universes is expelled back onto the earth. Nasty Orc looking sadly at a creature he is not allowed to eat.
Hey wait ... can't I eat some zebra too? Or maybe eat the kitty eating the zebra? It would be like that turducken humans eat or what my Ma made elfgnoling a elf stuffed with a gnome stuffed with a halfling. That stuff tasted amazing. You all should try it."
Nasty orc says as he begins to drool uncontrollably as he wanders towards the three headed lion eating the zebra foal without fear knowing he could eat the creature without much trouble.
Looking back at Schism. "Can I eat the kitty? I know a really good recipe for it."
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Enough of this! If we don't stop Malvel, then there won't be ANYTHING to eat!
*Snaps fingers and The Nasty Orc is immediately teleported into a small, glass orb.*
This is for your own safety, I assure you, now let's keep moving!
*Gives the glass orb to Schism, placing it around her neck with some string, to keep.*