RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to Rise of the Runelords - Pathfinder

13:42, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids.

Posted by The RaconteurFor group 0
The Raconteur
GM, 914 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 05:37
  • msg #302

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids




The last Rune Dog, seemingly unfazed by both its companion's death and the pounding feet in the passageway that signaled the arrival of reinforcements, continued to press its attack on Pisca.  But it found the gnome to be a difficult target.  It couldn't manage to get its teeth on her, and only managed to scrape her armor with a couple of claws on its right hand.  The creature roared its frustration; it clearly was focused on killing and would not be satisfied until either it or the gnome lay broken and bleeding on the ground.

OOC:
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-9|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-8|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-7|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-6|  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXX--X--X--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-5|  |  |  |  X  X  X  |  |  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--XXXXXXX--X--X--+--+--X--X--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-4|  |  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--XXXX--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--X--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-3|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |WW|WW|WW|WW|WW|WW|WW|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-2|  X  |  |  |  |  | W|WW|W |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-1|  X  |  |  |TT|TW|WW|WW|WW|WT|TT|  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--XXXX--X--XXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXX--X--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
0 |  |  X  X  X  |  XWW|GG|WGX  |  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--XXXX--X--+--X--+--+--X--+--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  XWW|WG|WGX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--XXXXDDXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  X C|  X  |  |  X  |  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--X--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  X  |  |RX|  |  X  |SS|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--XXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  X  | G|  | K|L |  |  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXXX--XXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  X  | 3X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXX--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  X  |  |  |XXXXXXX |  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXX--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXX+--+--+--XXX+DD+XX+XXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  X  |  X  |  |  XXXXXX|  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--XXXX--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXX+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  X  |  |  |  |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--+-XXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  X  |  X X|  |  |  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--X--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  X  |  X  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+XXXXXXXX+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  | X|  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+X-+--+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +-X+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|X |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

D = Door    1 = Rune Dog 1
S = Statue  2 = Rune Dog 2
T = Stairs  3 = Rune Dog 3


Rune Dog Turn

Rune Dog 3 

Move:  None

Action:  Full Attack on Pisca

22:31, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 2 using 1d4+1. Claw Damage to Pisca.
22:28, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 9 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack #2 on Pisca.
22:28, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 19 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack #1 on Pisca.
22:27, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Bite Attack on Pisca.

Result:  Pisca takes two points of damage.

Opponent Status

Rune Dog 1 is dead.

Rune Dog 2 is dead.

Rune Dog 3 has 3 points of Damage.

Party Status

Pisca has taken 12 damage.

 




This message was last edited by the GM at 05:37, Tue 29 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 883 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 13:20
  • msg #303

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"So ... you want a piece of the gnome?"  Pisca the Bloody But Stalwart Raider of Ancient Ruins raised a golden blonde eyebrow at the Rune Dog horror.  Did these things fix on a victim to the exclusion of all others?  That would be useful to know.

"Yes, I know you can speak," she continued, wiping blood from her eyes.  "I heard the other one call out to the pair of you telling you to go around."

"So, if you want a piece of me ... "  The gnome lashed out, backhanded with her blade, sweeping it through the air in the general direction of the Rune Dog.  The slim steel went nowhere near its intended target, but instead continued its arc, up and over Pisca's right shoulder.  And Pisca followed.  With a kick of her legs she was airborne, feet following the path blazed by the tip of her rapier, heels turning over head, stray wisps of strawberry blonde hair whipping in the breeze of her passage.  Then with the soft double slap of leather soles against stone, the gnome was back on the ground, but now she was out of reach.

"If you want me, you'll have to catch me," she hissed and then ran off to hide behind Cato.

Up above, the Spectral Watching Gnome nodded her head, clearly impressed.  Maybe she wouldn't die again after all.

Attack - Fighting Defensively / Move - w/Tumbling

05:52, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 0 using 1d20-3. Hit 2.
03:39, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 31 using 1d20+12. Tumble.

Position:  C2

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15 - Fighting Defensively AC18
HP 12/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 480 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 17:00
  • msg #304

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

If the Rune Dogs really were focusing on Pisca to the exclusion of the rest of the group, Cato could try something he'd never thought he'd have the opportunity to actually do.  He could charge.  In a way, the impending doom promised by the horrific flying skull had freed him from a whole host of mortal concerns.  What worry did the claws of a Rune Dog hold for him if the entire issue would be moot in a day or so anyway?

Giving his best war yell, Cato rushed forward and tried to bring his quarterstaff down sharply on the Rune Dog's head.

Full-Round Action: Charge to D5, Attack Rune Dog.

12:59, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Charge Attack.

AC: 12+4-2: 14

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 528 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 17:25
  • msg #305

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan seemed to join the fight in tandem with Cato. It was obvious that the wizard had little to no actual weapons training, which made it all the more impressive to see him running into the fray. Sidestepping his spell slinging companion Kellan led with the bluntend of his pole axe, pacing and circling for an opening before he finally inversed the weapon sharply, brining the more leathal end around in an arc.

HP:35/35
AC:18
Move: To D4
Standard: Reach, Power Attack #3
00:22, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Reach, Power Attack #3.

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 849 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 17:46
  • msg #306

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Those Rune Dogs were savage!  Even as she watched Cato try to distract them, Liseth could see that they were focused wholly on Pisca.  Claws and teeth bore down on the gnome...until one of them collapsed to an arrow.  That must be Kerr, even though Liseth couldn't see him around the corner.

Then everyone started moving, all at once it seemed.  Pisca flipped away from the final Rune Dog, and then Cato started charging towards it with a shout.  Liseth followed quickly behind Kellan when he moved into the passage to strike at the monster with his polearm, then continued past the big guardsman to stop behind him and near Pisca.

[Language unknown: "Plthun al ta Mohopl!  Seteauver os ekprasei!"]  Liseth felt a sudden upwelling of holy energy surge through her, stronger than she had before.  The light gathered around her entire body and enveloped her.  The young acolyte was startled and released the energy right away, filling the corridor with her bright light and lending aid to Pisca's wounds.

Move: Walk to D3
Standard: Channel Energy to heal everyone for 4 points - Excluding Rune Dogs

Effects: Antitoxin (+5 saved vs poison); Light

10:35, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 4 using 2d6+1. Channeled Healing.

OOC:  I will admit that I was expecting to heal for slightly more than that with my new dice added on there.  I don't think that anyone else is injured?

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 60 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 04:45
  • msg #307

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids




"Watch out, Cato!"  Kerr called ineffectually as the wizard ran in to engage the Rune Dog with his quarterstaff.  Kerr wasn't sure what Cato was trying to accomplish; it seemed like running TOWARDS the Rune Dog's teeth and claws might be the very last thing the scholar should be doing.

The Rune Dog easily stepped out of the way of Cato's mighty attack.  The reverberation of staff striking stone echoed down the corridor.

That can't be good.

One unfortunate side effect of Cato's bravery was that he got in the way of what would have been a pretty clear shot for Kerr; the bowman was going to have to thread the needle yet again in order to hit his target.  His first shot did just that, burying itself into the Rune Dog's chest and eliciting a pained scream from the monster.  But the second arrow flew wide; Kerr almost cursed as he saw the anger in the Rune Dog's eyes.

He suspected Cato would bear the brunt of it.

OOC:

Full-Round Action:  Rapid Shot

Move:  None

Position:  E4

Attack on Rune Dog 3

21:32, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 12 using 1d8+4. Damage to Rune Dog 3.
21:32, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 8 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #2 (PBS, DA).
21:32, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 22 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #1 (PBS, DA).

Result:  12 points of damage to Rune Dog 3.





This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Wed 30 Apr 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 916 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 04:57
  • msg #308

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids




Cato swung his quarterstaff at the Rune Dog, but apparently the hitting of these creatures was harder than it looked; the monster dodged his blow and the wizard's staff hit the ground with an audible thunk that almost shook the weapon from his hands.

Meanwhile, the Rune Dog howled in pain as an arrow flew over Cato's shoulder to bury itself in the creature's chest.  Mad with rage, the Rune Dog took advantage of the opening created by Cato's missed attack to savage him with tooth and claw.  Fortunately for Cato, it seemed as if his magical armor prevented most of the damage; while it still wasn't pleasant the Rune Dog's attack was not nearly as damaging as it should have been.

That said, Cato could feel the poison from the Rune Dog's saliva starting to course through his veins, bringing out the same malice and anger the fueled the creature's rabid attacks . . .

OOC:
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-9|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-8|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-7|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-6|  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXX--X--X--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-5|  |  |  |  X  X  X  |  |  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--XXXXXXX--X--X--+--+--X--X--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-4|  |  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--XXXX--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--X--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-3|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |WW|WW|WW|WW|WW|WW|WW|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-2|  X  |  |  |  |  | W|WW|W |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-1|  X  |  |  |TT|TW|WW|WW|WW|WT|TT|  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--XXXX--X--XXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXX--X--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
0 |  |  X  X  X  |  XWW|GG|WGX  |  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--XXXX--X--+--X--+--+--X--+--XXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  XWW|WG|WGX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--XXXXDDXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  X G|  X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  X  |L X  |  |  X  |  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--X--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  X  |K |RX|  |  X  |SS|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--XXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  X  |C |  |  |  |  |  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXXX--XXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  X  |3 X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXX--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  X  |  |  |XXXXXXX |  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXX--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXX+--+--+--XXX+DD+XX+XXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  X  |  X  |  |  XXXXXX|  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--XXXX--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXX+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  X  |  |  |  |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--+-XXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  X  |  X X|  |  |  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--X--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  X  |  X  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+XXXXXXXX+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  | X|  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+X-+--+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +-X+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|X |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

D = Door    1 = Rune Dog 1
S = Statue  2 = Rune Dog 2
T = Stairs  3 = Rune Dog 3


Rune Dog Turn

Rune Dog 3 

Move:  None

Action:  Full Attack on Cato

21:36, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 2 using 1d4+1. Claw Damage to Cato.
21:36, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 2 using 1d6+1. Bite Damage to Cato.
21:35, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 22 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack on Cato #2.
21:35, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 9 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack on Cato #1.
21:35, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 16 using 1d20+3. Bite Attack on Cato.

Result - Cato takes 4 points of damage, must make DC 12 Will save (antitoxin
bonus applies) or lose control of character.


Opponent Status

Rune Dog 1 is dead.

Rune Dog 2 is dead.

Rune Dog 3 has taken 15 points of Damage.

Party Status

Pisca has taken 8 damage.

Cato has taken 4 damage.

 




This message was last edited by the GM at 04:58, Wed 30 Apr 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 481 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 13:03
  • msg #309

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The attack from the Rune Dog brought Cato back to his senses.  The surge of emotions flowing through his body momentarily overpowered him, but the mage shook his head and cleared his thoughts.  fighting more conservatively, Cato edged around the Rune Dog, trying to keep its claws and teeth away with his quarterstaff while struggling to provide Kellan with an opening for a more powerful attack.

OOC:
Standard Action: Fight Defensively, Aid Another (+2 to Kellan's Attack)
Move Action: 5' Step to C6
08:59, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Will Save.
09:00, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 11 using 1d20-1. Fight Defensively, Aid Another.

AC: 18
HP: 21

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 884 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 13:05
  • msg #310

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Well.  That was interesting.  Maybe the Rune Dogs weren't the gnome haters she had thought they were.  Equal opportunity haters.  Which ... admittedly would make sense for Wrath.  Maybe ... a distraction.  How would they react if ...

Pisca eyed the pack of Kerr Mollin's with its burden of dead quasit stowed within.  That would be the closest thing that the Rune Dogs had for a mother.  Quasit Girl's death would certainly come as a surprise.  But ... how to go about this?  Jump on Kerr's back, slash the straps that seal it closed, and haul out the body?  Hmmm, mused Pisca the Tactical Gnome as she evaluated Plan One.  Too complex.  Too many moving parts.  Most particularly one squirming human.

Then came Plan Two.

"So you're not talking," called out the gnome.  "Maybe you don't speak Common!  But surely you must understand this ... "

Pisca's rapier fell to the floor with a sufficiently gnomish clatter as she forwent it for the dagger that they had taken from the dead extra-planar body of Quasit Girl.  "Do you recognize this?" she cried, holding the blade aloft.  "Yes!  That's right.  She's dead, Jim!  We killed her and sent all her Wrathy Lamashtu-ness back to the Abyss!  She's a stiff!  Bereft of life.  Rests in pieces.  If you hadn't nailed her to the perch she'd be pushing up the daisies!"

The gnome flipped the dagger into the air, catching it by its keen steel blade.  She grinned as she drew back her arm and said, "So what do you think of ... *THAT*?"  And Pisca threw the dagger, straight as an arrow ... off into the darkness of the tunnel.

"Ook.  That's not what I meant to happen."

Drop Rapier / Draw Dagger / Attack #3 (Nat1)

05:29, Wed 30 Apr 2014: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 7 using 1d20+6 ((1)).

Position:  C2

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 12/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 530 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 17:20
  • msg #311

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan feared the worst, it appeared that Pisca had been infected with whatever insidious poison these Rune things carried or produced. She was shouting nonsense and throwing tiny daggers about when he saw Cato thump the thing in the face, not hard enough to break bones but certainly enough to draw its attention.

As the creature shifted he choaked up briefly on the haft, stepping in and brining the blade in sideways along the belly in an attempt to gut the thing with his new pole arms wickedly sharp curved edge.

Move: None
Action: Aided Reach Attack #3
10:12, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 11 using 2d4+4. Guisarme Damage.
10:11, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 27 using 1d20+10. Aided, Reach,  Attack.

The Raconteur
GM, 917 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 17:29
  • msg #312

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids




Pisca's dead-quasit display certainly seemed to achieve its purpose.  It distracted the misshapen creature; it looked at the gnome and howled an angry challenge that promised death and dismemberment.  Her wildly-inaccurate dagger throw only seemed to further infuriate it.

Unfortunately for the Rune Dog, this gave Kellan an opening to impale it right through the chest with his polearm, killing it instantly.  The Rune Dog's face had an almost-comical look of surprise as it sunk to the ground.  Almost comical, if it had not been so very hideous.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the fight was over.  The group stood in the passage, breathing heavily, listening to the fading echoes of the Rune Dog's terrible, final scream.

OOC:  Combat is over; the Rune Dogs are defeated.




This message was last edited by the GM at 17:30, Wed 30 Apr 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 531 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 17:48
  • msg #313

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellans breath came hard but steady as he pulled out his blade and inverted his weapon to lean upon it. He swallowed in a dry throat before remembering his water skin, taking in from its hook on his belt and squeezing a steady stream of water into his mouth before offering it around. He was a little winded of course, but not like the goblin fightm..or Tsutos ambush. Either he was warmed up today or he was getting better at this. He liked to think it was the latter.

Checking himself over briefly he found himself unwounded, without so much as an armor bite. Three of these things dead after being flanked...and even Pisca was still standing. Maybe they were all getting better at this.

"How are you feelin? He asked Cato, noting that the wizard had been bitten. Whatever stuff these things spread probably did not help the case of whatever was growing inside the sage. One by one he looked to his friends and found them more or less intact. What if that was it? The three very last rune dogs in this place, if not all of Golarion. What if they would discover that this room with the cells was the extent of it and that they could all go home. That would be wonderful...

"Everybody still good to continue?" He figured he would ask before Pisca ran ahead again. He was all too aware that the clock was still ticking for Cato. If there was a time to move with haste and to put aside thoughts of rest, this would probably be it.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 851 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 18:23
  • msg #314

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Through Pisca'a taunts and Cato's shouts, Liseth spent a moment pondering that new feeling she had when she channeled positive energy.  It felt almost like the holy energy was trying to concentrate inward instead of outward like she had always done before.  The young acolyte didn't know what that meant.

But Pisca was still hurt, and Cato was even bitten when he distracted the Rune Dog for Kellan.  Luckily Kellan removed the threat that the Rune Dog posed, so Liseth was able to breathe and concentrate while she channeled energy again.

[Language unknown: "Llmiee Wiaiad, taoer icaun teive avethiout alou Ionsa Outarever!"]  The small blonde concentrated carefully and released a burst of white light to follow the reverberating scream of the slain Rune Dog.  This time, it was much closer to what she expected to have happen.

Even though she was starting to get really tired.

"Are you okay Pisca?"  Leaning against the nearby wall when Kellan asked if it was still good to continue, Liseth looked to her side towards Pisca.  "I saw them knock you over again."

"I...I can still continue."  She reluctantly answered Kellan, turning away from Pisca.  "I think can still do more healing if we need it...and I still have that healing wand that Mr Voon gave me."

"There can't be any more monsters still hiding down here, right?"  Liseth ended with a whine, looking up and down the passage to the extent of their magical lights.

Heal everyone for 5 points, excluding Rune Dogs

10:38, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 5 using 2d6+1. Channeled Healing.

OOC: I'll make some decent healing rolls eventually, I swear!

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 482 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 18:56
  • msg #315

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato took a moment to regain his composure.  Liseth had cured all of his physical injuries, and the mage desperately wanted to get back to the surface and out of this dungeon.  He nodded to Kellan.  "Yes.  Let's get this finished.  I'm with Liseth.  I hope there isn't anything more down here.  Though it seems we've gotten much better at dispatching these Rune Dogs."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 886 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 19:02
  • msg #316

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I'm fine!" the gnome replied with, perhaps, more enthusiasm than one would expect for someone who had been tripped and tripped and then slashed repeatedly by savage Rune Dogs.  "Especially now."  Even as Lysa's burst of divine white light bathed her wounds in their healing glow, the gnome was scooping her rapier up off the floor.

"WAH!" the gnome cried and dropped her rapier again as something flew out of the dark in her direction.  By sheer instinct alone she reached up and caught the thing, only afterwards recognizing it as ... Quasit Girl's dagger.

More slowly this time, Pisca stooped to retrieve her rapier a second time.  "Well, that was a pretty neat trick.  I think what we have here is a magic dagger.  Yup."  After sheathing her rapier and securing her bow across her back, Pisca the Proud Owner of A Magic Weapon flung the blade down the tunnel once again just to be sure.  Her grin broadened as it once again flew back to be plucked out of the air.  The gnome nodded her head.  Though, this time, as she looked down at the magic dagger in her hand, the look on her face was more thoughtful.  "That's a pretty nice trick.  I mean ... for a trick.  As tricks go, you know."

"Well, lets move on.  This tunnel seems to open onto the same room as the Rickety Platform so we might as well go in this way," she said, leading the way up the tunnel from which the later pair of the Rune Dog trio had come.

"By the way, did you see that before?  Did you see the expression on that Rune Dog's face?  It understood.  They understand things.  They're not completely mindless after all."

"Hmmm," Pisca mused as she wandered down the tunnel toward the alternate entrance to the big room.  "You said they were constructs.  Right, Cato?  I bet they can even do simple tasks.  I bet they can pick up trash around Sandpoint.  I bet they don't even eat or require pensions or medical benefits!"

"Hmmm.  Too bad they're so evil, though.  That would be bad."

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Thu 01 May 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 532 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 1 May 2014
at 15:39
  • msg #317

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan did a double take as the dagger made its way back into Piscas hand. It had been so dark he was not even sure.if he had really seen whar he thought he had seen, but Pisca seemed fairly certain that the thing was magical. Kellan suspected that there could be all sorts of interesting baubles down here, but Cato took priority of course.

"Makes me wonder if the Quasit made it...or had it made, or her dead master. I've never even seen a magical weapon before now...and if these guys are handing them out to their servants...well, that says a lot"

Kellan groaned a little as he stretched, the cold air and the shock of combat made him feel sore already, and he found himself glad he had taken the time to stretch earlier. At Piscas words Kellan nodded in agreement.

"Yeah...setting up a flanking assault like that takes a little thinking and communication...and the one I killed over there" he gestured towards the grease puddle "was trying to save its own skin...who knows what they could have been like back then"
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 856 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Thu 1 May 2014
at 17:02
  • msg #318

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

In startlement, Liseth pressed her back against the wall when Pisca shouted and the dagger came flying back down the passage.  Then Pisca proclaimed it to be a magic dagger after catching it.  Liseth wasn't sure that she liked the idea of a demon's magic dagger that flies back at you after being thrown.  That seemed awfully dangerous.

"I don't think that I like that idea."  Liseth listened to Kellan and Pisca speak about the Rune Dogs and their cognitive abilities.  "If the Rune Dogs can listen and understand, and even be scared like the one Kellan was fighting...why are they so savage?  All that we've seen them do is howl and attack right away." She frowned, "It must be because Lamashtu made them.  I don't think that she minds making her own monsters suffer, if it gets them to claw and bite people all of the time."

As everyone started to go further down the passage, Liseth waited with her back to the passage wall.  She didn't want to go first, so let everyone pass her.  Until Kerr stepped around the corner.  Liseth took hold of his arm got in behind him.

"Thank you Kerr."  She squeezed his arm, "For being here.  For being a hero.  I don't know how awful fighting all of these monsters would be if you weren't with us."  Liseth remembered what had happened the last time, with all of those goblins in the glassworks.  She was almost just as tired as she was after that, but at least she wasn't bleeding from all those cuts.  "I don't think I'd be able to do it without you."
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 61 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 1 May 2014
at 18:42
  • msg #319

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids




Kerr exhaled in relief and lowered his bow as the final Rune Dog fell for Pisca's distraction and to Kellan's poleaxe.  How many more of these could there possibly be?  He wanted to finishe clearing out this accursed place so that they could get Cato back to Father Zantus for treatment.  The wizard was already looking a little peaked, in Kerr's opinion.

The young bowman started as the dagger Pisca had thrown who-knew-where down the passageway came flying back to her hand.  That was certainly unexpected.  Kerr had to grin as the gnome exulted in her possession of a magic weapon.

"That is a pretty neat trick, Pisca."  Kerr agreed before turning to Kellan.  "And I don't think there can be much question that the Rune Dogs can communicate with each other.  Did you hear that barking the one up on the platform did when he hit the slippery stuff Cato coated it with?  It was like he was telling the other two to go around."

Kerr nodded amiably at the idea that they should use the hole in the wall to return to the prison area.  He waited patiently for the others to go first, stepping around the corner to watch Liseth with some concern; she seemed pretty exhausted.

"Are you okay, Lise?  Do you need a break?  I mean, I'm sure we could rest a little . . . oof!" The small blonde could be surprisingly forceful with her arm-taking.

The young acolyte blushed deeply as Liseth went on about how great he was.  "Um."  He said.  So erudite, Kerr, he berated himself.  "Thanks!"  He grinned.  "But I'm sure you guys would have done great by yourselves."  He disengaged his arm, but only so he could give her a hug.  "But I'm glad to be here if it help you."  He glanced at where Cato had disappeared through the hole in the wall, seemingly unaware that the two weren't yet following.  "I love you, you know, he whispered in the ear of the most beautiful woman in the world, before leaning down to give her a tender and actually-kind-of-passionate kiss.  He broke it off far before he wanted to.  "I'm glad YOU'RE here."  He waited a beat, then grinned.  "If you weren't, who would I kiss?"

He pulled her close again.  "Come on, gorgeous, let's catch up."  And the two headed after the rest of the group, the taller one with a slightly-silly grin on his face.




The Raconteur
GM, 922 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 1 May 2014
at 19:00
  • msg #320

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids




The group re-entered the ancient prison through the hole in the back of the cell closest to the western stair up to the wooden platform.  It seemed pretty clear that whoever was excavating the tunnel had broken through into the prison this way.  It wasn't too hard to imagine what might have happened after that.

The group conducted a quick search of the cells but were unable to find anything aside from dust and the partially-gnawed bones of former prisoners.  It seemed as if whatever preservative magics maintained the wooden walkway extended to these skeletons as well; otherwise, they would have crumbled to dust long ago.  As it was, they were still quite dry and brittle.

The only exit from the prison, other than the two the group had already used, ran east from the raised wooden walkway, and the group headed up there after its fruitless search of the prison.  The walkway ended in the same sort of passage, five feet wide and ten feet high, that had run through most of the rest of the complex that they had explored to this point.  This passage, however, ran only 20 feet before running into yet another room.

The room, 15 feet wide by 20 feet long, with 10-foot high ceilings, contained several ancient relics of what appeared to be torture implements, although their function and style seemed strange and archaic.  In one corner sat a spherical cage with spikes protruding inward from its iron bars.  In another stood what appeared to be a star-shaped wooden frame, its surface studded with hoods.  And in the center of the room was a long table covered with leather straps and a number of cranks that seemed designed to rotate and swivel.

The room had two doors, one at the very opposite end of the room from where the group stood, and one 3/4 of the way down the southern wall.  Other than that, there seemed nothing else to see.  There certainly did not seem to be any creatures present, at least as far as the group could tell.

OOC:  I will update with a map later but there is absolutely no way I am going to try and import the tactical map on my tablet, lol.




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 891 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 1 May 2014
at 19:53
  • msg #321

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Well, this all seems harmless enough," said the gnome with a sweep of her arm that took in the sum total of the room of Pain and Perverse Delight.  "Doesn't even look as though it's been used in ... years?  Maybe?"  And Pisca lifted up on her toes, raising her eyes up high enough to look out across the open plains that were the long table of cranks and many straps of leather.  "Maybe?" she repeated, hooking an arm up to run a finger along the wood, for all the world as though checking for dust.

"Lets check the side-door first," she suggested, pointing to the door to the south.  "Far doors go on to bigger things.  Side-doors are never as momentous.  Besides, the room to the south can't be very big, otherwise it would run into the entry hall that we were just in.  The one with the Skull-wing."

With those words, Pisca performed a careful examination of the door.  You never know when someone might lay a trap for unwary gnomes.  She listened at the door for movement on the far side.  Then, carefully, cautiously, and quietly, she opened it up for a peek.

Perception checks, both to search for traps and to listen at the door.  Stealth check to open the door unseen.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 533 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 2 May 2014
at 00:06
  • msg #322

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan paused just off to the side after entering the room with all the torture implements. With a grim expression he took in the details, the crude but effective restraints, the edges and points dull by age and frequent use, and the overall atnosphere of ordered misery. Despite himself he hazily imagined what had prompted the construction of such a place...who had built these machines? This was supposedly a place for study of some kind, but what could they have possibly expected to learn from this?

"I don't think I'm ever going to understand what makes people do the things they do..." he mused aloud as he followed Pisca slowly,looking over the room. "I mean how broken do you have to be to think that this is a good idea?"

He felt an inward cringe at the realization that he had left his goblin prisoner in the hands of Daviren Hosk, who's methods could be undeniably brutal. But that goblin had been part of the group that slaughtered the glass workers and tortured Ameikos father to death...it was not so clear a matter as he had first believed ot seemed.

"And to think that Lamashtu is still around causing trouble, and that people are still listening to her...it just...doesant make any sense to me."

He backed Pisca up, shaking off his inward thoughts to focus on the task at hand...impaling the first thing that might rush through the door that Pisca was about to crack open.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 857 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Fri 2 May 2014
at 02:54
  • msg #323

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

There were probably places that were far more romantic than a dark, underground, monster-filled ruin.  With dead, bloody monsters not more than ten feet away.  But none of that mattered when Liseth's grip on Kerr's arm changed to a hug.  And then he whispered in her ear that he loved her.  It really didn't matter at all where they were, Liseth melted all the same.

"I..."  Her words were cut off by a kiss and the small blonde closed her eyes.  She didn't have much in the way of reference, but she imagined that Kerr was very good at kissing.  It certainly felt that way to her.  "I love you Kerr.  I love you so much."

Liseth continued holding firmly on to Kerr's arm when they moved to catch up with the others.  She was fairly distracted and unable to concentrate on the search of the prison room, but that was fine.  The girl would rather keep thinking about Kerr than poke around a bunch of ancient dead bones.  She might have been worrying that some of the skeletons would animate; but she couldn't even feel worried at the moment.

"Well Kerr..."  Liseth finally got around to registering his joke about who he would be kissing if she wasn't there with him and the others.  "Maybe if I wasn't here, you could kiss Pisca."  She smiled a mildly mischievous smile.  "But just in case, I think that I should stay nearby.  So that you always have somebody to kiss."

The next room did it for Liseth's good humor, though.  All of the various torture devices got the excitable girl's mind racing with images of them in use; of people being stretched and cut and stabbed and broken and...whatever else those horrible devices were designed to do.  She stared at them grimly while anxiously rubbing Kerr's arm where she held it.

"Most of Lamashtu's worshipers are evil monsters,"  The young acolyte answered Kellan's semi-question, "Only the most wicked and cruel, or insane of people actually follow her."  Liseth looked a bit faint surrounded by implements of horrible torture, "So if the ancient people who built this place were Lamashtu worshipers, this would just be...normal for them.  Lamashtu hates...well...pretty much everyone, and all other gods are her enemies."

Beginning to feel sick to her stomach, Liseth tore her eyes off of the wicked things occupying this room to focus instead on Pisca where she was peeking through the next door.

There couldn't be any more monsters hiding in there waiting for them.  There just couldn't be.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 893 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 2 May 2014
at 11:37
  • msg #324

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"You don't understand it, Stomper?"  Pisca ran a delicate finger down the doorjamb.  Not touching it.  Just the slightest hair above the surface, feeling for the delicate triggers that could cause the release of a poisoned needle or a spray of acid.  "I thought it was pretty simple.  It's like Lysa says.  Some people are just evil.  That's the way things are.  Of course, some people are more evil than others.  And being evil doesn't mean you can't have a regular job either.  But it's evil.  Evil is what does it."

"Heh."  *snorkle*  The gnome pauses in her work to cover a smirks with one of her small white hands.  "Did you know that there are some people who believe that the bad things that these villains do to others is caused by the way they're brought up?  Circumstance and upbringing is what they say.  If you're raised well and treated decently that you'll grow up to be a good person.  Poverty and lack of means breeds evil is what they say.  Hah.  Tell that to the Thrunes."

"As if you could raise a gobbie in polite society and have it grow up to be anything but evil.  Nope.  It's just what Lysa says.  Lamashtu is still around because there are evil people out there to worship her.  Evil people simply make evil babies that grow up to be more evil people.  That's the way things work."

Perception checks, both to search for traps and to listen at the door.  Stealth check to open the door unseen.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 858 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Fri 2 May 2014
at 13:24
  • msg #325

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"What?"  Liseth was a bit taken aback by where Pisca went with her comment on Lamashtu's worshipers, "No...no no no no...that's not at all what I meant Pisca."  Liseth frowned from her position next to Kerr and thought about how to clarify things.

"Babies can't be born evil just because they have evil parents.  Babies are babies; they don't have the capacity to be good or evil when they're that little.  But that doesn't mean that being raised well guarantees that they'll be good, or that being poor will make them evil either."  Liseth's rubbing of Kerr's arm became less anxious and more thoughtful.  She was glad to have something to think about that wasn't horrible torture.

"I wonder what it would be like if a baby goblin was raised by good, loving non-goblin parents in a nice town like Sandpoint?  Sarenrae teaches that every creature has a capacity for redemption.  They can always turn away from being evil.  But they can't be forced to; they have to realize that they want to be redeemed."  Liseth pondered for a moment, "Sarenrae herself even communicates with evil gods in the hopes that She can turn them from their evil ways.  If Sarenrae thinks that even an evil god can be convinced to be good, how can we say that there is no chance for a goblin to do the same?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 894 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 2 May 2014
at 13:41
  • msg #326

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

This time, the gnome actually paused in her work to turn and favor Liseth with a queer and curious look.  "Well ...  That's ...  I'd say that was a very ... "  Pisca nodded and cast about as though searching for just the right word for such an unusual and oddly diplomatic situation as this.  " ... I'd say that was a very *progressive* outlook, Lysa.  A gobbie who's not an evil sneaking badger butt, huh?  That's ...  That's very progressive of you."

"Though, there are some who say that gobbies don't really even have babies anyway, you know?  They just come all fully grown and fully evil.  Maybe out of a hole.  Or a bog.  Like the Rune Dogs.  Or wood nymphs.  Or spiced sausage."

Perception checks, both to search for traps and to listen at the door.  Stealth check to open the door unseen.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Sign In