A Mountainous Exploration part 3
Erendriel looks around to the others, and hums. "Um... so just... fireball them? Or do we want to be more subtle than that?"
Garak peers into the pit. He wears an expression of mild distaste. "If they aren't threatening us, spells would be a waste..." He looks over the party members. "Many of us can fly over..." his gaze pauses on Rhar. "I could at least go over to reconnoiter from the other side..."
The horrible, slimy /things/ in the pit are not swarming at you, at least. There's enough room that you can single file around the pit in the tunnel if you should want to.
Malik looks down at the pit of clicking, squirming things, minding his footing in the slippery tunnels. "Pleasant," he mutters, glancing around to the others before noticing the ledge. He inclines his head toward it. "A possible solution, assuming that you are sure-footed and the ground is strong." A curious glance, the next question unspoken: what do the others think?
Rhar can't fly. Her paws would get tired! "Pack pad round!" They could pad through, but then there'd be lots of fur cleaning after. Gurr doesn't like that idea, so starts moving around the periphery, trying to squish himself narrower. He's seen Lady Sandriel fit through doors, so he mirrors her tactics.
"It seems possible to get across, single file, or I can aid as well," Seldan offers, nodding to Garak. "I would not have you burn your spells to no purpose, but ..." Malik speaks, and he nods to the wizard as well. "It is slippery. I would sooner fly it, and those who cannot fly, I can aid."
Erendriel sighs, and nods "Fine, if people would rather... go around. I don't like it, but sometimse avoiding a fight is a good thing. I guess." She snickers, sighs, and hops into her chopper broom. But before she goes, she studies the pit, and the creatures inside intently, looking for any possible reason to think that there may be a danger in flying straight across.
GAME: Erendriel takes ten on perception: (10)+19: 29
Olek will certainly stay with the rest of the party, watching carefully where he places his feet and what's going on all around us.
Erendriel takes her time studying the room, and the pit. Okay, unless anyon knows anything about bugs and thinks it's a risk of getting grabbed with a tentacle, or spit at, or stung, or whatever it is bugs do, I'm gonna just fly across."
Garak grows hazy and virtually translucent. He floats along above the path, careful to keep his position in roughly the center of the party as much as possible. "It is strange to see something living in a place like this," he remarks, voice just slightly ghostly. "How long could they have been down there? What could they be eating?"
Seeing that Erendriel is prepared to put her flying skills to the test, Seldan looks over at Malik, but otherwise watches in silence as others go across.
"You say this as if you think they are trapped there," Malik answers Garek, looking back at Seldan and offering a bit of a shrug. "When in reality, they are just as capable of making this pit -- and eating anything that falls in it. They likely have a tunnel system somewhere in the bottom, to leave once they have feasted." A comforting thought, that. Leave it to the wizard to provide the happy vibes.
GAME: Rhar rolls knowledge/nature: (12)+11: 23
They are definitely not fleas. Far too large for that. Squirming and grublike but with larger, serrated mandibles designed for tearing flesh. They're some kind of hungry, too, and they can smell you. Their beady, tiny compound eyes follow you as you skirt around the edge. It's not clear how much they can act ually see, but they certainly detect the movement.
And then you're over it and on the other side, able to bypass it entirely. The burrowed out tunnel continues down a ways, and that's when you begin to notice the ground becoming more uneven here. It hasn't been, up until, now. In fact, it's largely been smooth, if slippery from the goo, and you can hear feel some kind of vibration coming from deeper within.
Having gotten past that with a minimum of fuss, Seldan slows down as the ground begins to be uneven, eyeing the "floor" beneath his feet, concentrating to determine whether there is a pattern to it, and if so, what that pattern might be.
Rhar tilts her head at the hearfeels, then leans over Gurr's head to put her nose to the ground. She also sniffs, since her nose is there already. "Listen! Smell something!" She points further down the tunnel, and urges Gurr on. He continues, mostly because its away from narrow slimy ledges.
Malik, for his part, seems at least on the outside largely unconcerned about the changes. But the wizard is also unusually quiet at this time, watching the changes in his surroundings rather curiously -- or perhaps simply cautiously.
GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
Olek will head down with the rest of the party, shield up, ready for whatever is making that noise to jump out. It's got to happen, right? We're investigating the unknown and cut off from rescue, the ambush is practically required at this point. Or maybe Olek's just a bit too eager for a fight?
GAME: Malik rolls Perception: (6)+17: 23
GAME: Erendriel rolls perceptoin: (2)+perceptoin: 2
Garak floats so slowly that he is soon in danger of being left behind. He triggers his transformation back to flesh and blood. Then he takes up his customary position in the middle of the party. To support the others, of course. At least that's what he tells himself.
GAME: Kore rolls Perception: (2)+17: 19
A moment passes as you move forward and then the vibration becomes a violent tremor.
Malik, for his part, reaches out a hand reflexively, putting it on the paladin's shoulder. Whether it's to stop the man, steady himself, or steady Seldan though is anyone's guess. As the thrumming becomes a shaking, though, he gives out an irritated, "We really need to start asking for better compensation."
Erendriel rests her face in her hand a moment, and sighs. "You know. If this mountain, or whatever it is, were alive. It might sound just like we're hearing. It's too... it's too rhythmic to be just a mountain. It's alive, or built, or SOMETHING. But then again I was already wrong once. Glad I'm flying though."
Garak squints. "It could be something coming closer," he warns. "Stand ready. Leave space between us, until we see a threat. Then, depending on what we face we can close ranks or move to flank..."
Seldan stops short, steadying himself, but as Malik puts a hand on his shoulder for balance, he looks over with a half-smile and places a hand atop the one on his shoulder. "Perhaps, but let us begin by ensuring that we are not sneezed out. I would not enjoy being plastered like a bogey to the mountainside." He frowns at his feet, free hand going to his blade, but not drawing it yet.
Rhar wobbles atop Gurr, who also wobbles. Just a little less due to more legs. "Earthshake!" she offers helpfully, in case anyone didn't notice.
Olek hrms as he looks around, his natural stability keeping him upright as he peers into the distance ahead of us. "These tunnels -look- natural ... sort of. But naturally /made/. Like a worm's burrow or something. Or the biggest rabbit you ever saw."
The tremor subsides after thirty or forty seconds, but it doesn't fade all at once. Rather, it's like it's... moving away from you.
That's probably not a good sign, huh?
Erendriel shakes her head. "We've got to find a way out of here. This is unpleasant, this is dangerous, and I have a feeling we're not going to find a thing we're sent here to find."
Malik, eventually, releases the paladin's shoulder as the tremor starts to move off, letting out a breath that he didn't even realize he was holding. "Is it too much to hope," he starts, "that it's just a very large rabbit?"
Rhar tilts her head one way. Then the other. Tuning her senses. Also, letting the brain roll from one side to the other helps get the thinking juices oozing out. She startles as she comes to a realization. "Earthshake run away! Pack catch!" It -could- be a Rodent of Unusual Size! She and Gurr take off down the tunnel in pursuit! Rabbits are tasty.
Garak gives Erendriel a quick glance. "Don't be ridiculous. We are here because it is dangerous. Because someone needs to return things to how they were..." he trails off as Rhar and Gurr take off. "Wait!" he calls out. Too late of course. Garak sighs and then runs after them.
Olek suggests to the team, "If you want to leave, we can always tunnel straight up." But then Rhar and Gurr are running, so he will trot after them. Not splitting up is also good.
"We already have," Seldan reminds Erendriel, letting his hand drop as Malik's does and straightening up. "We are most likely inside a creature of living stone, although how it came to be here ... who can say? The mountain is truly alive. We will be fortunate ..." As Rhar/Gurr and then Garak run off, he stops short, and looks over at Malik. "Come! We dare not split up!" So saying, he, too, takes off running after them.
Malik looks dumbfounded for a minute as the first few start to run in the direction of the tremor. "Wait, you're going the wrong --" And then Seldan is off, too, chasing after the others. "...way." He gives an exasperated sigh, taking off after the rest of the group, muttering something in that flowing Tsuran tongue that might sound lovely to the untrained ear, but is almost assuredly nothing pleasant about -any- of them, from the intonation...
Erendriel will follow the others, trying to keep up with Malik at least. "We're not getting any where. I don't even know which way we need to be going."
GAME: Seldan rolls athletics: (15)+0: 15
GAME: Erendriel rolls athletics: (19)+0: 19
GAME: Malik rolls Athletics: (6)+5: 11
GAME: Garak rolls athletics: (19)+4: 23
GAME: Olek rolls athletics: (13)+14: 27
GAME: Rhar rolls athletics: (11)+16: 27
GAME: Rhar rolls companionathletics: (19)+-2: 17
LEt's be honest: You're running on goo covered ground through a tunnel that is ridged and sloped. You're lucky you're not tripping every few steps or slipping and sliding into a wall.
The good news is that the goo finally stops. The bad news is that so does the tunnel.
Abruptly.
You're able to slide to a halt before you all crash into each other and send yourselves careening into the darkness. Which is what 's ahead. An unnatural, supernatural darkness and the floor falling away. Everything around you seems... to be .. shifting?
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (2)+19: 21
GAME: Olek rolls will: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Erendriel rolls will: (12)+8: 20
GAME: Garak rolls will+2: (11)+12+2: 25
GAME: Malik rolls will: (5)+10: 15
Garak's mouth flatens into a line. He glances to his left and right, examining the nearest party members. "I sense...some sort of illusion. We have to be /careful/," he frowns at Rhar as he says it. Then he turns his look on Gurr. Only now it's one of disappointment - as if he expects more from what to him is clearly the wiser of the two. He nods at the other party members. "We were able to stay together this time, but we must be more orderly in our exploration. More deliberate."
GAME: Rhar rolls will: (5)+11: 16
GAME: Rhar rolls companionwill: (18)+4: 22
Gurr stops before Rhar... though, admittedly, is the one driving. He turns to look to Garak somewhat sheepishly and his shoulders rock once. "Look! Dark!" Rhar points out the big lack of ... everything ahead.
"What..." Seldan's voice floats through the miasma of darkness, then nothing else until a rasp of leather on steel and a shout, loud enough to be heard by all. "Gird yourselves! It is part real and part illusion! The shadows attack!"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Whirlpool has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Whirlpool to instruct you further. You may earn RPP by logging a scene for a GM.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 27.
It is now Erendriel's turn! Shadow Demon Lord is next!
GAME: Erendriel casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 10 DC: 18
Erendriel doesn't really know what's going on. Except that it's magic. So she does some magic of her own and... is no longer there?
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 26.
It is now Malik's turn! Shadow Demon Lord is next!
GAME: Malik casts Haste. Caster Level: 11 DC: 17
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 25.
It is now Shadow Demon Lord's turn! Rhar is next!
You know, there was taht patch of darkness in front of you and it seems to condense. Solidify. There, now, stepping *out* of it is a bat-winged creature but one of otherwise humanoid proportions. It's form flickers and shimmers in your dim lights, it's varying shades giving the impression of a face that splits into a razor-rimmed toothy 'smile'.
Silent, yes, and then it... vanishes into the shadows above you.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 25.
It is now Rhar's turn! Seldan is next!
"Rhar!" She yells. Because a wise old wold raised her right. Manners are always important, to include introductions. "Dark thing no smile at pack! Is creepy!" She unsheathes her stick and points it at it!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 21.
It is now Seldan's turn! Shadow Demons is next!
GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL.
GAME: Seldan casts Shield. Caster Level: 11 DC: 16
Magic ripples around Seldan, and he glances back behind him, but he knows who cast that. "You have my thanks!" he shouts. "It is not gone! In the Dreamer's holy name, you have no place on Ea, and I shall see you banished!" As he speaks, his free hand draws a pair of overlapping sigils in the air, and he speaks an arcane phrase to them. They glow with blue-white fire, and form themselves as a visible, glowing shield around him.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 17.
It is now Shadow Demons' turn! Garak is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (18)+11: 29
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (13)+11: 24
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (14)+11: 25
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (12)+11: 23
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8: (8): 8
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d7: (2): 2
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (5): 5
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d5: (1): 1
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+1d6: (5)+(6): 11
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+1d6: (5)+(2): 7
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+1d6: (6)+(5): 11
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+1d6: (7)+(3): 10
More shadows.
Almost a ahndful of them, bat-winged like the first you saw, but somehow more slender. They swoop through the floor, emerge from the walls, and descnd on you.
Kore, Garak, Stjepan and and Rhar are each targetted. There, they find themselves being struck by things that pass through armor, ignoring all in their way until they find the soft flesh beneath. Their touch is ice cold, leaving burns of frost in their wake as they claw at you before they withdraw.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 17.
It is now Garak's turn! Olek is next!
GAME: Garak rolls 16: (3)+16: 19
GAME: Garak rolls 16: (4)+16: 20
GAME: Garak rolls 11: (11)+11: 22
GAME: Garak rolls 1d100: (63): 63
GAME: Garak rolls 1d100: (41): 41
GAME: Garak rolls 1d100: (41): 41
GAME: Garak rolls 1d8+9+2d6: (1)+9+(4): 14
GAME: Garak rolls 1d8+9+2d6: (6)+9+(7): 22
GAME: Garak rolls 1d8+9+2d6: (4)+9+(7): 20
Garak winces and draws back. As a warrior-priest and part-time adventurer, he's felt attacks like this before. He raises a hand and suddenly a gleaming lance fills his hand. He takes it up in the other hand as he lunges, stabbing at the shadowy enemy that attacked him. Recovering, he lunges and jabs again, then spins the lance once above his head before lashing out one final time.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 16.
It is now Olek's turn! Kore is next!
GAME: Olek RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 20 temporary HP
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+16: (8)+16: 24
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+16: (17)+16: 33
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+11: (11)+11: 22
GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14: (5)+14: 19
GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14: (2)+14: 16
GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14: (4)+14: 18
Olek shouts defiance at the shadow, and his axe seems to erupt with holy fire as the dwarf starts to lose it in a frothng rage. In any event, it's a definitely celestial aura, which cuts through the insubstantial shadow attacking Kore with his vicious hacks as he tries to fight off the fell creature with wild and reckless abandon.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Kore's turn! Stjepan is next!
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2+1+2: (19)+14+1+2+1+2: 39
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2+1+2: (7)+14+1+2+1+2: 27
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2+1+2: (6)+14+1+2+1+2: 26
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2+1+2: (19)+14+1+2+1+2: 39
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2+1+2-5: (14)+14+1+2+1+2+-5: 29
GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+1d6+2+1+strength: (4)+(5)+2+1+4: 16
GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+1d6+2+1+strength: (7)+(1)+2+1+4: 15
GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+1d6+2+1+strength: (7)+(5)+2+1+4: 19
GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+1d6+2+1+strength: (1)+(5)+2+1+4: 13
GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+1d6+2+1+strength: (1)+(1)+2+1+4: 9
GAME: Kore rolls 1d6: (4): 4
GAME: Kore rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Kore rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Kore rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Kore rolls 1d6: (4): 4
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 3.
It is now Stjepan's turn! Erendriel is next!
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+25: (10)+25: 35
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+25: (3)+25: 28
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+20: (20)+20: 40
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+15: (9)+15: 24
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+20: (3)+20: 23
GAME: Stjepan rolls 2d6+17+1d6: (9)+17+(1): 27
GAME: Stjepan rolls 2d6+17+1d6: (4)+17+(5): 26
GAME: Stjepan rolls 2d6+17+1d6: (7)+17+(1): 25
GAME: Stjepan rolls 4d6+34+1d6: (14)+34+(6): 54
Stjepan is fighting with shadows, but his sword flares bright, eating away at the stuff that makes these up. He goes half-sword in the tighter quarters, stabbing and hewing until he jams his point right through the mouth of his assailant, destroying it in a flash of purifying flame.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 27.
It is now Erendriel's turn! Malik is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 26.
It is now Malik's turn! Shadow Demon Lord is next!
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (12)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 27
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (9)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 24
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (2)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 17
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+2+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (10)+2+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 20
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (4)+2+3+4+2: 15
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (6)+2+3+4+2: 17
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (5)+2+3+4+2: 16
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (5)+2+3+4+2: 16
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (5)+2+3+4+2: 16
Malik wastes no time. With the spell granting his allies speed out of the way, he reaches to his side, drawing that handful of arrows out of the quiver and firing them off one after the other in rapid succession. His own weapon isn't quite as flashy as some of the others, a faint blue ring of sigils appearing around the arrows as they are fired off, only barely noticable even in the dark -- but they still manage to stick into the darkness, nonetheless.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 25.
It is now Shadow Demon Lord's turn! Rhar is next!
GAME: Erendriel casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 10 DC: 18
GAME: Erendriel rolls ranged + 1: (1)+9+1: 11 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Erendriel rolls ranged + 1: (14)+9+1: 24
GAME: Erendriel rolls ranged + 1: (3)+9+1: 13
GAME: Erendriel rolls 4d6: (14): 14
Erendriel was a bit concerned about this scenario. Invisible, seeing hard to hit demons of some kind. she was afraid she couldn't possibly do anything at all in this confined space. So, she did something a little unorthodox for herself. Remembering some training she.. .just shut her mouth and didn't do anything until Guy Smiley became invisible. And then she shot first. Apparently being quiet was so unnatural her first ray was way off the mark, but one did burn right into the demon, at least, of the three. But having broken her invisibility, she flies back hastily.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (9)+15: 24
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (8)+15: 23
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (18)+15: 33
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+2d6: (5)+(7): 12
And then it rises from the earth. It must've spend its time circling around but it's mashed its onto Seldan's person, clawing viciously upon him. It is only quick thinking from Rhar that keeps the situation from being worse as it is for the Paladin.
It's singular focus is, apparently, Palamurder.
Its wings spread, snappiong out, its maw biting down on the Paladin's neck.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 25.
It is now Rhar's turn! Seldan is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 21.
It is now Seldan's turn! Shadow Demons is next!
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon11+5+1: (8)+14+5+1: 28
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon11+5+1-5: (17)+14+5+1+-5: 32
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon11+5+1: (6)+14+5+1: 26
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+6+10: (4)+6+10: 20
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+6+5: (3)+6+5: 14
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+6+5: (3)+6+5: 14
The scant warning that Seldan gets as the thing strikes him from behind is not enough to save him entirely, but it hinders the thing just enough that the damage could have been worse. Bloodied but unbowed, he whirls on the thing and slashes with magic-fueled speed and accuracy, once, twice, thrice, opening gashes in the shadow that don't seem to slow it down at all.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 17.
It is now Shadow Demons' turn! Garak is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (15)+11: 26
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (16)+11: 27
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (5)+11: 16
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (6)+11: 17
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (9)+11: 20
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (5)+11: 16
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (12)+11: 23
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (3)+11: 14
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6+1d6: (1)+(2): 3
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6+11d6: (6)+(35): 41
The other demons, despite one of their numbers being slain, don't really seem to care. They fight on, as if that had never happened.
Thankfully, now wary of the claws passing through your varied armors, you're all able to avoid them but Garak, who only draws the most shallow of blistering touches upon his arm.
GAME: Rhar rolls weapon6: (18)+19: 37 (THREAT)
GAME: Rhar rolls weapon6: (15)+19: 34 (THREAT)
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon11+5+1: (11)+14+5+1: 31
GAME: Rhar rolls damage6+14+damage6+14: aliased to 1d4+5+14+1d4+5+14: (4)+5+14+(2)+5+14: 44
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+6+5: (2)+6+5: 13
GAME: Rhar rolls gurr bite+4: aliased to companionmelee+4: (13)+14+4: 31
GAME: Rhar rolls weapon6+4: (17)+19+4: 40 (THREAT)
GAME: Rhar uses an AoO! 4 remaining.
GAME: Rhar uses an AoO! 3 remaining.
GAME: Seldan uses an AoO! 0 remaining.