Round 2, Init 19
Rae steps out of the flank and attacks the tiefling.
Round 2, Init 14
Solrisa moves up and draws her sword.
Round 2, Init 24
With light once again illuminating his foes, Tynan slips past Sol and into the room.
With an acrobatic tumble, Tynan rolls past the tiefling's reach, and knocks the door further open, taking up a position near the crazed cultist, where he lashes out with his short sword.
HP:20/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2
AC 17, 21 on AoO; 26/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 20, 18 if flat footed
Round 2, Init 14-
Mort takes five feet to flank with Raella on the Tiefling.
for
Temporarily blinded by the nova that just soared past his head, he tries again with his left:
for
Damn my eyes!
Tynan darts into the newly lit room, locating the cultist, and cutting him down with one blow. Raella circles the tiefling, but fails to connect in her swing. Pillette arrives at the sunrod, and snatches it up while she steels herself for the return trip. Solrisa enters the fray. Mortimer slips into flank with Raella, but fails to connect with either fist.
Standing alone, the tiefling shifts to the wall, and swings into the giant. "You cannot stop what is to come, and in your ignorance, you will not see it coming before it's too late..."
Round 3, Init 19
Rae circles around cautiously to into flank with Mort.
"Chatty little things, aren't they?" says Mort about the Tiefling, as his head recoils from the Greataxe blow.
Uhhhh! I could have sworn that was going to miss...
Round 3, Init 24
Seeing the cultist drop to his blade, Tynan turns and moves on to the tiefling.
Tumbling in to avoid the devilspawn's greataxe, Tynan stabs at him with his short sword.
HP:20/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2
Round 3, Init 14
Sol moves to strikes at a cultist or tiefling, whichever is still standing.
to hit;
damage.
AC=20
HP=28/28
Right hand = long sword
Left hand = equipped shield
LoH 1/3 used
Quik Shirt 1/1 used
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit (+bless)
[ dice]1d8[/dice] damage.
Round: 2, Initiative: 3
Weapon Equipped = CLW wand, torch
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = Read Magic (10/30m)
Life Link (3) = Mort, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (0/7) (DC: 15)(Avoid 4) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (1/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Ascaria, amazed at his luck, steps across the hall to the other torch, and picks it up.
AC 17, 21 on AoO; 26/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 20, 18 if flat footed
Round 3, Init 14-
"You cannot stop what is to come, and in your ignorance, you will not see it coming before it's too late..."
Mortimer bellows, "I'll see you in Hell!"
for
Blinded now by rage, his haymaker misses. He tries again with his left.
for
C'mon. Focus. Pull it together!
Round 3, Init 14
Pillette scampers back with the sunrod, hoping it is strong enough to counteract whatever source of dim, dank shadow might still linger.
Ascaria retrieves a second torch, should the first die out too soon. Tynan finds his way alongside the tiefling, puncturing the guard's armor, bringing a gout of blood. Raella continues to guarantee the giant his flank. Pillette moves across the floor as the sun moves across the sky. Solrisa enters the fray, injuring the tiefling further. Mortimer blusters more than bludgeons.
Not long for this world, the tiefling nonetheless looks content, if it can be believed. He swings on Tynan for repayment of wounds.
"Yes... that's right... look to me, and understand..." Though his swing is wide, so is his bloody smile.
Round 4, Init 24
"Yes... that's right... look to me, and understand..."
Tynan eyes the horned creature carefully, looking to find a weak spot in his defenses.
Seeing the creature once again hefting the greataxe, Tynan stabs low, beneath its defenses, and deftly impales it with his short sword. Giving the blade a twist, he whispers to the tiefling.
"I understand you've chosen your path poorly..."
HP:20/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2
With the second twist of a blade, Tynan ends the tiefling's taunts. He slips to the floor, a look of peace settling on his pained features.
Aside from distant grunting of disgruntled swine, all is quiet.
Tynan wipes the blood from his short sword, giving a satisfied smile.
"I'll go scout the passage back toward the elevator room. Double check those two bedchambers to make sure Kendra's not hiding in one of them."
Tynan moves across the room, and through the open door, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.
Sol grants the tiefling her gods mercy, driving the point of her blade through the tiefling's neck.
Coup de Jerk
"You had your duel with Mort and were soundly beaten. Now embrace my mercy."
AC 17, 21 on AoO; 23/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 20, 18 if flat footed
Round 3, Init 14-
Mortimer uncomfortably watches Tynan finally dispatch with the Tiefling.
"Yes... that's right... look to me, and understand..."
I understand wanting to die for your beliefs, but this kind of relishing and eagerness to do so is... unnatural and creepy.
"Do you ever get the feeling you're being toyed with?" he asks, of no one in particular.
"I'll go scout the passage back toward the elevator room. Double check those two bedchambers to make sure Kendra's not hiding in one of them."
"Come on! Let's find Kendra! Solrisa, Rae, Pillette, Ascaria -- take the South room."
He heads over to investigate the North bedroom.
As Tynan heads out of the room, he hears Sol talking to the dead tiefling.
"You had your duel with Mort and were soundly beaten. Now embrace my mercy."
Duel with Mort? Embrace HER mercy? Sometimes I don't think that girl even sees what is happening right in front of her...
Tynan continues down the hall, shaking his head.
Ascaria picks up his sling and tucks it away. Wand in one hand and torch in the other he heads down the hall to the south and pokes his head - torch first - into the room.
Presuming it's all clear, "All clear down here!" he calls out to the group as he turns back.
Rae helps check out the rooms, looking for signs of Kendra. "I bet she's bolted out somehow. Or waddled. She's probably waddled off."
The North quarters and South quarters are empty of occupants, and look unchanged from your previous examinations.
As Tynan steps into the hallway leading to the elevator room, his memory is refreshed regarding the previous battle. Skeleton bones lie scattered in little puddles of blood, and the main entrance door is left wide open. No sounds seem to be coming from the chamber ahead.
Tynan continues down the corridor to the lift chamber, then quickly scans the room for signs of Kendra, and to see whether the list is still in the chamber, or has returned to the surface.
I hope Pillette's tampering prevented Kendra from using it...
Solrisa double moves and follows Tynan to check the lift.
"I'll be right back, Rae," Sol says cheerily, sheathing her long sword.
"We're all clear here. Let's catch up with Tynan -- quietly."
He moves to join Tynan and Solrisa.
Ascaria replaces the torch he's carrying and picks up the one on the ground. He follows the party to the lift, propping his current torch against the wall when the light on his headband starts working again.
"No, Sol. Stay with me, we can both sneak up." She moves with the others, wishing there was some way for them to move completely silently.
Returning to the dark, central chamber, the group finds the elevator still in place. When Pillette checks her work, she finds it wholly intact. The quarrel bolt slipped discretely between the pressure plate and its setting is still wedged tightly enough to prevent the plate's depression.
Light dustings of boar den straw lead into the main chamber, but disappear shortly after, leaving Kendra's direction uncertain. As the elevator has gone unused in your absence, it stands to reason that Kendra disappeared behind one of the two remaining doors, to the West and to the North.
Tynan quickly scans the two corridors for signs of Kendra's passing before the others can obscure any signs.
Sure that he's spotted nothing, Tynan moves to the northern door and listens for any activity behind it.
Tynan then moves to the western door, and listens there as well.
Mortimer pensively and cautiously makes his way into the large chamber to the south.
"Solrisa, I know you said something about these symbols before and the Ebola Triad or something, but could you tell us again what these symbols are -- what you know about the religions?"
He looks up a the ceiling before venturing into the room for a closer look at the pool, sniffing at the air as he goes.
Sol explains, readying her sword for more danger.
"You see, you saw the symbols outside this corridor? When we first alighted from the elevator? There were three symbols. Three *unholy* symbols. Three symbols of gods that should not be," Sol continues to explain.
"They were from Asmodeus, Lamashtu, and Urgathoa. Three gods who should be separate and apart...yet these..." Sol explains again happily. "Even those churches would consider them heretics...these three cults form what is known as the 'Ebon Triad'. They surely aim to do things so unholy that no being of good, nor any that follow the Dragon, can allow them to continue."
Ebon Triad? Sounds like heresy to me. Perhaps the Inquisition would look favorably upon us for rooting out such a danger to our noble realm.
Pillette will move to the northern door, listening and examining the portal for potential danger.
Rae paces between the various groups, trying to keep an eye on Sol and on the others at the same time.
"We have to stop them."
"We have to stop them."
Solrisa smiles at her sister.
"Yes, Sister, yes! We shall give them all the mercy of the Dragon. It will be funsies!" Solrisa moves over to hug her sister, a clash of armors.
Ascaria thinks a moment, and then thinks some more... In the end, he just asks,
"Sol, I know Asmodeus of course, but who are Lamashtu and Urgathoa. I'm not familiar with those gods."
He watches Pillette work and tries to hold the torch high over her head so she can see (unless the light is working, in which case he gets close to be supportive).
Listening carefully to Solrisa, Mortimer becomes temporarily confused.
"Three symbols of gods that should not be."
Uh... but surely there they are -- so how can that be?
"Three gods who should be separate and apart...yet these..."
Ooh. I guess she meant 'Three symbols of gods that should not be TOGETHER.'."
"They surely aim to do things so unholy that no being of good, nor any that follow the Dragon, can allow them to continue."
"The Dragon? Which Dragon was that again?"
"We have to stop them."
He watches Sol bounce up to Rae and hug her. CRASH!
How can I get some of that?
Mortimer rubs his bloody forehead thoughtfully. Drawing himself up to his full height he adjusts the Muleback Cords for maximum effect and pulls up his pants."O.K. I'm ready to fight evil today," he announces.
We have to get out of this place.
"I'm surprised they kept this under wraps for so long."
We're all going to die down here and wind up in UnHoly Hell.
"I didn't have any plans for the rest of the weekend anyway," he concludes, confidently.
"Sol, I know Asmodeus of course, but who are Lamashtu and Urgathoa. I'm not familiar with those gods."
"Nor am I -- maybe if you could tell us more about them, we can prepare better to go up against their Cultists."
"We have to stop them."Solrisa smiles at her sister.
"Yes, Sister, yes! We shall give them all the mercy of the Dragon. It will be funsies!" Solrisa moves over to hug her sister, a clash of armors.
Rae shakes her head, frowning. "No, Sol. It won't be funsies. But it needs doing and that will be... worthwhile."
"I didn't have any plans for the rest of the weekend anyway," he concludes, confidently.
She nods over Sol's shoulder, "Yeah, my schedule is free as well. This should be done in no time."
Rae listens with the others, reluctantly aware of Sol's uncanny ability to recall usually useless trivia. How does she remember all this stuff?!?!?
Ebon Triad? Sounds like a vile curse to me." And not one of the good, beneficial curses. "Hrrmph." Yes, must be the worst type of heretics.
"Sol, I know Asmodeus of course, but who are Lamashtu and Urgathoa. I'm not familiar with those gods."
"Nor am I -- maybe if you could tell us more about them, we can prepare better to go up against their Cultists."
Sol happily relates what she knows of the basic gods of Lamashtu and Urgathoa.
Know (Religion).
"The Dragon? Which Dragon was that again?"
Sol smiles as if Mort were asking a silly question. "Apsu, of course! The dragon of dreams and the creator of worlds." Sol points to the stone carved Dragon's Foot at her neck. "It's the only Dragon that guides our days and lives in our dreams, of course."
Sol gives Rae a cheshire grin as if her sister had heard it all before.
Sol smiles as if Mort were asking a silly question. "Apsu, of course! The dragon of dreams and the creator of worlds." Sol points to the stone carved Dragon's Foot at her neck. "It's the only Dragon that guides our days and lives in our dreams, of course."
"You worship a dragon? That's cool. I always found old Cayden to be enough for me, but I'm a simple man." he looks around a little, "And Asmodeus of course."
He leans in to watch Tynan work - and provide plenty of light.
"This should be done in no time."
One can only hope.
"My thoughts exactly.""Ebon Triad? Sounds like a vile curse to me."
Mortimer raises a compromised yet thoughtful eyebrow at the Halfling's opine. I think I know not of curses... but surely whatever all this is down here is vile.
"Apsu, of course! The dragon of dreams and the creator of worlds."
At the mention of the word 'dreams', Mort forgets the supercilious nature of Sol's demeanor and tries to supress memories of his own dreams.
...Apsu? a good dragon God? "'Creator of worlds?'" He glances around his environment with some bewilderment. Worlds like this?! What happened?
He takes a closer look at Solrisa's stone carved Dragon's Foot. "Did you make that?" he asks absently, but with much astonishment. "Nice," he nods approvingly, with genuine sentiment.
"[...]Cayden[...]" he looks around a little, "And Asmodeus of course."
Mortimer grunts, then whispers, "I'd stick with Cayden, but I suppose when you're in Hell, you should act like a denizen there from."
"You worship a dragon?"
"Dragons maybe very impressive, but true gods are far beyond whatever form they appear in." Perhaps this Apsu is true, perhaps not. In any case, a wise one shouldn't think of the ArchLord as simply a 'goat.'
"I always found old Cayden to be enough for me, but I'm a simple man... And Asmodeus of course."
Ahh, another of the small folk deceived and seduced by the trappings of the "freedom" of intoxication and self-centered impulsiveness. Still, it appears this one understands the true protection offered by finding one's place in the natural order. No wonder the Gnome is wise enough to wield some impressive power.
"Indeed."
"I'd stick with Cayden..."
At least you have the power to back up the potential recklessness of such a devotion.
"You worship a dragon? That's cool. I always found old Cayden to be enough for me, but I'm a simple man." he looks around a little, "And Asmodeus of course."
"No, not *a* dragon," Sol smiles at Ascaria, again amused by the little gnome's antics. "Apsu is *the* One True Dragon, the Waybringer, the Creator of All. Not just any dragon, Ascaria."
He takes a closer look at Solrisa's stone carved Dragon's Foot. "Did you make that?" he asks absently, but with much astonishment. "Nice," he nods approvingly, with genuine sentiment.
Sol leans in so that Mort can admire her stone carved dragon's foot nestled between her two impossibly perfect breasts.
"It's a breathtaking view, do you not think?"
"No, not *a* dragon, Apsu is *the* One True Dragon, the Waybringer, the Creator of All. Not just any dragon, Ascaria."
I knew that. Right? Yah. I knew that!
"It's a breathtaking view, do you not think?"
"It's ... uh ... a little low..." stammers Mort, hopelessly distracted by Sol, her proximity and her impossible attitude. "Shouldn't it be up ... uh," now equally distracted by her neck, he points to the heart of her throat, "here...?" he weakly trails off trying to find her eyes, but everything turns yellow.
As everything turns green...
I don't think I think...
As everything turns blue...
Egads! Am I staring? I'm probably staring!
He steps back apologetically, dragging his gaze to what he hopes is more neutral territory while impatiently waiting for his brain to fully re-engage.
"Eyes back in your head, Mort." Rae growls, thwacking the tall man on the side of the head to help him. "Quit showing off your wares, Sol. There's work to do." Uncertain which one she's more irritated with, Rae stalks off toward Tynan.
"Right, Tynan? Where are we headed?"
"Eyes back in your head, Mort."
Thwack!
"Aiya!" Stinging. "Thanks Rae," Mortimer mutters, rubbing the side of his head.
That was a little reactionary -- even for her! Is she jealous?
"Quit showing off your wares, Sol. There's work to do."
Not daring to look at Solrisa Mortimer rubs his chin and ponders, 'Wares'? ... That scale lies too low on her! Solrisa could definitely use better armor. Maybe Thedrick's old duds? ' have to get rid of that accursed Asmodeus tribute. She would have to find somewhere else to put all the... other flora too.
...I wonder if Raella would want a refit of that new chain we picked up...
"Right, Tynan? Where are we headed?"
Mortimer quietly sighs.
Probably not the best time to be thinking about all this.He shakes his head to clear it and refocus, and waits patiently for Tynan's verdict.
The chamber remains quiet, as do the doors to the West and the North. Tynan is unable to assess the sound of any activity beyond both doors.
The West door has a lock, which appears to be made of both metal and stone. The North door doesn't have a lock.
The North door is simply a well-made door. No lock in sight.
As you move closer to the dark pool, you think you almost see a faint ripple, beginning from the south side of the pool, and radiating to fade towards the center of the circle. There is also a light chill in the air you sniff, the closer you get to the pool.
Solrisa is able to describe the central tenets of Lamashtu and Urgathoa.
Lamashtu, the Demon Queen, Mother of Monsters, is worshipped by her children, monsters of all kinds- gnolls, bugbears, morlocks, ogres... She is often portrayed as a jackal-headed woman, pregnant and winged, with tail and taloned feet. Worshippers revere deformity in themselves and in others.
Urgathoa, the Pallid Princess, or Lady Despair, is the goddess of physical excess, disease, and the undead. She is depicted as a beautiful, dark-haired woman, with pale skin from the waist up, withered, rotting flesh and bloody skeleton from the waist down. She is worshipped by necromancers and the undead alike.
Goddess, Goddess, and God.
"I can't make out which direction she's gone. The western door has a lock though. Pillette, it might be best if you give it a look."
Tynan stays near the western door should Pillette check it out, and listens to the flirting between Sol and Mort.
This should be interesting...
Solrisa moves up to where she can see everyone and waits to learn where to go next.
She will look through her dragon's eyes to see if the woman left a trail, a direction of where she went.