Breonna sees that the dragon is now almost out of sight.

Dagger mantains his horse inside till the dragon passes. Once the dragon can't be seen anymore, he allows the animal to go outside. "You wait here, friend. It won't be nice inside." He gives him a last pet before heading inside the entrance.

Once in front of the fountains, he looks to Varlian. "How can we face them besides your power to make them flee? I can attack them, but I won't do much damage."

"We need light, so we can see them clearly!" Zaineb stated, knowing that striking at shadows was a lucky guess otherwise. "And they have no physical form, so our armor will not stop them." she added, but she knew little else.

ooc: Varlian, did you make a knowledge check to figure out how we can fight them?

Varlian ponders Dagger's question.


I have not, thanks for reminding me.

10:37, Today: Varlian rolled 31 using 1d20+12 ((19)).

In reply to Varlian (msg # 987):

"As they were incorporeal beings, mundane weapons will not work against them. Magic and magical weapons will surely harm them, and they did not appear to be particularly resilient. Do we have such a means?" Varlian asks before continuing on.

"I have read that such beings do not strike mortals in a normal way; they sap the strength of their victims until they fall and also become shadows."

"I do, but I can't damage them much." Dagger shrugs. "So... we don't have to let them touch us. Understood."

"I have an oil that will allow my weapon to hit the shadows temporarily. The question is: Will we need it again at a later time?" Zaineb wondered out loud. Based on Varlian's information, she might be able to eliminate the undead abominations, however, how likely was it they would run into the same creatures again, or something worse?

ooc: And here we go again, Zaineb doesn't even have a magical sword... *sighs*

Just a heads up that you are nearing the end of this campaign and soon your characters will be free to join another campaign. I predict we have less than a month of play left in this game, but that depends on how events unfold.

Are you going to just wait here to see if the shadows return, or press on?

ooc: I vote to press on.

OOC: I can manifest Amethyst Burs. Zaineb can have a magic weapon for a few rounds. Varlian can turn undead a number of times. Breonna, what can you do?

Confused by the shadows not appearing, Varlian says a prayer which causes the end of his staff to glow. He looks into the next room.

based on current spell choice - can't make any weapon magical or create one, so best I could do is buff those who have them eg use Instant of Power on someone

ooc: Zaineb has an 'Oil of Bless Weapon', so she could make her weapon magical for a minute. I'm just worried we waste it on 'minor' opponents when we might need it for the big boss. :(
However, with the GM indicating we're nearly done, we should be good to continue. Varlian still has one or two turn undead left, I assume, which means he could turn the shadows on our way back so we can get out unmolested.

You study the chamber ahead with the better lighting and see a chamber where in every corner of the room a fountain bubbles and smokes, with wisps of white-hot vapor rising from the carved needle-filled maws of some strange fish-like creatures.

The stone effigies of this strange race are rendered in elegant repose, spouting water from their mouths into basins made by their cradled arms. The fountain in the northwest corner is smashed to bits. Rubble now mostly dams the flow of whatever hot spring feeds it, but warm water pools around its base, slowly frothing into the center of the room. There are passages leading from the north, south, and east walls.

You figure the shadows could have gone down any of these passages.

Varlian has +3 to charisma, so 5 turn undead remaining.

Is it possible to avoid the water?

In reply to Varlian (msg # 999):

Yes. Along the south wall are some dry spots you could hopscotch along to get to the south and east passage.

"We should go that way." Dagger tells to the others while pointing to the North passage. "I bet the shadows will escape wherever they think we will be heasitant to follow them the most."

Varlian nods to Dagger. "Who wants to lead the way?"

Breonna waits with the others assuming Zaineb will probably lead as usual

Zaineb bit her lip, reluctant to take point for this once they were engaging an enemy that she could not fight. Fortunately that was not visible under her scarf and so she just nodded "I will." the desert warrior confirmed then took the lead, taking the eastern exit, making sure not to get wet feet.

A short passage with a set of stairs leading down 10' feet leads you to a wide gallery that was once filled with dozens of elegantly carved statues, but what they once depicted can now only be guessed. Many are smashed and all are damaged to the point of being unrecognizable. The floor is littered with broken stone and rubble. The chamber is roughly 25' x 25' feet and the only exit is through another short passage leading east to another solemn chamber lit with a bluish magical light. The chamber doesn't appear to have any other exits.

Within lies a single raised dais where a grand sarcophagus of carved coral rests. Around the chamber, the crumbling walls are covered with murals that are now little more than smeared paint and powder.

Leaping atop this ancient prince’s resting place is none other than Merlokrep, now a hideous undead sewn together with hempen twine, chewed leather, and bone-shard pins.
One of his arms dangles off a few strips of sinew, the nubby bone of his shoulder showing through, and his scales are broken in places to reveal rotting flesh and jutting ribs. The king is soon flanked by two of his loyal myrmidons who step from around the back of the dais. These once tall red-scaled kobolds, now things of festering rot like their liege begin to lumber towards you.

Muffled sounds come from behind the dais. The sounds much like someone who is gagged.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:41, Mon 10 Oct 2022.

The desert warrior stopped dead in her tracks when the torch shone its light upon the scene. "Eeew..." she let out, utterly disgusted and horrified at the view of the undead abominations. Secretly she was glad that the scarf before her face was filtering the worst of the stench of decay coming from the walking corpses. It took her a second to understand whom she was facing: The kobold king that Varlian had defeated. Her eyes focused on the creature when her hand went down to the copper crown she had tied to her hip. Grabbing the cursed symbol of leadership she addressed Merlokep "I think you are looking for this!" she called out before the former king could issue a command and tore it free from her belt, holding it up so he could see the metal circlet and object of desire. Once she was convinced she held his attention Zaineb threw the damn thing as far as she could, hoping to send it into the next room. Mentally she was praying to all the gods above that this would buy them a little time to prepare for the battle.

ooc: That's how I understand the situation, maybe rotated 90° clockwise.

     a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l   m   n   o   p   q
   +_______________________________|   |_______________________________+
1                     |||  |   |   |   |   |   |  |||
                      |||--+---+---+---+---+---+--|||
2                     |||  |   |   | ? |   |   |  |||
                      |||--+---+---+---+---+---+--|||
3                     |||  |   |   | s |   |   |  |||
                      |||--+---+---+-M-+---+---+--|||
4                     |||  |   | z1| s |z2 |   |  |||
                      |||--+---+---+---+---+---+--|||
5                     |||  |   |   |   |   |   |  |||
                      |||--+---+---+---+---+---+--|||
6                      |   |   |   |Zb |   |   |   |
                        +--+---+---+---+---+---+---+
                                   Stairs
 s = sarcophagus

 M = Merlokep
 z1= Zombie myrmidon 1
 z2= Zombie myrmidon 2

 Zb= Zaineb
 Ba= Breonna
 Dr= Dagger
 Vn= Varlian
 Tm= Tom
 En= Edgrin


This message was last edited by the player at 07:30, Wed 12 Oct 2022.

OOC:

quote:

Leaping atop this ancient prince’s resting place is none other than Merlokrep

A friend of yours? Should it be our primary target?

"Merlokrep..." Varlian whispers to himself, dismayed that his actions led to the deaths of so many.

"Merlokrep!" Varlian yells, gathering his resolve. "It was I who wronged you! Take your crown and your revenge if you must, but leave the innocent in peace!" His voice quickly begins to quiver, betraying that he knows his plea will not work.

"I'm so sorry everyone. It's all my fault," a quiet, sorrowful voice tells the group. He reaches out a hand to touch Zaineb, and her outline begins to blur.

Varlian casts Blur on Zaineb.