The doors give way to a small, dark antechamber, barely more than a passageway, ten feet wide and twenty feet long, with another, identical pair of doors on the opposite wall, beyond which you can hear a number of voices, less faint now, but no more distinct.  At either end alcoves hold grinning skeletons, facing each other across the darkness ...

"There, that's not so bad."  Qvar reassures those in the lead. "Just skeletons.  Quite dead.  Shall we press on?"  He continues to concentrate on Detect Undead up ahead.

Zertin waves his hand airily in a gesture that probably does mean, yes please proceed.

"There is nothing to trouble us here." agrees Caesius, and starts forward, into the antechamber.

Still his crossbow is held at the ready, and those closest to him can hear that he is whispering a prayer to Heironeous under his breath.

"Heironeous, grant that Your worshipper might serve You well in the coming trials.  Guide his weapons, that they might fulfil Your divine purpose."

Thankful that the skeletons are no more than long dead corpses, you press on, Caesius, ever alert for the presence of evil and with his crossbow at the ready, opens the doors before you, a prayer on his lips and Violet, no less vigilant and with an arrow nocked, at his side.

Qvar and Zertin follow close behind, while Ashlyn, Saeko and Ireena trail the group.

Beyond the door ...

Occasional flashes of lightning spill into this room in jagged shafts through the broken glass and iron frames of a large window in the wall opposite.  Otherwise, this immense room stands in a chilly, brooding darkness that even the light around Qvar can but dimly pierce.  Hundreds of cobwebs, thick with dust, hide the ceiling from view.  At the far end of the hall a huge throne stands atop a raised platform.

Upon the throne is a thing of undulating flesh and writhing tentacles that makes a part of your mind want to turn away and run.  Whatever it is, it is large, larger than the throne, seemingly almost draped over the massive chair and hanging over the arms and the front.  Even as you look, a tentacle or eye-stalk rises above the shapeless mass and twists as if peering around.  A figure cowers on the platform steps behind it, head bowed in fear or perhaps supplication.

Nearer at hand, between you and the throne to the south are two horrors, seemingly drawn from a lunatic's nightmare with oozing flesh upon which countless eyes and toothy mouths constantly form and disappear all over the creatures, often retreating into their bodies even as they become apparent, each mouth chattering, a cacophony of nonsense, little more than a whisper, but growing louder as they turn towards you ... or so you imagine.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Zertin takes one look at the amorphous creatures in the room ahead and mutters to himself.

"Aberrations of some sort?"

Without further hesitation he recites the words of a spell and points to a spot midway between the creature on the throne and the chattering creature furthest from it. A tiny ball of flame streaks from his fingertip and erupts as a fireball 40-feet in diameter to engulf all three of the creatures.

OOC: Knowledge check to identify monsters and their properties.
Zertin rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Knowledge dungeoneering skill check.
Zertin rolled 29 using 7d6.  Fireball damage. (Fireball DC19 Reflex save for half damage.)

A wave of revulsion washes over Caesius, and breaks upon his divinely granted resolve like water upon a rocky shore.  "Hold fast, friends!  I know not what these creatures are, but they will not keep me from my duty."

While holding fast is a good thing, he is careful, nonetheless to remain out of Zertin's line of sight as he does so.  The suddenly blossoming ball of flame seems to show the wisdom of doing so.

Whilst Qvar would have been happy to see a rat, these 'aberrations' really don't bring him any joy.  In fact, he's inclined to agree with Zertin and Caesius, they should be allowed to continue this mockery of life, let alone impede their mission. "Stay close as you bring them down, Pelor will protect us."  He refers to the Protection from Evil 10'r around himself.  He will move with the others if they enter the room, trying to keep everyone within 10' of himself, but otherwise maintain concentration on Detect Undead ... although creatures these are not, he wonders about the cowering person at the far end of the room ...

"Foul abominations," Ashlyn declares in reply to the Wizard's question, following hard on Qvar's heels, and taking the wise example of Caesius to heart as she notes Zertin begin casting, holding her ground with sword and shield at the ready, the latter angled protectively as the ball of fire erupts in the creatures' midst.

Those near the doorway hold their ground as Zertin unleashes a huge ball of fire at the horrors, carefully directing his spell so as to catch all of them.

One of the smaller creatures closest lurches forward with surprising speed, escaping the full force of the flames, the second following suit closing on Caesius, though slower, its oozing flesh blackened by the blast, the movements of both jerky and unnatural.

The undulating flesh of the tentacled thing draped upon the throne likewise suffers from the flames, though it is but barely scorched as it rolls and slides off its perch, slowly making its way towards you, a horrible, unnatural wailing noise issuing from somewhere within its shapeless mass, swiftly joined by a cacophony of ear-splitting gibbering nonsense from the small creatures.  The figure on the platform behind it cries out in anguish, raising its hands to protect itself, though the flames fall short of it.

The creature nearest Caesius lashes out at the Paladin, biting at him from half a dozen toothy maws, though the fine chain links of his armour protect him in the main as only one bite pierces his flesh, even as the stream of nonsense threatens to overwhelm the senses of all of you.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ... and everyone must make a Will Save vs DC13 or be disoriented by the noise

As the creature attacks him, Caesius shakes his head to clear the fog which threatens to cloud his senses, then unleashes a crossbow bolt at the thing as one gaping maw succeeds in biting him through his mail.  The bolt spent, he drops the weapon and reaches for Razor.

And, as if trying to drown out the cacophony around him, the paladin's voice rises in a hymn to Heironeous...

"Father Heironeous!
Father Heironeous!
Sharp sword, strong shield!
Strike the foe, guard the blow,
Shelter your people here below!
Father Heironeous!"

Stepping into the room, Violet comes fact to face with madness.  Her lips tremble as she casts her gaze across the abomination upon the altar, then twitch into a wild, strained smile as her eyes slide to the nearer, less-formed monstrosities.  Their gibbering fills her ears, whispering to her soul.  The stench chokes her nose.

It's too much.

It's too much for panic, too much for fear, too much for anything but blind, survival fury.

With an inarticulate shriek, the young woman hops to the side to the base of the staircase, opening a path for others.  Simultaneously, she reaches full draw and looses.  Teeth grinding, she draws a second arrow forth without bothering to check the results of the first.

OOC - 5' Step toward the stairs.  Pointblank shot, Attack roll 12+10 = 22.  Damage: 3+2 = 5.

Will Save: 20 + who cares, I made it. 

Zertin recoils in disgust as the first of the creatures advances close enough to hit him. He steps back five feet into the hallway, out of the creature's reach.

"Gibbering mouthers. Disgusting creatures but not actually evil, Q. That dreadful noise they make can confuse the mind to the point of madness, at least long enough for them to devour their victim. Finish them quickly, please. I don't recognise the big one, though."

To assist with that instruction, he casts a spell of Haste upon all seven members of the party, including himself.

OOC: Haste gives +30ft bonus on your speed (max double your normal speed), +1 on attack rolls and Reflex saves, +1AC, and an extra attack per round if you are making a full attack action.

Zertin rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Will save DC13.

Even from outside the room, and with the distraction of the creatures' incessant babbling, Ashlyn realises that her companions and she have a fight on their hands, the moreso once Zertin provides more clarity about what it is they face.

"You must hold this door," the armoured-woman tells Ireena, "safeguard our line of retreat.  Mine and Saeko's blades are sorely needed within to deal with this threat."

Without hesitation, Ashlyn strides quickly into the room, pushing past Qvar if the priest has some other strategy in mind, aiming to intercept the northernmost of the Gibberers, jaw tightening as she catches her first glimpse of 'the big one'.

Qvar is appalled by the abominations closing in on his friends, but otherwise untroubled by the babbling.  He shuffles into the alcove with the skeleton to let Ashlyn and Saeko pass, his strategy certainly nothing that would keep them from moving ahead of him.  He gives up on detecting for undead and instead calls for a little Sunshine to help his friends.  "Sunfather, stand with us."  (Casts Bless: +1 attack and Will saves for morale.)

His strategy is to try to keep his friends within his Circle of Protection from Evil 10'r, which he hopes may shield their minds in some small way.  To that end, he steps forward 5' through the door in Ashlyn and Saeko's wake and beckons to Ireena, "Stay close Ireena.  Pelor will protect us."

The bolt that Caesius looses from his crossbow goes astray as he shakes his head, trying to clear his mind of the almost hypnotic babbling that issues from the many-mouthed creatures, pulling forth his trusty blade as he counters the noise with a battle song, calling on Heironeous's blessing.

Violet is almost overcome by the combination of noise, stench and horrific appearance of the foe, but her fear spurs her to action.  Putting a few feet of distance between herself and the nearest, she looses an arrow with deadly accuracy at the other, though it only seems to spur the creature to louder, more frenetic chatter as it pierces its rubbery flesh.

Focused on the threat, Zertin barely notices the babbling, but lacking the Paladin's heavy armour, the Wizard takes a hurried backward step, invoking a spell to allow himself and all the rest of you to move more quickly, the better to deal with this threat.

Fearful for the safety of your charge, Ashlyn orders Ireena to hold the door at the rear, while she and Saeko advance into the room past Qvar, both able to keep their wits about them in the face of the bewildering chatter.  Their blades moving in unison, the armoured-woman and the Daughter of the Wind both strike true and between them manage to slay the creature and still its many tongues.

Taking charge of Ireena's protection, Qvar orders the young woman to stay close as he enters the room, unaffected by the incessant babbling as he casts a spell to raise everyone's spirits.  But Ireena proves not so steadfast, her visage growing more and more crazed as she draws nearer to the chamber, finally pulling her blade from her scabbard as she hacks wildly at Qvar's unprotected back, though her madness thankfully does her aim no favours and the sword's edge misses the priest by a good margin.

The remaining mouther lunges at Caesius, spitting in the Paladin's face as its many mouths bite at him, though the Paladin's metal armour holds the snapping teeth at bay and his flesh is unharmed, while he is able to dodge the spittle which hits the wall at his side, causing the stone to sizzle.

The thing of undulating flesh and tentacles lumbers ever closer ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated

Qvar spins around in surprise.  Finding only Ireena there, and crazed from the insane babbling, he smiles at her reassuringly.  "Let the Light of the Sun clear your mind." he prays as he reaches out to catch her arm.

21:48, Today: Qvar rolled 7 using 1d20+6.  touch attack Ireena, +1 Bless.

Zertin takes a step or two northward, placing him directly behind Ireena where he has a better view of the monsters in the room beyond the doorway. He casts another spell, this time evoking a cascade of seven small fiery explosions in a line extending from Caesius's gibbering mouther  to (and through) the big tentacled horror.

OOC: Zertin will focus firstly on casting the spell then turn his attention to Ireena after that. If she tries to attack him he will try to dodge her blows but if she tries to flee he will try to stop her.

Zertin rolled 19 using 7d6.  Explosive cascade damage. (DC20 Reflex save for half damage)

"Father Heironeous!
Father Heironeous!
Hard hand, warm heart!
Shed your light, dispel the night,
Favour your faithful with your might!
Father Heironeous!"

Still singing, Caesius swings Razor at the grotesque thing that gibbers and howls and yells before him.  Glittering steel defines an arc of death in front of the paladin.  He smiles as he fights, and his eyes seem to burn with the light of his faith.

Nigh-panicked, Violet nonetheless moves with purpose - out of range of the enemies' reach, she sprints for a better vantage point for her arrows. There's room, now - with the creature along the wall closest to them dead, she can slip around to the other side of the chamber and continue loosing her arrows at the beast in combat with Caesius.

OOC - okay, Violet is going to try to move past Ashlyn and Saeko - both are friendlies should be possible - and around the room so as to get a vantage point on both enemies as they engage the melee fighters.  I don't know if I can sneak attack them, but they'll be flanked at least.

Not sure I can actually get an attack off this round; if so, Violet will loose an arrow at the one fighting Caesius.  :)

Wary of Ireena's blade, Qvar attempts to calm the crazed young woman, and while his healing touch initially fails to reach her, ne'ertheless she lowers her blade allowing the priest to place his hand upon her ... though the madness does not seem to have but lessened, for she joins the two Mouthers in their incessant babble.

Even as Caesius lays into the creature before him with a will and a prayer, Zertin looses a cascade of balls of fire that skip across the room, slamming into the remaining Mouther and searing its rubbery flesh even as the Paladin's blade carve it up, leaving it still upon the cold stone flags.  The flaming spheres continue on their set path, unslowed, but barely graze the undulating, tentacled mass that creeps inexorably towards you, pausing for a moment on the threshold of Qvar's circle of protection before pushing through it ...

As Violet begins to circle around the chamber, hoping for a better vantage, Ashlyn and Saeko rush forward to engage the shapeless mass, causing it to lash out with a sharply pointed tentacle, covered in barbs which pierces Saeko's flesh, transfixing her as it lifts her off the ground, writhing in pain.

Calling out to Lathander to guide her blade, Ashlyn stabs her sword into the shapeless mass and manages to dodge the tentacle that whips towards her in retaliation, taking the brunt of the blow on her shield, most thankful for the protective spells that Qvar and Zertin have invoked.

With her back against the wall, Violet lines up a shot on the horror before her, but her shaking fingers betray her and the shaft goes wide, splintering as it impacts upon the opposite wall. 

The figure on the platform howls in anguish as the shapeless mass is first burned by flame and pierced by steel. He looks around, eyes wild until he sees Violet and begins to stagger towards her, hands outstretched ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

His foe apparently slain, Caesius hurries to aid Saeko, his blade hacking at the monstrosity in an effort to free the woman from its profane hold.  Still he continues to sing...

"Father Heironeous!
Father Heironeous!
Good's boon, evil's bane!
Bring the day, show the way,
Help your church to truly pray!
Father Heironeous!"

Zertin whips out his wand of magic missiles, points it at the tentacled, shapeless mass and speaks the command word to shoot a string of five glowing missiles into the heart of it.

Zertin rolled 16 using 5d4+5.  Magic missile damage. – 16

Qvar is aghast to see Saeko lifted and in pain.  There is little more he can do for Ireena, and at least her babbling is better than lashing out with her sword.

Quickly he calls upon Pelor to heal Saeko's wounds, to keep her alive and fighting against the monstrosity.  "Sunfather, heal her wound." he prays as he reaches out to touch Saeko as she swings past.
15:47, Today: Qvar rolled 17 using 2d8+5 ((4,8)).

Bless is still running: +1 attack and Will saves for morale

Even amidst the chaos and fear, it's not hard for Violet to catch that something has changed.  Everything - save for those in her own group - appears to have slowed down?  Even the flames, they flicker more sedately, if that is possible.  Zertin's sorcery, most likely, she grimly considers, having completely missed that it has affected her rather than the world.

Possibly a good thing.

About to loose arrows towards the monstrosities, she abruptly notes the approaching man.  From the look of it, this is no victim; perhaps he is the summoner of these loathsome, satanic messengers?  Switching targets, Violet immediately looses directly at him, no hesitation in her draw and release.

He isn't the first man she has tried to kill, and she knows he won't be the last.

Her hands shuttle between bow and quiver, and another arrow follows the first, launched toward the apparently slow-moving man.

OOC - first arrow hit roll 12, total (+1 extra for PB Shot), second arrow hit roll 26.  Damage rolls of 7 (if only one arrow hits) and 3 (if two arrows hit).