The trek northwest is mostly uneventful after the canyon. There is little doubt you are still being followed: some nights, you can spy another campfire way off in the distance. But any time you investigated, the site was deserted. For now, the Mantis seem content to follow.

Sial turns out to be a genial enough traveling companion. Heis an interesting conversationalist. But he gives little away. His chain demon companion says nothing. At most all you can do is confirm what you already know: he's an ally. For now.

Two days in, you spy the mountain range you are looking for. Skirting the foothills, you come within sight of the spire you were told to look for two days later. If Krojun was right, the tower that serves as the Moon Clan's winter camp is at it's base.

As a refresher, you are here to pick up a 'truthsayer' from the Moon Clan. You need him to serve as a witness for your upcoming impression of an all-you-eat buffet at Purple Worm cafe

You are a half day out when you come across the scenes of a battle. Well. A massacre. Seven dead barbarians lay in twenty two seperate piles. From what few pieces remain whole enough to tell, the tattoos covering their bodies have a lunar theme to them. Zuni is able to use her knowledge to determine the group was attacked by some kind of large beast, though what sort of beast she can't say for sure. The battle was fierce however. The dead hunters were not amateurs. Best guess is the massacre occured this morning.

It also appears another party of about ten to twelve people on horseback came by here an hour or two ago. They left going north, following the tracks of the beast. Whatever it is.

Selvin occasionally took to the air to scout a bit, but didn't stray too far from the party, and mostly stayed close to the ground. No sense in making it TOO easy for them to be followed after all. He doesn't like leaving an enemy at their backs, but there wasn't much they could do about it - he tried several times but could never get anything but an abandoned campsite for his troubles.

And he didn't really like nor trust Sial or the demoness he kept on a leash, so it made him slightly cranky being on edge so much. Enemies behind, potential enemies standing next to him - but at least a few people he could trust with him as well.

The site of the dead barbarians was a bit disheartening. Was that from a purple worm, or something else? "Soooo...They're left in piles but not...really eaten....for the most part, so I'm guessin' not a purple worm? Wonder what happened....an' who came this way before us." He shook his head. "This is an ill omen."

He let out a sigh and started forward after a long pause.

You wend ypur way along the base of the mountain. Soon Selvin spies the tower you are in search during one of his fly-ups.

The tracks of the beast head straight for the tower. Of course they do... sighs Chandanar.

The tracks of the horse party veer to the east a bit. It seems there is a large encampment of people a half mile away from the tower. They look like barbarians, possibly the Moon Clan you are searching for. About 100 people. But its hard to make out details from this distance.

So...go see the natives? Or you guys wanna head to the tower?

Zuni looked from the tower to the encampment and sighed.  They were getting closer their goal of being eaten by a giant worm and the closer that they got to this goal, the more that she was really not liking this idea.

"No sense rushing up to the beastie and getting eaten when there is no one to witness it." she said.  "We'd better get out Truthsayer first, which means walking into that camp of barbarians."

Selvin listened to Zuni and then slowly nodded. "Sure, might as well see who they are an' if they are who we're here t'see." He gave a shrug and turned.

Then he stopped and let out a sigh. He looked back. "Man...I just had a thought...I really hope it's not that same guy who's been stalkin' us, here with a lot o'friends again. What's his name...Krojun?" He shook his head and chuckled.

Then he started towards the camp assuming no objections.

"We can only hope as much...though he seemed more amenable last time. Maybe he likes us afterall," he said, following behind. Even if he expected this was who they sought, green fingers checked his spell pouches, double checking for each and every ingredient to make sure he had everything he needed. The last thing he wanted was to be unprepared.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 6):

Just as a refresher, Krojun is a current frenemy who seems to have a thing for Zuni. The Cinderlander is the one who ambushed you. Just in case. This part of the AP has a cast of thousands.

Oh and ya'll are healed up and spelled up. Thanks.


Riders come outto greet you as you close half the distance. These barbarians are strikingly blonde. Their blue eyes would fit right in among the northern climes. But their dusky skin and the thin layer of Ashland grit mark them as residents of this dust pit.

As with all the pther clans you've met, these barbarians are covered in ritual tattoos. But theirs are lighter in pigment and have an obvious lunar theme. It seems you have found the Moon Coan.

The riders circle you, through no one makes a hostile move. The lead rider, a middle aged woman with a serios looking spear clutched in one hand nods to you. May the Night find and cool your steps. I am Afada. Come you in peace?

Chandanr elbows one of you and whispers, Don'tvay orgetfay we avehay that oberay from the tentacle lacepay.  He must be referring to that robe you picked up in the place you met Sial. It is supposed to be a relic of the Moon Clan.

Also, Izzy, didn't you pick up a moon tattoo there?
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:52, Sat 19 May 2018.

Zuni stepped towards the woman and gave an intricate flourish of a greeting.  She'd seen something similar before and as silly as it might have looked to her at the time, maybe it wouldn't be out of place here.

Putting on her most gracious airs, Zuni addressed the rider. "Greetings, Afada.  We do indeed come in peace for such a beautiful night as this should not be stained with the marks of violence.  My companions and I are in search of the Moon Clan.  During our travels we came across a lost item bearing their sigil and we are of a mind to return it.  Perhaps you could assist us?"

Selvin gave a small bow to them. "May the Moon light your way and keep your secrets when needed." He spoke it formally. While he didn't know if that was a good saying or not, he really hoped it wasn't something that would offend them.

"We're glad t'have found you." He closed his mouth then, waiting. He bit his tongue to keep from saying more or about the dead barbarians and the tracks from previously for the moment.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 9):

She smiles at Selvin's courtesy and then glances west, in the direction of the tower. It is best if we not speak here. Follow us to our camp.

The camp has obviously seen better days. The Moon Clan is not attempting to hude the fact they have been attacked. Some of the Clan are gathering wreckage from yurts and wagons that have been torn apart. You see the signs of blood and dried gore spread hither and yon. Beyond the camp, a heap of bodies have been piled on a pyre. The Clan appears to have lost twenty people and at least as many horses.

Afada dismounts and gestures for you to follow her in to a large tent. Chandanar presents the robe to her and she studies it. Yes. This is a remnant of our former guide Rhana. My gratitude for its return. But... She gestures in the direction of the pyre, </Goldenrod>...we are a bit distracted at the moment. Otherwise we would welcome you warmly.

Our camp was attacked yesterday by a Wyrm. But not a variety we are accustomed to. It has taken up residence within one of our sacred sites. I think it is encouraging us to find a new sacred site. Or it is hungry. I am not sure which is the case. But I can at least offer you some supplies. We have fewer mouths to feed after all.</Goldenrod> She smiles wryly. Forgive my funerary humor. It has been difficult. Two days ago, I was just the chief teller for the Clan. Today I am chief. It is quite a step up.

(Swore I checked this over the weekend but guess I didn't - Izzy did indeed get a Moon Tat that increased his Charisma by 1)

He let the formalities fall to his companions as he looked each of the tribe over - or at least who remained as it became more obvious that there had been far more than a single bout of losses. He stayed skeptical for a bit, given the growing number of ambushes and enemies, and watched as the robe was passed along, which seemed to give him an answer he was satisfied with. Their tale certainly was not a happy one. "It is terrible. Lately it seems that loss is all we actually hear about."

Both in the city and outside of it, the whole world seemed damned right now. Briefly his mind humored if he should have joined up with one of the doomsday crying cults back there, but more jokingly than anything. "It seems inappropriate to ask now, but we were seeking an honor from your people. More than your resources, I'd truly hate wasting your time when it is so dangerous here." He paused, hesitating on whether or not it would be too insulting to simply ask, before stating, "We seek membership into the Sun Clan. Their ritual requires a Truth-Teller of your people." He did not explain more, she likely knew the danger the Truth-Teller would be in, but a small part of his brain prayed to the Dawnflower that she did not. "We know we ask a great deal, but be assured we do so in hopes of saving a great number of our own."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 11):

She raises an eyebrow. That is...to the point. The Sun Clan? They hate all outside their own. Why would you need...oooooohhhh. You mean to be tasted by the Worm. Yes. You would need a Teller for that. Well. Poko is recognized as honest by all. You notice she says this with a bit of a chuckle. He is also one of my finer warriors. Not a resource I can spare at the moment. Unless...of course...

We take care of this other Wyrm for you? Chandanar offers.

She smiles. I appreciate people who come to the point. Yes. If we could secure our Tower, I could spare Poko for your...er...errand.

Selvin watched as Izzick jumped right in. He smothered a smile. He had been going to let others be more diplomatic, but apparently such was not the case. He listened and then frowned slightly. "Is...the worm at the tower or whatever...is that a purple worm, like what we need?" He glanced at his companions. "Just wond'rin' if we can kill 2 birds with 1 stone or not, y'know?"

He gave a shrug. "Regardless, we can likely help. What exactly's up there?"

Izzick was hoping that wouldn't be the offer, but he supposed they had plenty of other problems on their plate, what was a little more. "Hopefully we can handle that. We don't exactly have a better option, and it seems like you don't either." If they were all in acceptance, than Izzick waited for any details she could give them about whatever had taken residence up there, maybe he could figure something out. He wished Tarrov was here for this part.

16:50, Today: Izzick rolled 25 using 1d20+9.  Knowledge Arcana on the Wurm/Wyrm/Worm.

What it is / what it does / etc.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:54, Thu 24 May 2018.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 14):

I say wyrm because it is the most apt thing I can think of. It is snake like...reptilian...except her head is that of a beautiful maiden. She is powerrful. She was able to counter our priestess with magic and destroyed our troo0s with powerful spells.

It sounds like a naga. Thoguh they cpme in various shapes and sizes. This one sounds like its taken up magical researches.

She retired to the tower. It has three levels: the roof, a ceremonial hall below that, and the main chapel on the ground. I was contemplating trying to send a force in through the roof in hopes the wyrm had set up camp in the lower levels.

"Snake-like with a beautiful womans face, eh?"  Zuni thought back to when she had encountered any snake-like creatures in Korvosa, but other than actual snakes she couldn't think of any.  Definitely not any that had a snake-like body and a womans head.  That would be memorable indeed.

"Do you have any idea of what she wants?  Maybe an offering can convince her to leave your sacred site?"  She doubted that it would be that easy but it never hurt to ask.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 16):

Afada smiles wryly. She wasn't exactly the talkative type. We only come to the tower one month out of every six. So it's not uncommon for something or other to set up camp inside. But usually it's something wild. This time was different. Our advance scouts were killed and the wyrm had laid an ambush for us. It was as if she knew we were coming and wanted to give us plenty reason to avoid the tower.

"I'd need to see her to know specifics, but sounds like a Naga." They did know magic typically, but the amount of variables? Beautiful, ugly, dark, royal, aquatic - they were as various as the snakes that their bodies mimicked. "They are usually intelligent enough to speak with. Then again, so are most men and we've had trouble with them as well." He wasn't sure how the creature could predict scouts, but perhaps divination, scrying, or some other magic. Figuring that out or protecting against it was a bit more outside his field of expertise. "I'm neither a linguist nor a master of naga diplomacy but...we can try. Unless you seek repayment for your losses, Lady Afada."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 18):

I would be satisfied with just securing our sacred site. Revenge is a luxury at this point. Tomorrow night is the new moon. We have rituals we must enact.

Selvin nodded. He agreed with Izzick. He'd heard only a tiny bit about them, but it did indeed sound like a naga. He shook his head. Despite being likeable, he wasn't great nor terrible at diplomacy. He frowned slightly and then shrugged. "We can try an' talk, but if that don't work we'll have given up the potential advantage o'surprise, so...it's a trade-off. She seems pretty brutal an' ruthless from the results o'the attack we saw but..." He shrugged again, looking to his companions.

"Personally I'd rather put 'er down, sounds like she ain't a good person. Bein'. Creature? Whatever. But I'm willin' t'do the talkin', if no one else feels up to it, if that's what's decided."

Alright. I thank you. There are two ways in: an entrance on the roof or the front doors.If you wish to take the roof, I can provide magic to get you all up there.

Zuni tapped a finger on the hilt of her sword as she considered the routes of entry.  "...front door...roof..." she mused.  "splitting up might make sense.  Selvin can take the roof while the rest of us go through the front door.  Only...I don't like splitting us up when we don't know what the inside looks like."

"How about I take a quick look and see what I can see?  Just...get ready to come and save my backside if I wake up something unpleasant." Zuni moved off in the direction of the front door, sneaking as best as she could.

OOC:
Stealth -> 26

I'll give Zuni Invisibility then before she heads in

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 22):
Zuni is invisible

The front doors are large wooden affairs, once quite grandiose with finely carved details and bright paint. But the paint has flaked away except for patches and the carved details have worn smooth. The Moon Clan has only preserved one set of details: a set of circles that show the phases of the moon. Although they have them in the wrong order. The half moon phases are switched as are the new and full moon circles.

Zuni, you hear no noise as you slowly inch the door open far enough to slip inside.

The area beyond is a portico running the length of the building. Beyond a row of columns opposite the door, the space widens and becomes a large, open room with a high ceiling. The floor of the room beyond is covered in a mosaic that depicts the moon's cycle throughout an entire year. Near the center, one of the full moon depictions glows softly, providing most of the room's light.

On the western wall is a series of levers. Along the southern wall is a stairwell leading upwards. Between each column of row that divides the portico and temple area, a fine length of wire has been strung at about ankle height.

No sign of the naga.

Wire?  That was a curiousity.  Zuni went to take a closer look at the length of wire, thinking that it might be a tripwire for something.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 25):

Zuni, you glide across the floor like the gossamer wisp that you are, stealing right up to the edge of the column row.

It is a single wire, wrapped around the base of each column and connected to a balista set on one side and hidden from view of the entrance by the western most pillar. To say it is an obvious trap is an understatement. You aren't wven sure it would fire if someone did blunder into it.

Zuni took a few moments to examine the wire and made a note to mention it to the others before moving into the larger room.  The Naga had to be in somewhere.  Could it blend in to its surroundings?  And what was with the levers?

Zuni made her way along the edge of the large room, looking to check out the stairs to see where they lead.  She wasn't sure how long this invisibility was going to last so she would have avoid wasting time.  Finding the Nagas location was her primary goal.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 27):

You step over the wire znd into the chamber beyond...

Reflex save DC 20 please Zuni

OOC:
Not sure what the effect is but Zuni rolled a 23 to save

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 29):

You step over the wire and freeze, the toe of your boot a fingers breadth off the floor on the other side.

So that's why the trip wire was so obvious. To make people focus on it and not the floor beyond. If you had finished that step...

Inscribed into the floor in such a way as it blends with the mosiacs is a rune of some type. There is one on the floor between each set of pillars, all along the length of the portico entry. What the rune does...maybe something good. Maybe something bad. No. It's probably just bad. Awful really. No one ever lays down runes that materializes cute puppies after all. This one probably just blows you up.

Slowly, Zuni pulls her foot back and lets out a relieved sigh.  That was a close call.  A rookie mistake resulting in a close call.  So much for this sacred place being safe.  Did the Naga rig this up?

Zuni looked over the floor and decided that it was too dangerous for her to continue.  She headed back outside to let the others know what she had found.

"Bottom floor looks clear.  No sign of the Naga.  There's a rune of some sort, a trap, inscribed in the floor.  I don't know if I want to try disarming it with a Naga on the loose.  Maybe we should check the upper floors."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 31):

Upper floors then?

We shall head to the upper floors.

Upper floors! I think the Moon Clan priestess said she'd give us a way up, yes?

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 33):

The priestess gives you a beaker filled with a pale silvery mixture. A sip allows you to rise into the air like a bird. Or a Selvin/Zac.

Your party flies up the side of the tower and crests the battlements atop. The roof is empty save for a set of stairs descending into the tower.

Obviously a potion of flight. You guys who can't usually fly have two rounds/sets of posts before the effects wear off. Thanks

Selvin shook his head. "Traps're bad." He shrugged. "Sure. I can carry one...ah, right. Nice. You get t'fly like me, sorta, for once. He grinned widely from inside the symbiote.

He waited til they were ready and then took the lead as he was more used to flying. He flew up to the top of the tower and looked around before landing. He was a bit wary as there had been traps down below, so he hovered in air and looked around carefully.


19:48, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 25 using 1d20+13.  Perception if needed.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 36):

The arch covering the entry to the stairs seems clear Selvin. However, it is quite dark down the stairwell. Very dark.

Following behind the summoner, the half-orc kept his eyes sharp, looking to see if he could spot anything first, before creating with a touch to belt pouch, turning it into a torch for those who couldn't see as well in the dark.

22:08, Today: Izzick rolled 3 using 1d20-1.  Perception. Not that I see shit even with darkvision

Zuni flew a little awkwardly up towards the roof.  Magic was...weird.

"Oh great, darkness."  Zuni said, frowning through the archway.  She was not going to be able to look out for any traps if she couldn't see.  "Keep an eye out for anything unusual.  the main floor was trapped so there's probably going to be something up here too."

Cautiously, Zuni peered into the darkness.

OOC:
Perception -> 25

Selvin gave a nod to the words of his 2 companions and landed. He started towards the stairwell cautiously, stepping in a bit and then stopping to let his darkvision adjust. Once he could see through the darkness properly, thanks to his symbiote, he cautiously began moving again.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 40):

You wait for your eyes to adjust Selvin. And wait. And wait.

Hmm. Seems yon darkness is not of the natural variety.

Not wanting to waste their gift of the potion, Izzick suggested, "Should we try to wander down? Or should we head back downstairs?" Either way was an option, but Izzick had no way to dispel the darkness. "If we find something, I should be able to make it visible," he said, thinking about what he had at his disposal, "but this is a bit above what my light can dispel."

Selvin frowned a bit more as he pondered the darkness. It wasn't normal. Maybe it was magical? Likely. He raised one eyebrow and looked back at his companions. "Hold a moment. I'm gonna try somethin'." He uttered a few arcane phrases and moved his hands around in arcane gestures, casting a spell at the darkness.

OOC: Casting Dispel Magic on the darkness effect.
1:08, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 27 using 1d20+10.  I'm attacking, er dispelling, the darkness!

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 43):

The darkness seems to flicker, and then thin out. Like droplets of water falljng on a hot skillet. Soon the dark beyond is just the usual kind of dark.

The stairs descend to a small hallway. At the end of the hall is a half open door made of wood. Beyond the door seems to be a room of some kind. But you can't tell much about it from here.

Oh, and there are two sets of tripwires across the stairwell. They are pretty obvious without the darkness to cover them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:47, Mon 25 June 2018.

Izzick huffed with a smile, "Show off." Before he looked to Zuni, knowing that with Selvin handling the darkness, she could handle the trip wires.

Selvin looked almost surprised that it worked - it was his first time using the spell after all! He then grinned widely and turned to look at his two companions, giving a thumbs up. He kept his voice quiet and directed away from the stairwell. "Hey, we all play our parts, right? 'Sides...after what Zuni said about downstairs, take no unnecessary changes if we don't have to. An' if it's a darkness we can't see through, something's up for sure!" He shook his head. "I'm just glad it worked.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 46):

The tripwires are easily dealt with. And this time there don't seem to be any alternate surprises Zuni. The way down is clear...

A quick peek through the partially open door reveals a 30x30 ft room beyond. There are only two features of any note. One is a curtain covered archway directly opposite the door you are peeking through. The other is the egg set in the middle of the floor. It is a little larger than a man's fist and a sort of blackish-purple color with stripes of silver running through it. It rests on a small burlap cushion in the middle of the chamber.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:59, Thu 28 June 2018.

Zuni surveyed the room.  "Is that...could that egg the Naga's egg?" she asked in a whisper.  "Maybe we could grab it and..."  There was a brief thought that they could grab the egg and hold it hostage in return for the Naga leaving the tower, but she wasn't sure if that was really a god idea.  Pissing off Momma would not go over well.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 48):

I should mention you guys have enough flying power to either make it to the egg or halfway across the room. In case that makes a difference in the decision making process. Thanks

Izzicks eyes focused a bit as he cast a brief incantation, informing the others whether the egg or anything else in the room stood out as magical. "We have to find her either way, might be worth trying to hold it as a bargaining chip." Zuni's plan seemed to hold some sway - if she attacked, they'd planned on killing her if the need arose. If it was an edge...well then they had a way to get her out of the tower with something she wanted.

Cast detect magic to see if anything's glowing in the room but I say we go for the egg.

Selvin looked around for a few seconds, then flew in to the room, ending up near the egg, just to see if anything would happen. He then inspected the egg quickly to make sure there was nothing 'off' or trap-looking about it, and then touched the egg while his companions were still a little bit away from it in case something was going to happen. He should have waited for Zuni likely, but he wasn't sure how much longer they could stay flying.

11:28, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 31 using 1d20+13.  Perception if needed.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 51):

The egg glows Izzick. But so does the cushion. Sort of. It's something under the cushion.

Selvin, the burlap is just a covering. Under the egg is a thin plate of metal.

Zuni, seeing Selvin take the egg, kept her eyes on the surrounding room.  Would the Naga know that the egg had been taken?

OOC:
Perception -> 21

Selvin stopped and examined the metal plate, and the egg as well, in more detail. He then called out quietly, "Hey, Zuni? Think this plate is a trap? Can you check before I lift this thing?" He looked up and around once more before returning his attention to the egg and the plate.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 54):

Zuni, you glance at the plate as Selvin floats above it, one hand outstretched to pick up the egg but stopping before touching it.

Oh yeah. That's a big ol' trap. Your best guess, since Izzick informed you it glowed magical, is that this is like downstairs. Some kind of rune type trap. Probably set to trigger once the egg is lifted.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:21, Mon 09 July 2018.

Selvin, you can assume Zuni shared her findings. I can't imagine she would hold back. Picking up the egg?

"Hang on." Zuni hissed as quietly as she could and floated down towards the egg.  "Let me see if I can do something about that before you get yourself blowed up."  She floated around the plate, studying it.  "Just keep an eye out for Momma."

OOC:
Disable Device -> 29

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 57):

Zuni uses her knife to carefully cut away the fabric of the upper side of the pillow. Selvinisthen able to lift up just the top layer with the egg.

On closer inspection, you can see the egg is a fabrication. Smoked glass with a minor illusion placed on it. It was meant tobe the cheeee for the trap.

The curtain hanging over the alcove is the same heavy burlap that made up the pillow. It hangs from top to bottom, leaving an inch gap below. Peekjng under the curtain, you can make out a short flight of stairs headed down. They lead in to a wide room below with a light source shining up the stairway. From within tne chamber, you can hear a voice. Someone mumbling. A woman. But with a thick, nasal kind of voice you wou ld associate with someone large.

Selvin seemed a little disappointed that it was just an elaborate ruse to lure the unsuspecting in to a trap. It made sense, obviously, but it was still a little disappointing. He had hoped the egg might be something cool. He left it where it lie when he set it back down.

He peeked behind the curtain and gave a nod. He didn't say anything since he could hear a voice in the distance - and they might be able to hear him in return if he spoke. So he quietly as he could flew down the stairs carefully, and a bit slowly, watching out for tripwires and other dangers as he went, heading towards the light. He wanted to peek in the chamber and see what could be seen before entering. He suspected the naga and combat lay within.

Hovering just behind was the half-orc. It could have been a captive, but it didn't quite sound human enough for that. If it was the Naga, then who was she talking to and about what? He let Selvin be their lookout, but he waited behind, ready to fling a spell at a moment's notice. For a moment he wondered if he was jumping to conclusions. They had considered the possibility of bargaining with the serpentess after all...then again, after all they'd been through, better to have a spell in mind for if fighting broke out.

Zuni spent a few moments checking over the egg, just to make sure that they weren't passing up something that might be valuable.  Deciding that it wasn't, she followed the others into the next chamber.

Zuni and Izzy, you guys are back on the ground again. Flight has worn off

With the priests and the unnervingly quiet chain demon bringing up the rear, you descend the suprisingly trap free stairs.

The chamber below is a wide, circular one. The ceiling seems to be decorated with lunar motifs made up of inlaid mosiacs. If the ceiling weren't so dirty, it would probably look like the sky at night.

The room is ringed with thick stone pillars. The pillars form a circle, creating an open inner chamber in the middle of the room. There are eight columns.

At the foot of each column is a bowl. The bowls are mismatched and not well made. Some of them look only partially painted. They seem empty.

A candle sunk into a wine bottle is lit and set on the floor in the middle of the pillars. Wrapped around the top of one of the pillars is the naga. Her body is as thick around as a bear and her scales are a glossy black. Her face is just barely human in appearance. Her eyes are ebony buttons and her mouth is a bit too wide. She seems to be studying the floor near the candle.

...well perhaps... she mumbles in a suprisingly sultry and soft voice.
I wouldn't be oposed to trying. Let me think upon it.

Selvin raised an eyebrow and motioned for everyone to wait a second. He flew back a bit so he could cast without being heard by the naga (and assumed she had good hearing so went back quick a bit). He then cast See Invisibility on himself and flew quietly back to where he could peek in to the chamber once more. He just wanted to see if there was an invisible being, a ghost or something else - or if the naga was maybe just crazy.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 63):

Good call

Selvin, as your eyes adjust to the magic cast upon them, you notice the room does have other occupants. In long shadow cast by one of thepillars are two, large bat-like looking things. Each is the size of a halfling.

OOC: Are the two invisible creatures 'grouped' close enough together for a Glitterdust spell to affect them both?

He moved away from the door and quietly spoke, but not in a whisper since those carried far further than quiet speech, and facing away from the room. "there are two invisible creatures in there. izzy do you have glitterdust? i do if you don't, but thought i'd check. they have wings so i'll try to engage them while you all take on the naga? sound good, or anyone else have better ideas?

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 65):

The bats are within range and are clowe enough to both be affected.

Izzick nods. It was an exceptionally useful spell, and he could cast it at a moment's notice. "That sounds like a plan. Just tell me where they are and I can hit them with it first." The Naga herself was likely a powerful sorceress from what they'd heard, but he was ready to face her down assuming that Selvin wouldn't need back up against...whatever it was that was hidden from view. His fingers began to spark with magic, ready to go whenever they were finished with prep work.

Once I had the location and we're ready to fight, I'll start us off with Glitterdust

In reply to Izzick (msg # 67):

Izzy, it's a 10 rd duration with you, right?

Izzick points and waves and suddenly the area Selvin indicates is filled with tne twinkling bits of gold that everyone has come to know and love.

The naga starts, not caught in the shower, but surprised it occured. The bat thkngs become visible in outline and seem surprised as well.

Ya'll won init. Lemme know. Thanks.

(Yep 10 rounds!)

With a chanted verse, waves of magic spread from Izzick's hands, the world seeming to slow - or more truly, all three of them beginning to speed up in mind and body. But even as the spell completed, he held, just a moment. Better to try than not at all, "We seek you leave these sacred lands in the name of the Moon Clan. Bloodshed is not necessary if you're willing to speak."

Casting haste, then going to try and talk. And I'll repeat it in Abyssal if it doesn't speak Common.

Everyone for 10 rounds gets:
-Movement speed is doubled
-+1 to attack rolls
-+1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves (lost if you lose Dex bonus)
-Full attack actions gain one additional attack at full base attack bonus

Selvin waited until after the Glitterdust spell compeleted. He turned his head to Izzick and nodded, a smile on his face. But he hesitated as the half-orc began to cast another spell, one with which Selvin was very familiar with. He started to think that maybe he and the half-orc had a bit too much overlap in their spell selection.

He felt the familiar spell magic flow over him, speeding his movements up. He flew over to the hopefully-blinded creatures and waited to see how the Naga responded.

OOC: Holding action to attack the bat-creatures if they and/or the Naga are still hostile and do not want to parlay.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 69):

Huh? Oh muffins! It's do-gooders!

The Naga rolls her eyes. Wellllll...you can tell the moon lovinh snot heaps they can have it back as soon as I find the Breath of Moonlight. So if they wanna tell me where it is, we can all get what we want.

The Breath of Moonlight? Was it a spell? An object? A poem? "Care to fill us in? Maybe we can help you look." Izzick didn't let his guard down, making sure to keep his eyes wary for those sparkling outlines, watching if they moved and where. Most of all he listened to her voice - not entirely sure what to listen for, but hoping for a hint of what she was doing, whether she was lying or telling the truth, if she even answered. If she didn't want to explain, well, he was more and ready to settle things with fire after that - she'd done more than enough to deserve it.

Zuni was considering how to advance into the melee that she was pretty sure was going to break out, when the Naga decided to talk rather than try and stab them, or whatever it is that Naga's do.  Maybe it the effect of the Izzicks spell but her finger tapped quickly on the hilt of her sword.

"Is that something that the folks outside are supposed to know about?"

Selvin's eyes widened and he involuntarily let out a very quiet chuckle. The naga cursed like his old grandmother used to! Muffins?? He shook his head and grinned, moving in to the room only just a bit and up to get out of the way of his companions. He eyed the blinded flying creatures while they waited for the naga.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 71):

Who's to say what they do or don't know? That isn't really somethin' I care about. Buuuut I do know they want their temple back. And I want the Breath of Moonlight. It's an arrow. So dearies...how does this go down? Will you help Ol' Naggie find her somethin' special? If you can give it to me. I'll leave and deactivate all the runes I've placed. And I Ol' Naggie has put down a bunch. If'ns you wanna go the usual kiss 'n cuddle way of doing things...well. Ol' Naggie's willin' to give yoh all some sugars.

Selvin shook his head at the naga. "You are really weird, snakelady." Of course, that was funny coming from a half-elf hanging within a glowing and flying blue tiger thing from another plane.

He glanced back at his allies and then shook his head again. They could likely almost SEE what he was thinking. He turned back towards the naga, and grinned. "Sorry. No deal." And he flew to engage the two flying creatures.

They had bee trying to win the affections and attention of the Moon Clan long enough that Izzick was certain the Cinderland tribes would hardly be the typs to want to hand over their sacred relics. Before the half-elf flew off, he even confirmed, "Zuni, Selvin, you've been dispelling those runes pretty easy, yeah?" before he made several gestures, re-aiming his hands until they pointed towards the Naga, chanting out the words to draw power to his fingers, which ignited the air.

Scorching Ray!

17:09, Today: Izzick rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Ray 1.
17:09, Today: Izzick rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Ray 2.
17:09, Today: Izzick rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Ray 3.

-So two hits vs Ranged touch I'm certain (but they're at +1 attack from haste I realize so I'm going to roll 3 as it's actually 21, 21, 10 vs touch).
17:10, Today: Izzick rolled 17 using 4d6+1.  DMG1.
17:11, Today: Izzick rolled 12 using 4d6+1.  DMg2.
17:11, Today: Izzick rolled 23 using 4d6+1.  DMG 3. (man do I hope that 10 hits)

In reply to Izzick (msg # 77):

You guys have init.  I'll go ahead and handle Izzy's attack now though

The scalding rays arch through the air, first one and then the second scoring strikes along the naga's sides. She hisses and loosens her hold on the pillar, sliding down it in time to avoid the third ray, which would have landed right between her eyes.  Sorry Izzy

One of the bats moves to stand before Selvin.  The other one waves it's wings in an odd way.  It seems to be chanting.

Selvin grinned widely, electricity beginning to play around his tiger form once more. He willed his magical energy to imbue his form as well. Then he unleashed hell on the flying creature, trying to do as much as damage as possible.

OOC: I believe this will provoke an AoO from the not-casting bat-thing, but I'm fine with that, and trying to stay in contact with both if possible, if not then that's fine. If I can't charge the casting one will just full attack the one in front of me and hope for the best.

Swift Action: Arcane Strike
Full Round Action: Charging Power Attack Pounce (which I forget to include the +2 for charge).
  Hit AC 17 for 25 dmg; AC 14 for 19 dmg; AC 32 for 23 dmg; AC 22 for 24 dmg; AC 29 for 24 dmg.

11:35, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 15,12,30,20,27 using d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11.  Pounce full attack on casting bat-thing.
11:42, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 25,19,23,24,24 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15. (6,4,3,1,2,6,3,6,6,3). Damage in order (2nd die is electrical).

"It's a little late to ask, Izzy!" Zuni shouted as she sprinted towards the Naga.  Her dueling blade slid easily from its scabbard in a narrow arc as she slashed at the creature.

OOC:
Attack on Naga -> 26
Damage -> 21

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 79):

Selvin and Zac slam in to the bat as both bats slam back Total of 24 pts damage Selvin. The casting bat makes a strangled cry and rips itself off Zac's fangs. He may be some otherworldly demon type. But it's easy to see the bat isn't doing too well at the moment.

Zuni's trusty blade slashes at the naga's thick hide. Her expert swordsmanship allows the point of the blade to slide under the scaly armor and tear in to the soft flesh beneath. The naga screams, opens its mouth, and...

The room goes black. For everyone.

Everyone is under the effect of a Deeper Darkness spell. Thanks.

Zac let out a slightly-pained growl as the bat-things attacked him back. Selvin urged him to take a small flight-hop back from the two creatures. Then the half-elf cast a spell, and a strange otherwordly energy flowed through Zac, engendering a strong feeling of home and power. Zac and Selvin looked around slowly and nodded in unison, not knowing nor caring if anyone saw them.

OOC: 5-ft 'step' back.
Cast Greater Evolution Surge on Zac.
He gains the Rend and See In Darkness evolutions.

Izzick stepped back, but as his eyes failed to adjust he began to hurry backwards, trying to escape the clearly magical field. "<darkgreen>Everyone get back,</darkgreened>" he warned, hoping everyone could escape the darkened area. He couldn't see through it, but he had an idea.

I'm going to try and move back. If I can get out of the radius of the darkness, then I'd like to ready an action of casting Fireball on the condition I can see the other two get out of it.

If I can't get out of it, then I'll cast 'Communal' Protection from Evil on myself for lack of having a way to really hit anything besides blind firing.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 83):

Izzy, give me a perception check against a 12 to get clear. Zuni, if you're still here, you too. Otherwise I'll roll yours tomorrow before I respond. Thanks
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:05, Tue 31 July 2018.

00:50, Today: Izzick rolled 11 using 1d20-1.  Perception.

GOT DANG ORC EYES

In reply to Izzick (msg # 85):

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 84):

Zuni clears the darkness, emerging just beside the stairs you all came down.

Izzick steps back and against one of the pillars. He stops and ffels around until he can figure out which side to go around. So 1 rd delay in getting out of the dark Izzy. You will be out after this post.


Selvin, 10 pts more damage. Ya'lls go

Izzick will have cast Protection from Evil on himself then while in the Darkness

As he emerged, the shadows clinging to his green skin for just a few more inches, Izzick looked around. Zuni was clear, Selvin he was waiting for, but the moment the glowing flying tiger-elf was out, he would finally unleash a ball of fire with a few chanted syllables and rotations of his fingers. He held it back, as he yelled another warning, "Selvin get clear. Fire in the hole!"

Fireball. It's a 20 ft radius so it should fill the darkness area - meaning we're all safe if we're out. Again I'll do this only after Selvin moves. Reflex is DC19 for half

14:39, Today: Izzick rolled 45 using 10d6+1.  Fireball DC19.

Selvin let out a growl and rolled his eyes though no one could see it. He didn't like being told to 'get clear' when there was still stuff to be done. He shook his head and ignored the bat creatures. Instead, he flew after the naga, which should get him out of the darkness as well for whatever Izzick wanted to do.

OOC: Withdraw to move after the naga. If that move would leave me inside the darkness still, then double-move instead and take the AoO.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 88):

The ball of flame licks off of Izzick's fingers and disappears into the dark. There is the briefest moment of silence and then the familiar roar and rush of heat. Oddly there is no light. But it seems to have done what it was meant to do. At least you think so. The dark remains. Though now there is the odor of burning sewage.

Zuni points to the other side of the room. Selvin has emerged from the edge of the dark and he/Zac throw themselves towards a section of the far wall. It appears as though that section of wall hides an entrance. Your symbiotic companion arrives at the wall just as the secrion clicks shut.

Selvin, you emerged just ahead of the blast. That's a good thing. The bat tore in to you as you double timed it across the floor 18 pts. But a glance over your shoulder confirms both the bats are crispy bits of...whatever-they-are. You saw the naga flee through a hidden entry, but she manages to shut it a momwnt before you arrive.

Zuni arrives first, swatting at Zac's hand/paw and sayiing Let me find the latch She begins searching for the door. Chandanar arrives next. Er...you need fix 'em up work done? How serious? I can never quite tell how injured Zac gets

Zuni will find the door in a moment. Letme know if you want to dk anything here at the moment. Thanks

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 89):

Sorry for the delay.  I thought this went up last night.

The section of wall swings open and reveals a narrow stairwell curving downwards.  Around the bend you can hear the naga's voice muttering and then a loud bang.  Then everything is quiet.

Zuni holds up a hand and points at the stairs.  Another rune and another tripwire.  And then another set a few steps further down.  While Chandanar works on Selvin and Zac' injuries, she gets to work on the traps...

Selvin, 30 pts back.  We'll break here since I'll be offline for most of next week.  We'll wrap up the naga and then get to the part of the story I know everyone's been waiting for...getting eatten by a purple worm!  I should be back no later than the 12th.  Thanks ya'll. 

Selvin grinned and called back, "I think it was overkill but you took out the two bat-things, Izzick! The naga ducked in to a secret passage, though!" He paused and waited for his allies to catch up. While he did, he uttered a few arcane phrases, gestured and pricked his finger - the blood drop fell on to the inside of the symbiote, causing some of the wounds in the semi-translucent tiger-creature to heal. Chandanar also gave some healing to Zac, which the tiger creature appreciated and gave a growling purr in response to. Selvin said, "Thanks! Zac got a bit beat up back there." Now, however, the extraplanar creature looked just fine once more.

21:40, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 27 using 3d10+10.  Rejuvenate Eidolon.

Overkill? "Well, there weren't too many other options besides home that did it, all things considered." The fight had been fast enough that he didn't need healing, thankfully, but he waited for the only one who could see into the darkness to point out the door and let Zuni disarm it. "Hopefully it's hurt enough this won't be too much trouble." One glance down the stairs as another trap was disarmed and Izzick asked, "Everyone ready?"

Zuni nods and stands.   The short hall beyond the section of false wall leads to a narrow, circular stairwell.  Three seperate traps lay disarmed thanks to the plucky Cavalier's skill.  The stairwell winds down further than you think it would.  It leads further down than the main temple area.  You would guess you are twenty feet underground by the time the last twist of the stairwell comes in to view.

The stairs end in an arch.  Past them is a hallway that stretches both north and south, each end heading further about 50' before turning west.

The walls are decorated with a reoccuring pattern:  the cycles of the moon represented by circles of varying color:  red, blue, white, black, red, blue, purple.  The white circles glow with a soft light and it is this light that illuminates the hallway.

It is quiet in both directions.

Zuni studies the ground, looking for Naga tracks.  But she shakes her head and shrugs.  It appears your enemy is a ninja type naga.

North or south?

Selvin followed after Zuni, and tried to be supportive of her without getting in her way. She was able to clear the path of traps and he smiled at her. "So glad you're with us, Zuni!" He then focused his attention on the path ahead.

But the way turned. There were two ways to go. He narrowed his eyes, looking down at the floor, up on the walls and ceiling, looking for any sign of which way the naga had gone. But he didn't see anything. He shook his head. "Should we just pick a way, or split up with me going one way an' you goin' the other?"

He seemed to indicate he would go north, but not for any real reason.

21:54, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 14 using 1d20+13.  Perception to see which way the naga went.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 94):

Selvin, you aren't sure yourself. Both directions seem equalky clean and void of traffic.

"I guess I can't completely give up my old thieving ways.  And maybe I shouldn't what with all of the traps that we seem to find during our adventures."   Zuni replied to Selvin as she looked down both corridors.  "Both directions turn after a little distance.  Maybe we could just see what's around each corner before choosing a direction.  I'm not a big fan of splitting us up, not when we are so much more formidable when we're together."

Selvin gave a small shrug of his shoulders. "I'll check down this way, t'the corner only, while you all check that way then. We'll see what we see an' go from there." He then flew down the north hallway and then peeked around the corner.

Zuni slowly makes her way down the other corridor to check what's around the corner.

Both corridors continue after the turn, going forward about fifty feet and then each turning towards the other. If you had to guess, it seems this is a square shaped hallway surronding a room in the middle. The entrance to the room isn't visible to either of you. So it must be on the other side.

However, Zuni you have one additional detail Selvin does not: fifty or so feet away, at the corner, is a large statue. It depicts an angry looking four armed man with large, pointy teeth and holding two scimitars. A third hand is palm up, as if holding something that is not there. The fourth hand is missing. It has been snapped off at the wrist.

Zuni made her way back to the others and let them know about the statue that she had seen.

"No sign of the Naga, but that statue is creepy.  If I had to guess, it was holding something in its lower arms and whatever that was has been taken.  Maybe that arrow that the Naga was looking for?"

Selvin came back and listened to what Zuni had to say. Then he spoke up, "I think the two corridors meet up around the bend so we can pick one way an' go. Do we wanna chance the statue, or go the other way?" He grinned at her.

Izzick wondered where the paths led, if anywhere, but thought outloud "Alright then, we should probably split up if that's the case. Last thing we need is a naga trying to slip by." They already knew she could do magic - if she was invisible, it would be all too easy to slip the other way with whatever she might have nabbed. "Zuni and I can go the way of the statue, you take the other way, we meet up on the other side, just incase."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 102):

Ahhh...just remember... Chandanar says swinging his mace on to his shoulder and jerking his thumb at Sial and the chain demon. They could watch the stairs an' I could go with Selvy. Or they can go with him an' I can watch the stairs. Anyway, there's options. Except I don't wanna be left alone with them.

Sial just sort of smirks at Chandanar.

Selvin nodded at Chandanar. "Yeah. That's a good idea." He looked at Sial. "Would you mind guardin' the stairs for us?"

He jerked his head towards his 'hallway', "C'mon, Chandy. Let's take a walk on the wild side."

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 104):

Sial gives a slight bow. As you wish.

Chandanar nods at you Selvin. Yeah man. We da bad boys. You know it.

Zuni and Izzick, you go round the corner, watching the floor and walls for signs of traps until you make it to the statue. Up close, you can see it was once painted. Flakes of gold, silver, white, and blue paint leave indications of how gaudy this thing must have once been. Nothing else stands out about it.

Chandanar</> holds up a hand <Purple>Selvin as you come to the corner. Hold on a sec... he mumbles as he brings out his holy symbol. After somw more mumbling he studies the hall around the corner. No traps. Assuming I didn't flub the prayer. I'll go first.

Apparently he didn't Selvin. The two of you have an uneventful and leisurely stroll down to the next corner. Coming around it, you can see Zuni and Izzick at the far end of the hall, studying the statue.

Between you all, halfway down the hallway, is a stone arch leading in to the small room encircled by the hallway.

A glance through the arch shows a rectangular roon with a thick stone column in each corner.
There is a stone sarcophagus set in the middle of the room. It is unadorned except for some kind of symbol carved on to the top. From where you are you can't make it out too well. The lid of the sarcophagus is slightly moved to one side, leaving a crack you could look through. If you were standing by the sarcophagus that is.

Zuni scrutinized the statue and checked it over for traps.  She wasn't expecting to find any, it looked like someone had already taken something so any traps would probably be sprung.  It never hurt to be sure though.

"Any ideas on who or what this could be?"  She asked the others.  "I'm thinking that whatever it was holding was probably something important to this place.  There's only this one statue so..."

Selvin raised an eyebrow but nodded to Chandanar as the man said to hold up. He cast a spell and said there were no traps. Selvin smiled and flew slowly after the cleric, but nothing seemed to happen or be amiss in the hallway.

They met up with their allies and saw the only way to go was in to the room in the middle of the two hallways. He flew in through the arch and drifted in a circle as his wings beat to keep him aloft. He then landed and peer in through the crack between the lid and the interior sarcophagus to see what he could see with his keen darkvision - he expected stairs or a tunnel, just because it made sense, or a naga about to pounce.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 107):

The room is noticeably colder as you float inwards Selvin.   Oddly, no naga pouncing commences as you hover in midair.  There is a feeling of breath being held.  Or maybe that's just nerves.

You peer through the crack in the lid.  There are no stairs or a tunnel.  Instead you see a body.  You can't see too clearly, but it looks like a man.  And then it's a bunch of smoke.  or is it fog?  Whatever it is, it billows out of the crack like fog rolling over the shoreline.  So fog it is.

For those who stood outside as the elfidon flew inside, you see a mass of fog billow out and begin to fill the room.  Selvin is almost lost from view as the fog fills up half the room in the heartbeat it took for all this to occur.  Oddly, the fog isn't billowing out into the hallway.

Izzick shrugged as they passed the statue, not sure what or who it was or what could be in its hand. Perhaps the thing the Naga was searching for? A relic lost to time? He suspected only the Moon Tribe knew for certain and there were greater dangers to worry about. Yet even as they circled and met back up, there was no signs of a Naga. Their search was becoming even more strange.

Selvin was the first to head in, and immediately after he approached, the fog began to billow out. Magical presumably. "Do you see...did you see anything?" Izzick asked, correcting himself as he assumed vision became cut off. His foot stepped to the edge of the door, but the fog didn't move. He stayed outside but his eyes stayed focused on the room, darting between where Selvin had been and all around to ensure there wasn't a snake slithering through the cloud-covered room.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 109):

No snake appears. But the fog seems to coalescing at one pount near Selvin's back.

Selvin had looked around and had peered in to the sarcophagus as best he could without actually moving the lid. He was startled when the fog or mist or whatever appeared. "Gah!" He looked around, not even seeing anything dangerous but being spooked by the stuff that was ONLY filling the room. Vampires? A smoke elemental? He didn't know! He flew out of the room. Whatever was coming he wanted to face it together.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 111):

The thing moves to block you Selvin.

Let's go to init and everyone state an action please. I'm going on 12

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 112):

The mist near Selvin coalesces into a thin man with pale skin and reddish eyes. He reaches towards the plucky summoner, but he isn't quick enough. Selvin/Zac are through the arch and the pale man...stops. He stands just inside the room, surronded by an aura-like fog, and studies each of you, looking from right to left.

So you came back, huh? he says.

Zuni had been studying the statue so intently that she had failed to notice the rest of the group move past her.  Uttering a soft curse, she quickly ran to rejoin the others, arriving just in time to witness Selvin being swallowed up by the fog in the room.

"Selvin!" she shouted right before the summoner reappeared, moving out of the room and the fog.  Instinctively, her hand dropped to the hilt of her sword, holding the blade as if she were deciding whether or not to draw it.

Zuni addressed the figure.  "Yeah...we're back.  Who're you?"

OOC:
Initiative -> 27
Readying an attack should the figure get close.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:51, Fri 07 Sept 2018.

Selvin landed on the ground and whipped around to face the mist-stuff-person. He was breathing heavily but that was just from the adrenaline....mostly from the adrenaline...he wasn't scared, of course...startled maybe but not scared....His eyes were a little wild for a second. That had been strange!

"Uhhhh...back? Wait...do you KNOW us??"

OOC: Moving out of the room and then landing. If possible, I will ready an attack if anything closes on us.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Fri 07 Sept 2018.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 115):

Ol' Red Eyes glances your waySelvin. No, he says simply. Then he turns to you Zuni. And I wasn't talking to you

Suddenly, Chandanar is flying through the air. Judging by the surprised expression on his face and the way he exclaims Whadafa!?! so loudly, he doesn't seem to have any more idea of why he's suddenly airborne than you do.

Oh wait. Back down the hallway, where the statue was, is standing...er, coiling...the Naga. She seems to be chanting something under her breath. That might have something to do with it.

Your hapless cleric rockets through the arch, landing on the ground, and rolling towards the back of the room. Red Eyes says, For me? I couldn't possibly. Well. If you insist... and nonchalantly turns and walks towards Chandanar

So, just to summarize: the statue was the Naga in disguise (more on that later). She magicked old Chandanar through the air and in to the room, where the Vampire is apparently planning on having him for dinner.

12:38, Today: Izzick rolled 12 using 1d20+6.  Initiative.

Mist and fog gave way to glowing red eyes and already Izzick could feel his legs shake with unease. There was certainly more to this than was expected. And that's when the arcane whispering began behind them and the serpentine naga's form uncoiled out of the statue, revealing herself and who the vampire was speaking to.

"So you two know each other? Well sorry to say but we've got our own problems with her." His hands moved in the gestures needed, conjuring a chill inside the room that condensed on the vampire. "Back away from him Chandanar!" They had to get the naga...if this worked.

Icy Prison - Reflex DC21 or he is helpless for 11 minutes. If he succeeds, he's entangled. Save or not, he takes 11 cold damage per round until freed.

Selvin let out a surprised noise as he saw Chandanar get flung. The confusion wore away to anger and he let out a growl as he rocketed forward towards the no-longer-statue Naga, pouncing on her in a flurry of teeth, claws and tail. "NOW you've gone an' done it! That's our cleric yer tossin' about!" His first claw swipe seemed to accentuate his anger with its accuracy, hitting a bit harder.

Swift action to enact Arcane Strike.
Full round action: Charging power attack pounce on naga.
 Hit AC 19 for 23 dmg (2 electrical)
 AC 33/23 (possible crit) for 25 dmg (6 electrical) (+18 dmg more if it's a crit).
 AC 25 for 22 dmg (3 electrical)
 AC 18 for 26 dmg (6 electrical)
 AC 26 for 23 dmg (5 electrical)

21:06, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 19,33,25,18,26 using d20+13,d20+13,d20+13,d20+13,d20+13.  Charging pounce power attack on the naga.
21:09, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 23 using 1d20+13.  Critical hit confirm.
21:12, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 23,25,22,26,23 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15 with rolls of 6,2,4,6,4,3,5,6,3,5.  Damage (2nd d6 is electrical).
21:16, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 18 using 1d6+15 with rolls of 3.  Critical Hit damage if it's a crit.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 118):

Hmm. Izzy gave me an interesting dilemma

As Selvin filets the naga, Izzick makes with the groovy necromanterating. A thick sheet of ice envelops Red Eyes...

...who starts to turn back in to fog. Chandanar begins to scramble to the exit.

The naga is now a mass of chummy bits.

Chandanar stumbles through the arch. Thanks he says as he catches his breath.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:56, Thu 13 Sept 2018.

Izzick wasn't sure if he had a way to deal with fog. He'd bought them time, but not an exit. A vampire underground wasn't a good situation, there wasn't a sign of sunlight in these passages. But the Naga was gone, and that freed them up. And potentially bought them another out. "Do we even want to know who you are? The Moon Clan didn't say anything about inviting a vampire up here."

Zuni spared a look at the Naga, in time to see her reduced to gooey chunks.  "Nice work, Selvin.  Now we just need to figure out what to do with the Mystery man."

She gave a soft chuckle.  "Heh.  Mystery.  Miss-tery.  Misty-ery."

OOC:
What knowledge do we need for Vampires?

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 121):

Zuni, I would agree with Mr Selvin regarding Religion. I could also see History covering the topic in this case

Misty chuckles, but whether at the quip or Izzick's question is unclear.

Ah. The savages. It would shock me to learn if they even knew about me. But if you want to discuss it further,come inside. I promise I won't bite.

Chandanar frowns. We agreed to take care of the naga. Done and check. Do we need to mess with this guy?

Selvin calmed down slowly, breathing a bit heavily at the fading adrenaline rush as the naga stopped....well, moving, living, breathing, being. He shook off his claws and tails - well, the symbiote's - while he was a bit away from the group before returning to stand in front of but not near the archway.

He raised an eyebrow at Zuni. "Gettin' a lil punch drunk m'dear?"

He glanced at the vampire with a feral grin. "Can't promise the same, so best we keep our distance I think."

He shrugged and nodded at Chandanar. "I mean...technically...that's true." He gestured at the vampire. "But yeah, we can tell 'em about this guy an' let 'em do what they want or leave the situation be. Not our problem unless they try t'make it our problem I guess."

Zuni gave a little shrug at Selvins words.  "Couldn't help myself."

She frowned and tapped her finger on the hilt of her sword.  "I'd love to leave this guy here, but you know that someone is going to come down here and end up, somehow, letting this guy out."  she said.  "On the other hand, we could just seal that room up and let Misty there take a long sleep."

She walked up to the doorway, keeping well out of reach, to address the Vampire.  "I guess it really depends on who you are.  Who are you?"

OOC:
Knowledge Religion -> 21

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 124):

He sighs. My correct title is Sowajin-Who-Shot-At -the-Moon-While-On- the-Palest-of-Horses-With-Bow -of-Silver- and-Knife-of-Flint. The Second. But you can call me Bob. His red eyes scan the lot of you. Cut me some slack. It's my first joke in several dozen generations.

In any event, he waves a wand nonchalantly through the air. We are at an impasse. If you think I will just go O woe is me while you block the doorway, you are sadly mistaken. On the other hand, as you have surmised, I am on a very tight leash. But that doesn't mean we can't come to some kind of understanding. What are after? Treasure? Immortality? Knowledge? I am a reliable source for all three.

"What are we after?" Well that was a complex answer, but Izzick tried to keep it simple, maybe even something the vampire could help them with. "We're making sure this place is safe for the Moon clan to return to." Of course, they could continue with their stand off for who knows how long and Izzick tried to remain as vigilante as he could. "And you? What are you doing in here?"

Selvin listened to the vampire's words and...joke? His eyes shifted to the side and then narrowed a bit for a moment. Then he shook his head. "an' here i thought this day couldn't get any weirder..."

He glanced at Izzick and then back to the creature. "An' what do YOU want?"

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 127):

Oh, just hanging about.  Sleeping mostly.  It's a long story and has little to do with this 'Moon Clan' of yours.  As I mentioned, none of them have ever been down here.  It wasn't until the naga found the secret door that I had the pleasure of company.  Though she always kept me at a distance.  So rude.

What I want is to be free.  Wouldn't you want to stretch your legs if you were in my situation?

"...hmmm...treasure..."  Zuni looked thoughtful as she considered what 'Bob' was offering.  She'd never had money growing up.  Being poor was pretty much her normal state of being.  Growing up as a pint sized thief on the streets of Korvosa, Zuni had dreamed about making that one big score, thane item that would bring her a cart load of gold.  They had been nice if unattained day dreams.  If the vampire was offering a sizable enough amount of coin, she could use the money to leave Korvosa behind her and live someplace nicer. Maybe in a mansion, spending her days in luxurious dresses drinking exotic beverages while being  waited on hand and foot.

"...immortality...huh..."  That might not be too bad either.  There certainly couldn't be any downsides to living an absurdly long life.  Death was far too prominent in Korvosa, and something that she had seen enough of growing up there.  It would be nice to not have to fear for her life.

"Freedom is nice, I suppose."  Zuni looked up at the vampire.  "I'm kind of curious as to why you haven't just up and left on your own?  It's not as if there's any door stopping you now.  I didn't think that vampires had problems with open doorways underground."

Selvin looked at Zuni and slowly shook his head, though a smile was tugging at his lips. He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Unless y'wanna be lit'rally bloodthirsty an' allergic t'sunlight, I don't think you want that kinda immortality, milady."

He glanced at Izzick to see where the half-orc was leaning as he waited for the vampire to answer. He already knew where he stood - firmly on the no vampires freed stance.

The half-orc couldn't help but feel they didn't have much of a good choice here though he agreed, "Vampirisms a curse disguised as a blessing Zuni, let's not head down that path recklessly." Or at all. Preferably at all. He looked to the vampire though, hoping to get the same answer as Zuni, "You seem to be leaving the choice to us, so what would you do if we decided to just seal the door up tight and hope for the best." Even killing a vampire, rarely kept it down for good. If it had been sealed away in the first place, that might be the best place to keep it.

Well at least one of you is sensible. 'Bob' sighs and points towards the sarcophagus. To answer your question, I am bound here by something in there. To make a rather long and tawdry story short and less boring,I am bound to guard it. As liing as it is in this temple, I can not remain further than so far from it. Hence this room. The designeers of this space planned it that way. I of course can not touch the object either. Butif someone removes it from the temple...well. Yoj can go at your own pace from there.

He gives Zuni a meaningful look. It is worth quite a bit of coin. It was inmy day and I can't imagine its value has decreased. It is quite a find.

Selvin seemed to consider the situation for a moment, as if considering the offer or the object worth money. Then he shook his head. "I don't think so. I think we should leave it here an' be on our way." He looked to his two companions to see what they had to say.

Zuni raised an intrigued eyebrow at the mention of the mysterious object being worth 'quite a bit of coin'.  Old habits die hard, she thought as a greedy look momentarily flashed in her eyes.  No, she wasn't like that anymore.  Damn that Garden Lamm.

"So if we remove the item, then you would no longer be bound to the room?" she asked the vampire.  "And we would be able to take the item and go our separate ways?"

He nods.

Chandanar cocks his head. And once you were free?

Bob shrugs.I want to get as far away from here as possible. I imagine the world has changed quite a bit since I was imprisoned. I want to see it. Is that so wrong of me?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:04, Sun 30 Sept 2018.

Selvin cocked an eyebrow at the vampire and then turned to Izzick with a lopsided grin. He put on his best 'tour guide' voice. "Travel an' see exotic locations! Meet new an' interestin' people! Then suck their blood 'til they die!" He let out a small chuckle and shook his head. "I'm still firmly on the Nope wagon."

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 136):

That only matters if your little association is a dictatorship Bob smiles at Selvin's reluctance. He turns his head to Zuni

So are you A follower? Or are you a leader?

Zuni visibly bristled when Bob called her a follower.  That word seemed to touch a nerve, a Gaedren Lamm flavored nerve.  She had hated that man, and had followed him out of fear of what he would do to her if she had not listened to him.

She frowned at Bob for a brief moment, and then took another to compose herself.  "Your offer is very intriguing.  Riches and Immortality?  Who wouldn't want that?  A very enticing offer.  I'm sure that I could convince my companions to take you up on it, and even if they were reluctant to, I'm almost tempted to sneak back down here and take you up on it myself."

She looked thoughtful for a moment, and then made a disappointed look.  "Except that this really isn't our Temple to do with as we please.  We have an existing deal with the rightful owners and I'm afraid that removing any treasures that we might find in this temple is outside of the agreement.  I know, I know, it wasn't the best bargain that we had struck but unfortunately the terms were pretty clear.  Technically you count as treasure."

Zuni gave a sad shrug of her shoulders.  "There's nothing that we can do I'm afraid."  She turned to see what was around that could be used to block the doorway and trap Bob.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 138):

There rally isn't anything down on this level that would be suitable for the task of sealing the doorway.  Chandanar shrugs.  Maybe we should just tell the Moon Guys an' let them decide how to deal with...uh...'Bob'.  They should have priests among them.  Besides...  He holds up his hand, showing four earrings and a gold tooth shaped like a fang in his hand, While we can't taken any a' the treasure from the temple, the stuff ol' Naggy had on her...I'm thinkin' that's open for grabbing.

All the items radiate magic.  The ear rings appear to be transformation magic.  By wearing the earring, the user can become an inanimate object for a short period of time.  The tooth is some kind of diviniative magic.  But it seems you have to insert it in to place of a real tooth for it to function.  And for you to see what it does.

The four earrings will polymorph the user in to the shape of an predetermined inanimate object for 12 rounds.  The user can not move, but can see and hear as they usually would.  The user will not be able to perform any action while an object.  They simply are the thing.

The four earrings are:  that ugly statue you saw before, an old leather bound book, a broom, and a birdcage.  Each earring can be used once a day.

The tooth...well.  If anyone wants to take out one of their teeth and put it in, let me know.

if anyone wants to do anything else in the temple, let me know.  If not, we will move on tomorrow to the next bit.

Thanks.

Zuni waits until the group is out of the room before she reveals her attempt at a bluff.  "That's what I was thinking, Chanda.  I would love to go in there and deal with that Vampire, for leaving it undealt with is only asking for trouble later on, but we're not equipped to fight an Undead.  At least I'm not.  And really this temple does belong to the Moon Clan so maybe they have the resources to deal with him."

She eyed the earrings that Chandanar was holding.  "As for the loot bit, well I was just improvising.  Any idea what they are and what they do?"

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 140):

Your magicians study them and are able to pretty much explain things.  Except the tooth.  Someone will need to volunteer for dental surgery for that one.

Moving along then

The Moon Clan have feted you for an evening.  Considering they are supposed to be some sort of esoteric nomads, they throw a mean party.  Their liquor, which apparently is some kind of fermented scrub grass they call An-ik is pretty potent.  Half a glass makes Chandanr start doing his one-man-shadow-puppet-play version of "How We Saved Sandport" by some no-name adventurers from like fifty years ago.

Afada smiles and pours the rest of you another rond.  I can only thank you all again.  First for cleansing our temple and alerting us to a greater danger.  You have more than kept your end of the bargin.

We do have a Truth Teller among our people.  And we will be glad to send him along with you.  More than glad.  Alhan is...er...well.  He's very truthful.  Well.  I've asked him to join us.  Ah.  There he is.

She waves to one of the warriors.  He is tall and handsome, athletic and fair of face.  He moves gracefully over to you and listens with a kindly smile as Afada introduces you.  He turns to look you all over, and says, You guys do know what soap is, right?  I mean, they'e invented that in your culture, correct?

Zuni was never one to shy away from good drink and would thoroughly fete with the Moon Clan.  At some point in the night she would have to be talked down from pestering Izzick to punch her in the jaw so that she might replace a knocked loose tooth with the one that they found.

"Soap?  Oh yeah...sure." she says, tipping her cup in his direction.  Reclining near the fire, Zuni was feeling no pain.  She stood shakily and walked over to Alhan to greet the newcomer.  "Alhan, right?  I'm Zu...Lady Zunithia of Runesong but you can call me Zuni...and that's Izzick, and Chandanar, and Selvin.  Over there is Count Sial and Asyra.  Hey, you smell pretty good.  What did you want soap for?"

It was easy enough to read the magic, even if he suspected that there might be only a handful of times someone would want to turn into a birdcage. The tooth was harder and he could try to figure that out some point later. For now, they had a party to enjoy, and enjoy it he did. They'd been through enough and an offer of exotic drink did him well...until an equally well-drunken Zuni began to pester him to punch her. "No. No. Absolutely not!" When she wanted a tattoo, she could ask him for that, but tooth removal could be handled by a chiurgeon. "Why not ask Chandanar. He could at least heal you when it goes horrible wrong," He finally caved, and the regret when Zuni's face lit up made him reach for the drink once more.

As his drink refilled, he looked up Alhan, raising an eyebrow at the question. Did one of them smell? Certainly they could be forgiven considering what they'd just done, but he'd be sure to apply an additional dabbing of cologne come morning. "We have, our chances to bathe have been slim with all the snake wrangling however."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 143):

The Truth Teller makes an odd face and steps back from the-very-close Zuni.  Uhm...Okay.  Thanks.  You're very...drunk.  So.  I hear you need me to witness something.  Can I ask what that is?

Zuni nodded sagely.  "You are...correct.  I...am drunk." she replied, as if her confirmation of Alhans observation somehow proved the mans skill at truth telling.  She waggled a finger in the air before continuing.  "And there is a very good reason for it.  My brave companions and I are going to be eaten by the Devourer and we need you to witness our rebirth.  So yeah.  Being eaten by giant worms is a good enough cause to drink."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 145):

You mean I get to watch you be eaten? Drinks allaround!

Afada sighs and feeds another log on to the fire. Well. You can see he is very truthful. Bluntly so. Now. Is there anything you wish to know about what lays before you?

Selvin said good night to his symbiote and released him back to his home plane. He definitely was happy to join in the festivities. He could hold his liquor - to a point, but that stuff was strong! He started pacing himself a little.

"We were happy t'help!" He replied to Afada's thanks. When told about the very truthful Truth-Teller he shook his head. He could only imagine the 'fun' that this would be. And yep, the guy was insulting right out of the gate. His eyebrows, hoever, shot upwards and his eyes widened as Zuni introduced herself. A lady? Way out of his league. Good to know.

And adding to Izzick's reasoning of the lack of bathing he piped up, "..and y'know cleanin' out yer home for ya was a messy job."

He turned to Afada and his companions with a small sigh. "Sorry, this drink is strong. We know where we're goin' right? How far from here is it?"

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 147):

Alfada stands and points northeast in response to Selvin's question.  It is not far.  Not quite a full day's ride.  Your best bet to find one of the Old Ones is in a canyon between two crooked hills.  They seem to like to surface there in order to breathe clean air.

I understand what you're trying to do.  But have you considered how you will survive and escape?  Getting swallowed will be the easy part you know.

"I have seen Selvin modify his other form before, I think that would be our best bet," then again, he looked to the man, certain he wouldn't want anyone volunteering himself for such a deed. "Are we allowed to help him get out? Or is this something that must be done alone? If so, after he's swallowed, we have some experience killing giant snakes and worms on our hands. This one will just be scaled up."

"Wait...wasn't this something that we all had to do?  Get swallowed?" Zuni asked the group.

She turned back to Alhan, wearing a smile.  "Can you say my name?  My full name?" she asked as innocently as she could.  "I might have slurred a sell...syllable or two."

Selvin blinked a few times at Izzick. "Wait, what now?" He frowned. "Modify my fr...what...are you askin' me t'do?" He scratched his head. "It takes a lotta effort, energy an' time t'change what Zac looks like. Or...inspiration. Or...I don't know. It's hard t'explain. Mostly it's him. His form is...sometimes...a bit more malleable than normal."

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Zuni, trying to appear like he wasn't.

OOC: IE: The symbiote can be altered every time we level. =)

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 151):

Lady Zuni of...er...Druidsong maybe?  I dunno.  Honestly, I saw you drunk and stopped listening to whatever you had to say.

The Truthteller turns to Izzick.  Yeah.  I'd have to stop you right there.  No 'oh my friend got eaten by a worm, so we're all cool' going on.  I'll vouch for what I see.  And if you want me to say you got eaten by the worm, you gotta get eaten by the worm.  No half baked measures friend.  He shrugs.  Sorry.  But I have a reputation to maintain.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:20, Tue 30 Oct 2018.

Zuni stared at the Truthteller for a few seconds before bursting out into laughter.  She clapped the Truthteller on the shoulder and turned to her companions.  "I like this guy.  He's amusing."  She returned to the place where she had been sitting before.

"Say, Alhan.  Have you ever seen anyone survive being swallowed by an Old One?"

Selvin gave a shrug and then nodded. "Well, makes no difference to me. Apparently, Izzick just wanted ME to get swallowed for all of us." He chuckled, ribbing the half-orc good-naturedly.

He stretched full on and then settled back in to his chair. "I guess tomorrow will be a big day then?"

"Hey hey!" Izzick protested, getting a bit more tipsy now on the drink, "It was only a suggestion. A practical suggestion. But if we all gotta go down the hatch, then we all gotta go down  the hatch." But if Alhan had advice, well, at least he was truthful enough to be trusted. Who what when where and how to survive, maybe he knew something they didn't.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 155):

Well, honestly I've never seen anyone crazy and stupid enough to try this. I mean...is being part of a tribe worth that to an outsider?

But I have seen them. The worms I mean.  And if you want advice...hmmm. You could rub yourselves in salt and pepper. Seriously though.  Their mouths are pretty wide.  They have rows of teeth all along the edges but if you can fly or jump well, you should be able to clear them.  I would imagine it's not so much getting in that's the problem.  You have to get out before it burrows.  Because getting out underground will be a problem.  That is, if you plan to cut your way out.  The worms actually surface to defecate.  I think they have pretty good senses of smell and don't want to stink up their tunnels.  So they tend to take a crap the day after a meal.

It's just a matter of spending a day inside.  I've seen carcasses they digest.  Lots of burn marks.  The bones are actually soft.  Their stomach acid must be no joke.

Anyway. To fulfill the legend, you have to cut your way out.  Or I'd vouch for you taking the digestive tract way.  Honestly that would be pretty impressive.  Just magicking yourself out...Uh ah.  No sirree.  Will not fulfill the term of the agreement.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:16, Fri 02 Nov 2018.

Selvin grinned widely. "Crazy? Crazy's like my middle name!" He nodded to Izzick and Zuni. "I mean, who wants a borin' life anyway, am I right?"

He paused and thought for a moment before giving a shrug. "Honestly, it's SOOOOO much bigger'n that, it's not even funny. So many things we've had t'do on our crazy journey already, an' we ain't done yet."

He shook his head. "Nope. Don't wanna get digested. Cuttin' our way out, it is!"

Are you sure you don't want to rub yourselves with the spice blend first?

Chandanar sighs and looks over at Alhan the Truthteller.  You're even more annoying than I am.  That's impressive.

Sial smirks at Chandanar Indeed.  I didn't think such a thing was possible myself.  Chandanar glances at your 'ally' and shrugs, not bothering to respond.

Your peanut gallery is getting along with each other.  Famously.

Alhan puts away the packet of spices and gestures towards the valley below.  My people call this The Wyrm's Spread  He frowns.  Now that I think about it...my people really suck at coming up with names.

The 'Spread' is a wide canyon stretching below you.  The ground looks torn up even to the untrained eye:  deep furrows run the length of the canyon in a haphazard fashion.  The floor of the canyon is also littered with the opening of burrow holes that look like gouges on a pretty woman's skin.  Each of the openings leading in to the ground is larger than a giant.  Well.  One of the medium size giants at any rate.  The oddest part of the whole scene is that there is one cactus sitting in the middle of all the chaos.  It's flowering.  Deep purple blooms with white centers dot it's tough green skin.

Chandanar cocks his head like a dog and gestures his mace to the canyon below.  So...we just walk down there and call out 'here wormy wormy'?

Alhan chuckles.  Oh don't worry.  They'll know you're down there quick enough.  There seems to always be one about here, sniffing around for fresh meat.

Well.  As tempting as the idea is...I think we are just going to sit this one out.  If we don't see you return by evening, we will try to search you out. Sial smiles easily enough.  Maybe he actually would come looking for you.  To loot the corpses if nothing else.

Alhan gestures to a rock outcropping.  I'll be able to see the whole canyon from there.  I'll watch over you to see you get taken.  When you escape, come find me there.  If you can bring me some of the flesh of the worm...you should have plenty of that from when you come out...I'll testify to everything I've seen.  Sound good?

Of course, soon enough they'd be swallowed down, but Izzick still had a few questions, "So how much magic is no magic escapes?" Perhaps a loaded question, and not one in his favor, but he said, "Am I allowed to burn my way out from the inside? Are we allowed to protect ourselves? Anything?" Or in the worst case scenario, "Can I at least clean myself after the fact."

Zuni looked over the spread and sighed.  "...no time like the present..." she softly mumbled, kneeling down and opening up her pack.  Being swallowed by a worm was extremely unappealing but it needed to be done.  She pulled out a length of cloth and proceeded to wrap it around her hair.  Sure she might get swallowed and digested but there was little worse than having gooey inside worm stuff slicked through long hair.  It would take forever to wash out.

Zuni checked over her gear, and put a few smaller items into pouches about her person.  Her preparations completed, Zuni stood and took a step forward towards the Spread.  She paused and looked back over at her companions.

"...what the hell..." she muttered and boldly strode over to Selvin.  She grabbed the front of the Half-Elfs shirt and pulled him down, kissing him fully on the lips.  Zuni held the embrace for a long moment before she finally released Selvin.  She turns, grabs the bag of spices out of Alhans hand and starts walking towards the Spread.

Selvin smirked at the banter between Sial, Chandanar and Alhan, shaking his head. It was good though to get a bit of humor before doing something really...really...stupid. And voluntarily getting eaten by a giant worm with man-devouring stomach acid? SUPER stupid!

He glanced at Izzick, "You BETTER clean yerself up after the fact! Hell, clean me up too, if ya can!" He shrugged. "So long as we physically make our way outta the worm, I think it's all good."

And then he was blindsided by a long kiss by Zuni, which surprised the hell out of him, his eyebrows shooting as high up as they could go. Then he melded in to the kiss. Afterwards he gasped for air. "...wow!" He grinned at her.

After a long moment he shook himself and held up a hand. "Hang on. I need a minute. Gotta summon our last party member, don't leave home without 'em!" He sat down on the ground and over a minute long ritual summoned his symbiote on to him once more.

Then he stood and extended his/their wings. "Want me t'fly us three down?" He paused and looked at Chandanar. "Wait...are you comin' to?"

Well someone's gotta heal your crazy asses, Chandanar replies to the Summoner's inquiry. Maybe you and Lady Zuni would rather go alone? Though I can think of more romantic places than a giant intestinal tract. And they say romance is dead. Well. Soon enough anyway.

Boy, I can't wait to see you guys get eatten! Alahan claps his hands and then turns to Izzick. You can't teleport out. That's not how the legend goes. Anything else though I would consider fair game.

To clarify: no teleport, dimension door, etc. All other forms of magic are welcome.

If no other questions, please proceed down to the floor of the canyon and we'll proceed. Zuni, nice post.

It took Izzick a moment to register what happened - the kiss, Zuni walking off. He turned to Chandanar first, mouthing wordlessly 'Did you know?'. He hadn't expected that. A moment later, Zuni was gone and Izzick was looking at Selvin, but at least he seemed just as surprised. "That's new right? I don't think I've been oblivious this whole time." Well what better time in all their adventures than the one time they could at least prepare for their near deaths.

But Izzick nodded when he was answered by Alahan, that seemed a fair compromise. He had his own preparations to make. Well, somewhat. He didn't quite have mastery over abjuration, but the sorcerer could make them fast, hopefully letting them make their escape quickly. And once he'd done that, he reached for his Harrow deck. "Want to know how well we survive this?" As he drew the card he looked at it, and then tried to assuage Alahan, "I'm sure this isn't about you. Or I hope not because I'm not about to be eaten twice."

Drew The Liar. I get a +2 to a Charisma check today. :\ This deck hates giving me useful cards.

Also casting Haste on us in hopes that extra attack might help Selvin out. Wishing I'd taken Protection From Energy last level up

Zuni opened the bag of spices as she walked, taking a cautious sniff of the mix.  It didn't really smell like anything special so maybe Alahan was being sarcastic.  Deciding that it couldn't hurt anyways, she took out a few handfuls and spread them on her clothes.  She also tossed a pinch of the mix over her shoulder, just in case.

"Anyone else need a little seasoning?" she asked, tossing a look behind her as she dangled the spice bag in her hand.  Zuni was grinning.  Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through her, but she was feeling excited.  "You guys coming or what?"

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 164):

You think that cactus is...you know...symbolic or something?  It is the only life around here.  Besides us. Chandanar gestures at the only other living things besides yourselves on the floor of the Spread.

Above, you can see Alahan and Sial move in to position.  They look like birds wheeling overhead from the distance to their vantage point.  They might be waving at you.  Hard to tell from here.

When I was an acolyte, the robes they made us wear were the color of those flowers, the chatty cleric says, pointing at the blooms on the catcus which has gotten his attention.  It's funny.  Those flowers and this situation kind of remind me of the priest who trained me.  He loved to dance.  And he said if he knew he was going to die, he hoped he would be able to waltz with a pretty lady right before it happened.  Ha.  Chandanar shrugs and lifts up a leg.  This is for you Monsignor.  You were an ass.  But please keep an eye on us.  And he starts to dance a jig.  It's true what they say.  Clerics can't dance.

As a tumbleweed goes by, you listen to the scrub lands remain quiet except for the stamping of the Cleric's feet.  Which is really loud.  Suprisingly so.  You all realize at the same moment that it's obviously not Chandanar.  It's the sound of something large moving towards you.  The ground begins to vibrate.  And then shake.

OH! BUTTER NUGGETS! you hear Chandanar yell over the growing kettle drum swell that must be the Worm approaching.  The cleric has stopped midjig and is looking towards the far canyon wall.  Which is almost the opposite direction of the approaching Worm sound.

Pouring down the canyon wall is a large group of Red Mantis warriors.  Ninjas.  Whatever the hell they are.  You see a man running behind them carrying an impressive looking automatic cross bow.  And a woman in black leathers who must be really, really uncomfortable in this heat.  She's pointing a wand in your direction.

Are you for real? You doubt the Mantis can hear Chandanar complaining about their timing.  Whatever he says next is lost as the ground explodes five hundred feet away and a large column of purple, slimy skin rears upwards towards the sky.

For a moment, everything is still as the Worm reaches it's zenith.  Even the Mantis have stalled, awe struck by a sight very few have seen and lived to report on.  The Worm isn't just big.  It's massive.  Almost as wide as a city block back in Korsova.  It's raised itself up so high, it looks like it's trying to take a bite out of the sky.  And maybe coming very close to succeeding. The moment, like the Worm, hangs in the air.

Then Chandanar says quite clearly, Bite me Monsignor.

The top of the Worm curls, like a man lowering his chin.  And then the 'face' of the Worm, which is just a huge, gaping, razor-tooth lined maw, turns your way.  And it begins to fall towards you.  Like a house that had been scooped up and tossed by giants, now about to land in another country than the one it was built.

Here...it....comes....

If you have any actions you want to take, feel free to do so.  You have about two rounds worth of action.  No need to worry about it hitting you.  As I mentioned in the description, there are lots and lots of sharp, pointy teeth lining the throat.  So your biggest concern is how to survive those.  Think of it like a rock polisher.  And you're the rocks.

And, oh yes.  Make no mistake about it.  There will be a steel-cage death match with the Red Mantis inside the Worm.  That's just how we roll around here.

Questions?

Izzick hoped for a moment the worm would eat them, preferably whole. And then burrow underground where these assassins wouldn't get them. But something about these assholes made him think they'd kill the worm just to dig the rest of them out. He began to chant, waving his hands, before he called out, hoping for the worms attention, "HEY OVER HERE!" before shooting the flaming sphere out from his palm towards the crowd. Hopefully the worm would take off towards them. And hopefully the assassin would finally break rank and flee.

Fireball. DC 19 for Half
01:42, Today: Izzick rolled 42 using 10d6+1.  Fireball

Selvin rolled his eyes as the Red Mantis assassins showed up, but then the rumbling happened. His exasperation turned to resigned (gallows?) humor. "BOY DID YOU PICK THE WRONG GUYS ON THE WRONG DAY!! HAHAHAHA!!" He pointed up at the worm descending on them all and grinned at them.

Then while they watched the worm in horror, and timing it with Izzick's distraction, he went to work. He muttered an arcane phrase and gestured before pointing at a clump of the bad guys (especially any visible casters). A cloud of golden particles covered everyone and everything in the area, causing creatures to become blinded and visibly outlining invisible things for the duration of the spell. All within the area were covered by the dust, which couldn't be removed and continued to sparkle until it faded.

OOC: Casting Glitterdust on the baddies, especially any visible leaders and casters if possible just before the worm eats us.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 167):

There are a total of three explosions in short order.

The first is the blast from Izzick's fireball.  Even at this distance, the heat from the blast washes over you all, doing no harm of course.  But making the scrub land even hotter.

The second is the large, brilliant flash from Selvin's working.  It is as if all the cinders from the fireball became a swarm of fireflies that settled on the Mantis like locusts on a farmer's field.

The third explosion occurs in absolute darkness.  At least from your perspective.  The worm's maw crashes down, swallowing the sunlight just as it swallows you all.  There is the raw force of impact.  You probably expected that.  But the noise might come as a shock.  Anything else you could hear;  the screams of burning assassins, the ground exploding in to chunks, even your own heartbeats are lost in what feels like a never ending roar.

For a moment, you lose all sense.  Given the situation, there's no way you could keep it.  Your bodies are tossed and torn at.  And then, after what feels like forever and a day, you are still.  Bruised.  Bloodied.  And not at all feeling your biscuits.  But alive at lest.  Sorta.

Please see my note in the OOC thread.  Everyone will be starting down 40 HP.  I'll post what you see inside the worm on my return.  Thanks ya'll

The first thing you notice is the smell.  Purple worms smell like old boots, rotten meat, with just a hint of lilac to make the other odors even more nauseating.

There are patches of light all around.  You realize quickly it is illumination from the glittered up ninjas.  Mantises.  Whatever.  They lay in small groups all around.  Some are on their feet.  Some are standing.  Others aren't moving at all.

Your group has managed to 'land' relatively close to one another.  Izzick, you feel a hand thumping you on top of your head.  You hear Chandanar's voice saying Uhr 'eavy!  'Et Ov1.  Seems you managed to land on top of him.

Zuni, you landed about twenty feet away from Izzick and Chandanar.  You have four Mantis ten feet away, each glowing bright as they stand up.

Selvin, you are on the other side of the four Mantises than Zuni.  You can see another group of seven Mantises fifty feet away from you.  And it appears that woman in the black leathers is with them.

As you all start to get in to your best action poses, the 'ground' beneath you suddenly lurches to the right.  Hundreds of small, sharp pointy protrusions pass under you as the ground lurches.  If you lose your footing, you'll probably fall on top of them...

Oh hell, your mouthy but adorable cleric calls. This must be how the worm eats...it rolls around after digesting prey and lets the teeth in it's gullet slowly slice it up in to itty, bitty pieces.  I don't wanna be itty bitty pieces!  I'm much too cute as a big lump!

Each round you are on the 'ground', you will need to make a Reflex check vs 10.  If you succeed, you manage to move with the ground.  If you don't, you fall and take 10 pts damage.  To stand up, you'll need to make your next reflex vs a 12.

Of course if you're flying, none of that matters.

Clear as mud?

You guys have init.  You have 10 Mantises and their spell tosser visible.  Other groups and the Cinderlander are around, but not near enough you can detect them.  Though, thanks to Selvin's glitter, odds are low they'll be able to surprise you.

Let me know if there are questions.  Thanks

Izzick rolled off, apologizing for a moment until he actually could take stock of the situation. And just in time too as their floor became nothing more than a foothold. He looked down, the place roomier than he expected but it was hardly safe. Knowing this would be deadly in a moment unless he acted, he spoke the magic words and felt himself float off the ground. "Gimme one second, and I'll get you Chandanar." He said as his brain began to go fuzzy. He needed one hell of a nap after this.

12:42, Today: Izzick rolled 24 using 1d20+6.  Reflex.

Casting Fly on myself.

Selvin shook his head even as Zac let out a small unhappy noise. "I feel ya, pal." He glanced around and wished he had the ability to help the rest of his allies get off the ground, but short of carrying someone he didn't have that capability. He nodded to Izzick.

He assessed the enemies and made a snap decision. He called upon the magic energy he had at his disposal and focused it on himself and Zac. He lifted up off of the ground just a bit and then streaked in to the mass of them, heading straight towards the leather-clad woman. He would try to keep them busy - she looked like she might be a spell-caster. He unleashed a flurry of animalistic, and electrified, attacks on her.

OOC: Swift Action: Arcane Strike.
Full Round Action: POUNCE! -2 AC for 1 round. Charging the woman in the black leathers, but that means I will likely also be engaged with some of the others near her, and that's fine.

Hit AC 16 for 23 dmg. Ac 17 for 20 dmg. AC 18 for 21 dmg. AC 20 for 22 dmg. AC 22 for 24 dmg.

12:21, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 16,17,18,20,22 using d20+14,d20+14,d20+14,d20+14,d20+14.  Charging attacks.
12:23, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 23,20,21,22,24 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15 with rolls of 6,2,4,1,3,3,1,6,3,6.  Damage (2nd d6 is electrical).

"Gods..the stench."  Zuni muttered, drawing a part of the bandana that she had wound about her head across her face.  "How sad is it that it reminds me of home...."

Her attention was interrupted by the rumbling beneath her and Zuni quickly side stepping sharp protrusions.  Seeing the four mantis in front of her, Zuni decides not to waste a moment.  She rushes forward, hoping to catch one of the women on the edge of the group, attacking their flanks as it were.  Her blade slid out of its scabbard and flashed in an arc towards the assassin.

OOC:
Reflex Save -> 28

Attack -> 18
Damage -> 28 + 3 Sneak

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 172):

Chandanar shakes his head at you Izzick.  Move!  I'll be fine!  He points towards the other melees breaking out.  Help Selvy!  I'll help Zuni!

Selvin, you slam in to the spell tosser like a purple worm on a spice rubbed delver.  She proves remarkably tough.  You guess she's magicked up her skin to help take the hit.  That's alright.  You and Zac will get through that spell like you have so many times before.  You just ate up most of her Stone Skin.

However, her 'assistants' aren't sitting around.  Two of them manage to lodge arrows in you/Zac's thick hide.  Another jumps and manages a devestating slash at your leg.  Dam:  4, 8, 16 from those hits

Zuni, you cut into the Mantis's abdomen like she was made of butter.  The woman staggers back, slashing ineffectually at you as she grips her bleeding side.  One of her clan mates steps forward and chops your should with a blade, managing to give you quite the pinch 12 pts dam.

Another of the Mantis who was stepping up to skewer you suddenly catches fire.  You hear Chandanar from somewhere behind you suddenly start chanting, The doof...the doof...the door is on fire...we don't need no door so let the muth-.  The worm suddenly turns, shifting the ground beneath your feet...

Next round, next reflex save please.  Let me know where everyone stands HP wise please.  Thanks.

Zac let out a roar of pain that shook Selvin. The symbiote was starting to look a bit ragged from the purple worm attack and now these hits from the Mantis warriors. But being in melee made it difficult for Selvin to stop and heal his friend. He knew if the attacks kept up he would start giving up his own lifeforce to keep his friend alive.

Selvin and Zac unleashed another flurry of attacks on the warrior who had hit them so hard but some of the blows were blocked or missed due to the target being rolled around by the purple worm's erratic movements.

OOC: Selvin Damage: 0; Eidolon Damage: 68.
Attacking the guy who hit Zac hard: AC 18 for 20 dmg, AC 20 for 22 dmg. I'm assuming the 13 and 14 attack rolls miss.

11:13, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 14,14,18,13,20 using d20+12,d20+12,d20+12,d20+12,d20+12.  Full attack, power attack, focusing on the other guy in melee first.
11:14, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 24,21,20,18,22 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15 with rolls of 4,5,4,2,4,1,2,1,4,3.  Damage (though I'm guessing 13 and 14 AC miss; 2nd die is electrical).

Zuni grinned, almost resembling a woman taken by a bout of madness.  "That's my buddy, Chandy, giving you a hot foot.  Burn, baby, burn!" She wheeled on her back foot and slashed first at the Assassin that she had already attacked and then pivoted to bring her blade striking into the second assassin that had struck her shoulder.

OOC:
Zuni Damage: 73/85 HP

First attack -> 29
Damage ->26

Second Attack -> 19
Damage ->28

Floating as he was, Izzick was happy to say he didn't envy Chandanar but he could handle himself? Then he could handle himself. Now was not the time to be tempting fate. 'Remember your spells Izzick,' he said, taking just a moment more to settle his mind, to call on that cursed blood in his veins. He needed to hide for now, he needed to get himself out of harm's way first. He began to chant the words, making the hand symbols, and with a swipe of his hand, he faded out of sight.

Your half-Orc-friend is down to 9 HP

I'm casting Invisibility for exactly that reason.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 176):

Chandanar woobles but stays upright, giving a thumbs up Izzick's way before snapping his head and raising a hand.  Ohhh, I don't think so.  He's pointing at the leather clad woman who seems to be raising a wand towards Selvin/Zac.  He mutters something and then the space around here goes dead quiet.  Her mouth moves, but nothing happens.  She seems to be snarling, but just very quietly.  Izzy, I don't know if you can hear me, but I quieted her.  Can you nail that wand?  I'm gonna try to get some healing done on everyone.

Selvin, you notice the quiet because one of the Mantis seems to stop screaming even though he's still moving.  Barely, but he seems to be remaining upright at the moment.  Another one of the killers manages to poke at Zac, but the cut is slight 5 pts dam

The first Mantis goes down with a satisfying thud Zuni.  The second one takes your hit, loses his footing, and falls on to a row of teeth.  He's not dead, but the humiliation must be intense.  Two others rush you, but one stumbles and has to stop to recover his footing while the other swings in such an obvious way, you are able to side step.

Selvin, I did make one miscalculation.  You are only facing seven Mantis besides the witch.  Well.  Six now.  But your group is smaller than it was.

Zuni, are you saying you have 12 HP left or are down to 73 out of 85?  Sorry.  Just want to be sure.

Also, please remember each of you should have a potion of cure serious on you.  I thought at one point you were all packing one.  The group certainly has enough of them.

Ya'lls go.  Also, Zuni, need a new Reflex check.  Thanks.

The ground shook again but Zuni hardly noticed.  It was just like when she had to race through the crowded streets of Korvosa to try and escape the authorities.  She didn't like to admit gratitude to Gaedren Lamm but occasionally he taught her something useful.

"Mind your footing."  The grin still on her face, Zuni swept her sword at the Mantis who had almost hit her in that last exchange, before reversing her grip and stabbing down at the assassin who had fallen after her hit.  "You!  Stay Down!"


OOC:
Zuni is down 12 points.  I'm tracking remaining HP.

Reflex Save-->30

First attack -> 28
Damage -> 28

Second Attack -> 27 (12 to confirm critical which I assume is going to miss)
Damage ->27

Wierd how those numbers worked out.  I just noticed as I finished typing this.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:29, Mon 03 Dec 2018.

Zac, the symbiote being, was starting to look fairly ragged and wounded. Selvin felt bad, but couldn't spare the time to heal his friend. And he knew that in the next few seconds he would start to take the damage to keep his friend on this plane, so he muttered a soothing word to Zac - but no sound came out. He blinked and then nodded. Silence was better than nothing unless his friends needed him - so he would need to keep looking over his shoulder as often as he could to make sure they were okay.

The symbiote unleashed another flurry of attacks on the Mantis in melee with him and then the spellcasting woman.

OOC: Selvin Damage: 0/69; Eidolon Damage: 73/75.
Hit Ac 15 for 21 dmg. AC 26 for 25 dmg. AC 16 for 23 dmg. AC 28 for 27 dmg. Ac 17 for 21 dmg.

09:49, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 15,26,16,28,17 using d20+12,d20+12,d20+12,d20+12,d20+12.  Full attack, power attack, finishing off wounded guy first then moving on to the spellcaster again.
09:50, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 21,25,23,27,21 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15 with rolls of 2,4,6,4,4,4,6,6,5,1.  Damage (2nd die is electrical).

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 179):

The witch looks frustrated at her sudden attack of muteness before Zac lays in to her Selvin.  You managed to finish the other Mantis, but lucky you, two more step up to take his place.  The one you killed must have been the competent one though.  Zac only takes a scratch from these two yokels.  4 hp dam

Zuni, the one you tell to stay down does so like an obedient little dog.  Well.  You know.  One that's dead.  The other Mantis takes the blade but manages to slice you with his 12 pts dam.  Another Mantis jumps in and manages to strike you with a glancing blow 4 pts more.

Izzick, as you get used to being unseen, you notice Chandanar has pulled out a scroll from one of his pouches.  Hey!  I forgot I had this!  Not healing, but...  He looks up and shouts, ZUNI! GET CLEAR!

Izzick kept his distance, watching as the fight broke out more and more. It was a shame that he'd taken such a hard fall because his aching shoulder was making casting harder. Alright, well, it was fight to the death or watch the rest of them die without him. Getting into a good position, he began to chant, trying to attract as little attention as possible before rays of fire burned out.

Scorching Ray. 1 ray at the witch, then 1 at each of the Mantis attacking Selvin.

01:28, Today: Izzick rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  Ray 1.
01:28, Today: Izzick rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  Ray 2.
01:28, Today: Izzick rolled 25 using 1d20+8.  Ray 3.

It's a ranged touch attack and they might take a penalty since I'm attacking from Invisibility so this might even hit the witch.
01:30, Today: Izzick rolled 19 using 4d6+1.  Damage 1.

01:30, Today: Izzick rolled 15 using 4d6+1.  Damage 2.

01:30, Today: Izzick rolled 17 using 4d6+1.  Damage 3.

Some of Selvin's vitality flowed arcanely in to his symbiote friend, Staszakil, as more weapons were aimed their way. He grimaced slightly and let out a small grunt, unheard in the silence, but it was only a flesh wound.

He needed to end this fight and heal his friend. He lashed out in a flurry of fury on the two Mantis warriors attacking him, breathing a mental sigh of relief that the very hard-hitting Mantis warrior was down and the witch was silenced. He'd go after her as soon as he could.

OOC: Selvin Damage: 4/69; Eidolon Damage: 73/75 (showing how much damage they've received, not how much is left).

"Give me a minute!" Zuni shouted, spinning her blade back around to slash at the Mantis that was still standing.  It had taken a couple of her hits and really needed to take another in order to convince them to get killed.

As she recovered from her slash, Zuni Leaned back into a backwards cartwheel to put some space between her mantis opponents and her.  "Your turn, Chandy!"


OOC:
Acrobatics ->17

Attack -> 20
Damage -> 29

For a few moments, the insides of the worm become brightly and spectacularly lit.

First Izzick sends out his red rays, striking the witch and two Mantis.  The smell of burning Mantis is slightly more palatable then the smell of the worm itself.  Slightly.

Sparks cast whites and blues as Selvin/Zac launch in to the first and then the second Mantis.  Amazingly, the second man is still standing, though the first becomes a fine red paste which the worm is sure to find easy to digest.  Like apple sauce.  Really red apple sauce.

Zuni cuts her opponent and then flips backwards and away.  One of the Mantis slashes at her, causing her to veer course a little and cut a hand on a tooth 4 points dam pleasea.

As she finishes her retreat, <Purple?Chandanar</Purple> finishes intoning from the scroll.  Soon the group of Mantis who were surging towards her become lit up in flames of gold.  They sort of start to turn to ash and crumble away from the sudden, intense burst of heat and fire.

Chandanar looks up from the now blank page, whistles, and says, Wow.  Good scroll.

As it stands, Zuni is now clear of enemies.  Selvin has the burning witch, two burning Mantis, and two more currently unhurt-but-probably-about-to-be-very-hurt Mantis in his world.

No sign of the Cinderlander and at least fifteen other Mantis.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 184):

Ya'lls go

Selvin was starting to get a little winded. There were a lot of these Red Mantis people. Then some of them were on fire to boot! His nose wrinkled a bit, and his upper lip curled back slightly. But he persevered and had Zac unleash another flurry of angry blows on their mutual foes. He wanted to get this fight done - they still had to figure out how to get OUT!

OOC: Selvin Damage: 4/69; Eidolon Damage: 73/75 (showing how much damage they've received, not how much is left).

"Nice scroll, Chandy."  Zuni said, very much fascinated by the sight of the magical flames engulfing the mantis assassins.  She might almost have felt some pity towards them, if they hadn't been trying to kill her.

Zuni spun her blade in a playful circle as she looked around for the next fight.  Seeing Selvin and Zac tangling with another group, Zuni let out a shout and ran to their aid.  She quickly closed the distance and slashed out at the nearest Mantis.

OOC:
Attack->23
Damage->26
Reflex Save->28

Were they winning? It seemed like there were winning as wild as this fight inside the belly of the beast was. Taking stock of the assassins left, Izzick began to chant again, aiming his hands at them, tattoo's glowing as magic flowed through him. After all, they still needed to get out of here after the fact. More flaming rays burned from his hand, firing out at the same three already alight. "Just remember to save something for when we get the hell out of here."

00:23, Today: Izzick rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  Ray 1.
00:24, Today: Izzick rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  2.
00:24, Today: Izzick rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  3.

00:24, Today: Izzick rolled 19 using 4d6+1.  1.
00:24, Today: Izzick rolled 14 using 4d6+1.  2.
00:24, Today: Izzick rolled 12 using 4d6+1.  3.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 188):


As Zuni bounds into the next fray, Selvin and Izzick manage to snuff out another opponent. The witch is tenaciously holding on. Though it must be said...she's seen better days.

Between all your efforts, two other Mantis fall.

A blade strikes Zuni 11 puts dam please. Zac takes a dart 2 puts Selvin. But otherwise things seem to start going your way...

Which is when Chandanar yells out, Uh Guys! RETREAT!

He's looking up. Overhead, on the 'ceiling's, a large drop of some kind of fluid is building. 'Large' as in size of a pond that is. It's hanging off the intestine overhead, quivering...as if it's juuuuuust...about....to....

DROP

Incoming gastric juices.

You may each take an action. I will need a reflex save and your max move in whatever transportation mode you're in (flying, cartwheeling, etc) regardless of what your action is please though.

Thanks

Selvin heard the cry from above, noting the timbre of panic in the cleric's voice. He glanced back and then followed the gaze upward. His eyes went as wide as they possibly could. "Aw, COME ON!"

Then, without thought, he streaked in the air to try and scoop up Zuni as he flew and tried to get away from the incoming pond of likely flesh-melting stomach acid. "Let's go! Your flyin' express is here!"


OOC: Reflex Save, we have Evasion, me and my symbiote. I'll understand if you want to ascribe a penalty or make Selvin/Zac take damage for trying to help Zuni (unless of course Zuni declines our help which is totally fine too). =)

Fly 40 ft. normally, double if doing nothing but moving obviously.

18:21, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 21 using 1d20+8.  Reflex save.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:38, Fri 14 Dec 2018.

With a quick protective word, Izzick blessed himself with a cantrip, knowing this might be bad otherwise.

Casting Resistance. With Haste and that, I have a total of +7
13:06, Today: Izzick rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  Reflex.

Fly speed is 90 ft with Haste on.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 191):

As Zuni swings aboard the last eidolon bound for non-digestion, <Puprle>Izzick</Purple> finishes his incantation while in flight.  The Mantis disperse quickly.  A pair of them pass beneath you, one yelling at the other one, ...Join a Death Cult you said!  Chicks dig Killers you said!

Above the giant drop of stomach acid descends.  As it falls, a cross wind blows and you catch your first real whiff of it.  Oh.  That's bad.  That may be the worst thing you've ever smelled in your life.

The drop hits behind you with the sound of a wave breaking against the Korvosa piers during a storm.  The liquid spreads out quickly, spraying outwards like some geyser of burning-awful-nasty-ickiness.  It smells really, really bad.  Really bad.

Selvin you have three options available to you.  First you can fly 'north' which might be further down the worm's gullet.  You can head 'south' which you think is the direction of the worm's mouth.  You can also fly 'up', towards the 'roof', climbing above the spray.  Going north or south will mean you'll have to outrun the mist that is spreading outwards.

Izzick you have all three of those options as well plus, because of your speed, a fourth option:  You spy a small opening about two thirds of the way up the side of the 'worm wall'.  You could duck into it.

Due to all the noise and confusion, neither of you can see the other or Chandanar.

Selvin and Izzick, send me a PM telling me which way you want to fly from the choices given to you.  Zuni, you can make suggestions to Selvin via PM, but the final decision will be his.

Let me know if there are questions.  Thanks ya'll.

Zuni was fine with being swept up by Selvin but she was really wishing that she had soaked her bandana with wine before this whole thing.  It would have helped with the smell.  "Gods...it's worse than burnt hair." she uttered, risking a free hand to cover her mouth and nose.

Seeing the large drop transform into an acidic flood wave, Zuni starts pointing very enthusiastically at it.  "We need to get away from that!  Very away!"

Selvin nodded. He didn't respond really since he was too busy covering his nose and mouth with his hands to try and block as much of the smell as possible. He hadn't really even waited for Zuni's input, either - Zac started angling up and away from the incoming lake as soon as Zuni was 'onboard'.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 194):

Zuni and Selvin, as the two of you turn and head in that direction, you see something odd...

Selvin looked up and then his eyes narrowed as he tried hard to see exactly what he was looking at. Then he realized what it was and his eyes widened. "Crap! Come on! Cut us a break here, universe!" He made a few more grumbling noises and phrases, but had Zac began to fly out of the way of the projectiles and if possible away from where the grouping could easily throw to.

Shoot totally forgot to respond to this. This week vanished on me

Hoping for coverage without much idea of where to go, Izzick doze for the hole...the gullet...the opening? He had missed his course on Worm Anatomy at the Academe and been expelled before they offered it again. Into the fleshy pocket the orc went, wrapping his face with his scarf as he gripped at a bottle of one of his perfumes, the horrid smell of digestion nauseating him despite all they'd been through. "Where we heading you three? We need out."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 197):

Yes!  Party separation achieved! Bwah ha ha ha ha ha!

Selvin and Zuni...


Izzick...


Selvin and Zuni, you may engage or retreat.  Izzy, you can dive back the way you came and in to the cloud or head forward or any other option you can consider.  None of you can see Chandanar.

And you thought getting eaten by the worm was the hard part.

Selvin, through urging Zac, barely avoided the explosions and fogs that occurred! "What the crap? Ugh! That smells AWFUL!" He shook his head and held his nose closed as the symbiote carried him and Zuni (her literally) away from the globes. "Aw, man they are CAUSING those giant puddles! That's just mean!"

He looked at Zuni. "Hit 'em or run?"

Good smell or not, Izzick didn't need to be digested. His spell of flight still active, but as he looked around gas loomed on either side. He hovered a bit, debating before he figured the death that smelled nice was at least his best option here as the others vanished from view. He took a few steps forward, deeper into the hole, trying to figure out where or what he was getting himself into.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 200):

Zuni and Selvin, you feel fairly confident you can fly clear of the upcoming drop of gastric juice. And the mushroom men seem to be waiting for the smoke from their last barrage to clear before sending another volley. Zuni, your keen eyes make out movement on the floor below. It seems another group of Mantis are fighting...something. More mushroom men perhaps? It's too dark to see for sure without flying closer to the 'ground'

---

Izzick, the tube soon meets up with another one. As you examine the sides of the tube, you can see a thin film of slime coating the walls. From your time cutting dead things up, you can hazard a guess concerning where you are. Probably, after food is ground up and coated in digestive juice, the worm's movements force the carcass into a tube like this. The slime on the walls probably has adhesive qualities. The food gets stuck here and finishes being digested; the nutrients are absorbed into the tube walls. At least that's the theory. The only way to be sure is to touch the slime. And are you really that stupid? No. No you're not.

The tube curves, coming to another juncture where it joins another tube. At this corner you find an odd tableau: an assortment of humanoid skeletons. They mostly appear human, though there are some 9bvious elf and halfling bones as well. What's really odd is that they are stuck to the wall in order of height. Smaller species at one end and larger at the other. Something else: their hands, where hands are present, are arranged in such a way as to make it appear they are praying. Or clapping maybe. Hard to tell.

As you hover there, examining this macabre sight, you hear something even odder for this place. Laughter. It's coming down the new tunnel. And it is distant but still discernable. Maniacal, crazy person laughter. Someone is really yucking it up down there.

Selvin realized something after a moment - He and Zuni and Izzick might be fine, but what about their cleric friend? He might have been able to survive one giant puddle...somehow...but another or more of them? Selvin shook his head. No that was unacceptable.

He flew a bit closer to the mushroom people speaking an arcane word and gesturing towards them. A glowing, pea-sized bead streaked from his forefinger and then blossomed into a fireball to engulf as many of the mushoom people as possible.

Fireball, Dexterity saving throw DC 18, 30 damage, up to..wow, 800 feet away.
20:30, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 30 using 10d6.  Fireball.

Izzick knew he wasn't in fighting condition, especially not without his allies around. With a word spoken as quietly as he could, he recloaked himself in invisibility, while floating above the floor. Whatever he could see, maybe he could figure out what was down here in case they had to take this exit out. His eyes darted around, trying to make sure there wasn't anything else to worry about, careful not to touch the walls.

Invisibility and going to try and see what is laughing

In reply to Izzick (msg # 203):

Selvin, the 'roof' erupts in a field of orange fire.  The smell of singed and burning mushrooms and gastric juice fills the worm's cavity.  It is good you haven't eaten in a while.  Really.  If nothing else, this place seems to excel in finding new ways to stink.

Some of the mushrooms who are not on fire begin running away.  You notice that they seem to be headed for an odd opening on the side of the 'wall'.  How they can run so easily while essentially hanging upside down is a mystery.  But you forget that as suddenly, the air is filled with a sound like ten million church bells all hitting the same flat note all at once.  The walls start to turn.  It seems your fireball got the worm's attention and he's turning around.

That would be more impressive if your eardrums weren't threatening to split open from the wound of the worm's cry of pain...

Zuni and Selvin, make a Fort save vs 12.  If you don't, you are deafened for 12 posts.  Also, you take 2 pts damage, which in this instance might be a real problem.  Let me know. Thanks.

---

The tunnel goes on for a while Izzick, sloping up and then down.  Another two passages branch off it, but the laughter is louder from straight ahead.  Up ahead, the tunnel veers west.  There is a light from around the bend.  You hear a voice, human sounding, but it is indistinct despite being loud.  Like someone is shouting through layers of cloth.

As you begin to approach the turn, the tunnel suddenly shudders.  It then suddenly starts to flip around you...

Izzy, give me a Reflex save vs 10 please.  Thanks.

Selvin started to smile and turn to look at Zuni when his world erupted in sonic pain. He thought he might be screaming but he couldn't hear anything. He knew his body, his head, his ears, were all in excruciating pain. Blood trickled out of his ears while his eyes were squeezed shut with the pain. Zac drifted down some for a moment as he sensed his friend's pain and wasn't given any directions.

Selvin made a bunch of pained and angry noises, none of which he could hear. He finally got himself to at least a survivable pain level, blocking out the rest, and righted Zac. He looked around slowly and then at Zuni. He hoped she was feeling better than he was.


OOC: Wow. Yeah. Getting really annoyed with the dice rolls in all my games this last week or so. My Christmas present from rpol is shitty luck apparently. Nat 1 on the Fort save. Luckily flying and keeping Zac around don't require concentration or anything, but I guess I won't be healing him anytime soon.

21:35, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Fortitude save.

07:46, Today: Izzick rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Reflex

Izzick floated through, the laughter sending a strange chill down his spine, not quite the joyous sound of someone chuckling over tavern jokes. Perhaps that made him careless, or perhaps he just got caught off guard as the tunnel shifted.

The smell of the inside of the worm combined with Zac's wild flying about, all in the effort to avoid getting dripped on, began to churn Zunis stomach.  She sheathed her blade in order to better get a grip on Selvin, or Zac, she didn't care which, while she mentally started to regret all the drinking that she had taken part in.

"Hey, can we get out of here now?" she asked plainly.  "Let's grab Chandy and Izzy..."

Her world exploded in a loud sound, as if someone had decided to ring all of the bells of a church while she was standing right next to them.  Out of instinct, she uttered a very unladylike curse, one that would not have seemed out of place in the seediest of Korvosas docks, and reached in vain to try and cover her ears.

OOC:
Fort Save -> 9 (I really need to stop copying Selvin)
Zuni is down to 40 HP left

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 207):

Zac quiets down, perhaps sensing your distress Selvin.  The flight levels off.

As you and Zuni look at each other it becomes plain you need to move on.  The mushroom men seem to be disorganized.  And the Mantis aren't currently trying to kill you.

Your choices seem to be to land below, head 'left' or 'right' down the gullet of the worm, or fly in to that hole in the side of the wall the mushroom men ran in to.  Zuni you see another option:  a second small hole in the wall on the other side of the worm.

So five choices Zuni and Selvin:  left, right, down, hole the mushrooms ran in to, hole they didn't run into

---

The sudden rotation and lurch of the tunnel catches you by surprise Izzick.  What was suddenly an arm's length away is now right THERE.   You float backwards, but not quite fast enough:  the bottom left hand hem of your robe and the side of your left forearm touch the wall.  One good thing is that the ooze isn't too caustic.  The skin of your forearm feels warmer than usual, but isn't dissolving.

But it isn't going to let you go that easy.  You can cut off the fabric of the robe.  But pulling too hard on the arm will lose you quite the patch of skin.  You might be able to work a dagger or something in between to loosen yourself.  But that will take a few minutes...

As if on cue, you hear cursing.  It's the same voice that was laughing.  DAMN OF THE NATIONS!  THE DEVIL TAKE THIS WORM!  There is the sound of what must be broken pottery or glassware.  And some high pitched squishy sounds.  Then the laughing man again.

On don't get your root systems in a knot!  The 'nutrients' will get themselves digested soon enough.

The voice gets louder.  As does a sound of squishy footsteps.  The light from around the bend moves closer...

From around the bend comes three large mushrooms with limbs, the largest of whom is carrying a halfling on top of it's head.

Your brain supplies a name for the mushrooms quite quickly:  myconoids.  Sentient fungi who are allegedly geniuses in alchemy.  You've never seen one before now.  But they fit the descriptions you've read.

The halfling is an odd sight.  Male.  Scruffy with an overgrown beard as dirty blonde as the  hair on his head.  He wears patched leather armor and carries a flute.  Around his waist is buckled a short sword and several small pouches.  He sits atop the largest mycinoid and scowls at the two others walking beside them.  One of the other mycinoids is making splorgy sounds from somewhere around it's midsection.  It must be the way they speak.

Suprisingly, the halfling seems to understand them.  He rolls his eyes.  I'm tellin' you.  The worm can fend for 'sself.  We jus' need ta make sure they don't find the Silver Thread.  If'n you all would leave them alone ta kill each other, we wouldn't have none of this nonsense.

The one speaking to the halfling stops and glances around, then splorches something.  The halfling rolls his eyes again and waves a hand.

Fine.  Fine.  You germinate yo'self up an' down.  Jus' tell the others ta stop messin' around with them's in the maw.  An' send everyone up ta the village.  Capice?

The halfling, his mount, and the other mycinoid squich on.  The one who was speaking to him stops in the middle of the tunnel not ten feet away.  It splorches nothing until the halfling and his crew are out of sight.  Then the mycinoid reaches up an 'arm' and feels around on the underside of it's cap.  It pulls out what appears to be a small gourd made out of some material as clear as glass.  The gourd is stoppered at one end with fungi, which the Mycinoid pinches away.  It then splashes the contents of the gourd, a thin bluish liquid, on it's central stalk.  The air smells oddly of peppermint for a moment.

It then begins to speak in a broken, patchy, splorchy common.

There izzums mass of proteins izzins the vizinity.  Zent of worked animal hidez and metalz melted and zhaped. Thiz mazz haz not made hoztilitiez.  Izzuns intentionz of non-confrontationzzzzz?
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:31, Fri 04 Jan 2019.

Selvin glanced at Zuni and she seemed to be saying something...but he couldn't hear her at all. Wait....then he realized he couldn't hear ANYTHING at all! He looked panicked for a few seconds as he physically checked his ears and made several noises to see in vain if he could hear them. He couldn't.

He took several deep breaths (that he couldn't hear) to calm himself. He looked around slowly, trying to see if he could spot either Izzick or Chandanar. He wasn't excited about the mushroom people, for sure, or sticking around to get digested by the worm either. Both seemed like bad options.

He decided to fly back down towards the 'ground' a bit and look for Chandanar.

14:56, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 20 using 1d20+13.  Perception if needed.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 209):

Izzy?

You fly downwards Selvin and Zuni.  And boy is it a mess.  There are bodies everywhere but most are covered in a thick layer of digestive goo.  It's almost hard to tell where each individual body ends and the next one begins.

You do spy a couple of interesting things though.

First, you see a fallen Mantis who seems to have managed to avoid most of the goo.  But it looks like he's one of the ones you two fought:  he's got big bloody gashes in him and it appears he bled out.  There's a bit of poetic justice here:  you can see he's clutching a beaker full of purple liquid in one hand.  His other hand is grasping the stopper.  Seems he was having trouble trying to uncork the bottle as he died.

Purple?  Aren't most healing potions of a purple hue?  They are.  One extra healing potion with four draughts in it.  Don't ever say I never did anything for ya

The other interesting sight is also about the only clue you can see regarding Chandanar's whereabouts:  you don't see his body in the gooey masses.  But you do spy some of those mushroom men dragging away bodies towards another opening closer to the ground.  These bodies though appear to be survivors.  The two Mantis warrior being dragged away by five of the mushroom men are acting like they are groggy or drunk.  Shaking their heads.  Seeming to mumble in their sleep.

Looks like the mushrooms are carting off survivors.  To where and for what is unknown.

Zuni, from her flying vantage point, spotted the purple bottle.  "Hey!  Look!" she shouted, not aware that Selvin probably couldn't hear her.  She pointed vigorously, giving in to her thieving ways once more.  "That looks important.  Let's get it."

She then saw the mushrooms dragging people off.  "Hey!  Hey!  Where are they taking them?!"

Izzick stayed partially stuck to the wall, pulling gently but doing his best to split his attention. What the hell was going on down here? Who would voluntarily come down this things gullet? At least he knew he was safe enough to survive, for now. But he did his best to free himself as quietly as he could. It was becoming more and more obvious they had to get out of here.

02:10, Today: Izzick rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Strength?

Not that it will help much

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 211):

Zuni and Selvin, you retrieve the flask.

The mushrooms notice you and make frantic, splorchy sounds as they try to drag their 'cargo' more quickly.  You notice there are several such openings on the walls of the worm tunnel.  Perhaps they lead in to some kind of circulatory or digestive system?

Regardless, the mushrooms seem intent on getting there quickly.

You guys can pop open that healing potion as you like.  Cure Serious Wounds.  4 total hits.

---

You tug on your arm while biting your lip Izzick.  The goo has your skin in a tight grip.  You can either yank your arm away, probably leaving some of your skin behind, or you can try to use a dagger edge or something else to cut the goo off.  It is a type of bodily secretion after all.

The mushroom seems to 'look' around.  It then starts speaking again.  Izzzumzz zcared of thizzzz one?  No harm izzz offered if no harm izzz dizpenzzzed by material.  That izzzz You

Selvin had nodded to Zuni and had indeed flown down close to the fallen mantis warrior - though the half-elf had made a face at how gross and awful-smelling things were up close with all the body parts and digestive goo. He restrained any further showing of emotion or discomfort, however.

Zac had snatched up the healing potion vial, if such it was, and hesitated. Selvin had looked at Zuni "Are you hurt? I normally would hand it to you without question or hesitation but..." He looked nervously at the obviously-wounded tiger-like outsider, "My friend Zac is...well, he's hurt pretty bad an' we haven't hadda chance t'breath much let alone stop t'heal him."

Selvin flew Zac towards the mushroom men a bit. "Hey! What're you doin' with them? Actually...we don't care about the mantis guys, just our friend." He flew a bit closer to take a look and see if Chandanar was among the taken - or if it looked like more had already moved past there.

OOC: Unless Zuni objects, Zac will drink the healing potion.

I don't actually have anything sharp on me so I'll have to go with tearing off some skin. D:

The roar in your ears has subsided enough Selvin and Zuni, that you can now hear each other.  Though it sounds muffled still.

There is no sign of Chandanar among those being dragged away.  But it does strike you that there have been other scavanging parties who drug other survivors away.  There are some signs in the muck that Zuni's sharp eyes can pick up. And it makes sense.  You haven't seen any other survivors, so they had to go somewhere.  The odds are, if your plucky cleric is still alive and kavetching, the mushrooms dragged him off.

Each hit of the potion equals a cure serious.  Four hits.  Let me know how much HP is regained by who.  Thanks

---

You clench your teeth and just pull Izzick.  And oh my that huuuuuuuurrrrts...

2 hp

The mushroom seems to cock it's top.  Izzzz zmell of bleeding fluidzzz.  Iz requirzez azziztanze?

"Wait?  What?" Zuni said, rubbing an ear.  "I wouldn't mind a swig of that potion but I think that Zac should get the majority of it.  He's the muscle after all.  I'm just the pretty face."

She pointed at the tracks in the muck.  "So drink up and let's get moving."

OOC: Sorry. I forgot about the deafened when I was quick-posting the last go-round.

Selvin had to strain to hear Zuni over the loud noise in the worm - no, wait. The 'noise' wasn't noise, it was his ears still. He frowned and moved his head around a bit. Luckily, they had both seen the flask and he assumed that was what she'd been trying to say something about.

The tiger-like creature handed the bottle up to Selvin who unstoppered it, then poured most of it down his friend's gullet before handing it to Zuni to see if she would drink it. The outsider immediately began to look much better, though not fully healed. Selvin seemed to relax a bit from where he'd begun to look very tense.

He then urged Zac to fly after the mushroom people to search for their missing cleric.

No worries Selvin. I overlooked it as well. Your ears are coming back to the norm anyhoo.

Selvin and Zuni, the opening leads into a long, winding tube of some type. You may feel glad Zac is carrying you: the surfaces of the tunnel are covered in a thick goo that has a slightly sulfuric odor to it. The goo looks sticky as well. The tunnel is large though. You at least have enough room to maneuver.

The mushrooms are hurrying along up ahead. The tunnel ahead branches. The mushrooms seem to be headed towards the left tunnel. However, from the right, you can hear voices. Odd, wet, splotchy sounding voices, but voices none the less. You can't make out exact words. The voices seem to be distant.

Left after the mushrooms. Right towards the voices. Or any other option you wish. Thanks

Izzick did his best to hide his pain, his distress, his...well damn that hurt and something about these creatures could scent his blood and he didnt't like that, not one bit, as he floated backwards towards where he'd come in, before turning around to head out as safely and quickly as possible. He prayed the tunnel had opened up and the gas had cleared, but his mind raced with solutions just in case as he looked for his way out.

Selvin narrowed his eyes, "Stop I said!" He didn't like the looks of the goo covering the tunnel at all. He glanced at Zuni - he was still having a little trouble hearing so wasn't sure about the voices honestly. Unless she directed otherwise, he steered Zac after the mushroom people


OOC: Left unless Zuni feels strongly about going right.

Zuni took the flask and downed the remaining liquid, feeling some of her wounds closing up.  It didn't seem to help with her hearing though, but that seemed to be getting a little better on its own.

"Mushrooms!" she shouted, pointing over Selvin shoulder at the fleeing creatures.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 220):

As you start to float backwards Izzick, your surmise that these things can smell blood seems to appear justified.  The mushroom rotates it's cap as if following you and then slowly starts walking in the direction you're headed.  It seems in no hurry.  And it's not making any threatening gestures.  It's just sort of following you.  Like a puppy.

As you make it back to the intersection, you see an unsettling sight.  A patrol of more mushrooms is headed your way.  There are seven of them.  Four of them are carrying poles, a mushroom at each end.  Tied to one of the poles by his hand and feet, like a pig on a spit, is one of the Mantis assassins.  On the other pole is Chandanar, similarly tied.

Your cleric sighs and looks at the Mantis hanging beside him as the mushrooms cart them down the hallway.  So.  Just...hangin' around?

---

The tunnel to the left begins to get wider Zuni and Selvin.  The mushrooms you've been following are trying to quicken their pace.  But they won't drop their prisoners.

The passage suddenly turns downwards at a steep slope, with light shining up from below.  At the bottom of the slope is what you guess could be called a village.  Large, puff mushrooms the size of huts are glued against the tunnel walls.  Groups of mushrooms are dragging prisoners into a large pile in the middle of the puffs.  At the far side, strung between two larger sized puff mushrooms, is a wide piece of whitish stone looking material.  You realize  it's some kind of stage.  As you watch from the top of the slope, a mushroom man larger than the others arrives out of a side tunnel down near the bottom of the slope.  Riding on the giant mushroom's cap is a halfling.

The halfling is an odd sight.  Male.  Scruffy with an overgrown beard as dirty blonde as the  hair on his head.  He wears patched leather armor and carries a flute.  Around his waist is buckled a short sword and several small pouches.  The large mushroom heads towards the stage, and the halfling, as they pass the growing pile of prisoners, shakes his head in a sort of 'better you than me' kind of manner.

You do not see Chandanar in the pile of prisoners.  At this time, no one seems to notice you.

You would guess there are about thirty mushroom men, the halfling, and ten prisoners below.  Questions?

Izzick could tell this thing was scenting him, and the last thing he needed was for another problem. In his bag he uncorked one of his colognes, putting on more than he normally would as he dabbed it around the wound, trying to mask the smell of blood just a bit before corking the vial back. Whether it worked or not, he could see clearly, and more importantly, he could make out Chandanar and an assassin being taken away.

If he still had the energy, this would work better Hasting Chandanar first, but it had been a long day so instead Izzick's mind grasped at different magic. He began to chant out words he'd only spoken a few times before, each syllable being tied to one of the hand motions he made, each an intricate arcane ritual. In a moment, black exploded out along the procession, tentacles forming around the mushrooms and their captives. If all went well, Izzick could at least prevent them from joining up with more, and maybe get his ally out. Even as his invisibility vanished, he looked at Chandanar exhausted, "Sorry about that, but not many options and they don't quite look fast. But if you can get out, I could really use some holy guidance on keeping the blood inside my body."

I dunno if you'll say it helps but I do have Exotic Cologne to apply.

Casting Black Tentacles. It's 20 ft Radius, so hopefully I can get all of them. Everyone in the radius gets grappled by:
18:22, Today: Izzick rolled 18 using 1d20+15.  Grapple.

And if they fail to not get grappled, they take:
18:22, Today: Izzick rolled 9 using 1d6+4.  damage.

Selvin hung back and surveyed the situation. He noted Chandanar wasn't amid the pile of prisoners. "Welp. Looks still don't see him, but maybe he's in another area? I don't know what they do with prisoners here...though I have a sneaking suspicion."

He looked around and then at Zuni. "I could cast Invisibility on you, lasts for like 10 minutes or until you make an attack. Don't know if these mushrooms can see invisible things, though. I wish Izzy were here with his fireballs." He sighed. "We could try talkin' t'em but...then we'd lose the element o'surprise if they're not friendly...an' the ones from earlier weren't friendly."

He frowned. "Or...an' I don't like the idea...I could send Zac home. If I do that, I could summon in lots monsters. But then I'm just me."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Sun 27 Jan 2019.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 224):

Chandanar spits a tentacle out of his mouth and says, Oh sure.  Just as soon as I'm done being tenderized.  Holy Crap.  I get swallowed by a worm, left to stew in my own gravy, and now I'm getting pummeled by calamari!  Ouch!  That smarts!  I don't suppose you can do anything about these ropes around my wrists can you?  Otherwise, not much I can do ta patch you up.

---

I'll wait on Zuni's reply for the other party.  Thanks

Can I try untying the rope with Mage Hand? Or did Chandanar get out of the tentacles?

In reply to Izzick (msg # 227):

Yes on the mage hand.  He's bound hand and foot by the rope, so he can't try to get out of the tentacles until he's unbound.

Izzick gestured, forming the simple magic, working it to unbind the rope from afar.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 229):

The rope slips off Chandanar's wrist.  He grabs a flailing tentacle and pulls on it, climbing up it by grip until his torso is sticking up out of the mass of tentacles.

Here!  He tosses you stoppered flask.  Inside is a purple liquid <Orange>Healing potion.  Cure serious.  Two hits</Purple>

That's all I can manage at the moment.  Where's the others?  Chandanar starts trying to extract himself from the radius of the speel.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 225):

Zuni studied the scene in front of them for a moment and then sighed.  "We're in the stomach of a giant worm, looking over a village of mushrooms...and I just know that I'm going to have a killer hangover in the morning.  I'm starting to miss Korvosa..."

She counted the visible mushrooms as she spoke and the number did not change, or improve the situation.  "I don't know much about these mushrooms and what they can do but there's a lot of them down there.  As good as I am, fighting them would be crazy.  I could try to sneak down there while invisible and see if Chandanar is among them.  If he's not..."  Zuni let the unasked question linger as she turned to Selvin.

Selvin snickered at Zuni's description of their situation and missing Korvosa. He kept his voice pitched low. "I will NOT be sad to get outta here."

He looked around and shrugged. "I wonder who that halfling is? It seems odd for him to be here in this worm with mushroom people." He shook his head. "I guess...let's get a bit closer and see what we can see..."

He checked to make sure there were no mushroom people on the ceiling and flew as close to the ceiling as he could to move in to the room more and see what they could see before making a firm decision.

Like a man in the desert who hadn't had a drink in weeks, Izzick drake from the bottle, downing both doses as he felt his wounds seal up, including the nasty scar on his arms. With a sigh and a breath he put the emptied flash away less they leave a trail, "I'm not sure. I lost sight of them when the gas appeared. Maybe we should try the direction the mushrooms were marching you towards?"

Chandanar drags himself out of the mass of calamari and wipes tentacle goo off his leather jerkin.  Grossest.  Mission.  Yet.  He straightens and grins at you Izzick.  Good ta see ya.  I'm all for that as a direction.

He glances that way.  The passage ahead turns and slopes downwards.  I mean...what's tha worst that could happen?


The two of you move quickly before your spell ends.  The passage turns several times but keeps sloping downwards.  It finally levels off and ends at a large opening on to what looks like a wooden stage that looks out at what can only be described as a village of mushroom men.

A number of large puff ball looking structures you assume serve as housing cluster along the walls of the worm's intestine.  The mushroom men have somehow amassed a large amount of wood and built a stage of sorts, which you've come on to the back of.  Izzick, you see the halfling you spotted before, riding the giant mushroom, headed for the stage.  Behind him, in the middle of the 'village' is a large pile of bound Mantis assassins.

Chandanar slaps your shoulder and nods upwards.  There, high above it all, are Zuni, Zac, and Selvin, apparently on an ariel recon.  There's the ZZS.  Ya think we can join 'em?

THe answer to that question is 'not likely', as the halfling and giant mushroom take the stage...

---

Selvin and Zuni you take to the friendly skies and manage to skirt along the roof of the world...er, gut.  Below, the halfling and giant mushroom are taking the stage.  The smaller mushrooms are starting to gather around the stage.

You notice two things:  first, you have found Izzick and Chandanar.  They are standing in an opening in the wall at the back of the stage.  They seem to have seen you as well as the cleric points you out to the necromancer.  The halfling doesn't seem to have noticed them as he seems more intent on looking out over the mushrooms.

The second thing you notice is that there are several Mantis of the unbound type taking positions around the mushroom village.  It looks like a strike force is about to conduct a raid on the village, perhaps in an attempt to free their comrades.

---

Alright folks.  Izzy, you and Chandy are at the back of the stage.  Selvin and Zuni, I am assuming you are near the top of the ceiling, probably hovering above the prisoner pile.  Thus far, no one has noticed any of you.  I'll let you all post before... well.  You'll see.

Let me know if there are any questions or things are not clear.  Thanks.

Selvin grinned and looked at Zuni to make sure she saw their friends as well. He nodded but tried to stay silent as he didn't want to draw any attention.

He saw something, however, that caused him to frown and hesitat for just a moment...The Red Mantis were about to attack and try get their friends back. But he had no love for either the Red Mantis nor the mushroom people really. So he shrugged and began flying towards Izzick and Chandanar, still staying close to the ceiling.

Maybe they could try to use the chaos of the upcoming battle to escape unnoticed...or so he hoped.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 235):

As the four...five if you count Zac...spy each other, the halfling hops off the cap of the giant mushroom and coughs.  He makes some small gesture and then his voice booms throughout the worm-cavern.

FRIENDS!  I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE SILVER THREAD FOR ASSEMBLING THIS FEAST!  I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE SOME OF THE ONES WHO WOULD WANT TO THWART OUR MISSION!  AND SO THIS REPAST WILL BE ALL THE MORE SWEET!  THANKS TO THE MOUTH THAT CARRIES US!  THANKS TO THE SILVER THREAD!  DEATH TO THE TYRANT IN KORVOSA!  SOON WE WILL RIDE JUSTICE INTO IT'S WALLS AND AVENGE HER WHO BETRAYS!

What?  You didn't think I was going to find some way to complicate this, even if only slightly?

Anyway to know what the Silver Thread is?


13:14, Today: Izzick rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Knowledge History.
13:14, Today: Izzick rolled 28 using 1d20+9.  Knowledge Arcana

In reply to Izzick (msg # 237):

The reference to the 'Silver Thread' isn't something any of you recognize.  Whatever it is, it must be local.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:04, Wed 30 Jan 2019.

"...ride justice into its walls?"  Zuni softly repeated the words.  The implications of those words were not lost on her.  "They're going to take this worm into Korvosa.  Gods, just when I thought my hangover couldn't get worse."

"Mantis and Mushrooms."  She turned to Selvin.  "You and Zac up for another fight?"

Selvin let out a small groan. He hung his head as he listened to the halfing's rally speech and then Zuni's response. "Maaaaaaan. Things never go smoothly. Why can't they ever go smoothly?"

He sighed. "Well, let's at least wait until the two sides've worn each other down first yah?"

He kept heading towards Izzick and Chandanar.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 238):

Sure do wish we still had our bard.

Izzick waited, watching the others try to regroup, hoping it all went smoothly. Once they were there (presumably), he nodded in agreement. "Let's see how well the fight goes. Hopefully we can take them all down at once. One less problem for everybody if they're all injured first."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 241):

I too miss the bard.  And several other players.  Alas.

But at least we still got the cream of the crop. And one sexy GM.  Oh he is a magnificent beast, isn't he?

Is it just me, or does our Queen really seem to know how make allies and influence people?  Chandanar shakes his head and looks at Izzick.  The others saw us. So I think we'll be good to go once the most recent orgy of destruction starts.

As if on cue, it does start.  Just much more quietly than any of you would probably like.  Zuni and Selvin, you can see one of the groups of Mantis starting to pick off  mushrooms on the fringes of the village.  They are fairly efficient:  three of the mushrooms have been sliced and diced before one of the targets manages to toss a bottle into the air.  It explodes like a firework, drawing all eyes in that direction.

The halfling points.  WHAT IS THAT?  INVESTIGATE!

Zuni and Selvin, you guys are up tip top of the room.  So no one has notied you.  Yet.  The explosion is in the northwest corner.

Does anyone want to do anything now?  Or let the fighting get good and bloody first?

I'll hold up until this weekend in case any one wants to do anything prior to it getting  juicy.

Thanks. 
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:50, Fri 01 Feb 2019.

Selvin looked at Zuni as things started up. He shook his head. He decided to use the confusion to try and stay unnoticed as he kept flying closer to their comrades. Not our fight. Not our fight. He just mentally kept repeating that mantra.

I'll wait, though considering we have assassins, once Selvin and Zuni get down, I'll give us each Protection From Evil.

10 minutes, divided up. So I'll give 3 minutes each to Zuni and Selvin. I'll give 2 minutes to myself and Chandanar.

First, the subject gains a +2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on saves. Both these bonuses apply against attacks made or effects created by evil creatures.
Second, the subject immediately receives another saving throw (if one was allowed to begin with) against any spells or effects that possess or exercise mental control over the creature Third, summoned evil creatures can't touch you

"Tonight I'm sleeping like a rock," and he supposed that statement was true whether they went down fighting or actually escaped this place, as he began to focus his energy into wards around each of them. "Running pretty low here. Let's mop this up and get the hell out before we end up coming out the wrong end."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:44, Fri 01 Feb 2019.

Alrightie.  Let's get this party started.

Ya'll give me an init roll please.  Just so I can track who's going before whom.  Thanks<orange>

The mushrooms don't seem to be waiting on the halfling. From the moment he began barking his orders, several of them started working.  They produce more of those odd bottles they seem to like to carry and start tossing them about.  Soon a thick mist is rising up off the ground...

Chandanar whistles.  Oh.  Yeah.  That's that stuff they used to knock everyone out.  I think we need ta get outta this cav- Hey.  Isn't that that Cinderlander guy pointing that big honkin' crossbow at Zuni and Selvin?

Indeed.  Across the cavern, and maybe out of your range Izzick, is the Cinderlander.  He's perched on the roof of one of the puff balls and is aiming his big, honking crossbow at Zac

Zuni and Selvin, you notice him too.  He isn't exactly being subtle.

<Orange>You can post actions.  Just keep in mind if you can't beat a 15, his shot's going off first. Izzy, he's about 150 feet away from you.  Selvin and Zuni, we'll call it 120 feet for ya'll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:25, Mon 04 Feb 2019.

Selvin glanced back at the Mantis and then did a double-take. He frowned and narrowed his eyes as he leaned forward slightly, squinting. Then his eyes widened as he saw it WAS the Cinderlander and he WAS aiming a huge crossbow and it WAS aimed at them!!

"Oh crap! Hang on, Zuni!"


OOC: REALLY, die roller?? ROFL. Well assuming I'm still able to cast after the shot...Casting Glitterdust on Cinderlander and as many Mantis around him that I can, unless the hit to Zac is big, and then Selvin will heal his friend instead.

11:31, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.

16:22, Today: Izzick rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Initiative.
Thank you Scorpion Familiar

The cleric was right, and Izzick could see the man. His hands began to turn from green to blue as cold air surrounded his finger tips. It was the same spell he'd caught the other in before, an icy tomb meant for holding. It was the best way to stop any shot he fired. "</darkgreen>Freeze!</darkgreen>" Izzick said as the magic launched from his hand, the icy cascade flying over the head of mushrooms.

Reflex Save DC21 or he's helpless for 11 minutes. If he saves, he's entangled instead. He takes 1 cold damage per round.
If someone can break him out, It's a strength check DC26.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 247):

Crap.  Forgot about the range on that one.  Okie Dokie then...

Izzick does that voodoo that he do and apparently pretty well.  The Cinderlander does a double take as a sheet of ice begins to slide up his legs.

The man is burly though: he shifts to the left and manages to jar himself free of the worst of it. He's down.  But not out.

He manages a shot.  But because of his difficulties, the bolt whistles past Zac's head by a hand's span. Yeah.  You owe Izzy big for that one.  One.  I missed you by one.  Oh my vengeance will be tepid indeed.

In a moment, the air is filled with sparkles.  The Cinderlander and quite a few of the Mantis are suddenly sparkly.

One of the Mantis stops and throws his hands up.  Yea!  At last!  I'm beautiful!

Shut up and fight Bob! yell the others.

The Halfling turns and stares at Izzick and Chandanar.  AGENTS OF THE QUEEN!!! KILL!!! KILL!!!

OOC:
My Vengeance will be tepid.  Heh.  :)

"Can you get me to Izzy and Chandy?" Zuni shouted.  "I'm not much good up here."

OOC:
Initiative -> 23

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 249):

Selvin< and Zuni/Purple>, as you look around, you can see that the halfling has spotted <Purple>Izzick and Chandanar.  The big mushroom seems to be advancing towards them.

Izzick, in response to the halfling's cry, the giant mushroom is advancing.   You have time for an action

Meanwhile, behind and below you, the village erupts in good ol' mindless violence as the two sides begin to clash.

"Trust me, the assassins were sent after us, by the QUEEN!" Izzick tried to say, but he doubted the mushroom men were going to listen to him. But for now, he went with small hits - it was just about all he had left anyhow, as he chanted out arcane words. "Ampua maagisia ohjuksia" On command the balls of light of his magic missiles sprang to his finger tips, firing out at the mushroom running towards him.

11:38, Today: Izzick rolled 17 using 5d4+5.  Magic Missile.

Selvin gave Zuni a nod and chuckled at the one Mantis raving about being fabulous. He grinned at Izzick's shouted reply to the halfing even as he made a beeline towards their two friends. He relaxed his grip on Zuni so that when they reached Izzick and Chandanar she could simply hop off the short distance to the ground.

OOC: Not sure if double-moving will be needed to reach them but I assumed so. If not, then let me know.

As soon as they were safely within range of the ground, Zuni leapt from Zac's back.  She ran over to where Izzick and Chandanar were, drawing out her sword as she did so.  The young woman skidded to a halt, putting herself between the Giant Mushroom and her companions.

The sword tipped upwards, in a quick salute before, Zuni lowered herself into an attack stance, ready to slash out at the Mushroom when it got close enough.  "Do you think that thing's edible?  All this fighting is making me hungry."

OOC:
Ready action to slash at Mushroom

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 253):

You're about full and a half away Selvin.  So the double gets you there no sweat.

They're comin' in HOT! Chandanar yells, pointing at the hurtling forms of Zuni and Selvin.  He blinks and shrugs at you Izzick.  What?  They're a good looking couple.  Have some healing. he adds as he places a hand on your shoulder Izzick  You got 20 points healing Izzy in case needed.

Zuni makes her grand entrance as the ethereal bolts o' missle rocket from Izzick's outstretched hand, smashing in to the giant mushroom's cap/head/whatever.  And then, just after the Neat-o Necromancer shouts his retort... Finally!

...the halfling throws up his hands and shouts, Whoa Whoa Whoa WHOA!  Down Shitake!  Easy boy!

The giant mushroom comes to an uncertain halt and the halfling stares at you all, blinking.  Finally he says, Really?  You aren't lying to me?  You guys hate that harlot too?

And then four Mantis warriors jump up on stage behind him and start stabbing him.

Selvin looked at the halfling even as he prepared to tear in to the giant mushroom...but it stopped and the halfling asked them a question. Well, several. "Ha! More like she hates US, but it amounts t'much the same thing! We're tryin' t'stop her crazy shit an' she's tryin' t'kill us!" His eyes narrowed. "Much like your mushroom friends tried t'do t'us as well." His tone was icy and acidic.

He glanced at his companions and lowered his voice. "What's our play here? Do we stay out of it, see who comes out on top?"

How many options did they have? At least the mushroom men wouldn't be coming after them, but that didn't make them allies either. Izzicks hands fumbled with his bag, reaching for a scroll. "For now, we've got to be ready. I'm doubting those mantis assassins are going top stop for a mushroom stir fry after the fight." But then again the halfling was under attack, and that seemed slightly more important.

"Let's try and get him out," Izzick said, conjuring the same magic he'd used rescuing Chandanar. The worm's stomach gave way to tentacles of black, swarming around the halfling and his attackers on the podium.

Casting Black Tentacles
10:49, Today: Izzick rolled 28 using 1d20+15.  Grapple.

To grapple the halfling and his attackers.
10:50, Today: Izzick rolled 7 using 1d6+4.  damage.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:51, Sun 10 Feb 2019.

Selvin gave a shrug and turned to Zuni. He gestured and spoke an arcane-infused phrase before touching her lightly. She disappeared from sight. He grinned, "Go have fun!"

OOC: Greater Invisibility on Zuni for 10 rounds.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 257):

As the ever spunky Zuni fades from sight, the halfling and his attackers become engulfed in a veritable grove of rubbery unconfortableness.

Chandanar shivers and shakes his head.  <Aqua>I'll be having nightmares for weeks.  Hey Selvy!  Healing?</Purple>

Selvin, you get 36 HP back (or Zac does.  Split it up however you like) this round if you want it.

Zuni?  What do ya wanna do?

The last thing that could be seen on Zunis face as she disappeared from view, was a cheshire like grin.

OOC:
Not sure what area is covered by the Black Tentacles, but are there any Mantis or other important stainable folks outside of them?

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 259):

The tentacles have wrapped up the halfling and three of the Mantis. One has managed to free herself and is stepping back, pulling out a blow gun, and looking at the halfljng.

Meanwhile, two more Mantis jump up on the stage...

Beyond them, you can see a squadron of five Mantis, headed for the pole of prisoners. If they free the prisoners, the assassins will outnumber the mushrooms about two to one.

So three on the stage with you guys Zuni. And five more about ninety feet away who, if they succeed in reaching and freeing the prisoners, will double the number or Mantis in the immediate area.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:55, Wed 13 Feb 2019.

OOC: Not sure if a charge/double-move will get me to the Mantis heading to the prisoners or not, but that is the goal.

Selvin rolled his eyes. "Oh, very well! I guess we should get involved! I don't want to face a bunch of Mantis again. And I suppose we can't have them just slaughtering the mushrooms," and he continued but dropped his voice to a mutter, "even if we want them to."

He let out a roar and shot up in the air slightly and then forward at the Mantis in the distance. He definitely wanted them to see him coming.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 261):

Yeah.  Unless you guys absolutely flub your init, you'll be going first.  I got a 4.

Zuni, you have three Mantis on the stage.  One of whom seems intent on taking out the halfling

Selvin, you can reach the group with your normal move.

You can each assume you got at least one Cure Crit Wounds from everyone's favorite cleric before launching in to battle.  Selvin, let me know if you applied any of the healing to yourself.  I'm assuming you gave it all to Zac otherwise.

Thanks

Well, I guess he is almost an ally at this point, Zuni mused, looking over at the Halfling briefly as she quickly ran up behind the  Mantis who looked like they were going to attack him.

Zuni gleefully attempted to dissuade him with the point of her Aldori blade piercing his back.

OOC:
Attack -> 22
Damage -> 35 (assuming successful sneak attack)

Selvin looked at where Zuni had been for a moment before letting out a roar as he flew towards the other Mantis group. "OH NO YOU DON'T! ROUND TWO, HERE WE GO!" He unleashed a flurry of natural attacks enhanced with magic and electricity.

OOC: Healing went to both of them to try and get them both back to max hp (as Zac had already been healed just recently as well).

Hit AC 22 for 21 damage. Hit AC 18 for 23 damage. Hit AC 25 for 27 damage. Hit AC 23 for 20 damage.

08:25, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
08:43, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 22,12,18,25,23 using d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11.  Arcane Strike and Power Attacks on Mantis peoples.
08:44, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 21,23,27,20 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15 with rolls of 4,2,6,2,6,6,3,2.  Damage (2nd d6 is electrical).

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 264):

The Mantis with the blow gun places it to her lips and then suddenly finds herself short of breath as Zuni shishkabobs her.  The two who were coming to assist her also seem taken aback. They stop and cautiously scan the air around them, looking for the culprit they can't see.  Sorry Zuni.  Completely missed the Greater part of the Greater Invisibility.  Thanks again Selvin.

Selvin smashes in to the group trying to rescue their fellows.  He and Zac make quick work of one of the assassins and manage to slice in to a second one.  A third one manages to strike out 8 hp Selvin

The mushrooms seem to be regrouping.  Several of them rush in to a puff ball house only to drag out what looks to be a cauldron.  They begin dumping goos of various hues in to it.

Meanwhile, the halfling climbs to the top of a tentacle.  He shouts, Shitake!  Get me outta here!  As the giant mushroom lumbers towards him, the halfling glances back at you Izzick.  Couldn't you have just said 'look out behind you'?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:27, Wed 20 Feb 2019.

Selvin unleashed his symbiote's fury once more on the Mantis, moving along the group of them as any dropped. It was kind of his unspoken job to draw as much attention and heat from the enemies they fought so Zuni and Izzick and Chandanar could do their own things without getting killed/eaten/etc. With Zac surrounding him, Selvin was the heartiest - though sometimes it pained him to see his friend get so hurt. One of the blows struck so hard Selvin worried he might be finding pieces of Mantis person in his ally for months to come!


Swift Action: Arcane Strike.
Full-round Action: Full Attack.

Hit AC 20 for 18 damage, AC 15 for 21 damage and Critical Hit for 43 damage. Yowza!

15:08, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 13,20,13,31,15 using d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11.  Arcane Strike and Power Attacks on Mantis peoples.
15:08, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 30 using 1d20+11.  Critical Hit confirm.
15:12, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 18,21,41,2 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+30,1d6 with rolls of 2,1,5,1,6,5,2.  Damage (2nd d6 is electrical) and crit hit last.

Zuni struck true and was surprised to see that the other Mantis did not attack her in return.  She quickly realized what was wrong.  I'm still invisible?  she thought.  A smile slowly grew unseen on her face. I'm still Invisible!!

Zuni slashed out at one of the Mantis assassins before twisting about and stabbing out at the other one.  "Have at you!"

OOC:
Attack 1 -> 25
Damage -> 27

Attack 2 -> 26
Damage -> 31

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 266):

Yeah Selvin.  That's definitely going to leave a stain.  The Mantis in Zac's hands...er, claws...er, appendages...becomes so many piles of digestive  - biscuts - for - worms.  It is so stunning a blow in fact, the other Mantis' stop and blink, even the other ones you're striking.  One of them mutters, Daaaaaammmmnnn... before turning around and running.  Another one joins him.

One of them rolls his eyes and springs forward.  If I am to die, you can come with me, he says, sinking his blade in to your symbiote's tender underbelly.  17 pts.  I at least got one decent hit.

Meanwhile, Zuni has at.  She strikes both her remaining assailants.  Neither quite goes down but one of them falls backwards, surprised by the direction the blow came from.  They both stab at the air but to no avail.

Izzick, the big mushroom grabs at the halfling and wrenches him free.  The small man gasps for breath before grabbing the flute off his belt.  Alright.  Let's get this party star- and then just screams as a large crossbow slams in to his back.

Leaping up on to the stage is a large man with a large auto crossbow.  The Cinderlander seems to have arrrived.  Right! he says, swinging his bow around and launching  several bolts at Shitake.  I hate bards.  So no to whatever the hell you were about to get up to..  He swings his crossbow around and points it in the direction of the necromancer.  Hadn't figured out what you are half-orc.  But we'll just say no to what you're thinkin' about pullin' too.

Chandanar sighs as he runs towards the halfling.  You just meet the most interesting people when you're being partially digested, don'tcha?  I'm gonna try to save laughing boy.

Okay.  Selvin, two of your opponents ran away.  There are still two on you, one of whom isn't going down without a fight.  Or another crit.  You are not within range to get at the Cinderlander.

Zuni, you still have two opponents but one is prone.  You see the Cinderlander arrive.  Also, I need a perception check from you.  You are within range to get to the Cinderlander.  The results of your perception check may influence what actions you wish to take.

Izzy, Chandanar is running to try to save the halfling.  You have the init on the Cinderlander at the moment.

We're almost done with the worm!  Have at indeed!

OOC:
Perception -> 31


"Finally!" Zuni shouted as she whirled to face the Cinderlander.  She had not seen the man up close, only from a distance where she was not the best fighter.  Now, within sword range, it was different.  It was probably the alcohol or the sheer absurdity of fighting in the stomach of a giant worm, but Zuni was feeling reckless and excited.  She closed the distance between them and slashed at him.

OOC:
Attack -> 18
Damage -> 31

Attack 2 -> 13
Damage ->33

Selvin let out a nasty chuckle as a couple of the Mantis assassins ran off. He turned his attention to the two remaining. "Bold strategy, staying in the fight. Let's see how it works out for ya!" He shook his head at the one claiming he would take Selvin with me. "Nah. I'm not destined t'die here today. I got plans."

Swift: Arcane Strike.
Full-round action: Full attack.
Hit AC 26 for 21 dmg. AC 27 for 20 dmg. AC 23 for 23 dmg. AC 15 for 23 dmg. AC 26 for 23 dmg.

10:30, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 26,27,23,15,26 using d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11.  Arcane Strike and Power Attacks on Mantis peoples.
10:32, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 21,20,23,23,23 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15 with rolls of 3,3,1,4,3,5,2,6,2,6.  Damage (2nd d6 is electrical).

"What am I?" He'd thought that was fairly obvious. His full moon tattoo glowed with magical energy as he began to rapidly chant off the words that echo'd in his mind. "I'm a bit of a dabbler, tried to be a wizard, didn't go so well. I'm just sort of a bad day in a nutshell." Then the sparkling light that fired off from his fingers shot forward as a dazzling ray of starlight. "Bad news for you too."

Casting Glitterdust. That's a willsave DC17 or he's blinded. And he takes -40 to stealth regardless.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 269):

Selvin, be amazed.  The one who challanged you is still standing.  Not a lot of his skin is left.  But he's still upright.

The other one is worm chow.

Mr. I'm-Still-Standing roars with what's left of his tongue and stabs at thee. 14 and 8 HP

Zuni, as you rush forward, your cavalier senses start tingling.  Somehow, that bastard Cinderlander littered the floor with caltrops.  Wet looking caltrops.  Charging through them?  Or backing up?  Or trying to do a flip over them? Or something else?  I'm holding your attack until you let me know.  You would easily have seen the caltrops on your approach.

The air is suddenly filled with twinkles!  Yes, Izzick's spell fills the air with lots of glittery dust.  The Cinderlander makes a Tch sound and backs up.

Caltrops?  Who uses caltrops, Zuni thought as she launched herself into the air to flip over them.

OOC:
Acrobatics -> 20

Selvin was surprised. He wasn't ashamed to admit it. In fact, it threw him off a bit, the oh-so-confident Red Mantis assassin having claimed he wouldn't be taken down so easy - and then HE WASN'T! Selvin and Zac attacked once more but the Red Mantis assassin was able to dodge most of their strikes, leaving them a bit confused.


OOC: Ugh. What a terrible bunch of rolls! 2 Nat 1s in there! Assuming 12 and 13 miss their AC, Selvin/Zac hit an AC 22 for 18 damage and AC 16 for 21 damage.

12:15, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 22,12,13,16,12 using d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11 with rolls of 11,1,2,5,1.  Arcane Strike and Power Attacks on Still Standing.
12:16, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 18,21 using 2d6+15,2d6+15 with rolls of 2,1,5,1.  Damage (2nd d6 is electrical).

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 273):

Caltrops are making a come back.  They're like bell bottoms that way.

Actually, I/Cinderlander was expecting you to do that.  But Izzy's Glitterdust kind of screwed up the plan.  Way to go Izzy.  Messin' up my really cool plan an' stuff.

I'm going to use your original attack roll Zuni

Zuni, you fly gracefully over the caltrops.  If anyone could see it, your somersault would be quite graceful.

The Cinderlander takes an involuntary step back after being blasted by Izzick's sparkly ray o' blindness.  A moment later you strike, slashing him deeply across the chest.

The blow was solid.  But it felt like hitting a brick wall.  He's magicked up.

The Cinderlander steps back, eyes still shut, and throws his arms open wide.  C'mon then!  Take a free shot!  Not much I can do about it now anyway, can I?

Meanwhile, Mr. Skinless screams and launches himself at you and Zan, Selvin.  He's on his last leg, almost literally since you think you broke at least one of his knee caps.  But this guy is going out nasty.  He leaps on you, stabbing at you, clawing with his free hand, even sinking his teeth in to Zac's ectoplasm/skin stuff.  Guess who got crit? Guess?  THIS GUY!!!

32 points for the stab.  And 2 more points for the bite.  He's only got 3 hit points left.  But man, is he going to make them count.

(How far is the Cinderlander on the stage?)

Zuni pressed her attack. The Cinderlander was dangerous and she wasn't about to give him a chance to think up something nasty to do to them.  Zunis blade slashed out, downwards on the first strike.  A flick of the wrist reversed the blade and her second strike slashed upwards.

OOC:
First Attack -> 28
Damage -> 31

Second Attack -> 27
Damage -> 32

In reply to Izzick (msg # 276):

Zuni, I'll respond to you later since Izzy's response may change the way things work out between you and the Cinderlander.

Izzy, he's about 10 feet from the edge of the stage.  Is that what you wanted to know?

Selvin let out a grunt as the hard-hitting blow landed - but the cat-like symbiote literally cried out in pain! "Asshole! You can't win or even kill us, so just DIE already!" He angrily unleashed another flurry of electrified attacks on the Red Mantis guy who was dead and just didn't know it yet.

Swift Action: Arcane Strike. Full-Round Action: Attack.
Hit AC 15 for 20 dmg, AC 26 for 22 dmg, AC 26 for 21 dmg, AC 17 for 22 dmg, AC 26 for 18 dmg.

23:50, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 15,26,26,17,26 using d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11,d20+11 with rolls of 4,15,15,6,15.  Angry Arcane Strike and Power Attacks on Still Standing.
23:51, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 20,22,21,22,18 using 2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15,2d6+15 with rolls of 4,1,2,5,1,5,3,4,2,1.  Damage (2nd d6 is electrical).

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 277):

Izzick, let me know what you are thinking of doing.  Remember, you can't see Zuni.  Though I imagine you can guess she's there.

Selvin, he learns.  In fact, everyone around...Mantis and mushroom man alike...have stopped fighting to stare at you and the greasy meat ribbon hanging from you and Zac's hand.

One of the Mantis whistles and mumbles, Damn dude...harsh...

Zuni, you strike twice.  The Cinderlander doesn't seem to be attempting to dodge at all.  In fact, as your second blow lands, he slides his hand up along the blade and tries to grab your invisible wrist.  You snap away quick enough.  But he was faster than you expected.

He chuckles.  You're the woman, right?  Una or Zoey or somethin' like that.  They say you're pretty quick.  That's okay.  I'm not much of a slouch either.  And I'm pretty thick up with protective magic.  See any blood?

He's right.  There's not much at all.  It felt like you were stabbing an oak tree.

You're probably thinkin' 'talk on old fool...magic only lasts so long.  You can't have much left.'  He pulls a wooden tube stoppered at one end with a cork.  Potion container of some sort.  Well we can fix that.  So come on Sweetie.  I'm blind and I'm old.  Show me how tough you are.

(Swore I answered but I meant how far away from me).

Izzick wasn't going to let the bragging assassin's magical protections stop him, but he had to choose his options wisely as he tried to approach the stage, keeping away from the edge but getting closer. His fingers began to crack with electricity as balls of energy formed upon the stage at his command. The floating spheres were charged, making quick dashes towards the Cinderlander. Old, blind, and hopefully soon to be burned to a crisp.

Casting Ball Lightning. That's 3 orbs forming on the stage. All 3 will charge towards Cinderlander.

If a globe enters a space with a creature, it stops moving for the round and deals 3d6 points of electricity damage to that creature, though a successful Reflex save DC20 negates the damage. Creatures wearing metal armor take a -4 penalty on this Saving Throw.

12:17, Today: Izzick rolled 11 using 3d6.  Orb 1.

12:17, Today: Izzick rolled 13 using 3d6.  Orb 2.

12:17, Today: Izzick rolled 16 using 3d6.  Orb 3.

Selvin and Zac paused for a moment as the warrior in front of them basically 'vanished' in the worst possible way. They glanced around them and then let out a loud roar to shake the cavern they were in, gore still dripping from Zac's maw and claws. They shouted towards the Red Mantis warriors in a creepy dual-voice, "ANY RED MANTIS WHO FLEES RIGHT NOW, I'LL LET LIVE! OTHERWISE YOU'RE A FUCKIN' SNACK!"

OOC: Hahahahaha! A natural twenty on an Intimidation check against the Red Mantis assassins! That's hilarious. Not sure if that will actually DO anything against so many of them...

10:26, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 28 using 1d20+8.  Intimidate (not sure if there are circumstantial modifiers lol).

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 282):

Gotta do what I gotta do<.

Zuni, can you make a reflex save please?

The Mantis around you sort of come to a stop, Selvin.  A couple turn and book.  But the others seem to be considering...

And then there's a loud electrical shocky flash from the stage.  That seems to decide them.  A number more begin to rush out the exits.

"I'm not just any woman.  I'm Zuni Runesong.  You're going to remember that name." Zuni growled through a smile.  She was in the stomach of a worm fighting a legendary warrior, and Cayden help her she was having the time of her life.  She was probably going to die but for some reason she wasn't concerned about that.  This was going to be a great fight.  "Let's see just how tough you are, Old Man, and make this a fight the Bards will sing about for lifetimes."

Zuni slashed out at the Cinderlander, her blade arcing out in an 'X' pattern.  As she drew her blade back after the second attack, Zuni reached out to grab the Cinderlander and grapple him.

OOC:
Reflex Save -> 19  (Uh oh)

Challenging Cinderlander

Attack 1 -> 30
Damage -> 30

Attack 2 -> 27 (25 to confirm crit)
Damage -> 34 (43 if Crit confirms)

Grapple attempt -> 15 (probably missed)

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 284):

Well Zuni.  I think you see where this reflex save is going...

You issue your challenge Zuni and begin to arc your blades...

And then you and the Cinderlander get zapped by the glowing balls of awesome.  You take the 13, he took the other two

You both stagger though, oddly, the jolt you took helped improve the swing of your second cut.  Your blades bite deeply and, for the first time, strike true.

All of which brings a huge grin to his face.  Oh Yeah!  Hell Yeah!  Nice ta meetcha Zuni Runesong!

You don't expect your grapple to work.  But it does.  Mostly because he doesn't even try to resist you.  In fact, he hugs you back...

I soooo didn't wanna die alone!

And he tries to leap backwards off the stage, carrying you with him.

I'm assuming you'll have something to say about that Zuni.

The CMD for the escape is a bit on the insane side on this one.  CMD 27.

And no, the drop from the stage isn't enough to kill you, if you do end up taking it.  He seems to have something else in mind.

Selvin grinned widely until the Red Mantis assassins turned tail and run. Then he quickly turned his attention to his best friend. "oh man, zac, i'm sorry, i know you're hurtin' buddy! i'm gonna heal you right now, okay? just hang on!" The words were quiet and furious.

Then he intoned the arcane phrase as he gestured and healing energy from an otherworldly plane suffused the symbiote and some of the ragged tears and wounds closed up.

Then he turned towards where he assumed Zuni was...


OOC: Apparently forgot to paste this in to my post...

18:07, Tue 12 Mar: Selvin Larst rolled 32 using 3d10+10 with rolls of 10,9,3.  Rejuvenate Eidolon (assuming no threats nearby).
This message was last edited by the player at 05:21, Fri 15 Mar 2019.

"You should be glad that my pretty face is last thing that you'll see!" Zuni yelled back as she wrestled with the Cinderlander.  Her grin was as wide as the Cinderlanders.  "Now let's make sure you die with a smile on my face!"

OOC:
Trying to take control of the grapple
CMB -> 30

Sorry Zuni!

With another wave of his hand, Izzick began to chant out another familiar spell. Bolts of arcane energy popped from his hand, flying towards the Cinderlander, chasing around Zuni towards their mark. Each burst on impact before Izzick focused back on the electrical orbs around them. While held so close, there was no way for him to strike one without hitting the other so he held back, walking closer as he kept the spheres ready for round 2.

Casting Magic Missile
08:55, Today: Izzick rolled 18 using 5d4+5.

Holding the Ball Lightning for now. Damn AoEs and grapples.