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08:12, 26th April 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids.

Posted by The RaconteurFor group 0
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 67 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 13 May 2014
at 19:50
  • msg #377

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr nearly dropped his bow in surprise as Liseth pushed by him to run out INTO the room were the zombies were.  He nearly grabbed her arm to stop her from going; what was she thinking?

"What are you . . . ."  Kerr called after her, but Liseth's intent became clear as her healing light washed out and bathed Kerr and the others in its radiance, healing their injuries.  Kerr could feel the damage from the goblin's sword and the zombie's overpowering attack being saved away.

He felt better already.

Of course, staying in the corridor was not an option now that he was no longer protecting Liseth.  The young archer stepped out into the room between the young blonde and the final zombies just in time to see Kellan nearly pin one to the wall.  As it slumped to the floor, Kerr drew a bead on the creature's sole remaining fellow, sending two arrows speeding toward it.

There were good shots.  They were!  They hit the zombie dead on.  Unfortunately they did not have nearly the effect of the two arrows that had dispatched the first zombie.  No, they seemed to be more like Pisca's shot; mere pinpricks.  As Kerr drew yet another arrow, he wondered if this zombie was particularly resistant to bowshots, or if he had just gotten lucky with the previous one.

But now was not the time for such ruminations.  He saw the not-very-wounded zombie clasp its hands together, bringing them around for another mighty strike upon Cato . . . .

OOC:

Move - 5' Step to CC-3

Full-Round Action - Rapid Shot on Z2

12:37, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 2 using 1d8. Rapid Shot #2 Damage.
12:37, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 1 using 1d8. Rapid Shot #1 Damage.
12:37, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 23 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #2 on Z2 (PBS, DA).
12:37, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 18 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #1 on Z2 (PBS, DA).



This message was last edited by the player at 22:18, Tue 13 May 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 952 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 13 May 2014
at 19:59
  • msg #378

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kellan's poleaxe pierced the zombie with a satisfying crunch, nearly spitting it against the wall.  The guardsman quickly extracted the weapon before the now-inanimate corpse could entangle it with its dead weight.  Spinning around, Kellan saw that the other zombie was right in front of him, but its concentration was mostly upon attacking Cato, who was trying to slowly escape from it along the wall.

The creature brought its clasped hands around in another mighty blow, but this time failed to find an purchase in Cato's flesh, instead hitting and rebounding from the wall with significant force.  The goblin's undead minion had no more reaction to this failure than it had to its success; a low moan echoed from the back of its throat as it focused again on the wizard, bringing its hands around for yet another strike . . .

OOC:

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D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pools)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
T  = Pit       R = Kerr
3  = 3-armed goblin
UT = Uncovered Pit
Z# = Zombie

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights
Party Turn Result

Z2 takes three points of damage. Z3 is slain.

Zombie Turn

Zombie 2

Does not Move
Standard Action:  Slam Attack on Cato

12:41, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 2, rolled 10 using 1d20+4. Slam Attack on Cato.

Result: Miss.

Party Status

Kerr has taken 6 points of damage and has 18 hit points left.  Cato has taken 10 points of damage.  Kellan has taken 5 points of damage.

All party members may now take a combat turn.

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:00, Tue 13 May 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 898 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 13 May 2014
at 21:23
  • msg #379

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The mental and spiritual exertion had left Liseth exhausted.  She closed her eyes for just a moment, but with that zombie still loose there was no way that she could try to rest.  Especially since it was just a short step away before the zombie could get to her.

"I'm okay..." she reassured both Kerr and herself.  Taking a deep breath, the girl pushed herself off of the wall that she found she was leaning against.  Liseth carefully stepped around the open pit that one of the zombies had come out of to put a little more distance between herself and the undead monster.

Seeing Pisca nearby, Liseth made a grimace as the gnome hefted the fallen goblin's evil red sword; the one with Kerr's blood on it.  "Be careful with that Pisca, it might be cursed."  It must be a sword that the goblin was given by that demon; Liseth didn't know whether it would be a good idea to try and use it against the zombies.  But Pisca seemed to think otherwise.

"Gods grant you their favor."  Reaching her shield arm out, the blonde acolyte touched it to Pisca before the gnome could scamper towards the zombie.  It was just a minor amount of divine energy that she channeled, but still felt almost like straining a worn and tired muscle.

Liseth hoped that it was enough to help.  She had been doing that a lot lately.

Free: 5 foot step to DD-5
Standard: Cast Guidance on Pisca (+1 to an attack, save, or skill check)
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 553 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 13 May 2014
at 22:14
  • msg #380

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Spinning with the momentum from his last strike, Kellan struck the zombie with the shaft of his weapon lengthwise, pushing off as he backed into the corner where his previous foe still twitched. His boots slipped a little as he lost traction against the dead flesh and the more fragile bones crunched underfoot, causing him to cringe internally. That would not be a sensation easily forgotten.

He brought the blade down from above, reversing the weight sharply and causing the cold iron edge to descend with a whistle. his stance still precarious on his redeceased foe.

HP: 30/35
AC: 18
Move: to CC -1
Standard: Power Attack
Attack Roll Result: 22
Damage Result: 13

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 937 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 13 May 2014
at 22:26
  • msg #381

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Lets kill it down, Stomper!"  With the glowing red sword of Maximum Evil firmly within her grip, the gnome hopped down into the Zombie Hole.

"Hurt the friends of Pisca Neep Freemish, will you?  Face me!"  Bolstered by the Liseth's healing light, the gnome felt very bold and highly capable.  She took a swipe with the Evil sword.  It was a swipe designed to neatly slice a few hairs from back of the shambling undead's head.  Instead the blade, as Evil blades are wont to do, missed.

"Well this one's definitely broken," complained the gnome and she favored the Evil sword with a highly disapproving look.  "You, Evil Sword, are broken."

5ft step / Aid Kellan vs Z2

15:10, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 8 using 1d20+4. Aid Kellan vs Z2 +1 Guidance +2 Flanking.

Position:  EE-3
Dancing Lights: GG-4

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

AC15
HP 24/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6

The Raconteur
GM, 955 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 14 May 2014
at 00:38
  • msg #382

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The remaining zombie was distracted from its single-minded pursuit of Cato by the flash of Kellan's movement in the corner of it's eye.  It quickly turned to take the legs out from under the prey attempting to get away, but it was far too late.

The zombie looked on with uncomprehending eyes as Kellan, turning from prey to predator, deftly backed out of the way and brought his poleaxe down with all of his might.  The zombie threw up an arm to defend himself, but this provided little protection from such a powerful blow.  Kellan's attack sheared off the creature's arm and then split its torso from the shoulder to its navel.

The final zombie fell over, quite dead.

But the low moans of its still-lidded companions, seemingly excited by the sounds above, were clearly audible in the sudden stillness following the final zombie's fall.

OOC:

17:30, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 2, rolled 5 using 1d20+4. Trip Attack on Kellan.

Combat is over.  While the party is (mostly) out of combat rounds, please designate your position after every post while you decide how to deal with the un-released zombies. 


This message was last edited by the GM at 00:39, Wed 14 May 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 503 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 14 May 2014
at 01:01
  • msg #383

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato leaned against the wall, trying to block out the noise of the zombies still moaning in their cells.  Despite Liseth's healing magic, his head ached.  His whole body ached, in fact.  Was it the transformation taking hold, or just the immediate effects of the battle.  He smiled weakly.  "Good job, I guess.  Certainly wasn't expecting that mutant goblin-thing to attack us."  He looked at the remaining covered pits.  "I think we definitely need to take care of the rest of these.  We certainly wouldn't want to them get out and into the town above."

He looked at the pits, and considered for a second, his head finally clearing as the adrenalin from combat eased.  "Maybe we could just stand back, I could hit one of the lids with an Acid Splash, and Kerr and Pisca could riddle a zombie with arrows when it clambered out?  Maybe we could even make some kind of barricade to protect us?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 939 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 14 May 2014
at 01:37
  • msg #384

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I don't think the arrows are doing much, Cato," Pisca said, with a distinctly disapproving tone to her voice, as if the world and all of its acts and things must, in some way, play to the satisfaction of a gnome.  She climbed out of the shallow hole which, one might suppose, was all the zombie once had that it could call a home.  And then the gnome began to outline a plan.

"Why don't we take them one at a time?  But we need to do this quickly.  We need to get you to Father Zantus, Cato.  Stomper, you get behind me.  I'll kick the lid off and draw its attention while you hit it.  Alright?"

"But first ... you don't look so good, Cato.  I think you need a little gnomish magic."  Pisca wove her fingers in pattern of the spell, and a light, not as pure as Liseth's, but bright and white enough, appeared in the gnome's hand.  She touched the light to the arm young human wizard and it jumped to him.  The light raced up his arm to every wound it could find, restoring his flesh.

"Alright, better move from here now, Cato.  I'm going to kick open this lid.  When we're ready, say go."

18:22, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 7 using 1d8+3. Cast CLW on Cato.

When everyone's ready.  Total Defense and kick open the lid at FF-2.

Total Defense: AC21, Touch19, Flat13, CMD18

Position:  EE-2
Dancing Lights: GG-4

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

AC15
HP 24/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 555 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 14 May 2014
at 18:15
  • msg #385

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

If Kellan had been dirty before, now he was absolutely filthy. Between the sweat, his own blood and that of the various enemies they had slain down in this pit, he was looking more worn by the minute. Thankfully such was their haste that the young man barely noticed the smell, and did not even consider what a monumental undertaking it would be to get everything inspection ready again.

Spurred on by Piscas haste and Catos ever worsening condition he rolled his shoulders, got into a stable fighting stance and gave Pisca a nod to signify that he was ready.

"Alright, lets get this over with"

HP: 30
AC: 18
Position: DD -3

This message was last edited by the player at 18:42, Wed 14 May 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 506 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 14 May 2014
at 18:26
  • msg #386

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato breathed as sigh of relief as Pisca's magic healed the last of his wounds.  His head finally felt clear again, though he was sure he could still feel the corruption deep inside his body.  Pushing the feeling down, he walked away from Pisca, Kellan and the next pit, taking up position where he could make a clear shot with his damaging cantrip should the need arise.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 905 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Wed 14 May 2014
at 18:48
  • msg #387

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Once the remaining zombie had been destroyed by Kellan, Liseth shuffled into the better protected area between all of her friends.  She leaned against the wall and watched the discussion of how to deal with the zombies still hiding in their zombie-pits.

"Right, arrows don't work well against zombies.  They don't have any vital organs to puncture.  It takes a really strong and skilled archer to be able to slay a zombie with his bow."  The small blonde smiled towards Kerr.

"Pisca's plan is better, Kellan can chop them up with his poleaxe."  Liseth grimaced at the thought, already imagining the scene.  It didn't take much, seeing as there were slain zombies already strewn about.

"Oh, thank you Pisca."  The young healer watched as Pisca worked her own healing magic on Cato, "I was worried about how hurt Cato was.  I forgot that you could use healing magic too; I don't think I'll be able to heal anyone else until I've had a chance to rest for a while."  She touched her hand to her forehead, which was sweaty from exertion and concentration.

There was precious little that Liseth could do to help finish off the remaining zombies.  Between Pisca, Cato, and Kellan they shouldn't have any trouble one at a time anyway.  And the blonde acolyte did not relish watching the spectacle of zombie slaying.  "I think that I'll wait out on the stairs while you all...destroy the undead."

Turning a sickly color, Liseth retreated out of the room to climb a short distance up the stairway passage before sitting down on one of the steps.  Demons, freaks, mutants, skull monsters, evil temples, and now even undead.  She just wanted to be outside in the sun again.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Wed 14 May 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 958 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 15 May 2014
at 03:04
  • msg #388

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Now that the group was to face only one zombie at a time, and on their own terms, things went much, much more smoothly.  The eight remaining zombies fell to a maelstrom of poleaxe blows, acid splashes, glowing sword hits, and even the occasional arrow.  It became a sort of rhythm; Pisca would throw off a lid, Kellan would spit the surprised zombie (if zombies could be surprised, these ones certainly were), and if that didn't kill it the rest of the group's efforts would finish it off.

Then on to the next one.

The whole process took a while, although things went faster as everyone became more comfortable with their roles.  Kerr, looking uncomfortable, went to stand next to Liseth out near the stairs, wanting to make sure she wasn't attacked by some wandering monster for whom they hadn't accounted but also wanting to assist the others with their task.

Finally, the last zombie fell.  The group was greatly gratified to finally complete their grisly, grueling, gruesome, grimy grappling with the groaning, gravebound grabbers.  They looked about the room, which had turned into something of a charnel house, what with the body parts lying everywhere.  But the chamber no longer contained anything that might menace the town of Sandpoint should it find its way topside.


This message was last edited by the GM at 10:29, Thu 15 May 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 559 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 15 May 2014
at 03:29
  • msg #389

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was beginning to look a little worse for the wear. It was not so much the danger, fatigue or even his wounds so much as it was the mental strain. Being in the dark and the cold, and working through the morbid task of hacking these tortured bodies to bits had an effect on him that the hot blooded action of their recent battles had not. He looked pale and his lips were drawn tight

How was he supposed to explain any of this to Shayliss or his family? How would he phrase it in his report? Who were these poor souls trapped down here for ages untold only to be yanked forth from their shallow prisons to meet an unceromonius end at his hands?

A hand there, a bit of shattered bone there, a sallow rotting pile that used to be a living, thinking being with hopes and dreams and loved ones now laid low so many years later, a victim of a war long forgotten.

He struggled to banish these dark thoughts and return to the matters at hand, they were all alive and Cato needed medical attention. the faster they moved the better chance he would have, and the last thing Kellan wanted was another victim attributed to this place.

"Alright" he wiped his blade against the tattered clothing of the fallen goblin "One more room made safe..."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 508 posts
Monster incubator
Thu 15 May 2014
at 12:57
  • msg #390

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"...and who knows how many more left?"

Cato felt like Kellan looked.  Although the guardsman had hefted a lot more steel in the fight than Cato had in his entire life, Cato had never run himself so low on arcane energy before.  His mind felt like it was empty, and every spell he called forth seemed to drain him even further, to depths of exhaustion he had never felt, even in those frantic weeks he spent fleeing Korvosa, barely ahead of his Hellknight pursuers.  All Cato wanted to do at this point was to drop, exhausted into his bed and sleep for a week.  Then he grimaced, remembering that still more trials awaited him once they got back above.  Hopefully Father Zantus would have some advice.

Cato pushed himself upwards with his quarterstaff, still feeling the aftereffects of his zombie-induced concussion when he moved too quickly.

"Well, no time for relaxing.  Let's see what the next room holds."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 944 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 15 May 2014
at 15:26
  • msg #391

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Noooo moooore zombies!"  Pisca made a few passes through the air with the Ultimate Sword of Evil, watching the red tracery of light that the blade sculpted in the air.  "This sword should hum.  Don't you think this sword should hum?" she asked rhetorically.  "vvvhooom.  vvvhhooom.  vvhu-vvhoom.  kk-shh vvhoom."  With a two handed grip, Pisca the Dark Knight of Mystic Forces made a few imaginary passes against her equally imaginary foe.  "I've got you now," she added in a deep and curiously hollow and breathy voice.  Then, "Sure, lets go," she said, falling out of her imaginary persona and its imaginary conflict as easily as she had slipped into it.

The gnome stopped to collect the few items obvious items of value dropped by the mutant goblin.  The fine-looking handaxe covered with what appeared to be carved runes and the dagger with a hilt adorned with a stylized, elongated skull.  She also picked up the wondrous magical returning dagger that she'd taken from the nerveless hands of Quasit Girl, picking it up on her way out the door.  This, unlike the other things, she sheathed at her side.

"You ... don't look so well."  Turning back just outside the door, the gnome eyes her four human associates.  By contrast, Pisca herself, aside from the stains of blood, sweat and other various and unidentified gore, appeared none the worse for the horrors that their little cadre had been subjected to while exploring these ancient Thassilonian ruins.

"This way seems to be turning back toward those blocked stairs that we found.  Maybe it's a way around.  Lets go.  It won't be long."  Violet eyes of optimism dropped down a notch to become eyes of concern.  Humans could be more fragile than you thought they were.  Strange, for being so big and obviously hearty.  Maybe its from being so short-lived.  It must be odd to be that way.

The gnome conjured up a new gnome-shaped light.  This one had a big cheerful grin on its face.  Pisca ordered the happy, more hopeful gnome-shaped light down the corridor before her and then followed along cautiously in the shadows.

Renew Dancing Lights spell and have it proceed 20ft ahead.

Stealth and Perception checks, please.

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

AC15
HP 24/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 906 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Thu 15 May 2014
at 17:42
  • msg #392

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

With her hands covering her ears, Liseth tried to disregard the sounds of zombie-slaughter.  It went on and on; until finally the others announced that they were finished.  With varying levels of enthusiasm.

After a weary sigh, Liseth started to stand from her temporary seat on the stair.  She was grateful that Kerr was already there to help her up, and once she was standing the diminutive acolyte maintained a grip on his arm.  What was in the room was not particularly difficult to imagine after having witnessed the horror that the goblins had left inside the glassworks; but that didn't mean that Liseth was keen on having to wade through another room filled with bloody, dismembered bodies.  She pressed in close to Kerr and closed her eyes to keep from seeing the carnage; leaving it up to her hero-boyfriend to lead her through the mess.

"It's okay...I'm okay,"  Liseth answered Pisca, assuming that the gnome was talking about her.  "We're almost done.  We have to be.  How many monsters could possibly be down here?"  She was far from shy about admitting her exhaustion, the small girl had used up all of her divine energy again; she felt empty, drained.  And strangely warm; although that was new to her.

After a brief invocation, the acolyte waved her free hand and summoned a cool, refreshing wet mist to envelop everyone.  The moisture felt good against her skin and it was a pleasant change from the stale, dead air that permeated the ruin.

"I hope you're right Pisca.  Maybe it does just go back around."  Liseth stepped in line, eyes open once more after they left the zombie carnage behind.  Maybe this was the last stretch before they were all above ground again.  Anticipation of a warm sun and cool ocean breeze put a little bit of energy back into Liseth's legs.

OOC: Cast Create Water
The Raconteur
GM, 962 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sat 17 May 2014
at 03:15
  • msg #393

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Zombies dispatched, the exhausted group crept out of the crypt-chamber down the southern passageway towards parts unknown.  There was an opening to the east about 20 feet down the corridor that led off, through a brief side passage, to another room.  At the end of the passageway, 35 feet distant, stood two closed, stone doors very similar to those that had briefly blocked the party's advance at various other points during their exploration of these catacombs.  The doors bear no symbol nor indeed any other hint regarding what might lie beyond them.

Pisca moved stealthily down the passage and stuck her head around the corner to see what horrors might await.  None did.  Instead, in this small, circular room, very similar to the one with the staircase leading up, there was a twisting flight of spiral stairs that once led down to parts unknown beneath the complex.  But whatever cataclysm had struck the complex millennia ago had blocked these stairs even more completely than it blocked the stairs up to Sandpoint; there was simply no way even the tiniest creature could thread its way through the packed rubble.

OOC:

   P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X   Y  Z AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II JJ KK LL MM NN OO
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-9|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-8|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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-7|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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-6|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-XX--+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+XX+--+--+--+--+
-2|  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  X  |UT|  |UT|  |UT|  |UTXX |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXDDXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-XX--+--+--+--+--+
-1|  |  |  |  | X|  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  XX |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+X-+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--XXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+
0 |  |  |  |  X  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XDDXDDXDDX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  X  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pools)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
T  = Pit       R = Kerr
UT = Uncovered Pit


This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Sat 17 May 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 908 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 17 May 2014
at 06:39
  • msg #394

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"How big did this place used to be?"  Liseth asked of no one in particular.  "And why build it underground?  Couldn't they have just built it like a town up on the surface?  I think that would have been easier."

The blonde acolyte no longer attempted any pretense with her walking; she limped along tiredly with the others.  There was a moment of audible relief when the big stairs down, further underground, was declared blocked; she really didn't know what she or the others may have done if there had been a completely new level, or even multiple levels, left for them to go through.  Liseth could just hope that whatever calamity struck here to seal them off also destroyed the other floors, so that at no point did anyone ever find themselves wandering those dark halls.

"If that was the stairs, then those doors must lead into the very last room."  She certainly sounded more than a bit hopeful.  "Be careful, the last stairs was next to that skull room..."  Liseth frowned and gripped her healing wand, "So there could still be more monsters in there.  Lamashtu's demonic doormen."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 510 posts
Monster incubator
Sat 17 May 2014
at 11:43
  • msg #395

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato marveled at another collapsed stairway, then nodded at Liseth's observation.  "As to why this is underground...well, some of the things here might not have been exactly popular in Thassilonian times, either.  I mean, regardless of what the arcanocracy was doing, there were still ordinary people growing food at farms just as there are today.  And I'm sure those ordinary people would have been terrified if they had seen some of these hideous monstrosities or undead in plain sight.  Places like these probably needed to be hidden.  And if you're building an underground complex anyway, you might as well make it big enough to do everything.  Plus, it could have been expanded over the centuries as its purpose expanded or more researchers or worshippers were dedicated to the task."

Cato looked around at the oppressive weight of the stones and the dark tunnels.  "Still, another sign of what was so wrong with that ancient kingdom.  But I wonder what's going on in our own time that would be similarly horrifying.  In Cheliax, for example.  I've heard rumors of what happens in the capital under Infernal influence."

Cato looked worriedly around at the mention of the skull-guardians.  He silently hoped they had seen the last of those.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 560 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 17 May 2014
at 17:39
  • msg #396

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan trudged down the hallway just behind Pisca. He could already feel the muscles in his back and shoulders stiffening up, and the spot where he had been struck near the collapse bone was throbbing again. His normally downy blond hair as more of a disheveled brown and littered with bits of clotted blood and errant spider webs. He looked and felt like a man who had been fighting since near dawn, but he see me to still be going strong. A testament perhaps to his farm boy roots.

He paused at the collapsed stair case and seemed to do the math in his head.

"Could be gettin close...let's hope anyway" he gave Pisca a little squeeze on the shoulder "ladies first...unless you rather I just kick it in..." he smirked at her.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 947 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 18 May 2014
at 13:52
  • msg #397

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Down.  Blocked."  The gnome voiced the obvious aloud, moaning the words as though they had been issued by one of the living dead that they had just returned to a state of non-living undead.  "Alright.  Good enough," she then added, this time with a chipper finality.

"And I think that these ruins were once ... " Pisca said, chiming in with her own answer to Liseth's questions, " ... as big as they once were before they weren't anymore, Lys.  That makes all sorts of sense to me, don't you think?" she added.  The entirety of her conclusions, both as numerous in their conclusions as they were convoluted, were suffused with the quintessence of gnomish rational.  Or, at the very least, with Pisca-esque rational.

"As to why they built this underground, once you realize that Alaznist was a human and not a dwarf or a badger or a mole, and that she didn't build it underground because it was her nature to build it underground, then the only conclusion that you can come to is that she built it underground to *hide* her secret Prison Lab.  After all, what's a secret Prison Laboratory if you don't hide it.  Right?  But what's also obvious to us here today is that she didn't hide it well enough.  One of her enemies must have found this place, and that's why it isn't as big now as it once was before.  One of these enemies found it and destroyed it."

"Pretty neat.  Don't you think, Lys?  One of your questions answers one of the other ones.  That was very well done, Lysa."  It was, in fact, one of the most neatly wrapped and tied packages of logic that the gnome had come upon in the last twenty four hours at least.  It could, however, as compelling as it was, not compete with the smirky smirk that caught Pisca's gnomish eye.

"It would probably be wiser to examine the door first," said the sober-faced gnome to the human, "for any sort of trapps.  Then, after that, listen, and open the door cautiously for a peek."

Pisca turned to give the door an appraising look.  Large and seemingly wise violet eyes scrutinized the inscrutible, unadorned stone.  "But lets not," she said.  And then Pisca Neep Freemish kicked in the door.

Maybe not so wise eyes after all.

Kick in door, please.

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

AC15
HP 24/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 70 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Sun 18 May 2014
at 19:21
  • msg #398

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“I hope no more monsters!”  Kerr hugged Liseth tight with his free arm as they contemplated the blocked stairway.  Truth to tell the young acolyte felt like joining his girlfriend’s sigh of relief at the sight; he really didn’t feel up to more fighting today.  He surreptitiously glanced about.  Everyone else looked just about as tired as he was, and he was exhausted.  Exploring monster-and-demon infested caverns was tiring work!

Well, except Kellan.  The guardsman seemed to have an unending wellspring of endurance.  Kerr had to admit he was a little jealous.

Kerr nodded along with Cato’s explanation of the complex’s subterranean construction.  “And if the evil prison-experimentation-laboratory is upstairs,” he said, jerking his hand over his shoulder towards said laboratory, “I don’t really want to think about what might have been downstairs.  Whatever it was, I’m glad we don’t have to deal with it.  And as far as I’m concerned, it can stay buried for millennia more.”

Kerr waited for Pisca to check the final door for traps, then looked alarmed as she moved to simply kick it open.  “Wait, Pisca, this is at the end of the hallway, do you think . . .”  But the gnome was already unleashing a flying kick on the door.  Kerr winced and hoped for the best . . .


The Raconteur
GM, 963 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sun 18 May 2014
at 19:22
  • msg #399

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca threw every single ounce of her petite gnomish frame against the door.

Nothing.  Not even a budge.  Panting, she tried again, with even more force.

Once again, the door failed to move.

Stepping back and glaring at the door with irritation, Pisca noticed that its hinges were visible.  Meaning that the door swung . . .

Inspiration struck.  The gnome grabbed the door's handle, turned it, pulled, and swung it open relatively easily.

Thassilonian construction was truly a marvel.

The finally-open door revealed a strange, 15-foot diameter spherical room.  Several objects floated in therein, spinning lazily in space:  a ragged book; a scroll; a bottle of wine; a dead raven surrounded by a halo of floating, writhing maggots; and a twisted iron wand with a forked tip.

Yet perhaps the most unnerving aspect of the room was its walls.  They were plated in sheets of strange red metal that occasionally rippled with silent black electricity which seemed to coalesce into strange runes or even words far too often for the effect to be mere chance.

The door with which Pisca had struggled seemed to be the only entrance or exit to this chamber.  As far as the group could tell, they had now completely explored the quasit demon's former realm.

OOC:

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D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pools)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
T  = Pit       R = Kerr
UT = Uncovered Pit




This message was last edited by the GM at 19:27, Sun 18 May 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 948 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 18 May 2014
at 23:31
  • msg #400

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Ow."  The gnome rubbed her sore shoulder.  "Can't say I expected that.  Should have let you do it, Stomper."

Then, when the door finally opened in its own inimicable way, "Can't ... can't say I expected that either."  Pisca tipped her head to one side, as though viewing the scene from a slightly different physical perspective might, in some way, lend meaning to the scene before them.  More meaning, at least than the current perspective happened to be lending at the time.

"Fancy ballroom for flying worms?" she asked.  The question in her tone indicated that even she didn't believe that was what lay before them.  "Conceptual art for the necromancer with thousands of years to kill?"

Pisca shook her head.  Clearly this was getting nowhere.  Finally, she took an arrow from her quiver and tossed it high into the center of the room.

"And lets try this too.  Iponznig."  The gnome spoke the word and slapped three fingers from one hand into the palm of the other before reaching out in the direction of the floating wand.  "Come to me, Little Wand," murmured the gnome and closed her hand about an invisible object and drew it toward herself.  "Come to Pisca."

Cast Mage Hand and try to draw out the wand.

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

AC15
HP 24/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6

This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Mon 19 May 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 910 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Mon 19 May 2014
at 20:09
  • msg #401

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I wouldn't mind if the rest of this place stayed buried..."  Liseth fixed her eyes on Pisca and Kellan up at the door; peeking from around the corner and content that nothing could get at her from the blocked stairway.

"So they built it underground because people would be afraid of it if it was on the surface?  I didn't think that people who make Rune Dogs would care about scaring farmers..."  Liseth thought about both Cato's and Pisca's responses to her questions, "But I suppose it does make sense to want to be hidden.  A powerful, evil, Lamashtu-worshiping wizard probably has a lot of powerful enemies..."

"Are you okay Pisca?"  She asked of the gnome after Pisca collided with the door.  But the acolyte was struck speechless moments after, when the door revealed the last room's interior.

"Wha-" Liseth started to stammer, "Why are...is that...a raven?"  Her eyes were fixed on the floating bird body and it's wreath of wriggling worms.  "How did that raven get in here?  It doesn't look like it has been dead for a thousand years...and why are those maggots still alive?"

"We shouldn't go in there..."  Liseth had no idea what was going on inside of that room.  Some kind of evil magic, no doubt.  "There aren't any monsters in there...but I don't think that it's safe."

"Cato, can you tell what kind of magic is in there?  What is the wall doing?"  The teenaged girl certainly made no attempt to get closer to the strange room, warily watching Pisca's experiments.  She tucked her hand into Kerr's and prepared herself for something terrible to happen.
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