Zassil made a terrible scrunched up face, briefly wondering if this is what it felt like for other creatures to experience the effects of his bite. He let out a cough but otherwise seemed okay - for the moment. He glanced back at Lissa. "Get out of the cloud quick!"

Assuming she does, he will take a swing and a follow-up bite at the one in front of him. "Is that your breath? You stink!"

OOC: Will delay until she goes to see if she is able to resist the cloud and/or leave the cloud. He will take a swing and a follow-up bite. Then he moves a 5ft-step to either where Lissa was standing, or right next to her if she didn't move.

07:35, Today: Zassil rolled 17,15,23,9 using d20+9,d8+7,d20+3,d6+3.  Two-handed Morningstar, Bite vs O3.
19:51, Today: Zassil rolled 76,56 using d100,d100.  Miss Chances (above 20%).
For next round: 07:17, Today: Zassil rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  Fort save for cloud.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:51, Sun 22 Oct 2023.

"Frangit.  More clouds."  The mild curse from the Guyverite came as she sidled along the wall to where Lissabytta had left her musket.  The words, in fact, were largely masked as the spectral flintlock discharged a second round with devastating accuracy.

"How y'all doin' in there?" she called out to Lissa and Zassil in the cloud, even as Bunny invoked Guyver's blessing to bolster herself against whatever evil the demon clouds might bring.

OoC:
Move Action: 15ft to J13.
Standard Action: Cast Resistance on Self.  Spiritual Weapon attacks O4.
Free Action(s): Speech

Position: J13

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 40min
Protection from Evil on Zassil, Niri, Claissa, Merrick: 1 min
Bless: 4 min (with Moment of Greatness +2 to Attack & vs Fear)
Spiritual Weapon: 3/4 rounds
Resistance (Bunny): 1 min

Shots Expended: 0
Cartridges Expended: 0

Bunny Cotillion rolled 27,4 using 1d20+7,1d8+1.  Spiritual Weapon.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Threat.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 8 using 1d8+1.  Crit Damage.

Merrick takes a quick move to the left and wordlessly throws another card at the nearest demon.

Ooc: 10 ft move to J13
Touch attack on 02 Merrick Tane rolled 20 using 1d20+5 ((15))

Claissa had never fought demons (or whatever evil outsiders these were) before, which put her on unfamiliar and rather scary ground. Clearly she'd have no luck with physical combat, so she wasn't really sure what to do other than conjuring a wall of celestial flesh to fight back and provide more targets separate from her party.

She finished her current call to the heavens, producing another celestial wolf next to Niri in hopes of drawing fire from her companion, then started working on conjuring yet a third.

OOC:
Claissa: Finish casting Summon Monster II, then repeat. Conjures a celestial wolf to K11.

Niri: Full attack. Bite is 21 attack/7 damage, might get through?

Celestial wolves both bite, one is 14/6, the other is 17/7.

Lissa saw (and smelt) the noxious cloud envelope her and Zassil.  She heard her companion try to reason with her.  She knew that the prudent thing was to get out.  But, the stubborn blonde scholar couldn't help herself or change her own Nature.  Her fingers continued to press and twist the picks that were still firmly jammed into the padlock.  "Damn it.  I almost have it ..." she muttered, trying not to inhale even as she feverishly worked.  Lissabytta could feel the tumblers tantalizingly yielding to her ministrations - and then frustratingly resist those same pressure points.

"Silver Fox give me strength..." also escaped her burgundy lips, even as a cough welled up from her lungs as the cloud surrounded her.  The tendrils of green toxin tried to force their way into her nostrils and mouth despite her best efforts.

---

[OOC:  Once more into the breach dear friends, Lissa will try again to pick the lock (and not do much else) ...

Swift Action:       Activate Archaeologist's Luck (again, 5/7 rounds left)
Full-Round Action:  Try to pick the lock (Disable Device on padlock again) ...

  18:39, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 21 using 1d20+14.  Disable Device/INT (TN: ??):  Pick the lock, free the Guardian! – 21
  18:39, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Fort Save vs Stinking Cloud. – 13

Continuing Effects (durations include current round):
  Moment of Greatness (15 rounds left)
  Archaeologist's Luck (3 rounds left, due to Lingering Performance)]

The tide turns against the demons as the party assaults these Dretch with a fury.  Bunny's spirit pistol blasts a hole clear through the Dretch most recently come up the stairs.  Before it had a chance to even know what was going on it had fallen, dead, back down from where it had come.

Merrick's magic card strikes the second Dretch Blind moments before Claissa's pack falls upon it.  The Celestial wolves tear through the demonic flesh without any issue, as though the creature were not more than a fat sheep.  The first pulls the blinded outsider down to the ground and the second wolf, alongside the tiger Niri, fall upon the demon and tear it to shreds.

No less savage, Zassil brains the dretch he faces with his morningstar before seizing the dazed demon's throat in his jaws and tearing the flesh from the body.  The beastly thing collapses in a heap.

More follow, the demons uncaring about the fate of these others.  A fifth Dretch comes up the stairs where Bunny had just destroyed another.  It sees the pack of creatures already around it and begins to cast a spell, only for Claissa's Celestial Wolf to grab it by the leg and pull it down to the ground.  Whatever magic it had been trying to summon fades as the demon loses all focus.

Yet another appears through the cloud in front of Zassil.  It immediately casts a spell at the dracil, who feels a rush of intense fear try to overtake his senses.  But with the magical protections lain upon him, Zassil fights off the sudden need to flee.


Finally, doing her best to resist the urge to retch and heave, Lissabytta works her tools into the lock keeping the tomb guardian imprisoned.  An audible click is followed by the chains falling away as the scholar knows she was successful.  The undead guardian, immune to the soreness any flesh-and-blood might feel after such an imprisonment, sets of into the obscuring cloud with a purpose.  "Thank You," it says to Lissabytta before quickly being lost to your vision in the cloud.

---

Party Actions:
Zassil Attacks O3: Morningstar 17 (76 vs 20), 15 damage (5 Reduced); Bite 23 (56 vs 20) - Threat 22, 14 Critical damage (5 Reduced) + 2 Acid (2 Reduced)

Xand, on behalf of Zassil, rolled 7 using 1d6+3.  Critical Bite Bonus Damage.
Xand, on behalf of Zassil, rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Bite Critical Threat.
Zassil rolled 76,56 using d100,d100.  Miss Chances (above 20%).

O3 takes 19 damage and is killed
Zassil Saves vs Stinking Cloud: 26 vs 13; Success

Bunny Casts Resistance on Self: +1 to next saving throw
Spiritual Weapon shoots O4: 27 - Threat 25, 28 Critical Damage

O4 takes 28 damage and is killed

Merrick Throws Darkness at O2: 20 to hit; Dretch Fort 14 vs 15

O2 is Blinded

Claissa Begins Casting Summon Monster
Wolf 1 attacks O2: Bite 14, 6 Damage; Free Trip 21 vs CMD 12

O2 takes 6 damage and is killed (Also knocked Prone)

Wolf 2 Coup-de-Grace O2
Niri Coup-de-Grace O2

O2 is very killed

Lissa uses Disable Device: 21; Success

? is freed from its chains

Lissa saves vs Stinking Cloud: 13 vs 13; Success

Enemy Actions
O5 moves up stairs to M9
O5 Begins casting a Spell

Interrupt
Wolf 1 AoO vs O5 (Casting): Bite 19, 6 damage; Free Trip 19 vs CMD 12; O5 Concentration 8 vs 19

Xand rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  Wolf AoO damage.
Xand rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Wolf AoO.
Xand rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Wolf Free Action Trip
Xand rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Dretch Concentration.

O5 takes 6 damage, is knocked Prone, and its spell Fails

O6 moves up the stairs to Q 11
O6 Begins Casting a Spell

Interrupt
Zassil AoO vs O6 (Spellcasting): 11, miss

Xand, on behalf of Zassil, rolled 11,12 using d20+9,d8+7.  AoO.

O6 Casts a spell at Zassil: Zassil Will 25 vs DC 11

Xand, on behalf of Zassil, rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Will Save vs Fear.

Zassil saves and is Shaken for 1 Round (-2 Attack Rolls, Saves, Skills, Abilities)

Party Status
Lissa: Moment of Greatness (15); Bless (38)
Bunny: Moment of Greatness (15); Comprehend Languages (40 min); Bless (38); Spiritual Weapon (3); Resistance (10)
Zassil: Moment of Greatness (15), Protection from Evil (7); Bless (38); Shaken (1)
Claissa: Moment of Greatness (15), Protection from Evil (7), Mage Armor; Bless (38)
Niri: Moment of Greatness (15), Protection from Evil (7), Mage Armor; Bless (38)
Merrick: Moment of Greatness (15), Protection from Evil (7), Mage Armor; Bless (38), Touch of Blindness (2)
Celestial Wolf 1: (3)
Celestial Wolf 2: (4)

Enemy Status
O1 has taken 10 damage and is Nauseated (2)
O2 has taken 31 damage and is killed
O3 has taken 19 damage and is killed
O4 has taken 28 damage and is killed
O5 has taken 6 damage and is Prone

Key: S = Statue  A = Altar  ss = Stairs  B = Bunny  C = Claissa  N = Niri  L = Lissabytta  M = Merrick  Z = Zassil   r = recessed tomb   e = empty recess   P = Sarcophagus   & = Secret Door  l = Lever  t = table   u = Urn   ? = Tomb Guardian  O = Dretch
m = Lissa's Musket   W = Wolf
 c = Stinking Cloud
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:32, Tue 24 Oct 2023.

The animated pistol at the Guyverite's shoulder tipped it's barrel skyward, going through the motions of reloading that it did not require.  It leveled.  It aimed.  It fired a second time, then, sending a divine pistol ball through the skull of the demon lying on the nearby stair, and blowing away a portion of its skull.

Then Bunny reached to the Kataaran at her side, and touched him with the same blessing that she had just bestowed upon herself.

OoC:
Standard Action: Cast Resistance on Merrick.  Spiritual Weapon attacks O5.
Free Action(s): Speech
Move Action: None.

Position: J13

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 40min
Protection from Evil on Zassil, Niri, Claissa, Merrick: 1 min
Bless: 4 min (with Moment of Greatness +2 to Attack & vs Fear)
Spiritual Weapon: 2/4 rounds
Resistance (Bunny): 1 min

Shots Expended: 0
Cartridges Expended: 0

Bunny Cotillion rolled 27,2 using 1d20+7,1d8+1.  Spiritual Weapon.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Threat.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 12 using 3d8+3.  Crit Damage.

Zassil was starting to dislike this more and more. He felt that shiver run through him before he was able to thrust it aside. First the cloud, which was still a problem, and not that? They could cast spells. They were dangerous. He glanced at Lissa, "Please, go! Now!"

He swung the mace and took a bit at the new one that had popped up in front of him, then regardless of whether Lissa heeded him or not this time, he moved out of the cloud before it began to overtake him.

Standard Action: Attack O6 (Morningstar hits AC 20 for 9 dmg, no miss chance; Bite misses)
Move to M-13.

21:51, Today: Zassil rolled 20,9,29,4,39,24 using d20+9,d8+7,d100,d20+3,d6+37,d100. Two-handed Morningstar, Bite vs O6.

Immediately after yet a third wolf popped up next to the visible, downed demon, Claissa called out to her assembled army in Celestial "Good job, keep up the good work! Just don't get in the cloud."They were doing great! The encouragement was kind of lost on Niri, but then the tiger didn't exactly speak Common either, and Claissa figured she could read it in her tone.

The problem was that she didn't know the situation at this point, at least apart from the one demon that her wolf had managed to knock down. She only had one of her best spells left, she wasn't sure if this was the time to use it. "Everyone okay in there?" she called out, in Common this time. "Lots of wolf cover on this side!" It would be dangerous to sling attack spells in this situation, but she wasn't sure about using up her summons either, so she just took up a ready position against any enemies emerging from the stairs or the cloud.

OOC: Claissa finishes Summon Monster 2, then readies a light crossbow shot against any new enemies to appear. Meanwhile the wolves and Niri just dogpile the fallen demon :) Not really sure of all the modifiers and summoned behavior involved, honestly. I can try to figure it out down the road and edit it in, but I can't do it right now and wanted to get a post in while I could.

Merrick moves up behind Niri, happy to use the creature as a buffer as he throws another card at the nearest fiend.

OOC: Move to: J10
Touch Attack: 11

Lissa doesn't need to be told twice.  Well, actually, she does.  But the blonde scholar didn't need to be told more than twice to leave the noxious cloud.  Especially with her goal concerning the padlock fulfilled.  She stood and fled with her lockpicks in hand.

As she retreated back the way she came, Lissabytta restored one of her lockpicks to the braided bun where she'd been storing it as a seeming means of holding up her hair.  Gasping for air, Lissa staggered from the cloud to resume her spot next to Bunny and stooped to pick up her musket once her hands were free of again, having stowed the other lockpick to her the ribbing of her bodice where it had been originally sequestered for easy access.

"Well," she rasped to the others (with Bunny being the closest), between coughs and gasps for air trying to purge the stink from her nostrils, "the guardian's free.  I really hope he's on our side..."

---

[OOC:  Flee the stinking darkness!

Move Action:  Move from O12 to I13, while re-stowing lockpicks
Move Action:  Pick up dropped musket in I13

Continuing Effects (durations include current round):
  Moment of Greatness (14 rounds left)
  Archaeologist's Luck (2 rounds left, due to Lingering Performance)]

Bunny's celestial pistol takes another devastating shot against the already fallen Dretch, putting the demon down hard.  As Claissa finishes summoning a third wolf to block the stairs, her animals surround the top waiting for another of the creatures to appear.

Zassil escapes the foul cloud after slamming the rotund demon ahead of him with his morningstar.  It reaches out for him with its claws but grasps only air; the monster quickly follows after what it must assume is fleeing prey, only to take a shot from Claissa's readied crossbow for its trouble.  Escaping alongside Zassil, Lissa exits the stinking cloud herself.  She reclaims her musket and breathes stale and stagnant tomb air as though it were a fresh mountain breeze.

Another of the Dretches appears coming up the stairs to find itself surrounded by wolves, who lunge at the demon.  Unfortunately the only result is a yelp from one of the summoned wolves as the monster rips into it with a now bloody claw.

The noxious cloud vanishes finally, thinning out and disappearing as quickly as it had been summoned.  You see the freed guardian has armed itself from somewhere, and watch as it moves next to the stairs on its side of the room.  It appears to press some manner of hidden release that results in a stone slab sliding over the stair down.  The second stair is sealed closed; but the wolf surrounded one remains open.

---

Party Actions
Bunny casts Resistance on Merrick: Merrick gains +1 to next Save
Spiritual Weapon attacks O5: 27 to hit, 20 Threat; Critical for 14 damage

O5 takes 14 damage and is killed

Zassil attacks O6: Morningstar 18 to hit (29 vs 20); 9 damage (5 Reduced)

O6 takes 4 damage
Interrupt
O6 AoO vs Zassil (Movement): 7 to hit; miss

Claissa finishes Summon Monster
Claissa, Wolf 1, Wolf 2, Wolf 3, Niri Ready attacks

Merrick Readies attack (Thrown Card)

Enemy Actions
O6 moves to M12

Interrupt
Merrick throws Card of Darkness at O6: 11 to hit Touch AC; Save 25 vs DC 15

O6 saves

Claissa shoots at O6: Crossbow 24 - Threat 6; Hit for 7 (5 Reduced)

Xand rolled 7 using 1d8.
Xand rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Claissa Threat.
Xand rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Claissa Readied shot.

O6 takes 2 Damage

O6 attacks Zassil: 11 to hit; Miss

Xand rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  O6 attacks Zassil.

O7 climbs stairs to M 9

Interrupt
Wolf 1 Readied Attack: Bite 4; Miss
Wolf 2 Readied Attack: Bite 4; Miss
Wolf 3 Readied Attack: Bite 10; Miss

Xand rolled 10,3,5 using d20+2,d6+1,d20+2.  Wolf 3 Attack, Damage, Trip.
Xand rolled 4,7,20 using d20+2,d6+1,d20+2.  Wolf 2 Attack, Damage, Trip.
Xand rolled 4,4,5 using d20+2,d6+1,d20+2.  Wolf Attack, Damage, Trip.

O7 attacks Wolf 1: 16 to hit; 5 Damage

Xand rolled 16,5 using d20+4,d4+1.  O7 Attack, Damage.

Summoned Wolf 1 takes 5 damage

Party Status
Lissa: Moment of Greatness (14); Bless (37)
Bunny: Moment of Greatness (14); Comprehend Languages (40 min); Bless (37); Spiritual Weapon (2); Resistance (9)
Zassil: Moment of Greatness (14), Protection from Evil (6); Bless (37)
Claissa: Moment of Greatness (14), Protection from Evil (6), Mage Armor; Bless (37)
Niri: Moment of Greatness (14), Protection from Evil (6), Mage Armor; Bless (37)
Merrick: Moment of Greatness (14), Protection from Evil (6), Mage Armor; Bless (37), Touch of Blindness (1); Resistance (10)
Celestial Wolf 1: Has taken 5 damage (2)
Celestial Wolf 2: (3)
Celestial Wolf 3: (4)

Enemy Status
O1 has taken 10 damage and is Nauseated (1)
O2 has taken 31 damage and is killed
O3 has taken 19 damage and is killed
O4 has taken 28 damage and is killed
O5 has taken 20 damage and is killed
O6 has taken 6 damage

Key: S = Statue  A = Altar  ss = Stairs  B = Bunny  C = Claissa  N = Niri  L = Lissabytta  M = Merrick  Z = Zassil   r = recessed tomb   e = empty recess   P = Sarcophagus   & = Secret Door  l = Lever  t = table   u = Urn   ? = Tomb Guardian  O = Dretch   m = Lissa's Musket   W = Wolf   xx = Sealed Stairs
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:03, Mon 30 Oct 2023.

A pistol ball, all aglow with spirit light, fired again from the barrel at Bunny's shoulder.  With great accuracy it struck the demon ascending the nearby stairs, spraying demon gore upon Claissa's summoned wolves holding it at bay.

"The stairs close!" she called out.  "There must be a switch on this side as well.  Think you can find it, Lissa?" Bunny said to the woman at her side as she touched her with the grace of Guyver.

OoC:
Standard Action: Cast Resistance on Lissabytta.  Spiritual Weapon attacks O7.
Free Action(s): Speech
Move Action: None.

Position: J13

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 40min
Protection from Evil on Zassil, Niri, Claissa, Merrick: 1 min
Bless: 4 min (with Moment of Greatness +2 to Attack & vs Fear)
Spiritual Weapon: 1/4 rounds
Resistance (Bunny, Merrick, Lissabytta): 1 min

Shots Expended: 0
Cartridges Expended: 0

Bunny Cotillion rolled 20,4 using 1d20+7,1d8+1.  Spiritual Weapon.

Zassil grinned as the demon both missed him as he moved away, but also that it followed after him. That made things easier for him. He turned and swung at it with his morningstar once more, and followed that up with a bite.

"Ohhhh, that is handy! Close-able doors! I wish someone would have said something earlier." It wasn't quite accusatory.

OOC: Attack O6, pretty sure AC 13 doesn't hit. Bite might at AC 16 for 5.

09:31, Today: Zassil rolled 13,12,16,5 using d20+9,d8+7,d20+3,d6+3.  Two-handed Morningstar, Bite vs O6.

Merrick continues to throw about his cursed cards, focusing on the one not engaged with the magical fodder.

OOC: Attack O6 for blindness. 21:36, Today: Merrick Tane rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Redux.

"Hmmm..." Lissa looked and sounded a touch skeptical.  Not with the fact that the doors closed.  Nor that she could find the mechanism.  But, the timing concerned her.  "These things take time..." the blonde scholar complained plaintively with more than a touch of irritation involved.

In her experience when you asked for things to be done in a rush ... you got shitty miracles.

But, time was of the essence.  And despite her misgivings about rushing towards the demons and the chaotic melee surrounding them, Lissabytta rushed towards the wall to look for the mechanism triggers that she knew had to be there, "I'm on it..."  All the while, she tried to recall what the skeletal guardian had done on the other side.  The view wasn't the clearest, but it had to be something similar... or was that symmetrical...

Ultimately, Lissa would never know though until she tried.

---

[OOC:  Let's try something... Anything.  I guess Perception to try and recall what steps the guardian took and Knowledge: Engineering to see if anything else there might make sense (or maybe a dash of Disable Device to reason out some mechanisms?)...

Move Action:      Move from I13 to J9 ("Up agapist the wall!")
Standard Action:  Think brain... what's the mechanism?

  17:29, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 10,23,23 using 1d20+6,1d20+11,1d20+12.  Perception/WIS, Know (Engineer)/INT, and Disable Device/INT checks (TN: ??):  Stair Mechanism? – 10,23,23

Continuing Effects (durations include current round):
  Moment of Greatness (13 rounds left)
  Archaeologist's Luck (1 rounds left, due to Lingering Performance)]

Now that the cloud was gone, Claissa could see that it seemed like the team was doing pretty well overall. She pretty much let the wolves do their thing, since they were doing an excellent job of both dealing out and absorbing hits. Of course she wouldn't do that with a "real" animal, but they would go back unharmed - they probably appreciated the chance to put some hurt on demons without actual risk to themselves.

She kept her crossbow at the ready, not wanting to risk hitting any allies. Niri was available though, so she said "Niri, that one!" as she pointed to the demon fighting Zassil.

OOC:
Claissa: Reload (move) and ready crossbow attack (standard) if any enemies come into a clear shot.

Niri: 5' adjust to L11, bite and two claws on the dretch. 12, 14, 14. Even if the claws hit on 14 it would take a crit to do any damage, so I think that's a null turn

Wolves: All presumably attacking as well.

Bunny's celestial shot rings out once more, striking it's target demon even as Claissa's wolves manage to pull it down.  Zassil's swing is imbued with a surge of morale from Lissabytta's bolstering enchantment; before being struck blind by Merrick the Dretch took a full force hit from Zassil's morningstar.

Niri approached to flank the monster while the tomb guardian came upon the wounded demon to cut it down with its bronze falcata.  It looked towards Lissabytta where she struggled to locate the mechanism to seal the stair closed, "To your right, and closer to the ground," it advised the scholar as she searched.

Up from within the stairway came another of the foul clouds.  It surrounded the Dretch pulled down by wolves as the odor worked to overcome all within its boundary.  Niri and one of the summoned wolves were overcome with nausea, forced to retch in the cloud.  Bolstered by protective magics, Merrick, Lissabytta, and Zassil manage to keep themselves under control.

The fallen Dretch stands, withstanding attacks from the 2 wolves still able to fight, and targets one with a spell.  The celestial creature resists the foul magic, but even so quakes fearfully at the effect.

---

Party Actions
Bunny Casts Resistance on Lissa
Spiritual Weapon attacks O7: 20 to hit, 4 damage

O7 takes 4 damage

Zassil consumes Moment of Greatness to double Morale bonus from Bless
Zassil attacks O6: Morningstar 14, 12 damage (5 Reduced); Bite 17, 4 damage (4 reduced) +1 acid (1 reduced)

O6 takes 7 damage

Merrick throws Card of Darkness at O6: 20 to hit touch AC; Save 11 Fort vs DC 15

Xand rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  O6 fort vs blind

O6 is blinded

Wolf 1 attacks O7: 22 to hit - Threat 4, 3 damage; Trip 6, fails
Wolf 2 attacks O7: 7 to hit, miss
Wolf 3 attacks O7: 15 to hit, 3 damage; Trip 18 succeeds

O7 takes 6 damage and is knocked Prone

Xand rolled 15,3,18 using D20+2,d6+1,D20+2.  Wolf 3 attack, damage, trip.
Xand rolled 7,7,3 using D20+2,d6+1,D20+2.  Wolf 2 attack, damage, trip.
Xand rolled 4,2 using D20+2,d6+1.  Wolf Threat.
Xand rolled 22,3,6 using D20+2,d6+1,D20+2.  Wolf attacks, damage, trip

Niri flanks O6: Bite 12, miss; Claw 14, null damage; Claw 14, null damage

O6 takes 0 damage

Xand rolled 21,2 using D20+6,D6+1.  Niri flanks O6

? Attacks O6: 28 to hit, 12 damage (5 reduced)

O6 takes 7 damage and is killed

Xand rolled 28,12 using D20+10,D8+4.  ? Attacks O6

Enemy Actions
O1 casts a Stinking Cloud on O7: Save DC 13

Xand rolled 17,24,12,11,21,20,20 using D20+5,d20+5,d20+5,d20+8,D20+5,d20+6,d20+9.  Fort Saves: Wolf 1, 2, 3; Niri; Lissa; Merrick; Zassil

Wolf 1, 2; Lissa, Merrick, and Zassil save: No effect (Lissa and Merrick consume Resistance)

Wolf 3 and Niri fail: Become Nauseated (Limited to a single Move Action)

O7 stands

Interrupt
Wolf 1 AoO(standing): 4 to hit (14 vs 20), miss
Wolf 2 AoO(standing): 21 to hit (23 vs 20), 4 damage

Xand rolled 21,4 using D20+2,d6+1.  Wolf 2 AoO vs O7.
Xand rolled 4,6 using D20+2,d6+1.  Wolf 1 AoO vs O7.
Xand rolled 23,14 using D100,d100.  Wolf Concealment

O7 takes 4 damage

O7 casts a spell at Wolf 2; 18 Will vs DC 11

Xand rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Wolf 2 Will

Wolf 2 saves: Becomes Shaken for 1 Round (-2 to most rolls)

Party Status
Lissa: Moment of Greatness (13); Bless (36)
Bunny: Moment of Greatness (13); Comprehend Languages (40 min); Bless (36); Spiritual Weapon (1); Resistance (8)
Zassil: Protection from Evil (5); Bless (36)
Claissa: Moment of Greatness (13), Protection from Evil (5), Mage Armor; Bless (36)
Niri: Moment of Greatness (13), Protection from Evil (5), Mage Armor; Bless (36); Nauseated (?)
Merrick: Moment of Greatness (13), Protection from Evil (5), Mage Armor; Bless (36)
Celestial Wolf 1: Has taken 5 damage (1)
Celestial Wolf 2: Shaken (1);(2)
Celestial Wolf 3: Nauseated (?); (3)

Enemy Status
O1 has taken 10 damage
O2 has taken 31 damage and is killed
O3 has taken 19 damage and is killed
O4 has taken 28 damage and is killed
O5 has taken 20 damage and is killed
O6 has taken 20 damage and is killed
O7 has taken 14 Damage

Key: S = Statue  A = Altar  ss = Stairs  B = Bunny  C = Claissa  N = Niri  L = Lissabytta  M = Merrick  Z = Zassil   r = recessed tomb   e = empty recess   P = Sarcophagus   & = Secret Door  l = Lever  t = table   u = Urn   ? = Tomb Guardian  O = Dretch   m = Lissa's Musket   W = Wolf   xx = Sealed Stairs
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:49, Fri 03 Nov 2023.

Zassil didn't like the second stinking cloud any more than he had liked the first one. He blinked and shook his head, letting out a little sneeze. He quickly exited the cloud and moved around it, pausing only long enough to give Bunny a congralutory squeeze on one shoulder for her good shots. He saw Merrick was in the cloud, and the only one really near the edge, so waited to see if the man needed to be pulled out of it.

OOC: Move out of, and around, the cloud to stand near Merrick.
High-five Bunny along the way (lol j/k).
Ready an action to pull Merrick out of the cloud if he succumbs.

"Why thankee kindly, sah."  A spark of white light jumps from Bunny to the Zassil as their hands pass - Guyver's blessing transferring to the Dracil.  At her shoulder, the spectral gun fires its last shot into the newly formed cloud of stink.  The high cracking sound of chipped stone comes out of the fog to announce the results.

OoC:
Standard Action: Cast Resistance on Zassil.  Spiritual Weapon attacks O7.
Free Action(s): Speech
Move Action: None.

Position: J13

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 40min
Protection from Evil on Zassil, Niri, Claissa, Merrick: 1 min
Bless: 4 min (with Moment of Greatness +2 to Attack & vs Fear)
Resistance (Bunny, Merrick, Lissabytta, Zassil): 1 min

Shots Expended: 0
Cartridges Expended: 0

Bunny Cotillion rolled 10,7 using d20+7,d8+1 ((3,6)).

"Mmmmm...." is all that Lissa could manage in response to the Tomb Guardian's helpful advice and with her lips pressed thin to avoid taking in any noxious fumes.  Her musket cradled in the crooks of her elbows her hands snuck downwards along the wall until she found a set of stones that might give way.  Proceeding to madly press at them to trigger the mechanism, the blonde scholar could feel her lung burning as she tried to hold her breath again in a blinding noxious cloud for the second time in less than a minute.

Thankfully, the instructions given to appeared to work.  Then the loose stone started to give and the mechanism seemed to be activating, Lissabytta pushed off the wall, musket in hand, and retreated back out of the cloud.

She tried to hold her longarm at the ready, but only then realized it was still unloaded.  It hardly mattered, as her priority was to get away from that stinking cloud; her thin frame shuddered slightly as she took in a deep breath, letting the stale air exit her lungs.  Musty tomb air never tasted so good.

"Thank you." she gasped, glancing in the Tomb Guardian's direction.

---

[OOC:  Just ... follow ... instructions ... and then get the hell out of Dodge.

Standard Action:  Activate mechanism to close stairs.
Move Action:      Move back from J9 to I13 ("Run away!  Run away!")

Continuing Effects (durations include current round):
  Moment of Greatness (12 rounds left)
  Bless (35 rounds left]

Merrick stumbles back out of the cloud smelling strangely like his father's socks after a few days in the green.  "You're already evil, why do you have to be gross too," the young man moaned as he moved.

OOC: Move to G10

When Lissabytta locates the mechanism and activates it, a slab begins sliding out from the floor to cover the top of the staircase.  The remaining Dretch climbs out of the way of the slab before it can seal the way shut, only to be mauled by Claissa's wolves shortly after.  With each stair now sealed off any further demons are unable to climb up to attack; silence fills the tomb for several seconds as the end of the recent battle is realized.

Claissa's wolves begin to vanish, returning one after the next to the celestial plane from which she had summoned them.  The stinking gas fades away as well, showing a room littered with demonic remains, you count six slain Dretches.

"It is well that pilgrims have finally come."  The tombs guardian said as it sheathed the bronze sword it had acquired.  "The Corrupters' influence here is great.  This tomb must be cleansed."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:28, Thu 09 Nov 2023.

Bunny's pistol returned to its holster in a gesture of good faith.  Not that she thought the bronze-sword wielding skeleton would know what a pistol was.  Being as it was clearly from times well before.  But empty hands were a pretty universal sign of peaceful intent.  Or so the thinking went.  And beside, hadn't the skeleton put up its arms as well?

"Ah am not certain that Ah speak for everyone, but Ah might be willin' to take a crack at your Corrupahs, suh."  The offer in and of itself was fairly straight forward, but in Bunny's tone of voice there were shaded implications of unspoken conditions soon to be coming.

"That said, however, Ah want to make it perfectly clear from the start that we are *NOT* pilgrims.  Rather, we are scholars, come to learn from y'all.  If y'all are good with that, then Ah think we will be able to work together.  If not, then it is possible that our irreconcilable differences may force us back into conflict, if you understand my meanin'."

Zassil let out a breath as the second door shut and the last demon fell. He tried to calm himself, slow deep breaths to rid his system of the adrenaline.

He looked over at the guardian. He was still for a moment, head cocked to one side. His eyes shifted slightly to look at Bunny when she spoke. Then he looked at the guardian once more and spoke.

"Can you speak more of these Corrupters? Who or what are they exactly? How many are they, and what can we expect to face?"