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03:07, 26th April 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids.

Posted by The RaconteurFor group 0
The Raconteur
GM, 663 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 26 Feb 2014
at 07:34
  • msg #1

Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The next morning dawned bright and sweet, rising from the darkness like a light pastry from one's favorite bakery.  The sunlight and clear sky knew nothing of the day's difficult tasks.  Neither did the gulls, who screeeched through the sky and dove for fish with the uncaring abandon of those without larger worries.

Sandpoint itself, though, woke differently.  It's people arose chastened, yet determined to do whatever they could to protect their homes from those who would threaten them.  The lingering effect of Mayor Deverin's speech lingered in the set of their shoulders and the defiant glints in their eyes.

Battle was coming to Sandpoint.  And they would be ready.


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 405 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 26 Feb 2014
at 08:09
  • msg #2

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan's body seemed to know that this morning was a portentous one, and as such it mercifully spared him from a night of fret and worry. He had slept deep and dreamlessly, a near perfect transition into the light of day and without any of the lingering cobwebs of deaths poor counterfeit.

Padding across the hardwood floor in his bare feet he looked out the window to find that the sunrise was still sometime off. It was these movements that reminded him that yesterday he had stood toe to toe with a man who meant to kill him, and he had come out on top, albeit now sore and bruised. Liseth's magic did literal miracles but his neck still seemed to remember the ferocity of Tsutos blow.

He felt a deep sense of accomplishment as he looked upon his clean and oiled chain mail and his freshly sharpened weapon, the cold forged blade, with all the little imperfections and hammer strikes rippling with the dull reflected moonlight. They were well prepared, well informed and supposedly equipped with the very anathema to this things existence. He could think of little else they could do aside from marching a column of troops down the tunnel.

As he laced up his freshly washed gambison and wriggled into his chain mail he recalled Mayor Deviren's speech. "We shall be prepared" she had said, "We answered the call". As he stuffed his feet into his boots and buckled his broad belt he realized that there was nobody else he would rather have in his position. That if he met death today in that tunnel that he would be alright with that, knowing that it was him instead of somebody else. He had volunteered for this, they had hailed him a hero for less and it would be all that he could do to make sure that he earned it.

No matter what happened, no matter what sickness these beasts spread or disgusting magics were employed he had to keep it together. His friends would need him to hold the line, to strike the killing blow.

"No pressure" he told himself aloud as he slung his pack over one shoulder and hefted his pole axe.

He took one very deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment then stepped out into the hall.

First things first, he would need to check with the guards watching the Glass Works to make sure that nothing had happened in the night, after that if he still had time while Liseth was getting dressed and Pisca and Cato were making last minute plans he might be able to see Shayliss before they left. Ven seemed to have a habit of kicking her out of bed pretty early to get the shop ready for business anyway.

Stepping out into the crisp morning sea air he felt ready, breaking a smile as he watched the first rays of dawn warm the eastern sky.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 628 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 26 Feb 2014
at 23:01
  • msg #3

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The gnome awoke wrapped in a tangle of bed sheets, a sure sign that she had wandered the vast expanse of the hummie bed during the night, migrating in rolls, and twists, and flops.  A great glacial force that captured and carried with it all bed sheets in its way."Mumfuggle," she said as she lifted her face up off of the soft white breadth of the bed.  A thick lock of strawberry blonde hair dropped down over her eyes as though in comment.

After the Gnome's Little Toilet, Pisca dressed in her Shoanti Leathers.  For the briefest of moments, the gnome contemplated taking the big Cinderlander hat with her.  In the end, though decided that it would just get in the way of the longspear that Stomper had been so considerate to pick up for her.  For the second time, she checked the leaf-shaped metal point of the spear.  There was still not a trace of cold-iron on it as she had requested.  For the third time, Pisca wondered why.  She also tried on the new belt.  It was quite the smart accessory to her tan and sun-worn leathers.  Dark and well oiled, it also sported a motif of swirling siroccos around its length.  When the gnome strapped it about her waist, her feet seemed to take on a greater sureness.  Her movements appeared more nimble.  It was welcome magic in addition to being a smart fashion accessory.

Geared for the decent into the tunnels, Pisca left her room for the common room below.  A glance before she closed her door, at the sunlight that shone through her window, told the gnome that it shouldn't be long before Lunk brought Chask Haladan for their meeting.  Then, after that, perhaps, she and Cato could stop at Brodie's place and see whether he might have more to say about the Rune Dogs of Wrath.

Character sheet updated with Belt of Tumbling and Longspear.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 342 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 03:13
  • msg #4

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato woke with a start, the nightmares fleeing as his consciousness returned. It had been Lucius Winters, and the Paravicar had chased him through the tunnels beneath the Glassworks. Again and again, Cato flung spells at the man, but he merely laughed as they bounced harmlessly away. The young wizard splashed water in his face and tried to think of other things. He pulled out his spell book, paged through it, and ran his index finger down the list of incantations, choosing what he thought would be most effective.

Cato started with the cantrips, memorizing their easy words in a few minutes. He started on the first actual spell of consequence, deciding on Mage Armor as a safe bet. He was partway through the first line when Winters's haunting laugh came to him again. Cato put down his book and looked out the window, remembering months spent in flight across Varisia. Why these dreams now?  Was something wrong beyond the demon he would face later today?  The demon he apparently was powerless to affect with magic?  Well, Cato supposed he couldn't hurt the demon directly, but he probably could hurt those Rune Dogs. And help Kellan against the Demon.

Cato returned to his spell book, and finished his preparations just as his stomach began to rumble. He packed up his supplies, including the scroll, pearl, and alchemical weapons, placing them carefully atop the explosives in his bag, and set off to see if anyone else was ready for breakfast.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:22, Thu 27 Feb 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 599 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 07:31
  • msg #5

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

By the time the sun peeked up over the horizon Liseth was already kneeling in Sarenrae's wing of the Cathedral, deep in prayer.  Even though she prayed every single day, it had actually been a long time since the young acolyte had done so in an area consecrated directly to the goddess.  She had just not felt wanted there.  But everything was different now that Sarenrae had removed such doubts from Liseth; the girl could actually feel the affection and love that the goddess had for her.

She was happy and at ease.  So much that she could look with confidence on the tremendous task that the day held for her.  And everyone else.

Her prayers today were filled with thanks.  Thanks to Sarenrae for what the goddess had done for her yesterday.  Liseth knew that the gods didn't reveal themselves to people often, and even more rarely did they speak to them directly like that.  And Sarenrae had done all of that and more just to reassure Liseth and let her know that she did love her.

But there was still more than that on her mind, even though the awe took up a lot of the girl's thoughts.  Sandpoint, as it had been ever since the goblin attack, was in her prayers.  Prayers for the people, for those called up into the militia.  Prayers asking to protect the lives of the people and their families when the goblins came again.  And of course, prayers asking that their own adventure down into the tunnels met with success.  Success and that no one was hurt like when they were in the Glassworks yesterday.

Finally, Liseth asked the gods to aid Kerr and help him when he needed them.  When they came face to face with the quasit demon.

Liseth stood from her kneeling position once her prayers were finished.  She was clean and very much refreshed since yesterday; ready to face the trials that the day would present her with.  Or at least, she hoped that she was ready.

Her new dress was already worn; she found it waiting for her right outside the acolyte's quarters when she woke up earlier.  It was heavy, but Liseth had to admit that it was likely to help a lot more than her robes when it came to being cornered by goblins and shot at with arrows.  And it actually fit very well; despite its weight it was one of the best fitting dresses that Liseth had ever worn.  She would have to thank Ms Bevaniky later.

Turning to leave Sarenrae's wing of the Cathedral, Liseth found Kerr already waiting for her; wearing his shining breastplate with his new sword and his longbow.  Her breath caught once more at just how handsomely heroic he looked dressed like that; Liseth smiled grandly for him.  But there was no time to swoon, they had to go and meet the others for breakfast.

"Let me just get the rest of my things first..."  The young blonde made her way back into her room in the acolyte's quarters and quickly gathered up her knapsack; full of things that she hoped she would not have to use.  Her medicine kit, which had come in too useful yesterday, and the new healing wand that she hoped would never need to be used.  As well as a cup and some dried trail rations (just in case!).  Finally, her new small shield made its way into the knapsack.  Liseth made a mental note to rearrange some of these things before they went into the tunnels, so that they would be more accessible

Then she was ready, and the girl left the Cathedral to go to breakfast with her friends.  Escorted through town by her personal hero and protector.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 30 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 08:27
  • msg #6

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr awoke to the first rays of the new dawn streaming in the window.  He briefly lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if everything from yesterday had just been a dream and whether it would be terribly un-heroic of him to just roll over and go back to sleep for a couple more hours.  After another minute of enjoying his pillow and the comfort of the mattress, he managed to swing his legs over the side of the bed, wincing as they touched the cold floor.

He stretched, looking at himself in the small mirror across the room.  Today was going to be a big day.  Kerr wondered if the man he saw in the mirror was going to be up to it, then resolved that he simply was going to have to be.  The gods wanted him to protect Liseth, and that’s exactly what he was going to do.

The cathedral was silent as Kerr opened the door, padding across the stone floor to the men’s washroom, where he took a cold bath, scrubbing himself down with soap and carefully shaving.  If he was going to be front-and-center in the town’s consciousness it would be best to look the part, he thought to himself as he attempted to arrange his short, dark hair into something resembling neatness.

After washing up, Kerr walked back across the empty main hall, thinking as he did about each of the good deities and what else they might be doing to counteract whatever plans the dark gods had for Varisia.  He wondered how many heroes the good gods were grooming to fight against their dark brethren’s disciples.

He heartily hoped it was more than just the five of them from Sandpoint.

Kerr grasped his new breastplate in both hands and lifted it up, briefly stopping to contemplate his reflection in its shiny surface.  He wondered whether Savah’s gift was going to be the difference between life and death today.   He wondered what it would look like when he emerged from the tunnels later that afternoon.  He wondered what he would do when the shiny metal was reflecting not an uncertain acolyte but a long-armed, clawed freak crying for the blood of Kerr and his friends.

Kerr knelt down to pray at his room’s small shrine; one that had grown from simply venerating Desna to include Iomedae and finally Erastil.  He prayed to the gods for courage, and strength, and safety for his friends, and wisdom in difficult circumstances.  He prayed with a dedication and intensity born of anxiety.

A gentle voice whispered in his head.  Be not afraid, Kerr Mollin.  For we are with you.

Kerr cocked his head.  He wasn’t sure if he had imagined the voice, but it steeled his heart nonetheless.  The young acolyte stood and strapped on his new breastplate.  When that seemed to be on correctly, he slung the sheathed longsword over his back, the hilt protruding over his left shoulder.  He buckled a leather belt hung with various small pouches around his waist.  He then opened the fine mahogany case that held his longbow and the quiver of crimson-fletched arrows he’d used since he was a boy.  He secured the quiver tight against his back, with the arrows easily reachable over his right shoulder.

Finally, he removed his family’s ancestral longbow from its cradle, admiring it as he held it in his left hand.  He looked at himself in the mirror and was hard-pressed to recognize the man staring back.  He looked like an armored warrior, not the good-natured, let’s-get-along-everyone Kerr Mollin that had always appeared before.

Kerr greatly hoped that appearance made the man.

He was tightening his belt when he stepped out of his room and looked up to see Liseth.  She was absolutely radiant dressed in the special raiment Savah had altered for her.  When she smiled at him, he felt like he was just the luckiest guy in the entire world.

Then he caught himself.  They needed to get going.

“You look beautiful.”  He said to her, bowing slightly and offering her his arm.  “Shall we be off to the Rusty Dragon, milady?  I have it on good authority that breakfast awaits.”

Kerr and Liseth walked through town arm-in-arm, taking their time, enjoying the sight of a Sandpoint seemingly filled with the new promise of morning despite the dire straits in which it found itself.  Other early risers couldn’t help but smile at the picture of Kerr and Liseth walking through town together, seemingly a pair of divinely-touched young people spreading cheer, and hope, and encouragement along their way.  Few there were who left their presence without a smile quirking on their lips and an extra spring in their step.

Finally, the couple arrived at The Rusty Dragon.  Kerr opened the door for Liseth, ushering her into the common room and towards their waiting friends.

The day had begun.


This message was last edited by the player at 09:50, Thu 27 Feb 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 665 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 08:37
  • msg #7

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The Rusty Dragon's common room was not as busy as it had been on some previous mornings.  Men preparing themselves for militia duty had little time for socializing, and most of them had valued sleep over companionship after their brief introduction to soldiering the previous day.

That said, Ameiko Kaijitsu was still up and serving the best breakfast in Sandpoint.  Today there were omelets or pancakes thick with butter and a rich maple syrup, with rashers of bacon and sausage links for those so inclined.  Blackberries made a reappearance as well, their large quantities indicating that they were in season.

Ameiko had a special table set aside for her deputized guests; as party members arrived she greeted them warmly and poured them a steaming hot mug of coffee or cocoa depending on their preference.

Shortly after Kerr and Liseth arrived from the Cathedral, the doors opened to admit Chask Haladan.  The bookseller smiled as he observed those sitting at the table; he doffed his hat as he walked over to greet them.

"Good morning!"  He said.  "Unfortunately Lunk couldn't join me."  His face darkened as he glanced at Pisca.  "Gorvi had . . . need of his services.  But that said, I was successful in my mission to peruse Sabyl's library."  He pulled out a chair and sat down.  "I'm not sure I learned anything terribly useful about Sandpoint's Thassilonian history, but you're welcome to it anyway."


The Raconteur
GM, 666 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 08:52
  • msg #8

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kellan's forthright stride through the streets of Sandpoint towards the Glassworks also encouraged passerby, if in a slightly different way than Liseth and Kerr had encouraged them.  Seeing the big guardsman, Ogre Stomp! champion, and local hero walking by in full armor, carrying a wicked-looking polearm, and brimming with confidence gave anyone who might have been despairing hope that Sandpoint had what it took to take care of the threats it faced.  People left Kellan's presence with their heads held higher and a great deal more confidence in their hearts just from knowing that such proud-looking warriors stood watch over them.

Kellan arrived at the Glassworks to find that nothing much had changed.  Sergeant Tiller was there; after a brief conversation Kellan discovered that the shift had just changed.  Tiller said that the graveyard shift hadn't had anything to report other than an occasionally low moan from the tunnel that greatly unsettled the men guarding its exit.  Tiller thought it was probably just air moving through the tunnels.

He was not a man given to fanciful flights of imagination.

Reassured that the town remained unattacked by quasit's freaks, Kellan bid the taciturn sergeant farewell and headed for Ven Vinder's general store.  As he approached the building, he saw Shayliss outside, dressed in a nice-looking blue dress that skimmed along the floor but, as usual with Shay, was rather tight in the bodice area.  The girl looked up from where she was placing the signs for the daily specials and blushed a deep red, putting a hand to her mouth that didn't quite hide her delighted smile.  She gave him a small wave as he approached, now making no attempt to hide her pleasure at his visit.


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 631 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 14:27
  • msg #9

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Gorvi is a badger butt," the gnome commented, waving a dismissive hand as though to brush away a small offending thing.  The ill-tempered and abusive, oft-drunk half-orc would have to be dealt with.  But not today.  Not for a while, likely.  At least not while he gave to the town a service that no one else was willing to provide.  Goblin crisis aside.  Hmmm.  Pisca poked a small gnomish finger into the chaotic mass of interlocking gears that had been in residence within her head for as long as she could remember.  With the slightest of touches, she moved one brass cog on its way around the circumference of its wheel and the entirety of the convoluted apparatus groaned to life.

"Have a seat, Mister Haladan."  With a hand, Pisca indicated the chair next to her.  "Have some of the break fast.  I hope Sabyl Sorn didn't think too badly of me.  I approached her rather abruptly, and the needs of the moment made for, perhaps, an introduction that sounded a little more like a demand."

The gnome herself, in stark contrast to her table manners of the night before, sliced a dainty portion of egg from her omelet with the edge of her spoon and worked the small mouthful onto the utensil.  If she had seemed distant and distracted up to this point, this changed with her next few words.  Her eyes were clear and focused as she settled in to listen to the report brought by the bookseller.  "Anything can be useful, Mister Haladan.  Thank you for what must have been a good few hours of study in the library.  I'm interested in hearing what you've learned."

The gnome then brought the spoon to her mouth and chewed the food as, at the same time, she digested the information.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 407 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 16:48
  • msg #10

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan felt the blood rise to his cheeks as he saw her standing there in the early morning light, pretty as a picture. He gave her a little wave in return with his off hand, the other one engaged holding the weapon resting on his shoulder.

"Mornin Shay" he offered as he got nearer, climbing the general store steps slowly. "You look wonderful" and he meant it.

"Today is going to be a busy one, so I thought I might sneak over here and see you before everything...gets moving." He couldn't tell her what they were up against, it would just worry the girl and he had to face it, she was the talkative sort. More likely than not half the town would know about Sandpoints demon issue if she got wind of it.

"I saw you at the speech in the square yesterday, it was good to see you there" not the most suave topic perhaps and it was obvious he was keeping a wary eye out for Ven as they spoke, but Kellan was not exactly a worldly wooer of women anyway.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 343 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 17:01
  • msg #11

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato entered the common room of the Rusty Dragon and waved to Kerr, Liseth and Pisca at their table.  He eagerly procured a stack of pancakes and sausage links, topping the pancakes with a liberal helping of blackberries, and then drowning the entire plate with thick syrup.  He joined Kerr and Liseth, eagerly digging into his food.  After a few bites, he stopped, somewhat embarrassed by his manners.

He nodded at his dining companions.  "Sorry about that.  I feel extra hungry this morning for some reason.  Maybe it's the prospect of venturing down into the Glassworks again.  Or maybe it's just because Ameiko's food is so good."

He looked over at Pisca.  "Want to head over to Brodert's and see if he knows anything about these Rune Dogs after we're done eating?"

OOC:
I forgot to ask, does Cato know anything about these Rune Dogs with Knowledge Arcana, History or Planes?

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 602 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 07:17
  • msg #12

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

It was amazing the way that people they merely passed on their way through Sandpoint always looked so much more cheerful.  Liseth didn't entirely understand it herself, but she was very happy to have such a positive effect on people.  Maybe that's why Sheriff Hemlock had asked her to let people see her in town; because he knew that it would make them happy too.

Arriving at the Rusty Dragon, the girl was glad to see that Ms Kaijitsu was holding up very well.  Her talk with Father Zantus last night must have done her a lot of good.  Before taking a seat and accepting a welcome mug of hot cocoa, Liseth brought Ms Kaijitsu's attention to the new dress that she was wearing.

"What do you think?  It's bulky, but I think that the design on it makes it so pretty."  Liseth raised her arms and then lowered them again, "I can't believe how well it fits me, Ms Bevaniky must be a really good tailor to bring it down to my size."

After sitting at the table, Liseth's breakfast plate saw itself with a pair of pancakes covered in blackberries.  A few sausage links sat off to one side as she concentrated on crushing the berries with a spoon in order to allow their juices to seep into the pancakes, staining the fluffy cakes purple and filling them with extra deliciousness.

Liseth was just smiling after her first juicy bite of pancake when Mr Haladan came to the inn to visit them and tell Pisca what he had learned.

"Good morning Mr Haladan."  Anything that the bookseller had to tell them would no doubt be useful, Liseth was sure.  It was probably a good thing that Pisca was already friends with him.  But she didn't know all that many people in Sandpoint yet, so the girl didn't know who this other person that they were talking about was; that Pisca seemed to have such a dislike for.  "Who is Gorvi?"

"Don't worry about being too enthusiastic about your food Cato," Liseth couldn't stop herself from giggling at his sudden embarrassment, "sometimes eating is meant to be a serious affair, with manners and decorum more important than actually enjoying the food.  But for me..." the young blonde held up her fork, complete with an impaled berry that had found itself rolled in syrup, as though making a point, "I think that eating should be fun."  With that the syrup-doused blackberry saw its last moments in the mouth of the smiling teenaged girl.

When Cato raised the subject of what to do after breakfast, Liseth realized that she hadn't given that much thought yet.  She didn't have to go pick up her dress anymore, now that Ms Bevaniky had delivered it.  And she didn't think that she would be able to add anything on to the discussion of evil Rune Dogs with Sage Quink and Cato.  Not that she really wanted to hear more about them than she already had anyway.

Liseth glanced at Kerr next to her.  If everyone else was still making preparations before their trip underground, that left them some time of their own.  They could go wait for everyone else up by the Glassworks.  And, as luck would have it, there was that beach right there next to the Glassworks building and such a grand view of the ocean...

"Did you have any plans after Breakfast Kerr?  Something that you still needed to do before we all...got started today?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 632 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 14:11
  • msg #13

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Eating should be a performance, Cato," Pisca added to Lysa's comments as Chask Haladan marshaled his thoughts.  "And you should count yourself in the audience.  Play to the audience to please and delight them.  Tickle them or stir them.  Make your audience feel something.  And, I'll add again, that includes yourself."

"And Gorvi is a half-orc, Lysa."  The gnome turned from Cato to Liseth as she explained.  "He is also a disagreeable half-orc.  He has worked himself into a position as the rubbish collector of Sandpoint.  It's a job necessary to the town, but that no one else seems to want.  He knows this, and feels that this indispensable position allows him the latitude to be as mean as he wants."

"Well ... "  Pisca cut another small slice of omelet and lifted it to her mouth, chewing the eggy morsel and swallowing before continuing.  "This gnome says wait and see.  You just wait and see."
Shayliss Vinder
NPC, 6 posts
Ven's Daughter
Kellan's Main Squeeze
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 20:39
  • msg #14

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“Good morning, Kellan.”  Shayliss blushed slightly, glancing down at her feet before looking up at the young guardsman through burnt-crimson bangs.  “Thank you.”  She smiled.  “I’m so glad you stopped by!  You’re looking pretty good yourself.”  She eyed him with a hint of possessiveness.

“It was good to see you too!  Last night.  A true warrior!”  She flushed again.  “Um, that’s what Daddy said, anyway.  When we saw you up on the stage at the meeting last night.  He was very impressed.”  She lowered her voice.  “Told me that you were a winner.”  She looked around hesitantly, before giving Kellan a conpiratoral grin.  “But I’m not supposed to tell you he said so.”

Her lips parted as she recalled the event.  “How did that feel? Up there in front of the whole town as Mayor Deverin called you a hero?”  She seemed to be overcoming some of her initial bashfulness, at least if her subsequent teasing was any indication.  “Seems like some folks might let that go to their heads.  Do you think that’s a danger?”

She moved a little closer, looking up at Kellan.  “So what does Lieutenant Barett have you up to today?  Are you helping to train the militia?  I was, um,” suddenly she was bashful again, “thinking that maybe I could fix a lunch and I could bring it to you and we could eat when you have a break.  If you have a break, that is.  I mean, if you want.”  She looked up with concern, as if afraid her young man might think that this was a really stupid idea.


Chask Haladan
NPC, 4 posts
Bookseller
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 21:08
  • msg #15

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“Good morning, Liseth,” Chask Haladan nodded as he returned the acolyte’s greeting.  “Gorvi?  Well, I try not to say bad things about people, so in Gorvi’s case I just have to refrain from saying anything at all.”  He nodded at Pisca.  “But I have to concur with Miss Neep Freemish’s evocative description.  He certainly makes Lunk’s life much more difficult than he should."

Chask looked tired, almost as if he had spent most of the night pouring through dusty volumes of history.  “Why thank you, Pisca,” the bookseller accepted the gnome’s invitation.  “I think I will.”  He speared a couple of the pancakes onto his plate, followed by an omelet and a generous helping of blackberries.

“You’ll have to give Sabyl some time.  For my part, I told her that you were a friend of the town and just trying to help.  But it takes her a while to warm up to people.”  He savored a bite of pancake.  “My goodness, this is excellent.  Yes, even me, if you can believe it.  I think when I first arrived here she thought I was going to try and purloin volumes from her library for my shop.”  He grinned.  “She can be possessive of her books, if you hadn’t noticed.  But she really has a very warm and good heart under all that.”

“Mmmm,” the bookseller took a few moments to enjoy Ameiko’s famous breakfast.  “I definitely don’t get down here often enough.”  He took a sip of coffee, smiling appreciatively.  “It’s the little things that make life worth living, don’t you agree?”  He raised the cup, as if making a toast.  “I am completely on board, Liseth.  If there was ever a subject for enthusiasm, good food is it.”  He raised his eyebrows at the girl as he held his cup aloft, as if they were allies against a crude and uncaring world of culinary philistines.

“So, what I learned.”  He dropped into an almost-professorial mode, as if lecturing to a group of particularly-bright students.  “It was not much.  Millenia ago, Sandpoint used to be the site of a laboratory and prison run by a man referred to as ‘Xaliasa,’ who sold his soul to Lamashtu in return for the standard reward of dark power.  He was an agent of Runelord Karzoug, but possibly a double-agent as well for another Runelord.”

Chask coughed.  ”The record was not incredibly clear on that point.  But what is clear is that Xaliasa eventually went mad, whether because he was a double agent or for some other reason, becoming known simply as ‘The Scribbler.’  He apparently perished when Thassilon fell and the empire sank beneath the sea.”

“Now, I know there has been mention of a quasit.  One book I read indicated that Xaliasa had a quasit familiar.  I do not know if that helps you or not, but there you go.”  Chask leaned forward, clearly interested in the subject matter.  “So it seems like these tunnels might actually be Xaliasa’s old stomping grounds.  Probably are, if this quasit is the same one that used to be his familiar.”  He looked a little awestruck.  “But if that’s true, it would have been trapped down there for thousands of years . . . I have no idea what effect that might have had on it.”


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 409 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 21:18
  • msg #16

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"How did it feel?" He smirked "Well it was very loud" he laughed "and I'm honored...but I think it really came down to being in the right place at the right time, any of the guard could have been there instead of me, and I was lucky to have my friends with me, truth be told I wouldn't have lasted long in there without them"

He idled up and set the butt of his pole axe on the ground, leaning on it as they chatted. "True warrior might be a little much...they were goblins after all...but I'll take what I can get with your dad" he added softly with a conspiratorial grin. "As far as it going to my head, well...I don't think that'll be an issue...Not with Alergast, Ameiko and yourself to remind me, early and often it seems that I was good with a shovel long before I had even touched a weapon"

He was reminded that he had not had breakfast yet at Shay's suggestion, a warmness coming over him at the thought of her caring enough to do that sort of thing. "Lunch sounds great, unfortunately it sounds like we are going to be away today...but I was about to go have breakfast at the Dragon we can talk your father into letting you come" he added hopefully
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 31 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 22:48
  • msg #17

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr grinned as he watched Liseth enjoy her blackberry-laden pancakes.  She was so involved with properly preparing her meal that for a moment she didn’t seem to notice anyone else present.  He was definitely going to keep her fondness for food in mind.  He wondered if Ameiko would be interested in giving him cooking lessons.  He made a mental note to ask later.

Kerr took an omelet and some bacon for himself, pouring a glass of orange juice for Liseth and then for himself.  He was slightly distracted when Liseth showed off her new dress.  She looked good in it.  REALLY good in it.  It accentuated her form, so much that it was hard to keep his eyes . . .

Concentrate, Mollin.

The young acolyte tried to pick up the thread of the conversation.

Kerr piped in to supplement the group's discussion of Sandpoint’s junkmaster.  “Gorvi’s pretty much the most-unpleasant person in Sandpoint.  I think so, at least.  He’s always drunk and yelling at his junkmen, especially poor Lunk.  I always feel badly about it but there doesn’t seem to be anything anyone can do because no one wants to do his job.”

Kerr was enthralled as Chask Haladan outlined the history of the Glassworks’ tunnels.  It was amazing to think that in just an hour or two they might be walking halls built thousands of years in the past.  The sheer scope of the history involved took the young acolyte’s breath away.

“Um . . . after breakfast?”  Kerr looked startled; he clearly had not anticipated Liseth’s question.  “Er, no, I don’t think so.  I thought we were all going over to Sage Quink’s place and then heading to the Glassworks and into the tunnels?”  He shrugged to indicate that he hadn’t put a great deal of thought into this itinerary.  “But I don’t know.”  He smiled.  “It’s certainly not like I’m in a hurry to get down there.  But I guess the sooner we head in the sooner it’s all over with.”

As Kerr spoke, he mentally kicked himself for running on at the mouth like he was.  He sounded more the nervous boy than the mature servant of the gods he would like to be.  Then he realized that maybe Liseth was raising this issue because she had something in particular she wanted to do rather than because she needed an up-to-date schedule.

The young man just barely stopped himself from sighing.  This understanding girls thing was hard work.

“Why?”  Kerr recovered gallantly.  “Was there something you had in mind?”


This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Fri 28 Feb 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 346 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 1 Mar 2014
at 02:04
  • msg #18

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato listened to Haladan's words eagerly. The amount of history that existed underneath the surface of Golariion boggled his mind. Every time the wizard opened a new tome, he found new evidence of ancient civilizations, not all of which were even human. Obviously, not all the stories could be true. Or at least not every part of every story could be true. But all of them probably had at least some kernel of truth, and there was enough independent evidence for certain things. The Runelords for instance, and great cataclysms in the past.

Cato suddenly realized he had been holding a forkful of pancake over his plate, oblivious to the thin trail of syrup that had dripped onto to the table during his mental meander. He quickly ate the pancake and wiped up the sticky mess before responding.

"That's amazing. I had wondered how long that quasit might have been down there. It really sends a chill down your spine to consider. Can you imagine being trapped in a dungeon somewhere for thousands of years?  What it would do to your psyche?  I've heard of men breaking because of a few days of solitary confinement, but that is..."

Cato stabbed another piece of pancake, punctuating his point with a brief shriek of metal against plate. "Well, it's hard to think about."

Cato brooded for a few more moments, efficiently finishing his breakfast. "Oh, we also need to see Nisk and get our burst jars. Because what fun is facing a possibly insane quasit without a load of explosives?"
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 608 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Sun 2 Mar 2014
at 20:07
  • msg #19

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Gorvi doesn't sound very nice."  Liseth frowned; there were bad eggs everywhere, even in a nice town like Sandpoint.  And she thought that they all stayed inside the Fatman's Feedbag.  "He's a half-orc?  I suppose that half-orcs do have a reputation for being mean."  The girl thought for a moment, "I remember Father Garrick told me once that half-orcs are mean because people aren't nice to them.  They think that nobody likes them, so they lash out at people.  Sometimes a half-orc will follow Sarenrae because She accepts everybody and helps them stay away from their darker natures, but usually they just get more and more mean and sad."  Liseth paused, realizing that she probably sounded like she was preaching, "I wonder if Gorvi would be nicer if he had more friends?"  She finished.

Liseth smiled and raised her own cup to Mr Haladan's pseudo-toast, then proceeded to take a sip of the orange juice that Kerr poured for her when the bookseller went on to describe what he had learned at Pisca's request.  After listening to Cato's comment, the girl had a thought of her own, "But why has the quasit been trapped down there for thousands of years?  It could have easily gotten out, right?  Since the tunnels lead up to the surface and it has those Rune Dog minions."  She shrugged helplessly, Liseth knew little about ancient history, demons, and magic, "Maybe it wants to stay down there?  There could be something that it likes a lot.  Or this wizard Xaliasa did something to keep it from being able to leave before he died."

"Well..."  Kerr seemed a little bit confused by Liseth's sudden question, but at least he revealed that he did not in fact have any real plans before they all went into the ancient tunnels.  Liseth really didn't want to think about that until she had to, the girl was perfectly happy to try and squeeze whatever she could out of the day; because she knew that it would be far from pleasant once they were underground.

"I don't think that I could help with a discussion about ancient ruins and evil rune dogs.  And I'm sure that Cato will share with us anything important that he learns."  The acolyte's azure eyes looked towards Cato for support before focusing back on Kerr, "So we don't really need to visit Sage Quink.  And if Cato and Pisca and Kellan are still finishing their preparations, then we can just wait for them near the Glassworks..."  The blonde girl's cheeks started to turn red as she shyly looked away before finishing, "Together."
Shayliss Vinder
NPC, 7 posts
Ven's Daughter
Kellan's Main Squeeze
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 07:18
  • msg #20

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Shayliss’ face fell as she learned her carefully-crafted lunch plans were for naught.  “Oh, well, I know you’re busy . . .,” she started to say with some despondence, before brightening a little as Kellan suggested breakfast.  She sighed and shot a resigned look back at the door of the General Store.

“I really wish I could, Kellan, but Daddy is going to be in and out this morning helping Lieutenant Barett and the rest of the guard officers with various supplies they need for the militia training.  I have to stay here and mind the store while he’s gone.”  She glanced down at the boards of the porch before looking back up at him.  “And Katrine is attending the meeting Sir Jasper called over at the Mercantile League.”  She gave the young guardsman a wry look.  “Otherwise I’d get her to cover for me.   Gods know I’ve done it often enough for HER.”

Shayliss put a slender hand on Kellan’s arm.  “But I would really, really like to join you sometime.”  She lightly caressed his shoulder before pulling back.  “If you’re going to be busy all day,” she huffed, but with a smile, “perhaps you might invite a girl to dinner?”


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 634 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 14:50
  • msg #21

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The gnome poked at her omelet with the tip of her spoon as she mulled over the things that Chask Haladan had reported.  "Well, that explains how Nubiana found out about the tunnels," Pisca commented when the storyteller was done.  For a moment it appeared that the gnome was not going to explain her deduction.  Then she said, "Lamashtu."

"And this was a laboratory *and* a prison," said the gnome.  Her face held a look of intense focus as she spoke, though the focus appeared, for all the world, intent upon pushing the remaining bit of her omelet around the rim of her plate.  "Sort of like a library and a tea house.  Or a tavern and a bordello.  Or a smithy and a stable.  They go together.  But only if you're experimenting on the prisoners.  As in monsters.  As in Lamashtu."

"As to time and madness, I think you humans see things differently due to the short span of your lives.  A few years without moving around and you run out of things to do.  And you need each other to entertain yourselves.  That's why you're always making more of each other so quickly.  The Quasit may be mad.  But it may not have had anything to do with living in tunnels for thousands of years.  And you have to remember that the Quasit was trapped in a way even before the tunnels became the tunnels.  It was bound to this ... Xaliasa."  The gnome took a moment to savor the name, then continued on.  "I think a better question than how the Quasit went mad is which is more dangerous?  A mad Quasit or a sane Quasit?  And what does a Quasit, mad or sane, do for thousands of years?  I can't imagine it would take up knitting.  Not with Lamashtu's influence."

The gnome went silent.  The spoon in her hand stilled.  The look on her face was grim, and her eyes stared off into the middle distance as though taking in a scene both deadly and dire.  "Drowning," she said.  "Drowning in seven hundred fifty two thousand eight hundred and six multi-colored scarves."  Pisca shook her head.  "Fortunately, if we can count on Lamashtu's involvement, we're probably talking about monsters and not knitting.  In fact ... if the Quasit has been trapped down there for so long, you have to wonder where the Rune Dogs came from, don't you?"

"I think you're right, Cato."  With a single swift motion, Pisca scooped up the remaining eggy bite of omelet and swallowed it down.  "We have to see Brodie.  He may have more to add to this.  If not, he'll most certainly want to know of it.  And we do need to drop by and pick up those Burst Jars from Nisk at Bottled Solutions."

"Say ... "  The gnome stood up on the seat of her chair, sweeping up a napkin with which to wipe her mouth on the way.  "That's a good idea," she said then, after hopping down to the ground and starting the process of arranging her gear.  "Lysa, if you and Kerr could make that trip it would help save some time.  Bottled Solutions is just north of here, sort of on the way to the Glassworks.  Sort of.  Oh, but you have to be careful with them.  They sort of explode.  Sort of."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:54, Mon 03 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 411 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 15:08
  • msg #22

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was already considering how he was going to invite Shay to a breakfast without the Quasit coming up, when she ended up declining the invitation anyway. He really could not be surprised, Ven seemed to run a tight ship.

"I'm honestly not sure what time we might be getting back, but if it's before or around dinner time I would love to take you out tonight. Failing that, if we get caught up with something I'm sure we can find a time over the next few days." He agreed with a nod and a grin "Don't have too much fun here without me..." Looking around at the store with a wink before he began to turn back towards the Rusty Dragon.

"And tell your sister she owes you one" he called back light heartedly as he walked.

This all depending upon him not dying a screaming death at the hands of little devilish creatures, but she did not need to know that part.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 351 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 18:57
  • msg #23

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato nodded at Pisca's suggestion.  "Liseth, that would be great if you and Kerr could get the burst jars from Bottled Solutions while we see Brodert again."  Cato laughed.  "I never thought I'd have so many questions for Quink when those goblins attacked!"
The Raconteur
GM, 673 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 20:07
  • msg #24

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“Okay.”  Shay sighed.  “I hope you get back in time tonight!”  She gave Kellan a sly grin.  “You might want to hurry just so I DON’T have too much fun!”  She struck a siren-like pose next to the doorframe, one hand on the top of the frame, one on her hip, displaying her profile.  “If you know what I mean!”  She laughed and returned Kellan’s wink as he departed, giving him a small wave before heading back inside the store to resume her own duties.

Chuckling to himself, Kellan made his way down Water Street to Southmarket Square, where the militia was still forming up for the day’s training.  Kellan waved to Alergast and several other of his fellow guardsmen as he made his way through the milling tradesmen and shopkeepers over to Market Street.  He shouldered his way down the bustling street to The Rusty Dragon, pushing open the doors.  His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he had not yet had breakfast.

As it happened, Ameiko was making her way through the common room just as the young guardsman entered.  “Kellan!”  Her broad smile of welcome made the taproom feel even more homey.  “Everyone’s already here,” she gestured to the table where the rest of the group was seated, “and I’m certain they’ve been missing you.”  She grinned.  “You better hurry and get something to eat, or I’m not sure there’s going to be anything left!”


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Mon 03 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 412 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 20:31
  • msg #25

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Perhaps to Ameiko's amusement Kellan seemed to treat her spirited greeting and comment about breakfast as a call to action. "They wouldn't...alright, maybe they would...I probably would" he finally admitted to himself as he pressed his way past his host "And good morning!" He shot back with a smile as he hustled to the table.

As he reached the others he seemed to be in a good mood, glowing with life and vitality despite the dour nature of the days agenda. "Mornin" he offered as he sat would carefully, as not to scratch up the chair with all his war implements."Glassworks is safe as of about ten minutes ago...heard a few noises in the night but nothing serious" he briefed them as he began to load up his plate.

"If y'all are heading out I can just meet you back over there after I eat...at the Glassworks that is"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Mon 03 Mar 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 32 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 20:43
  • msg #26

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr couldn’t help giving Liseth a smile as she empathized with the town’s junkmaster.  One of the reasons he loved the small blonde was her insistence on always seeing the best side of everyone, even those as unpleasant as Gorvi.  Of course, he admitted to himself, she might be singing a different tune after seeing the half-orc cruelly berate a gentle soul like Lunk.  Kerr himself had tried to be nice to Gorvi but it was hard when the man was just so nasty to other people.

“I don’t know if we're necessarily certain that it could have gotten out,” Kerr supplied in response to Liseth’s quasit commentary.  “The tunnels are relatively recent, aren't they?  Sounds to me, from what Pisca said,” the acolyte raised his glass of orange juice towards the gnome, “that they were made around the time of Sandpoint’s founding.  That wasn’t so long ago.  Maybe whoever dug the tunnels managed to excavate their way into a long-sealed Thassilonian ruin?”  Kerr shuddered slightly.  “That would have been a pretty unpleasant surprise.”

“That makes sense though, Pisca.”  He nodded along as the gnome explained her theory of how Nualia might have encountered the quasit.  “If Nualia dedicated herself to Lamashtu it stands to reason that Lamashtu would have informed her of an ally under the city.  Especially if Lamashtu’s goal is,” Kerr looked grim, “destroying Sandpoint.”

Kerr was still getting used to the idea of the gods taking such a personal interest in affairs he would have otherwise thought to be very provincial.  He started to wonder what it was about Sandpoint that made it such a focus of deific attention, but was distracted by Pisca's description of what the tunnels might be like after thousands of years of knitting.  Kerr had to smile.  He liked the gnome; he found her whimsical nature and vibrant imagination very endearing.

The young man beamed at Liseth as she suggested that they take a walk together while the others went to see Sage Quink.  “Why, Miss Liseth,” he said, grinning as he took on the snooty upper-class affectation with which she was now so familiar, “I would be most pleased to accompany you on a morning constitutional before engaging in our subterranean adventure.”  He looked around the table, dropping back into his regular voice.  “Unless anyone has any objections?”

Kerr coughed as Pisca suggested and Cato seconded the notion that he and Liseth pick up the burst jars from Nisk Tanner’s shop.  The acolyte had never been incredibly comfortable around alchemical substances, largely because he had absolutely no skill with the craft himself.  And Nisk, while brilliant, wasn’t the most . . . detail-oriented of men, in Kerr’s estimation.  Not that there was anything wrong with having your head in the clouds.

Unless you were crafting highly-explosive items for other people to use.

Still, it had to be done.  “I think we can probably do that,” he raised an eyebrow at Liseth to make sure she was okay with the idea.  “We’ll pick up the jars and meet you outside the Glassworks in, say, an hour?”


This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Mon 03 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 610 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Tue 4 Mar 2014
at 17:43
  • msg #27

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

As the discussion around the table continued, Liseth's blackberry-infused pancakes slowly but surely disappeared from her plate.  She paused for a few moments to consider the image of scarf-knitting demons.  "I think that I would rather encounter scarves than monster rune dogs.  But if Lamashtu is involved, they  might be multicolored scarf monsters.  Horrible creatures with arms and legs knitted from yarn; to live through endless frustration as the people that they try to get only wind up snuggly warm and comfortable."  She smiled at the awkward image in her mind, then sighed, "Probably not though."

"Um..."  Liseth suddenly changed from enthusiastic about her impending walk with Kerr to slightly reluctant when the idea of picking up explosive burst jars on their way came up.  With her own awkward gait the girl did not relish the idea of carrying around volatile explosives.  What if she stumbled?  That would be bad.  And how heavy were they?

"Oh, good morning Kellan."  Distracted by Kellan's arrival at the breakfast table, Liseth was saved from thinking about blowing herself up for a few moments.  "You were already at the Glassworks?"  That reminded her that there was guards stationed up there after what they reported yesterday.  Which gave the girl an idea for what to do with the explosives while waiting for everyone else.

Her pancakes gone, the acolyte speared a sausage with her fork and took a bite; chewing thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing, "I think I'm full."  She set the fork, with sausage, down on her plate, "So, I think that Kerr and I could pick up the burst jars and then leave them with the guards at the Glassworks until we're all ready to go.  I'm sure they'll be able to keep them safe for us.  Right Kellan?"  The girl ended by glancing at Kellan for affirmation.

"Kerr, were you ready to go?"  Turning in her chair, Liseth laid her hands on Kerr's arm and stared expectantly up into his eyes.
The Raconteur
GM, 679 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 5 Mar 2014
at 02:30
  • msg #28

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr, Pisca, Liseth, and Cato said their goodbyes to Ameiko, each thanking her for the excellent breakfast before leaving the Rusty Dragon as a group.  They headed up Market Street to Southmarket Square, trying to keep the conversation lighthearted and upbeat given the dire task lying before them.

They arrived at the square to find militia training well underway.  Lieutenant Barett and his sergeants seemed intent on fitting a few months’ worth of weapon training into a few hours; the guard officer had little time to talk or even acknowledge the four’s presence other than by a quick nod and wave as he corrected Larz Rovansky’s grip on his weapon.  The tanner did not look pleased at the attention.

At that point, Cato and Pisca bid farewell to Liseth and Kerr, who turned right to head up Festival Street towards Nisk Tanner’s shop.  The scholar and the gnome skirted the training militiamen to get to Water Street, subsequently taking a right up Main Street.  Sandpoint’s avenues seemed less crowded that normal, probably due to the mustering of most of the town’s able-bodied men in Southmarket Square.

When the pair took a left on Tower Street they once again confronted the magnificent edifice of The Old Light.  The ancient ruin impressed as always, seeming to glow in the morning sun.  But now, given the information about Sandpoint’s history they’d learned from Chask Haladan, the Thassilonian structure took on a cast of mystery and even menace.  Who knew what dark secrets lay underneath once-great structure’s rotting carcass?

They finally reached the last house on the left, looking as ramshackle as ever, seemingly ready to fall in upon itself at a moment’s notice.  Cato rapped sharply upon the door.

He received no response.

The wizard glanced at Pisca, then knocked again.  Suddenly the door flew open, revealing Brodert Quink in a shockingly-unkempt state, wearing a nightgown and thick spectacles.  His normally well-maintained hair was wild, sticking out every which way as if one lucky strand might find the correct path to escape the scholar’s head.

“Cato, my boy!”  The sage looked down.  “And Pisca!  Welcome back, welcome back!  Do come in.”  Quink left the door open as he moved back inside the house.  As Cato and Pisca followed him inside, they could see that he had been studying, with books open and papers strewn about his desk.  The older man sat back down in a large chair and resumed an intense study of a red-bound tome.

A moment passed.  Cato coughed.

The sage looked back up.  “Oh!”  He said, seeming somewhat startled to see them still there.  He inserted a bookmark in the volume he’d been reading and gently closed it.  “Yes, of course!”  He didn’t elaborate on whatever conclusion he’d reached.  “How can I help you two?”


This message was last edited by the GM at 06:46, Wed 05 Mar 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 32 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 5 Mar 2014
at 06:28
  • msg #29

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr laughed at Liseth’s description of frustrated Lamashtu Scarf Monsters; it seemed far funnier that it really should have been.  “Could you imagine how strange it would be if that was really how things were?”  He was still chuckling.  “That your clothes longed to do nothing more than smite you but just had to go around keeping you protected from the elements?  They would be so frustrated!  It would be perfect justice for some folks.”  He wiped a tear from his eye.  “Would make getting dressed in the morning a whole new experience, that’s for sure.”

He noticed Liseth’s hesitance when she brought up the subject of blast jars.  He leaned over and touched her shoulder.  “I think I can probably carry them all,” he murmured gallantly, “so don’t worry about it.”

At that point Kellan strode in like a conquering hero.  Or at least someone intent on conquering whatever was left of breakfast.  Kerr greeted the young guardsman warmly and got a smile in return, but Kellan seemed far too famished to engage in more than perfunctory conversation prior to digging into most of what was left of the pancakes.

Kerr looked around the room as Kellan poured his syrup.  “I think we were just heading out, but if you’re sure we can meet you at the Glassworks.  Liseth and I are heading over to Nisk’s and Cato and Pisca are heading over to Sage Quink’s.  Not sure how long everything will take, but we’ll be over there and ready to go later this morning for sure.”  Kellan gave that idea a thumbs-up as he continued to eat.  Kerr was slightly awed; Kellan could put food away at a pretty prodigious pace.

Kerr helped Liseth out of her chair and escorted her to the door, followed by Cato and Pisca.  The foursome bid farewell to Kellan and Ameiko, then made their way out of the inn and towards Southmarket Square.  Kerr and Liseth split off from the other two there, heading up Festival Street.  They saw a worker out front of the theater, putting up a sign noting a delay in the debut of Allishandra and “The Harpy’s Curse” on Sandpoint’s biggest stage pending resolution of the current crisis.

The couple turned left on Raven Street, making their way to Bottled Solutions’ run-down storefront.  Kerr held the door open for Liseth as they entered the shop, where an exhausted-looking Nisk Tanner was ready to greet them.

“Kerr!”  Nisk said gladly.  The acolyte had helped his mother out with a painful bunion just a few months before.  “It’s good to see you!  Are you and your,” he glanced at Liseth, “ladyfriend here to pick up the burst jars?  Because as you can see I have them right here.”  The alchemist pointed to two lovingly-bundled backpacks lying in front of his shop counter.  “Five burst jars each!  It almost killed me, I have to say; I didn’t get much sleep.  But I’m proud of my work!”  He said, standing up straight and nodding.  “Yes, I am.  Fine burst jars, every one of them.”  He stood still for a moment, admiring the packs.

“Oh!”  He slapped his forehead.  “Where are my manners?”  He walked toward Liseth.  “Nisk Tanner, ma’am.  Alchemist.  Very pleased to meet you.  You must be Liseth, am I right?”


This message was last edited by the player at 06:31, Wed 05 Mar 2014.
Ameiko Kaijitsu
NPC, 10 posts
Rusty Dragon Proprietor
Daughter of Lonjiku
Wed 5 Mar 2014
at 06:28
  • msg #30

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kellan sat in a much-quieter taproom now that the rest of the group had left.  He had the rest of the banquet to himself, although he had already pretty much finished off the rest of the pancakes.  As he surveyed the rest of the table, noting in particular a couple of omelets that remained untouched, he heard a movement behind him.  Before he could turn around, Ameiko Kaijitsu plopped into a chair next to him, giving him an appraising look as she rocked back on two legs.

“Do you need anything else to eat?”  The innkeeper waved her arm over the table, almost as if she might conjure more tasty dishes through the power of raw magic.  “The kitchen’s still going, so we can get you something else if you need it.  I was afraid these might be cold but now that I’m here,” she looked pointedly at the damage Kellan had already done to his stack of pancakes, “I’m thinking maybe that is not such a big deal.”

“Anyway,” Ameiko gave him a wink, “how are things with you?  I see you’ve been given leave from the big militia training.  The Sandpoint Saviors are on the case, unless I miss my guess.  Out to save Sandpoint a second time.”  The Tianese woman started counting off on her fingers.  “Or is it the third?  So hard to keep track of these things.”  She laughed.

“But let’s talk about something of REAL importance.”  She said with a slightly-salacious smile.  “Is it true about you and Shayliss Vinder?  How is that going?  And what does VEN think about that?  I didn’t think he would ever willingly let ANYONE date EITHER of his daughters.”  She gave the young guardsman a frank stare.  “And yet here you are.  Unbruised, from the look of things.  And trust me, if you and Ven had gotten into it, a little bruising would be the LEAST of your worries.”  She shuddered slightly, then brought her chair down to the floor and leaned forward, both elbows on the table, hands cradling her chin.  “So, out with it.  Come on, farmboy.  Dish.”


This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:28, Wed 05 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 417 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 5 Mar 2014
at 06:54
  • msg #31

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was in the middle of righteous battle against his flapjacks when Ameiko set herself down, with a mouthful of slightly crispy deliciousness and a knife full of fresh churned butter he looked as if the whole repast might vanish if he was not quick enough. Finding time to swallow he shook his head and carved off a hunk of omelet with a fork. "Oh no, this is more than fine thanks...I"

He paused when Ameiko started to grin like a cat in march, only to have his suspicions confirmed by her prodding for details about his personal life. Wiping his mouth with a napkin he let it fall near his plate and gave a knowing little smirk back.

"Well that travelled fast...but then again it is Sandpoint, heh" he leaned back in his chair a little "Shayliss and I have been testing the waters I suppose...we took a ride out to my parents farm the other day for dinner, and I went to visit her this morning...Mister Vinder has been pretty...strict about the whole thing, I'm not sure if Father Zantus can regrow teeth but I'd rather not have to find out."

Finishing off the pancakes with a gargantuan mouthful he stood and took up his poleaxe and his pack while he was still chewing, speaking with his mouthful as he made for the door in a dramatic fashion as if escaping her inquisition "I should probably get going and all thanks for breakfast it was wonderful but I don't want to keep the others waiting" he dispensed with the punctuation as if not to give her a chance to pry any further, but had to take a brief moment breath "Bye Ameiko, see you tonight!" He waved over his shoulder  and smiled in a playful way as he marched out into the sun and made for the Glassworks.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 639 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 5 Mar 2014
at 15:00
  • msg #32

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Pisca was unusually quiet on the trip from the Rusty Dragon to the home of Brodert Quint.  Finally, just after parting from Liseth and Kerr Mollin, she turned her head up to Cato, and with concern in her voice said, "I don't think Lysa's taking this entirely seriously.  I mean, there's a reason that scarves like to be worn around the neck.  Don't you think, Cato?"  The gnome shook her head.  Wardrobe betrayal could be the cruelest of treacheries.  Socks mismatch themselves.  Buttons misaligned.  Belts let go, dropping trousers to the floor!  And always at the least convenient times.  Clothing seems to have an uncanny knack for timing.  "Only wear clothes that you trust, Cato.  And good clothing is hard to find."

The arrival at Brodert Quint's quieted more of the gnome's wardrobe advice.  She strolled into the sage's abode without taking much note of what, to Cato, might be something amiss.  Following the elder scholar into his house and, from there, to his desk.  Rising up on her toes, the gnome peered across the littered expanse of the desktop.  She reached up to poke an experimental finger at the red book.  Nothing.  Nothing was always a mixed blessing.  The lack of response from a poke was liable to be anything from a relief to a disappointment.  However, before the question of which it was was answered -relief or disappointment- Pisca launched into a description of what she'd discovered so far about the Rune Dogs, about her conclusion from the description of the Rune Dogs that these creatures were ruled by the rune of Wrath, and about everything they had learned this morning from Chask Haladan's research at the House of Blue Stones.

"We thought you'd like to know," the gnome added at the end.  "Even if you didn't have anything to add to it.  You do.  Have something to add to it, don't you?" she prompted.

"By the by, what are you reading?  Looks ... well red."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 355 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 5 Mar 2014
at 19:52
  • msg #33

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

As they left the others and Pisca's monologue turned to the subject of clothing mishaps, Cato tried to maintain a serious face, nodding at the opportune times, and expressing agreement with the gnome's opinions.  Pisca's rambling did have the effect of distracting Cato from the rapidly approaching encounter with the quasit and whatever freaks lurked beneath the Glassworks, which was a good thing.

Cato was shocked to see Brodert looking as ill-kept as his house.  "Brodert, have you been up all night reading?"  Cato looked around the interior, at the books and notes strewn about the study.  Brodert usually didn't keep the neatest house, lest he disturb his studies, but this was a new development.  "We once again find ourselves in need of your sage advice.  Pisca has some new information we'd like your opinion on."

Cato waited while the gnome relayed what she had learned about the Rune Dogs.  Cato looked around, his eyes finding Brodert's stack of specialty paper and inks.  "Also, Brodert, would you mind terribly if I used some of your supply for scrolls?  Recent developments have led me to the realization that being over prepared is better than under."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 612 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Wed 5 Mar 2014
at 22:13
  • msg #34

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Goodbye Kellan, we'll see you at the Glassworks!"  Liseth bid farewell to the late-arriving guardsman after Kerr helped her from her chair.  "Enjoy your breakfast!"  Then she happily linked her arm with Kerr's as he led her to the door.  Onlookers would never assume that they would soon be risking their lives against horrible monsters and demons underneath their town.

Anyone that already knew might think that the girl was flatly refusing to acknowledge it until she absolutely had to.

The silence of their walk was filled when Liseth began to hum a cheery tune, to be interrupted when Cato and Pisca split off and the young acolyte bid them farewell.  She started humming again when it was just the two acolytes now walking together, attempting to enjoy their walk as much as possible before they reached their destination.

Which they did all too quickly.

After having visited Mr Voon's shop yesterday, Liseth was ready for anything that they might find in another one of Sandpoint's shops.  Still, as the young acolyte entered through the door that Kerr held for her, she felt that it was good that Mr Tanner was not only expecting them but had everything that they needed to pick up ready to go.  Not that she had anything against visiting the alchemist; Liseth just wanted to finish their errand as quickly as possible.

"I'm pleased to meet you too, Mr Tanner."  She curtsied in greeting, which might have seemed a little awkward doing it for the first time in her new, heavy dress.  Then the blonde girl nodded, "I am Liseth Thoradin."

"I'm sorry that you had to work so hard to make those burst jars for us.  Cato and Pisca must have told you that they were important, right?"  Liseth's eyes focused on the bundles, as though trying to size them up.  They looked innocent enough lying there, certainly not like something that would collapse a section of tunnels.  "Are there any special instructions that we need to know before trying to use them?"

Her apprehension must have started bleeding through when Liseth, still focusing on the bundled bombs, asked her next questions, "They are safe, right?  To carry?  They aren't too heavy are they?"
Brodert Quink
NPC, 8 posts
Sage of Sandpoint
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 05:34
  • msg #35

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Brodert Quink looked a little taken aback by Pisca’s deluge of information.  He nodded along hesitantly as she shared what she’d learned from Jubrayl Vhiski, then more enthusiastically as she imparted what Chask Haladan had found in House of Blue Stones’ library.

“Well!”  He said as Pisca finished up talking.  “That is certainly interesting, isn’t it?  To think that there might be a repository of ancient Thassilonian rune magic below Sandpoint . . .,” he looked over to Cato as his voice trailed off.  “Cato, my boy, you are going to have to keep your eyes open as you adventure down there this morning.  I think I’ve said this before, but this could easily be the most important historical find in Varisia since they discovered The Old Light.”

“But yes,” the scholar shrugged with some embarrassment at his protégé before returning his attention to Pisca, tapping the cover of his red book as he did so, “I may have gotten a little carried away last night studying Thassilonian history.  Such a complex society, with so much power!”  He shook his head.  “Of course, power often ends up being as much of a curse as it is a blessing, though it might not seem so at the time.  Anyway,” he recovered from his digression, “your ‘Rune Dogs.’  That’s an interesting name for them.  And I think, just think mind you, that they bear some similarities to the footsoldiers used by the Runelords during their endless conflicts.”

“Here, listen to this.”  Brodert opened the red-bound book to a previously-marked passage, ran his finger down the page, and began to read in the sonorous tones of a lecturer.

But the deception of Karzoug was not to last.  And lo, did the servants of Xanderghul labor long, working night and day to slaughter those they had culled.  Then did the wells produce an army unknown to Karzoug; dog-legged soldiers that began their long march under the leadership of Xanderghul’s lieutenants, intent on Karzoug’s destruction.

The scholar snapped his book shut.  “Not a complete match, I’ll grant you, but the soldiers mentioned here seem similar to what Vhiski described, don’t you think?  I am not sure how or if that knowledge will help you, but more information is better than less, in my opinion.  Oh, and of course you can use the materials, Cato.  Please help yourself.”


The Raconteur
GM, 685 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 08:29
  • msg #36

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“I am pleased to meet YOU, Miss Thoradin,” Nisk Tanner repeated with a gentlemanly bow in return for her curtsy.  “And really it was no problem at all, no problem at all.”  The alchemist waved away Liseth’s apology as if it were a particularly-agile gnat.  “I DO know how important they are.”  The man looked as if he was about to burst with pride at his involvement with such a critical endeavor.  “And I’m happy to help Sandpoint.”  He brought the back of his palm down into his other hand with a loud smack.  “Because that’s what we’re all doing, isn’t it?  Pulling together to help defend our home?”

“Um, special instructions, special instructions.”  Nisk ran his hand through his receding hair.  “Um, not really.  Well, don’t DROP them.  Not hard, at least.  The jars are relatively sturdy but obviously they’re not unbreakable.”  He chuckled, almost to himself.  “That would kind of defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it?  Could you imagine?  I suppose that would be quite the trick to play on someone intending to use them for bad . . . .”  He stopped as he saw Liseth and Kerr standing there staring at him.  “Yes, right, well, not unbreakable.  So don’t break them!  Not until you want them to explode, at least.  Then you should definitely break them.  Hmmm.  Wish I could be there to see that!”  He shot a longing look at the two backpacks.

Kerr walked forward and put his arm about the alchemist’s shoulders, turning the man around, winking at Liseth as he did so.  “That is fantastic work, Nisk!  We couldn’t be happier that you were able to do this for us.  But you have to be exhausted after working all night.  So I’ll just take these and you can go get some rest.”  He nodded confidently.  “I’ll be sure to let you know exactly how they worked in practice!”

Nisk allowed himself to be led back to his store counter.  “Yes, um, well, right.  That sounds good.  And I’ll look forward to hearing all about that!”  Kerr carefully picked up the backpacks, putting one over each shoulder.  He now looked like something of a porter, what with a backpack over each shoulder and a quiver and a longbow slung over his back.  “Give Scholar Cato and Miss Freemish my regards!”  Nisk went on as Kerr made his way back to Liseth near the door of the shop.

“We will, Nisk,” responded the burdened acolyte.  “And thanks again!”  With that, the two teenagers were again out on Raven Street.  Liseth found it difficult to lean on Kerr’s arm, what with the two backpacks, so he made sure to take things extra slow as they made their way past the Town Hall and south on Main Street towards the Glassworks.  Kerr thought it was probably a good idea anyway, what with him carrying almost a dozen explosive jars.

The couple cut over on Rat Alley and arrived at the Glassworks without even one explosion.  The building was once again supervised by Sergeant Torv Tiller and his men.  Kerr explained the situation to Sergeant Tiller, who had them put the two backpacks in a side room for safekeeping while they waited for Kellan to finish breakfast and Cato and Pisca to return from Sage Quink’s.

“So,” Kerr said to Liseth with a grin, looking relieved to have finally delivered the blast jars.  “Where would you like to go, milady?”


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 641 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 14:45
  • msg #37

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"That is interesting ... "  The eyes of Pisca Neep Freemish wandered in the direction of her favorite chair.  The most comfortable chair that she had claimed as her own the last time she had been here.  It beckoned.  This time, however, Pisca resisted.  Today was a day of action and danger.  There would be no time for comfortable chairs.  "That is very interesting, Brodie."  Instead of taking up a seat on the Most Comfortable chair, the gnome began pacing in the area of the desk.  As she spoke she picked up random objects and waved them about, making them important for a moment before putting them down again and returning them to obscurity.

"From what we learned from the House of Blue Stones, the wizard Xaliasa was a minion of Karzoug.  But Chask said that the records indicated that he was also a double-minion for another incredibly unclear Rune Lord.  I think that we can safely assume that this unclear Rune Lord was Xanderghul.  But the interesting part here, the *REALLY* interesting part, is ... "  And, at this point, the gnome climbed up into the lap of the elder sage, squeezing under his arm to get at the book.  With the small green stone that she'd been waving about at the time, she tapped a spot on the page in the red book and began reading in the same full-voiced tones of Brodert Quint.

"'Then did the wells produce an army unknown to Karzoug; dog-legged soldiers!!!'"  Pisca looked up at the sage from her position on his lap.  "The wells," she said, before squirming off the edge of his lap and back down to the floor.  She placed the green stone in a cup on a nearby table, and, in the stead of the stone, picked up a flat bronze triangle with evenly marked increments along two sides.  "The wells!  The Rune Dogs come from wells!  We've been wondering where they were coming from, and now we know."

"Now ...  Now we just have to figure out what the Wells are.  That, and how a well produces Rune Dogs.  Oh, and, maybe, how to stop a well from producing Rune Dogs.  I wonder if the Quasit is using the Well or whether the Well is using the Quasit?"

"Also, Brodie, you said that each of the seven Runelords mastered one of the seven schools of arcane rune magic harnessed from the sins of mankind, right?  So, if Xanderghul is responsible for the Rune Dogs, then I'd think that he was the master of Wrath.  Then the question here becomes, what was Karzoug the master of?  Xaliasa was ostensibly the minion of Karzoug, and the tunnels down below were Xaliasa's prison and laboratory.  So, you would think that Xaliasa would be working on something along lines similar to Karzoug's runic magic, right?  Something compatible with Lamashtu.  Something that required prisoners."  The gnome shook her head, discarded the triangle, and then picked up a slim wooden stylus instead.

Pisca thought some more.  She tapped the stylus against her palm.  She shook her head again.  "Could be any one of them.  Pride, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth, greed.  Probably not sloth.  I don't know.  I DON'T KNOW!"

"Too much thinking."  Pisca sighed.  With the feeling of being a bit worn out for so early in the morning, the gnome looked up at the two sages, the younger and the elder.  "Too much thinking," she repeated.  "I think."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:51, Thu 06 Mar 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 356 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 20:56
  • msg #38

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato watched as Pisca paced and speculated, finally smiling as the gnome appeared to run through her deductions and and monologue.

"As much as it pains me to say it, I think we've reached an end to what we can learn from books.  These events happened thousands of years ago, and what little we know of tha time has been fragmented and distorted by the weight of ages.  I'm hoping that down there we'll find more clues, and maybe pieces to fill in all these missing holes.  But at least we know to look out for a well that can produce these Rune Dogs.  Certainly something to keep in mind.  And although I hate to speculate more, there must be some limiting factor to this well, otherwise the Quasit could have just spawned an army and invaded Sandpoint without needing to be coaxed by Nulia and the goblins.  Unless we can chalk it up to insanity, of course."

Cato gathered up a few supplies and stored them safely in his rapidly-filling pack.  "Brodert, thank you again for you help."  The young sage smiled.  "I hope to report back soon with more tantalizing bits of history to examine!"
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 619 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 21:44
  • msg #39

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth peeled her eyes from the bundled explosives to watch Mr Tanner as the alchemist explained the explosives.  And their highly volatile nature; it was just as bad as she had imagined!  Don't drop them, don't break them.  Until they were supposed to explode.  Mr Tanner was polite, but Liseth didn't think that he noticed just how uncomfortable and apprehensive she was about his burst jars.

Thankfully, Kerr took the lead on dealing with the alchemist.  Liseth watched with some measure of concern when he picked up both of the explosive bundles himself, strapping them over his shoulders.  They certainly didn't look light, and Kerr was already burdened with his armor and weapons.  She couldn't stop imagining one of the bundled packs slipping loose, or a burst jar tearing through the fabric.

How could she face Sarenrae after that?  Blowing herself up just one day after the goddess came down to encourage her?

"Goodbye Mr Tanner, thank you for the burst jars!"  Liseth's mixed feelings about handling bombs must have shown in her voice, but she doubted that Mr Tanner noticed.  He was too tired, and too proud of the burst jars that he had made.  But Kerr, certainly, would have noticed.  For the first time, Liseth decided that she should help Kerr walk; since he was so overburdened by all of those bombs.

"Um...they aren't too heavy, are they Kerr?"  Moving more slowly than ever, the two made their way to the Glassworks.  Liseth was just glad that she didn't have to carry any of the bundled bombs herself, even as she was concerned that Kerr was carrying too much.  But at least they made it there safely, and Liseth thanked Sergeant Tiller for looking after the burst jars for them.

"Well..."  Liseth shared Kerr's relief when they completed their errand.  She didn't know how much time they had left before everyone else arrived at the Glassworks and was ready to go, but she intended to make the most of it.  After all, the two teenagers had had very little time to be together, with just the two of them.  And Liseth figured that trying to make a little time before going to fight demons would be a good idea.

"We probably shouldn't go very far.  So that the others can find us when they're ready."  The girl's azure eyes wandered off of Kerr and found themselves drawn to the nearby ocean.  And the sandy beach.  "We could go walk on the beach..."

Liseth let Kerr lead her to Water Street, where they turned off of the street and onto the sand.  Of course Kerr agreed to Liseth's request to walk on the beach; but as her eyes kept drawing themselves to the vast expanse of water, Liseth realized that maybe walking wasn't what she actually had in mind.

Spying a sun-bleached driftwood log partially buried in the sand, the girl led her boyfriend towards it.  The old log looked perfect, like it had been placed there specifically for viewing the ocean.  It didn't take long for Kerr to determine her intent after Liseth tried climbing up onto the log, and she smiled as he gallantly assisted her.  Soon the two were sitting together atop the log, and Liseth's eyes stared out over the massive Varisian Gulf.

Taking in the sunshine, the salty air, the calling sea birds, the waves washing against the shore, and the horizon stretching as far as she could see, Liseth could forget about the dire events transpiring.  With a contented sigh, she merely leaned against Kerr; if only it was possible for things to be like this forever.  Sitting in silence for a few minutes, though, Liseth eventually started to talk.  She had so much that she wanted to say, and this seemed like the perfect time and place for some of it.

"Did you ever wonder what it is you're meant to do Kerr?"  This was one of the things foremost in her mind, after what had happened yesterday.  "That's all that I thought about for so long.  Almost a year now; ever since...you know."  The girl paused and looked up at Kerr before her eyes wandered back out over the ocean's waters again.  "When that happened, a part of me wanted to lock myself up in my room at home and never come out again."

"I always thought that I had done something wrong.  That I wasn't worthy enough."  She paused a moment before continuing, "I thought that maybe Sarenrae didn't like me because I can't fight.  Did you know that Sarenrae expects her priests and other followers to be skilled at swordplay?  With the scimitar especially.  Daddy tried to teach me, but I could never do it right."  Liseth frowned, "I'm so clumsy with a sword; Daddy had to stop trying to teach me when I kept dropping it and cutting myself."

"He must have been so disappointed, even though Daddy never said so."  The girl released a sigh, "I think that he wanted me to be more like my mother; Daddy told me a number of times that she was the best with a scimitar.  Better than him, and I've never seen anyone more skilled with any weapon than Daddy is.  But I never even met my mother."  Liseth did her best to keep her voice carefully neutral; as she continued talking she kept going deeper and deeper.  Was she saying more than she really intended?  But she couldn't stop, it all wanted to come out so much.

"Kerr..."  The blonde girl shifted to finally look away from the waters to focus on Kerr directly, "What's it like?  To have a mother?"
Brodert Quink
NPC, 9 posts
Sage of Sandpoint
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 22:49
  • msg #40

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Brodert Quink was slightly concerned by Pisca Neep Freemish’s handling of various important objects lying about his study.  “But . . .”  He protested as she picked up one of the curious cyan stones he’d been testing, waving it around as if were some sort of magical talisman of knowledge.

His protestations were interrupted by a slightly-shocking event; the erudite gnome climbed right up onto his lap to re-read the passage he’d just read!  He looked down at her where she sat, unsure of the proper course of action.  “Yes, from wells.”  He grabbed onto historical discussion like a lifeline.  “I, hrm,” now the gnome was clambering off his lap, “I think that’s pretty well-established.  The Runelords obtained their shock troops from some sort of well.”  He shot Cato a what-do-I-do-here? sort of look.

“I’m . . . I’m not sure how they are produced.”  The sage was reaching ineffectually for his triangle measurement tool.  “But I think Xanderghul was traditionally associated with pride, at least if my studies are correct.  Alaznist was the Runelord of wrath.  Karzoug was the Runelord of greed.  You must understand,” the scholar breathed a sigh of relief as Pisca put down the triangle, only to tense up again as she grabbed his stylus, “it was not unusual for the various Runelords to war on each other.  Alliances were fluid and ever-changing as each strove to establish himself as pre-eminent.”    He looked at the stylus with some trepidation before finally deciding that the gnome posed no threat to his instruments.

“Oh, it is my pleaure, my boy, truly my pleasure.”  The older man forgot his instruments and rubbed his hands together, almost gleefully.  “I can’t wait to discuss your findings!  Mark my words, this could shake things up in Magnimar, and even beyond!  Could you imagine if we found confirmation of our theories regarding the age of the Thassilonian Empire and the purpose of The Old Light?”  From his rapturous expression, it was clear that Brodert Quink could imagine it.  “Would put the entire discipline on its ear.  On its ear, I say!”  The scholar nearly danced a jig.  “So off you go!  But,” the sage quickly turned somber, “be safe, Cato.  Remember that no knowledge is worth your life.”


This message was last edited by the player at 02:08, Fri 07 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 690 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 23:04
  • msg #41

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kellan fled The Rusty Dragon and Ameiko Kaijitsu’s insistent questioning with as much dignity as he could muster under the circumstances.  As the doors closed behind him and he strode quickly up the street towards Southmarket Square, he briefly glanced back to ensure that the inquisitive innkeeper hadn’t followed him to continue the interrogation.  He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw no sign of pursuit; it seemed he’d escaped her probing questions.

Kellan once again skirted the edge of Southmarket Square, where the newly-mustered militia were deep in weapons training.  He got a few curious looks from militiamen who clearly wondered why he wasn’t involved in their training as the rest of the guard seemed to be, and not a few cast covetous eyes on his wicked-looking cold-iron polearm.  For his part, Kellan noticed that Alergast and Guard Sergeants Peltnor and Fletcher were all now armed with similar weapons; it seemed as if there had been a run on Lonjiku Kaijitsu’s providential cabinet.

Kellan walked through the sparsely-populated streets towards the Glassworks.  It was a beautiful day; once again the sunshine, sea breeze, and cry of hunting gulls made the prospect of goblin attacks, demonic foes, and subterranean freaks seem distant.  But Kellan knew better; he would be confronting such enemies before the day was out.

The young guardsman arrived at the Glassworks to find Guardsmen Jamis Needlehome and Ryk Torson standing guard by the main entrance.  “Ho, Kellan!”  Ryk nodded.  “How are things?”


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:06, Fri 07 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 419 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 23:52
  • msg #42

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan could practically feel the eyes of the militia men as they tracked his movements and the glint of his special issue weapon. It was a pretty thing to be sure, the oily hammer dimpled surface had a habit of catching the light and the weapon smith who had shaped her had even gone so far as to include a kind of decorative pattern punched from the body of the blade. Kellan would guess that it helped balance the weapon and keep the striking end light enough for fine work.

He wished dearly to have more time to practice with it, but it seemed that time was one of the few things they were sorely lacking. As he approached the Glassworks he gave a nod in return, idling up and falling into line with them. "Morning Ryk, Jamis...supposed to meet the other deputies here shortly" he looked side to side and within "Hopefully they won't be too long...how've things been on your end? He asked the pair.

With a little time to kill as they talked Kellan unslung his pack and set it against the wall before leaning his pole axe up against the door frame. Rolling his neck he began a familiar stretching regime, working from his head down. Most might find it silly, even some of the guardsman but many of Alergast's books harped endlessly on the importance of physical conditioning and Kellan had taken it to heart. Besides it would be a sad fate indeed to cramp up in the middle of a life or death struggle with an ancient demon.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 33 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 7 Mar 2014
at 05:25
  • msg #43

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr sat comfortably on the log, lightly drumming the heels of his boots into its side as Liseth leaned up against him and talked of her struggle with Purpose.  Kerr hugged his girlfriend more tightly as she shared her insecurity, her feelings of failure, and the things she hadn’t been able to do that she always felt she should have done.

The young man listened intently; he knew this was an important moment.  Here they were, right before they were to venture deep under the Glassworks to fight a demon and its freaks, and Liseth was pouring out her heart to him.  He put both arms around her as she continued to talk, the both of them looking out at the wide, vast expanse of the sea.  The sea was kind of like a person, Kerr thought.  On the surface it was calm and placid, or stormy, or choppy, but what you could see was only a small part of the whole.  And not very many people ever got to experience what was going on underneath.

Here there be monsters.

So Kerr cherished this opportunity to get a glimpse of what was going on underneath Liseth’s surface.  He felt a little abashed as she talked; he hadn’t ever experienced the kind of trauma she had.  He’d always just been Kerr Mollin, beloved son of Karl and Bertiz Mollin, the unassuming kid with the ready smile who nearly everyone liked.  He hadn’t ever really gone through a harrowing event in his life, up until now.  The worst failure he’d ever suffered, that he could recall at least, was his inability to get the hang of tracking, but his father had always been very encouraging and Kerr’s skill with the longbow and acceptance as an acolyte had more than made up for it anyway.

He figured his relatively-untroubled existence might change now that he was joining Liseth and Cato and Kellan and Pisca in taking on a demon and who knew how many freaks.  Having never been tested this way, Kerr wondered if he would have the mental and emotional toughness the quest would require.  He prayed that he would.  And he prayed that he could comfort Liseth, who was clearly anxious about their upcoming expedition.

“I think Sarenrae’s always loved you, Lise.  And swinging a sword isn’t the end-all and be-all; I’m not very handy with one myself.”  He grinned self-deprecatingly and gestured to the longsword strapped to his back.  “I think the gods have gifted us all with certain talents.  And what they want us to do is use the talents they’ve given us to the fullest.  Not wish we had other people’s talents.”

He hugged her again.   “So you can’t swing a sword.  So what?  You’re one of the best healers I’ve ever seen!  Just in the two weeks we’ve been together I’ve watched you do some incredible things.  And according to Kellan that first expedition into the Glassworks would have been a disaster if you hadn’t been there, using the talents Sarenrae gave you, healing your friends.”

Kerr leaned over and kissed the top of Liseth’s head.  “You have a gift, Lise.  An AMAZING gift.  You can do things that your father, your brother, or even your mother could never DREAM of doing.  Sarenrae is using you in important ways.  Critical ways.  And you’re going to come through.  I know you will.   Because I believe in Liseth Thoradin.”  The young man tipped the blonde’s head up so he could look her in the eyes.  He grinned.  “You might even say I’m her biggest fan.”

“What is it like to have a mother?”  The question surprised Kerr; he wasn’t really sure how to answer.  “Huh.  Well . . . huh.”  He spent a moment searching for an answer as the cool sea breeze swept in off the water.  “I don’t know that I can answer this for anyone but me.”  He scratched his head.  “I mean, I know my mom, but how is she the same or different from anyone else’s mom?  I really have no idea.”

The young bowman took a deep breath.  “I guess . . . I guess it’s like having someone who’s always supporting you.  Like, both your father and your mother love you.  But your father, or at least my father, is always pushing me to achieve things.  Like, to go out and do great things.  While my mother is always affirming me for who I am and telling me she’ll love me no matter what happens.”  A thought struck Kerr.  “Maybe that’s one of the reasons you’ve always felt so,” he searched for the right word, “so inadequate.  Your father was always pushing you, always wanting more from you, and you never had a parent who you felt just accepted you and loved you for who you were.”

Kerr felt a little out of his depth trying to analyze such complex psychological issues.  “You know your father loves you, but you feel like he’s disappointed in you for not achieving more.  And you’ve never had a mother around to tell you how amazing and wonderful you are just being you.”  He squeezed her slightly.  “I can’t imagine what I would be like if I’d never had that.”  He paused.  “But at least you have it now.”  He smiled.  “Because even if you never achieve another thing in your life, I think you are amazing and wonderful and beautiful and lovable exactly as you are.”


This message was last edited by the player at 07:28, Fri 07 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 645 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 7 Mar 2014
at 15:42
  • msg #44

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Off we go.  Off we go.  The weary gnome dragged her feet out the door.  Off we go.  The weary gnome turned back around and went back into the sage's house to replace the stylus in the spot from which she had taken it.

"I think you're right, Cato," Pisca said from still inside the house.  "Now is the time for all good gnomes to delve deep into the catacombs below Sandpoint!  We will dare the Tunnel of the Freaks.  And shun the frumious Bandersnatch!"  Her finger pointed the way out the door, and the gnome charged, barreling out into the sunlight."

The newly invigorated, Pisca Neep Freemish slid to a stop in the street outside the home of the sage.  "Thanks, Brodie," she waved in farewell.  "And don't forget to live.  If we don't come back, you have to live.  You know things that nobody else does, and you have to live to pass it on."  All these things the gnome said with a grin on her face that matched the brightness of the morning sun.

"I've been pondering a design for the trap to set at the secret door, Cato," the gnome said as they made their way from the home of Brodert Quint to the northern door of the Glassworks.  "I was considering a design in which the Burst Jars fall from the ceiling once the secret door is closed.  The design would include a rope, a piton to secure the Burst Jars higher up on the tunnel wall, and a hinge.  The Burst Jars would be tied in a bundle to one end of the rope.  The rope would be looped over the piton hammered in high up above the door.  The other end of the rope would be secured to one flange of the hinge.  The hinge would be hammered into the tunnel wall just above the secret door.  The other flange of the hinge would hang down just over the upper lip of the secret doorway.  When the secret door is opened into the tunnel from the outside, it would simply lift the hinge away and let it drop back down into the open doorway.  The gobbies would then file into the tunnel and close the door.  At this point, the door would strike the flange of the hinge and pry the upper flange from its mooring.  This would release the rope, and the Burst Jars would fall down from above."

Pisca walked on in silence upon completing her description.  The silence, however, was filled with the racing of her mind as she reviewed every aspect of her plan.  Finally, she sighed a little frowny sigh as though still not entirely satisfied with things.  She looked up at the young human wizard and she said, "What do you think, Cato?  Truthfully now."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 357 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 7 Mar 2014
at 16:13
  • msg #45

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

As they left Brodert's place, Cato looked at the sage, mouthing a quick apology for the gnome.  More seriously, he added, "I'll keep safe, Brodert.  I wouldn't want you discussing the find of the century without me!"

Cato listened to Pisca's plan for the burst jars.  "I think that sounds reasonable, at least at first sight.  Simpler is probably better, as far as these things go.  Our primary goal is simply collapsing the passageway, but being able to take out some goblins at the same time is all the better.  We have to make sure we hit the weak points of the tunnel as well, though having one burst jar as a trigger is probably enough in the confines of the tunnel, if the other jars are at the weak points in the tunnel."

Cato went quiet as he mulled over Pisca's plan, seeking out ways to improve or simplify the gnome's proposed design.

OOC:
11:11, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Knowledge Engineering.
Bam!  Take that, Burst Jar trap.

Torv Tiller
NPC, 1 post
Hard-Ass
Sergeant
Fri 7 Mar 2014
at 22:13
  • msg #46

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Ryk Torson glanced at Jamis, then back at Kellan.  “Well . . .,” he stretched the word out, “let’s just say that we’ll be happy when your group gets down there and takes care of business.  Jamis and I were stationed down in the Tunnel Room earlier, and, well . . .,” again with the stretched-out pause, “we heard things.”

“WEIRD things,” agreed Jamis, nodding his head, his eyes slightly larger than normal.

“Yeah,” agreed Ryk.  “Nothing eerier than hearing strange moans from down the tunnel you’re guarding at four ‘o clock in the morning.”  He shivered, despite the warmth of the morning sun.  “I gotta say I wouldn’t trade places with you, Kellan, not even for a shiny badge and a badass new weapon.  You couldn’t pay me enough to go down and deal with whatever was making those moans.”  He shook his head emphatically.  “You guys are crazy.  Out-of-your-gourds crazy.  But I’m glad someone’s doing it.”

He glanced up at the sky, yawning. ”Our relief should be here soon.  Been pulling extra shifts, what with the militia training and Barett’s doubling of the guard watching the North Gate and the bridges.  I think I can hear my pillow calling my . . .”

“You’re not going to be able to HEAR your talking pillow because you’re going to be DEAF, Torson!”  Sergeant Torv Tiller strode around the corner, his face adorned with its customary scowl.  “Deaf from me yelling in your ear about how Sandpoint doesn’t pay you to whine about what a fragile little flower you are!”  Jamis hid a smirk.  Kellan and the other guardsmen had never been able to agree on whether Sergeant Tiller was really the hard-case that he seemed or whether it was all some sort of theatrical performance. If it IS a performance, Kellan thought to himself, he sure doesn’t break character very often.

“Oh, hello, Storval.” The sergeant addressed Kellan as if he hadn’t known very well he was standing right there.  “Glad you could join us.  Stopped by to see what life is like in the Sandpoint Guard, have you?  I understand if you can’t remember it very well, it being so long ago and all.”  He reached out and tapped Kellan’s deputy badge, still scowling.  He looked Kellan right in the eyes.  “Where’s the rest of your little group?  Don’t you all have a . . . field trip scheduled?”


This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Fri 07 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 625 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Sat 8 Mar 2014
at 15:51
  • msg #47

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Thank you Kerr..."  Liseth sniffed once, suddenly, to fight back the tears.  Sitting there, enveloped by her hero's embrace while all he wanted was to comfort her, she was so happy that she wanted to cry, "Thank you so much for being Kerr.  I don't know what I would have done if you weren't here in Sandpoint waiting for me."  She laid her head on his arm, "But I know now that Sarenrae loves me.  And Desna and Iomedae and Erastil too.  Because they gave me you."  The girl's head picked up for a moment so that she could kiss Kerr, "It doesn't matter that I can't use a sword.  That I can't fight.  Because you're here to protect me."

Liseth went silent again for a few moments while she considered what Kerr said to her.  In the meantime, her eyes drifted back over the sea water; until they were drawn to a single, white seagull waddling through the sand.  She couldn't take her eyes off of the bird for some reason, watching as it waddled back and forth through the sand and occasionally pecked at an empty clam shell.  Suddenly the seagull reminded her of herself; wandering without direction, knowing what it wants but unable to find it.

Then the bird stopped waddling around and began to dig in the wet sand with its webbed feet.  It reached down with its beak and picked a small clam up from where it had been hiding just under the sand.  The seagull, with the clam held in its beak, then took to the air and flew towards the Old Light; doubtlessly to find a spot to break the clam open on the rocks and rubble.

Continuing with her analogy, if that seagull was like her then Liseth couldn't help but imagine there must be some kind of lesson to be learned there.  She would never get what she wanted unless she was willing to work for it.  To dig through the proverbial sand until she found the answers that she was seeking.

Sitting here at the ocean, pondering the actions of sea birds, Liseth had to wonder if even Gozreh was trying to reach out to her.  To guide her, like Sarenrae and the other gods were.  Or was she just reading too much into a hungry bird?

"I always wondered what it would have been like if I knew my mother."  Liseth decided to let her seagull analogy rest in the back of her mind, "Growing up it was always just Daddy and Nivlak and me.  Well, and Father Garrick too.  Would I be a different Liseth?  More confident, maybe?  Or would my mother have been disappointed in me too?"  She sighed, "I just hope that she is at least keeping an eye on me alongside Sarenrae."

"Nivlak and Daddy are both so much bigger and stronger than me.  Daddy has always been so proud of Nivlak; I wanted him to be proud of me too.  But I was never good with weapons.  I thought that it wouldn't matter, that he would be so happy when I became a priestess in Sarenrae's church..."  Liseth sniffed again; talking about and remembering what had happened was still difficult.  Not nearly as bad as it had been a few days ago though, "After I wasn't able to become a priestess, I thought that my life might as well be over.  I thought that I would never be able to do anything that would make Daddy proud of me."

"I know he loves me, he says so all the time.  And I love him too.  But Daddy loving me and being proud of me are two different things."  Then Liseth smiled, "I can't wait to tell him that Sarenrae spoke to me.  All of those things that She said to me.  How She chose me for such a special task, that She picked me over all of her other followers.  Daddy will have to be proud of me."  Assuming, of course, that she was really up to the task that Sarenrae had set before her.

"Kerr..."  Liseth snuggled into his arms, "I'd like to meet your mother.  Maybe if I meet her, I would know more about what my own mother was like.  Whether I've made her happy or not."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 363 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Mon 10 Mar 2014
at 01:10
  • msg #48

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato walked with Pisca to the Glassworks, trying to perfect their trap along the way. "I agree with the basic design. I think I'm worried about triggering the chain reaction. I'd almost want something simpler, like the old 'water pail on the door' trick.  I suppose it would be easier to make the jars explode when the door is being opened rather than after it had opened and closed, though that would defeat part of point of the trap of removing some goblins from the attack. I'm sure we can figure out a way to make your idea work."

The pair rounded the last corner to the Glassworks, almost running into Kellan and several other guardsman in a heated discussion. "Morning, Kellan. Ready for the tunnels?  Any word from the night watch?"  Cato nodded to the other guardsman, feeling as though there was an undercurrent of resentment here he didn't quite understand.

"Anyone see Liseth and Kerr?  They stopped by Nisk's to get the last of the supplies. I would have thought they wold have been here by now."

Cato squinted into the rising sun, scanning the town to the east, then swung his gaze around to the beach.  "Is that them down there?  I'd hate to interrupt a moment between them, but we should probably be on our way soon."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Mon 10 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 422 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 10 Mar 2014
at 04:29
  • msg #49

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan listened with interest as he stretched, cocking his head a little when the mentioned the strange sounds and nodding in agreement when he called their group crazy for heading down there. "Yeah, I have a feeling today is not gonna be a lot'a fun...but" he shrugged "it needs doin, the sooner the better. I..." He paused as Sgt. Tiller rounded the corner with his trademark scowl and pitch perfect rebuke.

"Sergeant" Kellan straitened and gave him Sandpoints approximation of a salute, a sincere nod of acknowledgment "Looking forward to getting back on shift sir" he assured the man "But today's detail comes from the mayor" he offered in explanation "The other deputies are..." He paused with a slight smile as Cato and Pisca rounded the corner, gesturing to them with an open palm "nearly ready to head down...looks like we are just missing Liseth and Kerr?" He asked his friends for confirmation as if wondering if they had seen her. His demeanor was a little stiffer than normal, but that could easily be explained by Tiller's appraising glare.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 34 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 10 Mar 2014
at 12:45
  • msg #50

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr hugged Liseth close.  “That’s right, Lise.”  He kissed the top of her head again.  “I’m here to protect you.”  He nodded along as Liseth wondered what she would have been like had her mother still been with her.  “I don’t know.”  He shook his head.  “Maybe my protection starts here.  Because I think that can be a dangerous road to travel.  Wondering what you would be life if things were different.  Wishing that they were different.”

He pulled back and looked the blonde acolyte in the eyes.  “I’ve seen people so caught up in what they wished would have happened to them, or so bitter about not getting what they thought they deserved, that they are completely unable to appreciate what they do have.”  He hugged her close again.  “I’m not saying that you would ever do that.  But I think that’s one way the evil gods try and trip us up.  By having us concentrate on what we don’t have, rather than on what we do.”

“I think your father is going to be proud of you, sweetheart.  And if he isn’t, I’ll explain to him exactly why he should be.  But really, he should be proud of you already.  Not just for what you’ve done, but for who you are.  I have trouble imagining parents who wouldn’t be overjoyed to have a daughter like you.”

Kerr laughed.  “I think my mother would like to meet you even more than you would like to meet her.  She's always been so concerned that I've never had a girlfriend.”  He rolled his eyes.  “Was always telling me what an eligible young man I was, and how various girls were throwing themselves at my feet.”  The young man chuckled.  “I didn’t really see it.  But she’s going to be so happy to meet you.”  He signed dramatically.  “I’m sure you’ll get to hear all sorts of embarrassing stories from my childhood.  That’s one thing mothers are good for, you know.  Embarrassing you in front of people you like.”

The bowman glanced up the hill, then looked more intently.  “Hey, isn’t that Cato?”  He pointed in the direction of the Glassworks.  “I think the others are gathering.”  He leaped down off the log and offered a hand to his beautiful blonde companion.  “Shall we join them, milady?”


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 648 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 10 Mar 2014
at 14:13
  • msg #51

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The eyes of the gnome surveyed the scene at the north entrance of the Glassworks as she rounded the corner with Cato.  She eyed the stiff backed human guard, one among three.  Torv Tiller.  And the other two.  Ryk Torson and Jamis Needlehome.

"You," the gnome with hand on hip, points an accusing finger at the guard sergeant.  "I heard you.  You're being mean to my friend."

A glance up at Kellan Storval, however, tells the gnome something that she hadn't been expecting.  "But ... my friend seems to want you to be mean to him.  Which ... can be fun for some people.  So, carry on."  At this, Pisca turned from Torv Tiller as though never having spoken to him at all.

"Are those our Burst Jars?" asked the gnome, pointing to the two sacks sitting inside the doorway.  "You know, I've been thinking, Cato, and you're probably right.  Rigging them inside the tunnel both risks setting off the trap when we blow the tunnel and might be more complicated than we need.  How about this?"  As she spoke, Pisca squatted down next to one of the knapsacks and opened the flap to examine the contents.

"We rig the trip outside the door instead of inside.  We can muddy up one of these sacks to make it look like the cave wall and hang it by a piton high up above the door.  We leave one Burst Jar inside the sack.  The others, we hide in and around the debris on the cave floor.  We attach a rope to the knapsack and let it hang down to the top of the doorway.  When we close the door, we make sure that the rope is pressed between the top of the door and the top of the doorway.  Then we secure the rope to the the inside of the door such that when the gobbies open the door from the outside, they pull the rope.  This will pull the knapsack down from above.  When the knapsack hits the ground the Burst Jar inside will explode, catching all of the other Burst Jars that we'd scattered about the cave.  Spoooooossssshhhh."

The last word (or, maybe non-word) is quiet, absorbed as it is in the gnome's examination of the contents of the knapsack.  It does, somehow, however, manage to capture all of the flavor of explosive conflagration and screaming goblin death that a more effusive use of the non-word might bring.

"Yes.  I think that's probably better."  The gnome nods.  "It's simple, and simple is ... simpler."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 628 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Mon 10 Mar 2014
at 22:32
  • msg #52

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

With Kerr hugging her so close, Liseth merely nodded along while he spoke.  Her head leaned into his shoulder as her eyes once again stared out towards the sea.  But when he pulled back and turned her so that he could look into her eyes, the girl suddenly found the ocean to be much less appealing.  Hugging Kerr was made slightly difficult due to the steel breastplate that he was wearing, but that wasn't enough to deter Liseth from throwing her arms around him.

"I hope that she likes me."  By the time she and Kerr were talking about his mother, Liseth had brought her arms back down into her lap; though she still leaned against him.  "I'm sure that she must be a great lady, to have raised the sweetest boy in the world as her son."  She smiled at Kerr, "I can't wait to hear all of her embarrassing stories.  Maybe I can even share some with her that she doesn't know about yet."  Liseth's smile became slightly mischievous, "Does your mother know about your relationship with Heily?"

"Oh, it's time to go already?"  Liseth was reluctant to leave, but in looking back towards the Glassworks she could see Cato.  The young acolyte sighed as she took her sweet boyfriend's hand and accepted his help in coming down off of the log, "I suppose we shouldn't keep everyone waiting..."  If asked whether she would rather spend the day on the beach with Kerr or delve into a frightening underground ruin full of demons, Liseth didn't think that the answer would be difficult for her to come up with.  But some things had to be done, and Sarenrae didn't put Her faith in Liseth for no reason.

Besides, chances were good that everyone would need her healing abilities before the day was through.

Liseth dusted off and straightened the skirt of her new dress before waving up the hill towards Cato.  Then she took Kerr's arm and the two of them made their way back to the Glassworks.  It did look as though everyone else was already there.

"Hello Cato, Kellan, Pisca; I hope that you weren't waiting for us too long."  Liseth nodded between each of her friends when she and Kerr arrived.  "Thank you again for looking after those burst jars for us Sergeant Tiller."  She noted how Pisca was already examining them.  Liseth was just very glad that she wouldn't need to have anything further to do with the bombs herself.

"Cato, did you ever manage to learn if those things we were given yesterday are enchanted?"  Liseth recalled what the items in question were, "The cloaks and bags and that pearl?  Hopefully they'll be able to help us out with...you know."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Mon 10 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 703 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 19:00
  • msg #53

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Now that the entire group had arrived on the sunlit avenue of Glass Street, they gathered themselves and entered the Glassworks through its double loading doors, passing by the now-undetectable secret compartment, heading down the staircase, and picking their way past the far-too-familiar rubble where they had confronted Tsuto Kaijitsu and his goblin minions.

They made their way to the room from whence the tunnels started, finding two more guardsmen on duty, watching the tunnels from behind a makeshift barricade that one pair of freaked-out guardsmen or another had made from the shelves and desk in the room.  The guardsmen on duty, Santo Flitworth and Quint Plinsman by name, greeted them warmly, trying not to look too relieved that an expedition was heading down to clear out whatever it was that lived in the catacombs.

During a brief conversation concerning their watch, Santo and Quint confirmed Jamis’ and Ryk’s story of eerie moans emanating from the tunnels.  According to the guardsmen the moans were irregular and infrequent, but all the more disconcerting for that.  Kellan nodded in understanding, slapped Santo on the back, and assured both visibly-shaken guardsmen that he and his friends would get to the bottom of whatever was down there.

As Santo and Quint reassembled the barricade they’d just opened to allow the party through, the group of five headed into the tunnels.  With Pisca, Cato, Kerr, and Liseth all able to summon light sources, darkness was not much of an issue.  They were not met by moans, or even any sounds at all.  The only breaks in the overwhelming silence were the thud of their footfalls as they moved down the tunnel towards the junction, five-hundred feet from where they’d left the Glassworks.

Since the secret doorway leading into the tunnel was well over a thousand feet away from the junction, the group decided to let engineers Pisca and Cato travel on ahead to set the burst jars while Kellan, Liseth, and Kerr remained to guard the catacombs’ entrance.  Pisca and Cato moved on, with Cato carrying the burst jars.  Soon enough they arrived at the secret entrance that let out into the cliffside cave.  Using Cato’s engineering brilliance, the two were able to set up an ingenious trap with five of the burst jars; a trap that would collapse the end of the tunnel and probably the cave itself on anyone foolish enough to open the secret door after it had closed.

Carefully closing the door to ensure that they didn’t set off their own trap, Cato and Pisca moved about 400 feet back up the tunnel, where they set up their second set of burst jars.  Once again Pisca marveled at Cato’s engineering knowledge as he was able to direct the placement of the burst jars in such a way that not only would the tunnel collapse, but collapse in a way that resulted in no ill effects to or even any sign of the event on the surface.  Once that was done, the pair moved well away from the burst jars.  As planned, Pisca’s well-placed arrow broke one jar, and the two demolition experts ran for it.

Kellan, Kerr, and Liseth heard the roar of the explosions and the collapsing tunnels, but had little time to worry about their success as Cato and Pisca came trotting around the corner, grinning like cats that had eaten the canary.  They were dusty, certainly, but no worse for wear after their burst jar adventure.

Now that the tunnels were safely closed and Sandpoint secured against goblin invasion from that direction, the five stood and looked down into the dark reaches of the westernmost tunnel, the one that had until recently been bricked over.  Liseth, Kellan, and Kerr reported that nothing had stirred or moved during Pisca and Cato’s absence.  It was as if nothing at all was down there.  Only the broken-down wall and a slight chill in the air of the western passage indicated it went anywhere special at all.

As the five spelunkers stood there, preparing themselves for whatever they might find down the passageway, they heard it.

The moan.

Not loud, but not particularly faint.  The moan had a soulless, hungry, despairing quality that seemed to want to rip the hope and cheer and goodwill from anyone who heard it.  It went on for five seconds.  Ten seconds.  Then it stopped.

And silence reigned once more.


This message was last edited by the GM at 21:54, Tue 11 Mar 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 365 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 20:34
  • msg #54

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

As Cato and Pisca neared the broken-down wall, he couldn't shake the grin from his face.  He was about to venture into a sealed catacomb that housed unknowable evil and a literal demon, but things just felt...right.  Their plans so far had worked splendidly.

He stood in front of the others, awkwardly brushing dust off his cloak.  "You know, I ordinarily have a spell prepared for cleaning my clothes.  I haven't had to actually worry about cleaning off dirt like this in years."  Cato's smile grew a little wider.  "I guess sacrificing for another offensive spell is worth a little dirt in this case."

Then Cato heard the moan, and his smile disappeared.  There were a great many things that the young wizard had read or heard about that occasionally entered his thoughts and made returning to sleep hard when he heard a bump in the night or was in a rare depressed mood.  But more than that were the things that Cato didn't have concrete knowledge about, but guessed must exist.  Evidence of things like the discarded shell of an enormous beetle, or rumors of the spawn of Rovagug that littered the landscape.  And finally, and most terrifyingly, were the things that he couldn't even conceive of.  What sorts of terrors lay hidden in Golarion, beasts undisturbed for millenia, or whose predations were so efficient that no word of their existence had leaked out?

Cato looked to the faces of his friends for reassurance.  "Kellan, I hate to volunteer you for this, but do you want to lead the way?  I'm sure whatever's making that moan would look much better pieced at the end of your weapon."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 423 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 20:40
  • msg #55

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

It was amazing how a few feet of earth and the absence of light could transform a beautiful day into the prelude to a nightmare. Without the sun shining on his shoulders Kellan suddenly became aware of just how cold and damp it would be down here, being glad that the gambison and chain would trap his warmth for a little while at least.

He was just about to speak to the others when the moan cut him off, going on far longer than he had expected. His hairs stood on end and he felt his heartbeat begin to pick up pace. Slowly he turned to the others with sort of shrug and a whisper

"Well here we are..."

Nodding in agreement with Cato and looking to Pisca in particular he knelt and kept his low voice "Did you want to check ahead? or would you like me to go first...I cant see anything down here as it is so I was going to spark up a torch unless you can do...your...magical light thing"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:50, Wed 12 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 629 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 22:35
  • msg #56

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Appearing far less than enthusiastic to be going back through the Glassworks, Liseth quickly became uncommunicative.  She began singing quietly to herself, what sounded almost like a nursery rhyme, when the group went down the stairs into the cellar.  And the girl carefully avoided yesterday's bloodstains, especially the ones that came from her.

"...and lay down your head, my sweet little darling..."  Her singing was slightly more insistent within the tunnels.  Liseth paused only for moment so that she could summon up a divine glow to emanate from Sarenrae's holy symbol hanging from around her neck.  Once they reached the fork, she watched Cato and Pisca continue on down the one tunnel while she remained at the other with Kerr and Kellan.

Suddenly remembering that she had some items to organize allowed the young acolyte to take her mind off of their impending danger.  Liseth allowed her knapsack to slide down from her shoulders and then set it gently on the ground before she started digging through it; her singing paused while she concentrated on the items contained within.  A small vial of antitoxin was the first item to be removed and then placed into her pouch for easier access.  The same happened to the small healing wand that she was given by Mr Voon.  Her healer's supplies remained in the knapsack, they were too bulky to do anything else with, but finally the small blonde retrieved her new small shield.

Liseth frowned as she ran her arm through the straps of the small round shield; she really hoped that she wouldn't need to use it.

The knapsack was just being placed back over her shoulders when the explosion from the burst jars caused her to jump and then nearly fall to the ground.  Liseth had to pick her knapsack back up again after getting over her relief that Cato and Pisca were okay.  That relief was destined to be short-lived.

Her face paled and Liseth started trembling when the moan reached her ears.  She immediately stepped behind Kerr and took hold of his arm, staring down the passageway in complete trepidation.

"Was that..."  She continued to tremble while Cato and Kellan spoke, "Was that one of the Rune Dog freaks?"  Liseth swallowed as her hands rubbed Kerr's arm nervously.

"Kellan, let me see your weapon.  I can help with the darkness, just like yesterday."  Keeping one hand on Kerr, Liseth reached the other out and laid it upon the cold-iron blade.  "Sarenrae, please send your light to guide us in the darkness."  The end of the poleaxe lit up, shedding bright white light, while at the same time the glow around Liseth's holy symbol dissipated, "Please watch over us, your servants, and keep us safe in this dark, forgotten place."  The prayer was slightly more excessive than one needed just to invoke light.

"Kerr...[Language unknown: Oreas mataur."]  Before they could advance down into the new passage, Liseth squeezed Kerr's arm tightly and whispered from her place just behind him.

OOC: Casting Light on Kellan's polearm.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:48, Wed 12 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 650 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 00:27
  • msg #57

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

As the spectral moan drifted out of the darkness, the full attention of Pisca Neep Freemish snapped to the tunnel before them from whence it came.  Her pert nose pointed the way as though scenting the tunnel ahead.  Her violet eyes probed the inky blackness.  She stood still as stone, every fiber of her being poised for action, questing for danger.

"Frrrreeeeaaaaaksssss ... "  Softly.  Building.  The word escaped the gnome's lips, drifting on a spectral breeze that toyed with the hairs at the nape of the neck.  "Frrrreeeeaaaaaksssss ... "  Pisca gave a shivered at the delicious terror and then turned a hehe and a broad gnomish grin up at her collected companions.

With a sharp clap Pisca then struck her hands together and spoke the word of power.  "Jibber."  And a gnome-shaped light appeared at her side.

"Could you take a look at the ground, Lys?" she asked.  "It might be nice to see if anything has come up this far in the tunnel.  And how recently.  And how many.  And whether they're wearing pants or not."

Without waiting, however, the gnome shushed her gnome-shaped light thirty feet down the tunnel and followed it half of the way, her eyes and ears on the alert.

Perception check, please.

Active Effects:  Dancing Lights 1m
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 424 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 07:02
  • msg #58

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan just seemed to be set on moving after Pisca when suddenly he paused, his chain mail jingling in the stillness of the hallway.

"Almost forgot...better put on this cloak while I have the chance"

As if in a hurry to get moving Kellan once again grounded his pack quickly and reached in, as he pulled out the rolled cloak and let it unfurl he admired the look and sturdyness of the garment. With little ceremony he draped the thing over his shoulders and affixed the clasp, adjusting the cowl until it seemed the right length. He had to admit that the extra warmth was nice down here, and that overall he just plain felt better with it on.

Sticking the antidote in the handy belt pouch that had come with it, he rolled his shoulder before once again hefting his glowing weapon, not being above giving it a felt mock stabs down the hallway to watch the shadows dance and retreat.

"Alright...let's get this over with" he said with a determined tone, shooting a look behind himself to make sure Cato, Liseth and Kerr were all set as well. "I'm glad you came with us Kerr...feels better having somebody else in armor to watch our backs...not that you wouldn't have been welcome anyway of course" his voice was still low, the words echoing just slightly in the enclosed space.

Kellan is going to try to stay around 15' behind Pisca as they travel
This message was last edited by the player at 22:03, Wed 12 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 655 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 19:30
  • msg #59

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

As much as one wanted to make one's gnome shaped light look like an actual gnome, there was really only so much a body could do.  Pisca Neep Freemish frowned a small frown of mild dissatisfaction and aimed it in the direction of her Dancing Lights.  It was, in truth, not the fault of the magic.  It just simply wasn't the type of great magic that came along with great responsibility.  Or ... was it the other way around?  Only the simplest of minds would likely be fooled.  And, even then, not for long.  With luck, dog-legged freaks were not very smart.  Could you expect much from something raised in a well?

Though, to make her odds better, Pisca pulled her new cloak tighter about herself and slipped off to one side of the tunnel.  She drew her bow and nocked an arrow.  Not one of her special black arrows, but a plain one.  One captured from the goblins, in fact.  A Rune Dog could miss a stealthy gnome who slid with cat-like grace from one shadow to the next.  Drawn to the bright lights of the gnome-shaped magic and Stomper's glowing polearm, a Run Dog could miss a stealthy gnome.  It could.

Stealth check in addition to the Perception check, please.

Active Effects:  Dancing Lights 1m
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 633 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 21:39
  • msg #60

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"O-okay Pisca..."  Liseth was a little perturbed, watching her divine light retreat down the passage with Kellan and his polearm.  Luckily, Kerr had his own light and seemed intent on staying near Liseth; which suited her just fine.  The young blonde tracker turned her eyes to the floor of the passage to look for any tell-tale signs of people or animals using it recently.  Or dog-legged freaks.

Something actually stood out from the otherwise ill-used passage.  Her attention grabbed, Liseth kneeled down in the dirt in order to examine it more closely.  It seemed as though her new, padded dress really lent itself well to kneeling on the ground; the heavy skirt padded her knees perfectly with their softness!  But at the moment Liseth didn't have the time to appreciate this comfortable fact.  She carefully ran her hands over several marks on the ground of the passage, nodding before standing up; once again taking hold of Kerr's nearby arm.

"It looks like there was at least three people that used this passage recently."  Liseth slowly caught up with Kellan before reporting to Pisca where she was pondering her ghostly light and her arrows.  "They were wearing shoes at least, not barefoot, so they probably weren't Rune Dogs.  And they were bigger than me, so they probably weren't goblins."

Seeing that Kellan had put on his new cloak reminded Liseth that she had one that she should probably wear as well.  It was full of protective magic after all, it would be a waste to not put it on.  The girl dug through her knapsack one more time to retrieve the cloak, wrapping the garment around her shoulders before putting her knapsack back on over top of it.  The cloak easily covered her entire, small frame; Liseth felt more protected already with the garment closed around her.  And warm too, it guarded her from the chilly subterranean passage quite nicely.

Too bad there wasn't one for Kerr to wear as well, but he had insisted that she have the cloak.  Since it was enchanted with protective magic, however minor it might be.

With a frown, Liseth suddenly realized that Kerr would have a hard time protecting her if she kept hanging on to his arm.  No matter how much better it made her feel, he would have a hard time firing his bow or swinging his sword if she were clinging to him.  Reluctantly, Liseth released Kerr's arm; but not before using it to prop herself up and kiss him lightly on his cheek.

Then, with cloak wrapped closely around her body, Liseth went in step with the others.  With everyone walking slow and careful, Liseth would do fine walking on her own; she had plenty of time to pick and choose her steps carefully so that she wouldn't stumble.  All that she had to worry about now was dealing with the anxious, frightened butterflies fluttering rapidly through her stomach.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 35 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 00:01
  • msg #61

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr enjoyed Liseth’s singing as they proceeded into the Glassworks, although he knew it was a clear sign of how nervous she was about their expedition.  Liseth was such a good singer.  Kerr wished there was something he could do to comfort her, but gods’ honest truth he felt like he needed some comfort himself.  Heading down into tunnels known to contain a demon and her freakish minions was not something people normally did.  Kerr appreciated the guardsmen’s attitude; he knew how pleased he would be if someone else was taking responsibility for this task.

But it was not to be.  They had been chosen, and it was up to them to succeed at their mission.  The fate of Sandpoint, and perhaps all Varisia, depended upon it.  Who knew for what evil purpose or ritual Lamashtu was planning to use the destruction of Sandpoint at the hands of Nualia?  Kerr was determined not to let that happen, no matter the personal cost.

Kerr was also determined not to let anything happen to Liseth.  It was his duty, no, his divine task, to ensure her safety.  To the admittedly-biased Kerr, she was the most-important member of this group.

After their brief interaction with the second pair of guardsmen standing watch in the tunnel room, they walked a few hundred feet to what Kerr privately started calling Freak Junction.  According to Pisca, the secret entrance was over a quarter-mile away.  Kerr knew Liseth would soldier on bravely, but he didn’t want to her to have to struggle to the secret door and back just to witness work she wouldn’t be involved with anyway.  His suggestion that he, Liseth, and Kellan stay to guard Freak Junction was well taken, and shortly the three were watching Cato and Pisca hustle down the passageway, minds intent on demolition.

As they waited for the engineers to return, Kerr watched Liseth carefully arranging her items.  He knew she was terrified.  He knelt down next to her and put his arm around her while she worked, trying to comfort her with his presence and support.

After what seemed like an eternity, they were startled by the tunnel-collapsing explosion, which was followed shortly by Pisca and Cato’s return.  Kerr put a comforting hand over Liseth’s.  “I think we can use all the offense we can get,” he agreed with Cato, grinning.  “We can always bathe and clean up when we get back.”

Then the moan reverberated through the tunnels.  If any of them were attempting to ignore the grim purpose of their undertaking, they could ignore it no longer.  Soon they would be confronting the author of that moan.  No one looked incredibly happy about the prospect.

Well, except Pisca.  Pisca looked like she was having the time of her life.  Kerr couldn’t help but grin back at the smaller woman.  Her enthusiasm was just the right antidote to the tension and anxiety everyone felt.

Kerr put his free arm around Liseth.  “I think you heading in first is an excellent idea, Kellan,” he supplied, trying not to sound too happy about the idea of hiding out in the back of the group.  “Liseth and I will follow you, for support.”

Kerr looked down at Liseth.  “[Language unknown: Ac iouthiine u ilic fiar,]” Kerr responded with as much comfort as he could, giving her a hug.  “[Language unknown: N lori tha ev hatearund ce one ei evpl e vor ncriwh n ilbe mieve p beicwa.]”  An idea struck the young archer.  He mumbled a prayer; Liseth’s white quilted dress suddenly glowed with brilliant light.

“There,” Kerr said, stepping back to admire his handiwork.  “Not only will you be able to see where you’re going, but I’ll be able to find you wherever you are.”  He took her hands and looked into her eyes.  “[Language unknown: M’il oun atientrat o versa heecchnd blewertic m ill, eeilelolth, ive neieie ee ntionsort plho elac.]”

He have her an encouraging look, then began walking slowly, longbow in hand, following Kellan, Pisca, and Pisca’s light-gnome into the inky blackness of the Tunnel of the Freaks.

OOC:  Kerr casts Light on Liseth.


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 657 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 00:29
  • msg #62

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Shoes?  Three people in shoes.  Not gobbies.  And not Rune Dogs.  Could Nuprinella have come through here last night to give instructions to her Quasit minion?  And who could the other two be?

Ook!  Almost forgot.

"Bostisch."  This time the word of power comes more quietly.  The gnome points a finger back at first, Kellan and then Liseth.

"Lysa?" the gnome called back through her whisper magic.  "Do any of the three shoe-wearers look anything like the shoe-wearer who came with the goblins to despoil Father Tobayn's tomb?"

"I wonder what the three were wearing?  I mean, besides shoes.  Have you looked at our footprints, Lys?  I mean, Stomper and Kerr must be carrying heavier loads than we are.  Have you looked at their footprints and compared them to, say, Cato's?  How do the three shoe-wearers compare?"

"There once were three shoe-wearers," muttered the gnome then to herself.  "A Papa Shoe-wearer.  A Mamma Shoe-wearer ... "  Pisca paused, a frown emerging from the direction of her thoughts.  ... And one Rune Dog Shoe-wearer?

No.  That just couldn't be right.

Stealth check in addition to the Perception check, please.

Active Effects:  Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m
This message was last edited by the player at 00:42, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 370 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 01:37
  • msg #63

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato watched as his companions moved into the darkened tunnel. He spoke "[Language unknown: Encentthe]" and the end of his quarter staff began to emit a soft glow. As Pisca and her gnome-lights receded down the hallway, he mustered his will and said "[Language unknown: Aiplus]" and the familiar patterns of force armor shimmered over his cloak, glowing softly in the tunnel before fading away. Clutching a flask of acid in the pocket of his robe, Cato followed the others into the unknown, trying to be alert as he never had been before.

Active Effects:
Mage Armor AC: 16
The Raconteur
GM, 710 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 02:13
  • msg #64

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The group found the Tunnel of the Freaks to be a rough, 10-foot-wide by 10-foot-high passageway that wound west for 50 feet before turning gently turning north.  The dirt floor of the passageway and the wooden support structures that created the tunnel were of a piece with those in the previous tunnels the party had visited; it was fairly clear they were created by the same group of people.

As the tunnel curved, the party could see two apertures in the wall; the first ten feet wide, the second slightly smaller and just ten feet north of it.  Pisca, with her improved vision and position slightly ahead of the main group, could make out a third opening down the passageway thirty feet beyond the second.

The air in the corridor was still, no one in the group could hear any noise other than their own footfalls and breathing.

But as Pisca’s gnome-shaped dancing lights moved past the opening in the wall, two figures suddenly darted out and immediately attacked it!   The creatures moaned with rage, lurching on back-bent, doglike legs, their hideous mouths flanked by outsized arms and three-fingered hands.  As they turned their dead-eyed gaze upon the group and its approaching lights, the party could see that these must indeed be the freaks of Jubrayl Vhiski's nightmares.


Battle was joined.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  X  |  |  |XXX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  X  |F1|  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  X  |DL|F2|  |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--+-XXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  X  |  X X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  XP |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  X K|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  | X| L|RX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+X-+--+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  X  | CX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +-X+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|X |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

F1 = Freak One     K = Kellan
F2 = Freak Two     L = Liseth
                   P = Pisca
DL = Light Gnome   C = Cato
                   R = Kerr

Roll for initiative.  If you beat the Freaks’ initiative of 19, you may post an action.  Whoever beats the Freaks can go, then the Freaks will take their turn, then the entire party will take their action, then the Freaks, then the party, and so on and so forth.

Once again, you guys can act in any order as long as it is party initiative.  Good luck! 


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:31, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 36 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 02:30
  • msg #65

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr heard Liseth gasp as the Freaks came boiling out of their hiding place to attack Pisca's gnome-shaped light source.  Almost immediately he had an arrow to hand, drawing, breathing, and releasing, then again in a blur of motion.

Unfortunately, Kerr was not used to shooting in corridors.  The arrows sped down the tunnel towards their targets, but both just barely missed the lead Freak.  Kerr gritted his teeth and said a brief prayer to Iomedae as he reached back for another arrow.  Next time, he vowed, he would not miss.

OOC:

19:17, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 23 using 1d20+5. Initiative.
19:22, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 10 using 1d20+4. Rapid Shot Attack 2.
19:22, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 13 using 1d20+4. Rapid Shot Attack 1.

Arrows: 38


This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 428 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 04:56
  • msg #66

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan experienced an odd sensation all at once. On one hand his heart had leapt violently as the creatures emerged, nightmarish shapes barreling into view awash in magical light, he felt the familiar kick of adrenaline and his stomach clenching up like a knot. On the other hand he was moving forward, running alongside Pisca and even going so far as to place a comforting hand on her shoulder as he passed, an almost comically courteous gesture given the situation.

It was like being a spectator in his own body, watching himself act out the scenarios he had fretted over and dreaded for days now.

Once he was alongside the Gnome he lowered the spear point of his pole axe towards the creature in front of him, turning the axe end sideways he splayed out his feet with a slight bend. His voice roared down the hallway in a challenge to their own moans as he brandished the weapon.

"Come on then!"

OOC
21:33, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
HP:26/26
AC: 16
Move: To D19
Standard: Ready weapon against charge
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 660 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 13:12
  • msg #67

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

FREAKS!

Pisca Neep Freemish froke.  Or freaked.  Or froze.  Whichever it might have been it placed her into a state of gnomish non-action which brooked neither word nor deed.

Freaks!  Real dog-legged, Rune Dog Freaks!  With spider mouths.  And long flanking arms.  And monstrous three clawed fingers on monstrous misshapen hands!

Just like Jubrayl said.  Just like that.

Then there was a hand on her shoulder.  Neither monstrous nor misshapen.  It was a Stomper hand.  And he was by her side.  With his bladed polearm.  Calling out to the Rune Dogs to come at him.  To slice his stomach.  And spill his bowels over the front of his legs.  Instead of Pisca.

And the gnome was grateful then, for the good human friends that she had come with to this dark and terribly dangerous Tunnel of the Freaks.  She felt better.  Less froken.  More herself.  A gnome in a place of mystery and curious discovery.  A place where a gnome should be.

05:47, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 6 using 1d20+4. Initiative.

Active Effects:  Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 18/18

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 371 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 13:13
  • msg #68

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato's blood froze as the monsters boiled out to attack Pisca's lights.  A small rational part of Cato's mind examined the creatures with a critical eye even as he fought the compulsion to flee.  Cato had always found the digitgrade leg design of animals like dogs somewhat unsettling when brought to a human scale.  Just watching a gnoll ambulate, let along run, was downright unsettling.  Cato knew that their knee joints really weren't bending backwards, and it was the elevated ankle joint that resulted in the effect, but it was unsettling all the same.  These creatures, though, almost appeared to have another joint between ankle and knee, which created a horrifying effect.  And although he was a fair ways away, the motion around their mouths as they lunged forward to attack Pisca's lights were unsettling.  Cato was sure he caught sight of a bifurcated lip splitting open in multiple directions to expose wriggling pedipalp-like structures at the ends.  Whomever or whatever had designed these creatures knew what to include for maximal shock value.  Freaks was an apt designation.

Even as he examined the creatures, Cato was already reaching into spell component pouch for a dash of fine sand.  Hopefully the creatures, whatever they were, still needed to sleep and were vulnerable to his spell.  Cato started the intricate incantation, casting sand out in front of him as he chanted the last words necessary to bring about his spell: "[Language unknown: Anwile!]"

OOC:
08:54, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 20 using 1d20+6. Initiative.
Full-round action: Cast Sleep on the two Freaks
Active Effects: Mage Armor AC: 16
HP: 18
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 636 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 17:27
  • msg #69

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth hadn't known what to expect when they finally did encounter the much dreaded Freaks.  She had spent a little time thinking about what they must look like, but it did nothing to really prepare her for them.  These Freaks were more horrible than anything she had imagined!

With a terrified gasp, the girl froze; staring wide-eyed as the monstrous freaks assaulted Pisca's magic light-gnome.  She wanted to run, the urge was almost overwhelming; but she couldn't abandon her friends.  Especially with Kerr right next to her already on the offensive with his bow.  And Cato right behind her, chanting words of magic.

Her heart beat quickened and the young blonde acolyte's mind raced, trying to fathom something she could do to help as well.

They look nothing at all like dogs!

10:07, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 16 using 1d20+1. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:27, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 712 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 19:31
  • msg #70

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The Freaks snarled in rage at those who dared dispute their previously-unchallenged reign over this dark dominion.  The closest freak bared its nightmarish teeth in response to Kellan's challenge, leaping through Pisca's light-gnome with claws extended, heading straight for the warrior at top speed.

As the slavering Freak closed with Kellan, the young guardsman was ready.  Or at least he thought he was.  As he stabbed the onrushing monster with his polearm, he lost his grip on his weapon!  Kellan quickly recovered, using his honed reflexes to bring the blade back and slash the creature across the arm, thanking the endless drills in the training yard as he did so.

His efforts were rewarded with an unearthly howl of pain.

But Kellan's slash had not stopped the Freak.  It was on the young man in a flash, burying its teeth into his shoulder and raking a claw along his arm.  Kellan's armor protected him from the worst of the assault, but he could feel his skin break and, as it did, a heated feeling spreading through his veins.

Kellan saw red.

But not for long.  He managed to fight off whatever it was that threatened to overcome him and concentrate on the opponent in front of him.  The young guardsman was in the fight of his life against a creature that could spring from only the most macabre and horrific imaginations.

Kellan saw the second freak moving behind the first towards where Pisca stood, frozen in fear, awe, or some other emotion known only to her.  Kellan managed to tear himself away from the first freak, torquing himself around and bringing his poleaxe whistling over Pisca's head directly into the chest of the second freak, biting deep.  Once again, Kellan was rewarded with a pained howl as black ichor splashed along the blade of his weapon.

But the Freak was undeterred, sliding away from Kellan's polearm to press its attack on Pisca, biting and clawing the gnome in much the same way its companion had mauled Kellan.  From the sounds of it, Kellan could tell Pisca's efforts to defend herself were not meeting with unqualified success.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  X  |  |  |XXX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  X  |DL|  |  |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--+-XXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  X  |  X X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  XF2|F1X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  XP |K X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  | X| L|RX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+X-+--+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  X  | CX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +-X+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|X |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

F1 = Freak One     K = Kellan
F2 = Freak Two     L = Liseth
                   P = Pisca
DL = Light Gnome   C = Cato
                   R = Kerr

Freak Turn:

F1 Turn

Full-Round Action:  F1 charges Kellan
Move:  Charge to D18

Take Kellan’s Readied Attack at D18

11:30, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Readied Attack vs. F1.
Take Kellan’s Attack of Opportunity Moving From D18 to D17
11:31, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Attack of Opportunity v. F1.
11:31, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 7 using 2d4+4. Damage v. F1.

F1 Attacks Kellan

11:37, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 24 using 1d20+5. Charge Attack on Kellan (Bite).
11:38, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 6 using 1d6+1. Bite Damage to Kellan.

11:41, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 13 using 1d20+1. DC 12 Will Save v. Freak Bite.

Result:  Kellan take 6 points of damage.

F2 Turn

Move:  F2 moves to C18

Takes Attack of Opportunity Moving from C17 to C18

11:31, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 15 using 1d20+7. Attack of Opportunity v. F2.
11:32, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 12 using 2d4+4. Damage v. F2.

Standard Action:  F2 Attacks Pisca

11:47, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 2, rolled 19 using 1d20+3. Bite Attack on Pisca.
11:49, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 2, rolled 3 using 1d6+1. Bite Damage to Pisca.

11:50, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Pisca Neep Freemish, rolled 18 using 1d20+4. DC 12 Will Save v. Freak Bite.

Result:  Pisca takes 3 points of damage.

Opponent Status:

F1 with 7 points of damage
F2 with 12 points of damage

PARTY TURN




This message was last edited by the GM at 23:21, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 36 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 19:49
  • msg #71

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr was shocked by the ferocity of the Freaks' attacks on his friends.  But he couldn't let that interfere with his calm; he needed it to make his shots.  He aimed an arrow at the Freak facing off against Kellan, waiting a moment for hit to show its torso to him before sending the missile downrange.

Missed.  Again.

Kerr reached for another arrow, trying not to let the miss unnerve him.  But the questions started coming, fast and furious.  Was he completely useless in combat?  Was he only good on the archery range, or hunting dumb animals that couldn't fight back?  How could he protect Liseth if he completely lost all effectiveness when the battle was joined?

He prayed for strength in his time of need.

Have faith, my child.  The whispered, ephemeral words floated through Kerr's head as he lined up a shot against the freak facing Pisca, released his breath, and let his arrow fly.  As his shot sped toward its target, Kerr felt a warm encouragement spread throughout his body, one that only increased when he saw it strike Pisca's freak in the shoulder.

Kerr grinned in relief.  He could DO this.  He really could.

For Liseth.


OOC:

Full-attack action:

12:36, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 6 using 1d8+2, Damage to F2.
12:36, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 20 using 1d20+5. Attack on F2, Rapid Shot #2.
12:35, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 9 using 1d20+5. Attack on F1, Rapid Shot #1.

Arrows:  36

Opponent Status:

F1 with 7 points of damage
F2 with 18 points of damage


This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 638 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 21:05
  • msg #72

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

In a flash, Kellan and Pisca were under assault by the Freaks.  It was so fast, a moment after they appeared and attacked Pisca's light-gnome, the Freaks were already on top of Liseth's friends; raking them with horrible claws and biting them with their nightmarish mouths.

It was terrifying, but seeing her friends in so much danger focused Liseth; bringing the girl out of her frozen state of panicked inaction.  The monstrous freaks were rampaging, not even slowed down by Kellan's deadly poleaxe, or Kerr's arrows.  She had to help.

"Sarenrae, grant us your blessing!  Help us to destroy these monstrous abominations with your holy light!"  Closing her eyes and grasping her focus, Liseth already felt calmer and more optimistic.  Sarenrae's blessing was very soothing in this dark, freak-filled passage under Sandpoint.  The young acolyte only hoped that the confidence would last.

And that all the noise from fighting wouldn't draw in dozens of more freaks from within the confines of these corridors.

OOC: Cast Bless (+1 Morale Bonus to attack rolls and saves versus Fear) 20 Rounds

That should easily reach everyone.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 431 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 06:41
  • msg #73

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan back peddled as they fought, stabbing, slashing feeling the surge of hate and violence well up from within the depths of his mind to press itself against his eyes. It swam in his blood and stirred his limbs, he wanted to feel torn flesh building up beneath his fingernails, he wanted to sink his teeth into a face and thrash around like a dog, to drive a thumb into an eye socket and to feel fragile bones cracking and splintering under his blows.

The sound of Pisca being attacked helped him catch himself, he calmed just enough to see the ugly surge of emotion for what it was, artificial, hollow, needless.

The pain in his shoulder hurt but pain was becoming a common companion and as such he felt comfortable enough to push it to the side for now. This did not allow him to land his blows any more effectively but he did manage to work himself into a better position.

HP:20/26
AC: 17
Move: 5' step to D20
Standard: Combat Expertise Reach Attack Freak 2
13:50, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Attack F2, Combat Expertise.

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 665 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 17:44
  • msg #74

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Chomped!  She'd been chomped by a Freak!

The thousand things that swirled and danced through Pisca's busy mind became a thousand and forty seven.  The forty-seven extra thoughts snarled and slashed at each other with strange, curved swords.  They were generally disagreeable, and this made Pisca want to smash the Rune Dog in the face with her small, pink, naked fist rather than something otherwise more sensible like running away.

What are you doing?  Oh, what are you doing? cried Pisca of the Mind, cringing and wringing her hands at the mad and wildly slashing thoughts.  Oh woe is me.  Oh ... Oh ...   OH, KNOCK IT OFF!   YOU IGNORANT ILLUSION OF IDIOTS!

The forty-seven masterless thoughts milled about without direction.  Chastened, and with full realization of their foolishness, they prepared to disembowel themselves with their own swords.  But Pisca stayed their hands, directing them to abide.  They would have their time another day, another story.  Maybe a story of their own.

And Pisca came to her senses then, just in time to feel the inspiring rush of divine blessing that could come from none other than Liseth.  She tore her arm from the slavering maw of the Rune Dog and used the momentum to fall into a backwards somersault.  She continued to backpedal after coming out of the roll, catching Stomper doing the same from the corner of her eye.

Quick shot.  Pull and release.

Pisca fired the arrow she had nocked and ready on the string of her bow.  It flew straight and with force.  Right into the ground.  The gnome then fired again, but this time it was an accusatory glare that she shot in the direction of the Rune Dog as if rebuking the well-born abomination for refusing to take an arrow in the eye.

"I meant to do that," Pisca muttered, as much to herself as to anyone else.  "Really.  I did."

Tumble back 15ft / Shoot (Shoot, shoot, shoot, dang, shoot.)

17:41, Yesterday: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 15 using 1d20+11. Tumble.
17:00, Yesterday: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Attack F2, AL & Bless.

Position: D22

Active Effects:  Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 373 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 18:10
  • msg #75

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato winced as the Freaks' vicious assault hit hid friends, but concentrated on shaping the arcane power around him to his will.  When it was ready, he unleashed it on the Freaks and...nothing.  Cato blinked, taken aback.  He hadn't expected these Freaks to be able to simply ignore his spell.

"They're immune to at least some of my magic!"

But Cato bet something else would work.  The wizard moved forward, past Liseth, aimed at the Freak who had been engaged with Pisca, flung out his arm and sent an acidic dart flying through the air.

OOC:
Move Action: Move to C23
Standard Action: Acid Dart vs F2
14:08, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 3 using 1d6+1. Acid Dart Damage.
14:08, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 20 using 1d20+4. Acid Dart Attack.

Active Effects: Mage Armor AC: 16
HP: 18/18

This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Fri 14 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 732 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 21:03
  • msg #76

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The Freak in front of Pisca rocked back from the impact of Kerr's arrow but still managed to lash out and bite the gnome as she tried to make her escape.  The Freak's slavering attack knocked Pisca's small frame sideways, which was unfortunately directly into the onrushing jaws of the Freak moving to engage Kellan.  Kellan's Freak promptly sunk his teeth deep into Pisca's shoulder, savaging her small body before allowing it to crumple unconscious to the floor as it moved to attack Kellan.

Kellan's fighting withdrawal and defensive training mostly worked; he expertly kept the Freak's jaws and its first claw attack at bay with the practiced use of his poleaxe.  His form wasn't entirely perfect, however, allowing the rage-fueled monster to inflict a deep, bloody scratch on one of his hands as he fought it off.

Kellan glanced over at the other Freak, ready for it to join its brother in the attack, but before it could Cato's boiling acid bolt flew into its face, knocking it back.  The Freak's screech of frustrated anger filled died off abruptly as it fell to the ground, overcome by its various injuries.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  X  |  |  |XXX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  X  |DL|  |  |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--+-XXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  X  |  X X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  XFx|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  XPx|F1X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  X  |K X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  X C|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  | X| L|RX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+X-+--+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +-X+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|X |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

F1 = Freak One          K  = Kellan
Fx = Freak Two (unc)    L  = Liseth
                        Px = Pisca (unconscious)
DL = Light Gnome        C  = Cato
                        R  = Kerr

Freak Turn:

Pisca Fails Acrobatics Check to Move Away Without Provoking Attacks of Opportunity

F1 Attack of Opportunity on Pisca:

13:29, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 22 using 1d20+3. AoO Bite Critical Confirm.
13:29, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 23 using 1d20+3. AoO Bite on Pisca.
13:30, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 13 using 2d6+2. Bite Damage to Pisca.

F2 Attack of Opportunity on Pisca:

13:29, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 2, rolled 18 using 1d20+3. AoO Bite on Pisca.
13:30, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 2, rolled 4 using 1d6+1. Bite Damage to Pisca.

Result:  Pisca takes 17 points of damage; she is unconscious and dying.

F2 takes 12 points of damage, is unconscious and dying.

F1 Turn

Move:  5-foot step to D19
Full-Round Action:  Full-attack on Kellan

13:40, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 4 using 1d4+1. Claw Damage to Kellan.
13:39, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 22 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack on Kellan #2.
13:39, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 17 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack on Kellan #1.
13:38, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Freak 1, rolled 7 using 1d20+3. Bite Attack on Kellan.

Result:  Kellan takes 4 points of damage.

Opponent Status:

F1 with 7 points of damage
F2 with 21 points of damage, unconscious and dying.

Party Status: 

Pisca with 20 points of damage, unconscious and dying.
Kellan with 10 points of damage.

PARTY TURN




Kerr Mollin
NPC, 37 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 21:18
  • msg #77

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


"PISCA!!!!"  Kerr couldn't help but yell as the Freak tossed the bright, imaginative gnome to the ground like a discarded rag doll.  But Kerr gave a small, grim smile of satisfaction as he saw the Pisca-attacking Freak fall to Cato's acid.

One to go.

Unfortunately, Kerr's distress over the fate of his small friend caused his next arrow to fly over the head of the Freak attacking Kellan.

Calm, Kerr.  Breathe, Kerr.

Kerr focused his anger into his calm, just like Daviren Hosk had taught him.  With an intensity of focus he had never before experienced, the young archer drew an arrow, nocked it, and sent it flying toward the remaining Freak with unerring accuracy.

The missile buried itself in the Freak's eye, causing the nightmarish creature to rear its head back and scream in agony.  Kerr didn't rejoice, or exult.  His only response was to calmly reach back for another arrow.  They needed to take this Freak down quickly so that they could care for Pisca.

Pisca.

OOC:

Full-attack on F1
Move:  None

14:05, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 10 using 1d8+2. Arrow Damage to F1.
14:05, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 21 using 1d20+5. Attack on F1, Rapid Shot #2.
14:05, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 9 using 1d20+5. Attack on F1, Rapid Shot #1.

Arrows:  34/40


This message was last edited by the player at 21:18, Fri 14 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 651 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 22:16
  • msg #78

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"No!"  The Freaks already got Pisca!  It hadn't even been but a few moments and the monsters had already ganged up on the little gnome, each biting her in turn with their horrible freak mouths and casting her to the ground.

Liseth didn't notice the magic acid strike down the Freak, she was already gathering positive energy around herself.  The acolyte's eyes focused on the prone gnome, [Language unknown: "Naol Avewhiove!  Esticaent Maolma!  We of itaifo ca icthe ie whehersti!"]

To her relief, Liseth saw Pisca begin to stir after the healing energy reached her.  She looked to her side to watch Kerr drawing and firing arrow after arrow, more glad than ever that he had come down here with them.

If their excursion insisted on going this poorly so quickly, they were going to need all of the help that they could get.  And it didn't hurt that such help came in the form of a handsome young hero.

14:47, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 4 using 1d6+1. Channeled Healing.

I am excluding the two Freaks from the channeled energy.  I don't know whether it would affect them, but I don't want to risk it.

+4 HPs for Pisca and Kellan.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 435 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 22:57
  • msg #79

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was in a constant retreat now, stabbing, pushing and swinging left and right as he backup up to make distance. Somewhere in his peripheral he saw Pisca go down in a tangle of limbs and screams. Suddenly he lunged and caught him again, the mail bunching up in the creatures grip and crushing the flesh beneath.

With a grunt he pushed the thing off and away, using the brief moment if respite to take a swing and to back up even further.

OOC:
HP:14/26
AC: 17
Standard: Reach Attack, Combat Expertise
Move: 5' Step to D21
14:05, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 12 using 1d20+6. Reach Attack, Combat Expertise.
Active Effects: Bless

This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Fri 14 Mar 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 376 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 15 Mar 2014
at 03:14
  • msg #80

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato didn't even have time to celebrate the fall of the first Freak. Before he could react, the second one tore into Pisca, and the gnome fell to the ground again. Anger clouded the young wizard's face, and his focused narrowed to a single point, the horrendous monstrous maw of the living abomination hat had dropped the gnome. He didn't notice Liseth's healing, and barely registered Kerr's arrow.  He merely watched and waited, arm held to his chest, arcane power at the ready. Finally, there was a brief opening. Kellan ducked, and the Freak roared in triumph.  And Cato sent a streamer of acid right down its throat.

OOC:
Standard Action: Acid Dart at Freak

23:05, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 10 using 2d6+2.
23:05, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 13 using 1d20. Crit confirm .
23:05, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 20 using 1d20. Acid Dart Attack, bless, fire into melee.

Active Effects: Mage Armor AC: 16
HP: 18/18

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 38 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Sat 15 Mar 2014
at 04:49
  • msg #81

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


As Liseth's healing energy bathed the corridor and Pisca began to stir, the Freak recovered from Kerr's bowshot and pressed its attack on Kellan.  The young guardsman could not seem to land a blow on the ferocious creature, but he was understandably more interested in defending himself from further damage than risking giving the creature an opening by being overly aggressive.

Kellan's strategy paid off as Cato's acid bolt came flying in for his second killing blow of the short battle.  The Freak screamed in pain, then collapsed as the burning acid overcame its nervous system.

Suddenly the corridor was quiet; the only sound was Kellan's labored breathing as he looked victoriously down at the two freaks.

Kerr ran up the hallway towards Pisca, calling down the gods' blessings as he did so.  "[Language unknown: Forsheugh, encandwit naoun se stramesti art enter lipoitri was fiom urisalnd el chons moalis.]"  He dropped to one knee as he arrived next to the injured gnome, looking down at her in concern.

"Pisca!  Pisca, are you okay?"


OOC:

21:32, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 7 using 1d6+1. Channel Positive Energy.

Kellan and Pisca are both healed of 7 points of damage.

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 1 Channel Energy expended
Liseth - 1 Channel Energy expended, 1 1st-level spell expended
Cato - 2 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep



This message was last edited by the player at 08:26, Sun 16 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 653 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Sat 15 Mar 2014
at 18:17
  • msg #82

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Good job Cato."  Liseth placed a hand on the wizard's arm when she went to walk past him, "At least they aren't immune to all of your magic."  Just as suddenly as their short skirmish with the Rune Dog Freaks had begun, it was over.  The short blonde laid a hand against the wall of the passage for support when she tried to hurry ahead in order to check on Pisca and Kellan, but Kerr beat her there by a long shot.

She smiled as Kerr called upon the divine in order to channel his own healing energy.  Not only was it a great relief to know that everyone didn't have to rely on her to heal them, but Kerr was such a better fighter than she could be.  And Liseth so rarely had the chance to feel someone else channel positive energy, she didn't realize how good it felt.

The smile faded quickly once Liseth got closer to where the short melee had taken place.  She tried her best to keep her eyes off of the fallen Freaks, they were even more horrible up close, instead focusing on Kellan while Kerr checked on Pisca.

"Are you okay Kellan?  Does it still hurt where they bit you?"  It was impossible for her to keep her attention off of Pisca for long though, even with Kerr already kneeling over her.  The gnome was still obviously injured, "Does she need more healing Kerr?"
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 39 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Sun 16 Mar 2014
at 05:30
  • msg #83

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr looked up and winced as Liseth painfully made her way as quickly as she could down the hallway.  He really wished she didn't have to do that; he knew how difficult it was for her to move that fast.  But he also knew what a big heart she had; it would be impossible for her to do anything else but come running when she knew someone had been hurt.

Kerr took Liseth's hand as they examined Pisca.  "I think she's out of the woods as far as severe damage goes.  But she's certainly not all the way back yet.  Give me a moment and I'll pray again," he gave the darkened corridor a wary glance, "I think you need to save your energy for any future battles we might experience."

"But before I do, take a look at this."  He let go of Liseth's hand and directed her attention to Pisca's Freak bite.  "See that discoloration?  That's not something you'd see from a regular bite, like from an animal."  He gave the blonde a small smile.  "Gods know I've treated enough of those."

"No, there's something else in this bite, like a . . . a contaminant, or something.  Certainly something besides just the bite itself."

He looked up at Kellan, then back at the recovering Pisca.  "Did either of you feel anything different when you were bitten?  I mean, aside from just the pain?  I want to make sure you're not going to collapse or something as we go deeper in.  Heading back out to recover would be a setback.  Collapsing while surrounded by more of these Freaks?"  He let the thought hang in the air.  "Much worse."

The young acolyte grabbed the silver holy symbol that hung from his neck, intoning a prayer as he did so.  "[Language unknown: Omeainter, setconugh iohoev st admoer al on ousthorea whndel.]"  Once a again a wave of positive energy flowed from him, illuminating the hallway and alleviating the wounds Pisca and Kellan had suffered.  Now all that remained of Pisca's horrific injuries were a few angry red marks on her pale skin.

"There," said Kerr, helping the gnome to sit up.  "How do you feel, Pisca?"

OOC:

22:14, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 7 using 1d6+1. Channel Positive Energy.

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 2 Channel Energy expended
Liseth - 1 Channel Energy expended, 1 1st-level spell expended
Cato - 2 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep

Party Status

Pisca - 2 points of damage


This message was last edited by the player at 08:25, Sun 16 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 438 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sun 16 Mar 2014
at 05:38
  • msg #84

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was a little winded from the fight, but overall he was fairing well for having stood against the freaks. The oozing blood that had been running down his sleeve had stopped, although it still itched where the fluid was drying.

He moved forward a little to protect the others while they worked on Pisca, shining the light from his weapon down the hallway and not taking his eyes off it even when he answered their questions. He licked his lips nervously as he heard the indecipherable language being spoken behind him, asking with deep concern in his voice.

"How's she doin?"

When he was informed that she would probably be ok he felt a wave of relief wash over his body. That was twice this week they had nearly lost her, and two times too many.

"Oh yeah, I don't know if it's some kind of poison or what. Just like Pisca mentioned before, I felt this...sick, angry feeling as soon as it broke the skin, like I...well like I just wanted to start killing everything that moved." He hoped that he had phrased that delicately enough. And that they had understood that "everything" included themselves. "Never felt anything like that before"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 676 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 16 Mar 2014
at 14:56
  • msg #85

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Life is but a dream ...  Life is but a ... dream ... a ... dream ... a ...

The echo rolled through the mind of Pisca Neep Freemish, the threatening rumble of distant thunder, presaging a storm not yet come.  Merrily, merrily.  Until the fall.  Whatever she had imagined she had done had been undone.  And the only remnant of the things she had thought she had seen and experienced was the number forty-seven.  But, forty-seven what?  That was the question.  The forty-seventh time she had died?  The forty-seventh visit to the sleep of death?  Perchance.

She felt the soft butterfly wings of her eyes as they fluttered open even before she realized that she was waking up.

"I got better," said the gnome.  It was an answer.  It was an answer to a question that she must have heard at some point.  It's good to answer questions.  Even if you no longer know what the question was that the answers are answering.  It lets you know that you must have been alive at some point before this.  You must have been.  In order to have heard the question in the first place.  And, receiving answers always made other people feel better.  Answers were like presents in this way.

"Ook."  Somewhat wobbly, the gnome climbed to her feet.  "My head feels wrath-ish.  I felt wrath-ish," said the gnome, holding her wrath-ish head.  "When I got bit.  Did you feel wrath-ish, Stomper?  I think we definitely have Wrath here in these Rune Dogs.  Try not to get bit.  It's not a very friendly feeling."

Looking around with open eyes (a decidedly different thing from looking around with closed eyes) revealed two Rune Dogs in a fresh state of death.  "Oh," exclaimed the gnome, "good thing there were only two of them.  And five of us," she said.  "I wonder whether they have anything interesting on their persons.  I suppose Powerful Magic Items™ would be too much to expect.  But maybe control collars.  Or maybe even name tags.  Or WIDSN.  Well Identification Serial Numbers.  Or expiration date stamps."

"Oh, thanks for bringing me back from the dead again, Lys."  Pisca moved to examine the bodies, and winced as one or two of the remaining bite wounds reminded her that they were remaining still.  "I don't think I've entirely gotten the hang of this Near Death thing.  But, with enough practice, I'll get there yet."  At some point during the examination, the gnome realized that both her Gnome-Shaped light and her Whisper Magic had disappeared, and she paused to revive them.

Perception check, please.  To search the Rune Dogs.  Or, do you want us to roll our own now?  I've seen Cato roll a couple on his own.

Active Effects:  Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Sun 16 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 679 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 16 Mar 2014
at 21:02
  • msg #86

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Where do you suppose Rune Dogs get tattered clothing from?" asked the gnome rhetorically.  Out of curiosity, she undid said tattered garments to see what a Rune Dog had to be modest about.  "Probably from the Three Boots you found earlier, Lys.  You think?  I wonder whether they trade them old clothes for their loyalty as minions.  Are they ever getting a deal.  The Three Boots, I mean.  These aren't even particularly whole clothes let alone nice clothes."

"But, if you're a Rune Dog, I don't suppose you really know the difference.  Do you?"

"Nothing more to see here."  The gnome turned away from the bodies, continuing on down the tunnel.  "These Rune Dogs have nothing more than the clothes on their hunched backs."  She sent her Gnome-shaped Light down past the first opening and then crept up to peek around the corner.

Perception check, please.  And Stealth.  To continue on.

Active Effects:  Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 655 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Sun 16 Mar 2014
at 22:09
  • msg #87

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

It looked like Kellan was okay; that was good.  Liseth focused on Pisca when Kerr took her hand and showed her the strange discoloration around the bites that the gnome had received.  She could not suppress her frown; even as Kerr mentioned it she recalled Pisca saying last night how if they bite you, it makes you overcome with rage.  To the point of attacking even your friends.

"Kellan, are you sure that you're okay?"  Needless to say, the thought of Kellan being struck by an uncontrollable bloodlust didn't fill the girl with any good feelings.  He was already bitten, and Pisca was bitten so many times.  They both mentioned feeling 'wrath-ish,' as Pisca put it; would everyone be able to suppress this unnatural rage if they encountered more of these Rune Dogs?

Liseth greatly hoped so.

"I think not getting bitten is a good idea Pisca."  The acolyte thought for just a moment, "Do you think that the antitoxin we got from the armory would help?  Help to fight off the Freak Poison and keep it from...making you...well...wrath-ish?"

"No no no no no, you weren't dead Pisca.  I can't do anything to help someone who is already dead.  I'm nowhere near that strong."  Liseth frowned yet again, "I don't think that getting used to nearly being killed is something that anybody should do.  I'll do anything I can to keep that from happening Pisca."

Liseth had mixed feelings when Pisca examined the fallen Rune Dogs.  They were really savage, what if they were playing possum?  Not only that, but she didn't like the idea of being close enough to touch one of them.  And what could they possibly be carrying that might be important?

But Pisca did raise a good question.  Where DO Rune Dogs get tattered clothing?  They certainly wouldn't make it themselves down here underneath Sandpoint.  Maybe they took it from their victims?  But why would they do that?  And they certainly didn't seem...calm enough to be trading with anyone for their services as minions.  Maybe they were simply created from the well, whatever that was, wearing tattered clothes?  Or maybe they weren't always Rune Dogs, and were wearing clothes when they were made into them...

That wasn't something Liseth wanted to think about.  Feeling a sudden chill, she wrapped her cloak closer around herself when Pisca continued ahead.  "I guess we should keep going..."
The Raconteur
GM, 743 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sun 16 Mar 2014
at 22:32
  • msg #88

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca made her way to her somewhat-unsteady gnomish feet after observing the Rune Dogs’ rather-impressive equipment.  Liseth hovered over her like a worried mother hen, ensuring that the recently-unconscious woman didn’t fall right back over onto her pert gnomish rear end.  Kerr was kneeling next to her, so his face was right at eye level about a foot away from where she stood.  When she nodded that she was okay, the affable acolyte broke out into a wide smile, glancing up at Liseth before returning his gaze to the gnome.

“Glad to see you’re okay, Pisca.  You need to take better care of yourself!”  His face sobered as she mentioned her "wrath-ish" feelings and he back to what Kellan had said about his experience.

He nodded at Liseth as she mentioned the antitoxin.  "That's a good idea, Liseth.  We're not sure how many more of these Rune Dogs might be lying in wait down here, or who might get bitten.  Maybe this WOULD be a good time to take that antitoxin we found in the armoire?  I mean, it’s no good to us sitting in its bottles if we're facing the prospect of additional bites.  And whoever stocked that thing certainly seemed to trying to be preparing whoever opened it for fighting the things found down here.”  He waved his hand around, indicating the tunnels.

Kerr stuck his head carefully into the cavern from which the Rune Dogs had attacked.  "It looks like this is just some sort of cave," he said, looking around in the flickering light.  He looked back at the rest of the group.  "Maybe just an outpost where the quasit keeps some guardian Rune Dogs?  Or where bad Rune Dogs are sent to meditate on their misdeeds, like some sort of time out chamber?"  He shrugged.  "Your guess is as good as mine."

Pisca looked up the passageway.  Once Kerr stopped talking, the silence was almost eerie.  Especially after the sharp, violent sounds of combat had resounded so recently from these very walls.  But no one seemed to be coming to investigate, at least that she could tell.  As she started moving down the corridor again, her sharp eyes picked out an opening in the right-side tunnel wall just a few feet from the Rune Dog cave, and another such opening at the very edge of where the tunnel faded into the blackness that signaled the edge of even her exceptional vision.

She carefully looked around the corner of the first opening.  This investigation revealed a rough-hewn passage, much like the one they were in, that gradually tapered off in a southerly direction.  The inquisitive gnome could only see about 25-30 feet down the passageway before it rudely ventured off out of sight.

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1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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7 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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21|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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23|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  | X|  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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25|  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +-X+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|X |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+



This message was last edited by the GM at 23:14, Sun 16 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 681 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 16 Mar 2014
at 23:59
  • msg #89

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Much bigger than you'd expect, thought the gnome, even as she peered around the corner at the mysterious, though outwardly plain and nondescript tunnel that veered off into the unseen distance.  For a Rune Dog.  Why would something born from a well even need ... something like that?  And were Rune Dogs all boys?  The entire question of unlikely anatomy remembered the gnome of a joke once told to her by a caravaneer in Downmarket.  Why do dogs lick themselves?  So went the joke as the human man had told it.  And the answer was, Because they can.  He had laughed then, indicating that the jest had come to an end.  Pisca, a much younger gnome at the time, had laughed too, but only to be companionable.  More, truth to tell, to laugh at him than to laugh with him.  The human had thought the joke was funny.  At the time, she'd thought that he had told the joke wrong, and that there must have been more of it that he had left out.  Possibly the dog looking up and saying, 'Peppermint.'  That would have made a better joke.

"Lysa," the gnome called back through her Whisper Magic, "tell Kerr that this one's longer.  And there's looks to be a branch of the tunnel further up as well.  We're going to see what's down this tunnel first," she said.  Referring to herself and her Gnome-shaped light.  "It would probably be best for someone to stay at the mouth of this one so that no one sneaks up on me from behind."

"Go," Pisca Neep Freemish said to her Gnome-shaped light, and shooed it thirty feet ahead before following on its tail.

Perception check, please.  And Stealth.  To continue on.

Active Effects:  Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Mon 17 Mar 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 379 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 01:38
  • msg #90

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato watched in concern as Kerr tended to Pisca, relieved when the gnome regained her feet and quickly continued down the hallway, apparently none the worse for her most recent flirtation with death. Cato stepped up to the fallen Rune Dogs, questions filling his mind, but with no time to search for answers. But most pressing: if these were created creatures, how many had the Quasit made?  Could it be making more?  Cato swallowed uneasily, glancing around the dimly lot chamber and straining to hear more of what had probably been the Rune Dogs call. Were these things even intelligent?  It seemed as though they were guarding the passageway, but zombies could be given simple instructions and they weren't sentient. Or at least not very sentient. The Rune Dogs had attacked Pisca's lights, so they might not be that intelligent. One would think, with a Quasit as a master, they would have some experience with arcane magic.

Cato shook his head and stood up from crouching over the fallen Rune Dog. He walked slowly up the passageway, examining the stonework, wondering how old these tunnels were and who had built them.  It seemed hard to believe that they dated from Thassilon, but these Rune Dogs were evidence of something obscure.

Cato looked up from his rumination as Pisca peered around the corner of the next tunnel. He hesitated. Speaking in the tunnels felt...wrong. He didn't want to draw more Rune Dogs to their location, but there was something more, as though his voice was violating thousands of years of peaceful tranquility.

He settled on a whisper to Liseth and Kerr. "Maybe we should keep up with Pisca. She'll certainly need us if she finds anything down that tunnel."

OOC:
Knowledge: Engineering check on the walls and tunnels. Anything to confirm age or construction?
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:39, Mon 17 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 440 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 03:56
  • msg #91

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I'm on it" Kellan assured Pisca! responding to her desire for somebody to watch the tunnel. Shuffling forward he set up at the intersection and took the moment to sip a little water from his skin and rest. He did all of this in an expedient fashion, just enough time to swish some water around and to catch his breath. Once that was accomplished he resumed his more ready stance, leaning on his poleaxe as he peered into the shadows.

He felt better having something to do, Cato was studying these disturbing creatures, Pisca was scouting and the acolytes were helping to keep everybody in one piece. It was worlds away from their first awkward fumblings during the Swallowtail festival. It seemed they were getting better at this, even if he did have to work on his accuracy, he was not landing hits nearly as often as he would have preferred.

More drill, he assured himself, more drill.
The Raconteur
GM, 747 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 09:12
  • msg #92

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr shook his head, a wry expression on his face as he stepped out of the Freak Cave to find Pisca Neep Freemish disappearing around the corner of another tunnel.  “Does she have no concept of personal safety?”  He asked rhetorically, gesturing after their gnomish point woman with his longbow, concern evident in his voice.  “There could be more Rune Dogs lying in wait!”

Kerr walked up to Kellan as the young guardsman stood watch at the intersection.  “Don’t you think we should, you know, all explore together?”  The acolyte peered down the passageway; it glowed dimly with the far-off illumination of Pisca’s light source.  “It seems, well, safer that way?”  He nodded as Cato voiced a similar concern.  “Exactly!  Let’s head down there and make sure she’s okay.”  He beckoned them onward as he followed Pisca’s prior path.

. . . Meanwhile . . .

Pisca crept down the passageway as silently and as cautiously as she could, her gnome-shaped light bobbing unconcernedly in front of her.  As she moved further east and slightly south along the corridor, she found that it opened up into a room about twenty feet long by ten feet wide.  The original purpose of this newly-discovered chamber was decidedly unclear, the only evidence being large mounds of rubble lying strewn about its floor at the entrance to the tunnel in which she stood.  If she had to hazard a guess, she would venture that the rubble probably occurred when whoever was digging the tunnel had broken through the wall.

In contrast to the dirt-walled tunnel, this new room was made of stone; it was clearly some part of a building.  A door stood in the northern wall of the chamber, unexceptional except for the fact that the tunnels had not contained any doors other than the one secret exit out to the cliffside cave.  The room itself had no sign of any inhabitant, or indeed any indication that any creature had visited it within the last thousand years other than whatever an investigator might glean from the tunnel and the rubble lying on the nearby floor.

The room seemed well made; the stone was cunningly fitted with superior craftsmanship even in what seemed to be a utilitarian space.  There were no carvings, or artworks, or anything else that might have indicated exactly whose room this might have been.  Whoever it was, they either did not deign this room to be worthy of decoration or such decorations had been removed by previous visitors.

Pisca stopped to listen, but could hear nothing except the sound of her own breathing.  The air was still, and nothing stirred.

   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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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6 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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7 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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14|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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22|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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26|X |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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This message was last edited by the GM at 09:15, Mon 17 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 441 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 13:10
  • msg #93

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan listened to Kerr and nodded in agreement, looking like he was ready to reply half way through the acolytes first sentence.

"Yeah...she is using magic to talk to Liseth and myself...I thought she was going to check that way" he said, pointing with a bladed hand towards the small alcove they had just passed (D15).

"It didn't really seem to go that far so I wasn't that concerned, and we were just a few steps away...Those things jumped out pretty quickly last time..." He trailed off as he looked down the hallway that Pisca had gone down.

"Hey Pisca" he called down the hallway hopefully loud enough to be heard, kind of a loud whisper "Pisca...you wanna form up again before we go much further?"

He turned back to Kerr and the group "She asked for somebody to stay at this intersection so that we wouldn't get surprised from behind" he explained, still not sure who else she was connected too magically "But it won't do a lot of good if she gets ambushed down there"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:25, Mon 17 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 682 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 13:44
  • msg #94

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Uuuuuummm.  I think I found it."

The gnome's words drifted back to the ears of Kellan and Liseth on the idle currents of her Whisper Magic.  Despite the wafty and indolent currents of the magic, it still managed to deliver the tones of both the excitement of discovery and the tension of ever present danger that filled the gnome's voice.  "The Thassilonian ruins.  I've found a room.  Looks like a very plain room.  A neglected room.  One that doesn't often get invited to parties.  Looks as though this might have been where the smugglers broke through into the ruins.  Nice stonework.  And there's a door."

"Come down the tunnel," said the gnome, her eyes already in the room well before her feet.  Her nose sniffed the way forward, questing for itself.  "Watch your backs.  I thought I heard something, though it might have been the wind.  Except that there's no wind down here.  And it sounded more like the baying of hounds."

"I'm going to check the door."

Now, why would the smugglers have dug a tunnel for Rune Dogs to wait in before starting this tunnel that broke into this unspectacular room?  And, after breaking through into this room, why would they have continued the tunnel further down?  And created that other side tunnel as well?

All of these questions the gnome asked herself as she made her way cautiously across the rubble toward the door.  Her eyes sifted through the details and the detritus, searching for that unassuming tile that was actually a pressure plate.  The one that would fill the room with sand, burying alive an unlucky gnome and her poor companion Gnome-shaped light.  Or the thin, nearly invisible wire, the breaking of which would drive rusted spears down through cleverly concealed holes in the ceiling, pinning a gnome to the floor.  Or the glint of a seemingly valuable coin, the lifting of which would release the ginormous stone boulder which would roll down its track and crush all gnomes in its path.  This would be ... tricky.

And maybe the door was simply locked.  Maybe the smugglers didn't have a gnome with them to open it.  And maybe that's why the tunnel continues on.  "Say, Lysa?  You see those tracks anymore?" the gnome asked, even as she made her way across the treacherous floor.  "Might be interesting to know which way Three Boots went.  Don't you think?"

"Oh, and by the by, I think Kerr might be right," Pisca added as she reached into her pouch.  "I think it's probably a good time to take that Antitoxin."  The gnome paused in her progress across the floor long enough to uncork the vial, drink it down, and screw up her face at the taste.  "I thought everything was supposed to taste like chicken," Pisca muttered to herself.  Then she continued on her way toward the door.

Stealth check please.  Also ...

Perception 28 (Taking 20) searching for Traps between tunnel and door.  Is the door locked?

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 442 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 14:01
  • msg #95

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan looked to Liseth and gave a knowing nod as if to confirm that she had heard the same thing that he had. This magic thing was strange enough as it was and he was not sure if all the details. He would have to ask a other time he supposed but suspected that the majority of the information would fly right over his head.

"Alright" he said allowed to those nearest to him "She's found a door, maybe to the ruins...says it's clear up to that point" still seeing the faint glimmer from his lights down the way. He began to make his way down towards her, clattering along until he stood near the door. He took a moment to admire it before he turned to Pisca with a smirk.

She was brave, he had to give her that. Be that as it may however he decided that he would have to tighten up his distance in the future. He had a sneaking suspicion that if they continued in like they had been he would find himself sprit into towards the sounds of ambushed gnome one of these days.

On Pisca's cue Kellan worked the vial out of his pouch and looked it over before working e cork loose and putting the rim of the bottle to his lips. Like he was doing a shot of some stinging brew with Alergast he tipped the thing quickly and tried not to taste it, not having the best culinary experience with curatives in the past.

He toyed briefly with just tossing the bottle onto the ground but returned it to his pouch instead. He knew almost knowing about the Thassalonians but Cato seemed to almost idolize them, polluting their ancient works might seem a bit insensitive.

OOC: Consumed 1 Antitoxin, 1 Hour Duration
This message was last edited by the player at 06:57, Tue 18 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 663 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 22:18
  • msg #96

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

To say that Liseth was out of her element exploring dark, monster-filled tunnels leading towards ancient underground ruins would be an understatement.  Up until now, every time there had been a fight it was accidental.  Or at least, not planned by her and the others.  Now though, everyone knew that there were more battles ahead, up until they found and defeated the demon hidden somewhere down here.  She found the anxiety of expecting attack at any moment almost unbearable.

Needless to say, Liseth was quite happy to stay near the stronger members of their small group.  Which amounted to pretty much everyone, as far as she was concerned.  She was quiet when Kerr, Cato, and Kellan talked about following the incorrigible Pisca.  Liseth was very concerned about how the gnome was always taking so many risks in order to soothe her seemingly unquenchable curiosity.  But she did have to admit that of everyone, Pisca was the best candidate to explore ahead without being heard by more Rune Dog Freaks.

"I didn't hear anything..."  Liseth whispered worriedly.  Just as Pisca suggested, the small acolyte turned to look up and down the dark passage to the extent that the light Kerr summoned on her would allow.  Of course, she didn't see anything, and still didn't hear anything.  Her anxiety ramped up another notch as the butterflies in the girl's stomach continued their rampant fluttering.

"I can't see the bootprints anymore, Pisca.  I'm sorry."  Checking the dirty ground once more proved only a brief distraction for Liseth.  She continued over the medium provided by the Whisper Magic, "There are so many Rune Dog footprints going back and forth that I can't find them."  Liseth swallowed, "There seems to be an awful lot of Rune Dog Footprints..."

The only way that Liseth could have stayed closer to Kerr when they followed Kellan and Cato to Pisca's door would have been if she was physically on top of him.  Once they did reach the gnome's location, she continued past Pisca and all the way to the far wall.  Liseth turned around and placed her back on the solid surface, only mildly relieved that if more Rune Dogs were to show up right away, they at least would not be coming from behind her.

With a modicum of reluctance, Liseth withdrew her own antitoxin after the others began to quaff theirs.  She knew that the medicine would only last about an hour and wasn't even positive that it would even work against Freak Poison.  She drank the contents of her own vial down, hoping that it did.

"You really are very good with your bow, Kerr."  Liseth decided that maybe some light conversation could possibly relieve a little bit of the tension that she felt.  "You were launching arrows so quickly, and didn't seem to have any trouble avoiding Kellan and Pisca when those Rune Dogs were on top of them.  I don't think that I could ever do that.  I'd be so worried about accidentally hitting one of my friends that I probably would never even shoot."

OOC: Drink Antitoxin
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 688 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 00:10
  • msg #97

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"It's not locked."  The words traveled over the lazy currents of Whisper Magic.  But the words, they might as well have been for herself.  "It's open.  It isn't locked.  Pisca poked the door latch again just to be sure.  "No traps.  No locks.  They're pretty confident.  Or pretty other things.  Or maybe they were counting on those two nearly naked Rune Dogs to sound the alarm.  And maybe we killed them before they could do that."  At this the gnome smiled.

"Well, here we are."  Pisca waved the empty vial in a broad circular gesture that encompassed all of this *here* in which they currently were.  A real, stars-honest, Thassilonian storeroom.  I can't imagine what else it might be.  There's nothing to see here.  It doesn't go anywhere.  It's not even particularly dirty or worn.  Except from this rubble on the floor from the smugglers breaking in."  Despite her whispers, the gnome's words were for everyone.

"Everything," and Pisca gestured at the door with the empty glass vial, "is out there.  The real Thassilonian ruins.   Rune Dogs, Quasits, Baying Hounds, Trios of booted individuals who have no real business down here at all.  Unimaginable evil.  And riches beyond our wildest dreams.  Everything is through that door and I'm going to open it."

"Ready?"

Pisca stoppered the empty vial and replaced it in her pouch.  Then she reached up to quietly, quietly ease the door open and peek through to see what was on the other side.

Stealth check please.  To quietly open the door.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 381 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 02:39
  • msg #98

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato nervously followed the others through the tunnel, hoping to quickly find Pisca and avoid any more encounters with Rune Dogs or worse. The impending fight with the Quasit had him on edge. The revelation that the Rune Dogs were immune to sleep had shaken him, and the wizard knew he would be even more useless against the Quasit, when the time came.

Cato walked into the first actual room, catching up with Pisca as she was about to open the door. Suddenly, the Mage stopped and gasped in horror at the words arrayed on the wall in front of him. He looked from Liseth to Kellan and finally to Kerr. None of them seemed to notice anything. Cato rubbed his eyes, and the writing vanished.

"Um...I'm not sure if I'm seeing things down here, but has anyone else seen glowing fiery words on the wall?  They're gone now, but they promised doom to us."  Cato gestures helplessly at the now-empty wall.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Tue 18 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 751 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 06:52
  • msg #99

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“Agreed,” Kerr nodded at Kellan, stopping to wait for him to take point in their pursuit of Pisca.  The heavily-armored guardsman was their best defense against ravening Rune Dogs, in Kerr’s estimation.  Liseth came over and snuggled close to him after finishing up examining the ground for tracks, silently shaking her head in response to his questioning look, indicating she hadn’t found anything interesting.  The young archer put his free arm around her as they walked down the passageway behind the warrior.

Kerr could feel the coiled tension in Liseth’s body as they walked.  He thought that talking would be a good way to lighten the atmosphere, and she apparently felt the same.  “It’s all a matter of what you’re used to, Lise,” he said, squeezing her for emphasis.  “I’ve gone out hunting with Dav a lot.  And we used to shoot all the time.  So I’m comfortable with being able to put an arrow where I want it to go, but only because I’ve shot thousands upon thousands before the ones I’m shooting now.”

“But I’m still not where I’d like to be.”  The young man colored.  “It would be a lot easier for me if I didn’t have to fire over Kellan’s shoulder, for example.  I have to be pretty careful when I do that, and probably miss more than I really should because I’m being so cautious about it.  If I was REALLY good I would be able to thread a shot right over Kellan’s shoulder or under his arm without worrying about hitting him.  Unfortunately, I’m not that good right now.”  He sighed.  “Maybe someday.”

The blonde acolyte pressed close into his side as they moved down the quiet hallway with Kellan and Cato, emerging into the room and giving Kerr what he considered a rather-unimpressive first glimpse of a Thassilonian ruin.  If a Thassilonian ruin it was.  Kerr had somehow thought that, after all Cato’s talk about the glories of the Thassilonian Empire, such a ruin would be more . . . impressive.  If the chamber they were in was even Thassilonian.  And calling it a “ruin” might be a stretch as well.  Other than the rubble created by whoever dug the tunnel, the room seemed to be in remarkably good shape.

Kerr was glad to see everyone taking their antitoxins.  There were only four of them, but Kerr was fine with being the odd man out.  If anyone was to get horribly poisoned, he would prefer it to be him.  And he trusted Liseth’s healing skills to help him out of whatever medical difficulties he might encounter.

Right before Cato spoke, Kerr saw something on the wall out of the corner of his eye.  But when he turned to look it was gone.  “I saw . . . something, Cato.”  He gave the wizard a level look.  “It could have been writing.  But what you read doesn’t sound promising.  At all.  What are we getting ourselves in to here?”

. . . Meanwhile . . .

Pisca slowly pushed open the door to find a quiet, vacant passageway beyond.  It went straight forward for about 15 feet, then took a sharp turn to the left.  As far as Pisca could tell, there was no movement and less noise.  It was just as deserted as the room to which it led.

   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
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24|  | X|  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+X-+--+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  X--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 443 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 07:13
  • msg #100

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan looked the wall up and down in the artificial light but could not see a single etching, it did not help that he was casting looks over his shoulder and all around every few seconds. He had priorities after all.

"Doom huh?" Kellan repeated "Seems about right for a place like this..." He mused as Pisca fiddled with the door.

Despite his rather dismissive response to the hidden warnings Kellan did fear whatever these Thassilonians had conjured down here. He had never been able to wrap his head around magic. Energies, schools, conduits, incantations and formulae were all topics that he had learned of, briefly, thanks to his mothers tutelage but it had been evident early in life that Kellan would never be suited for higher education.

 He did not consider himself dim by any means (then again, who did?) but it did give him a firm appreciation for Catos expertise. If Quink was to be believed Cato was some sort of prodigy, as to why he can come to Sandpoint instead of one of the major academies Kellan couldn't guess, maybe he just liked the quiet life. Kellan could certainly understand that.

It was the unassuming way that Cato went about it that made it impressive, some people might be prone to get a little bit of an ego after being able to manipulate the arcane, but not Cato it seemed. He just did his thing and made it seem easy, even when that thing was repeating dire warnings left by ancient Magi.

Kellan stuck close to Pisca this time, right behind her in fact. If a freak wanted another piece of her it was going to have to fight for it.

OOC: Moving right behind Pisca as they walk, things are going to get a little cozy down here
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 689 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 12:46
  • msg #101

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"It's just a hallway."  The gnome, with her eye to the crack between door and jamb relays a description of the non-exciting, but admittedly non-dangerous scene beyond the door.  "Looks like ... a left turn after fifteen feet.  Hmm.  No frescos of cavorting demons.  Nothing."

Pisca was just about to slip through the door for a quick peek around the corner, then Cato said something extremely interesting.  Something which made her leave the door and turn back to the plain and unassuming room.

"Wait.  Did you just say that you saw glowy fire words on the wall, Cato?  But now they're gone?  I thought I heard the distant sound of baying dogs.  But, after a few brief seconds it stopped, leaving me to wonder whether I'd really heard anything at all."

"Maybe ... maybe this room isn't as plain and ordinary as it looks.  Maybe it's blank and undecorated for a reason.  Lysa, think of flowers.  Nice flowers.  Attractive flowers.  Now what do you smell?  Kerr, Kerr Mollin, you ... lick the wall.  Does it taste like chicken?  Yeah.  Try that.  And Stomper, think of touching something.  Running your fingers over it.  Squeezing it.  Fondling it.  See what happens there."

"Wouldn't that be something?"  With hands on hips, Pisca Neep Freemish looks at the unassuming room with new eyes.  With eyes of wonder.  "An Expe-arium.  Where gnomes can go to immerse themselves in a simulation of an experience that is utterly real."

"But it must be broke.  Worn out after the passage of centuries.  That, or the magical actuators are somewhere else and not fully engaged."

"Continue the experiments, please," she said, returning to the door.  "I'm just going to slip down to the corner and see what's just beyond.  I'll be right back."  And leaving her Gnome-shaped light behind, Pisca slipped out the door and crept up to the corner to take that peek.

Stealth check please.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 383 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 15:54
  • msg #102

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato smiled at Pisca's theories, then spoke aloud, albeit quietly to the group.  "I suppose that's possible, Pisca.  I just realized another thing might be just as possible: illusions.  The Quasit could be watching us right now, and using illusions to try and make us jumpy.  It's not even that powerful of a spell, depending on what it is.  Silent Image, for example, is something that most novice illusionists would know."

Cato walked over to the wall and ran his hand across the surface that had sported the fiery letters.  "If there were actual flames here, this wall should still be a little warm."
The Raconteur
GM, 752 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 17:50
  • msg #103

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca poked her head around the passageway's corner, finding to her great disappointment another empty and completely-uninteresting 20 feet of corridor that made yet another right turn.  Determined to find something besides stretches of vacant, unbroken corridor, Pisca crept down the hallway further, peeking around this next corner, where she found a much-more-thought-provoking passageway.

Five feet ahead of her another corridor branched off to the right.  Sending her gnome-shaped lights forward, she peered down the passage, finding it to continue straight on into the darkness until she could see no further.  Looking up the hallway she was in, she could tell it widened into an alcove or room about 15 feet ahead.  Another corridor entered that room from the left, and at the very end of the light shed by her spell she could see a closed door.

The corridors themselves looked much like the original room by which the party had entered the complex.  The walls were well made with exquisitely-crafted, perfectly-fitted stone, but they seemed almost utilitarian.  No art, carvings, or any other decoration marred their absolute plainness.

Determined not to let the free-spirited gnome wander off into an ambush, Kellan followed her closely, trailed by the rest of the party, with Kerr and his armored breastplate bringing up the rear.


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This message was last edited by the GM at 17:51, Tue 18 Mar 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 385 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 20:11
  • msg #104

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato quietly followed Pisca and Kellan through the corridors of the Thassilonian ruin.  The mage was somewhat downbeat by the revelation that one could find a well-preserved ancient ruin and find it to be entirely...well, entirely normal.  Although the work of the room was exquisite, it was also plain, and other than the fact that it had withstood thousands of years buried under Sandpoint, completely unremarkable.  Where were the priceless antique decorations, or moldering tomes of ancient lore Cato had read about in Pathfinder chapter books as a child?  Cato ignored his irrational feelings and tried to remain vigilant to potential threats.  There were, after all, probably more Freaks down here, plus a Quasit.  That should have been excitement enough.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 665 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 21:12
  • msg #105

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"You'll be the best archer in the world someday Kerr.  I know it."  Liseth managed a weak smile in the dreary ruin, "You're already the best archer in Sandpoint.  Didn't you win last year's Archery Contest at the Festival?  And you were even blessed by Erastil.  The only reason that the whole world doesn't already know that you're the best is because Sandpoint is so small.  They can't all fit in the town in order to watch you win the contest."

"Glowing fiery words?"  When Cato spoke about seeing these words, and Kerr confirmed him, Liseth turned her head all about to search the chamber they were inside.  "I, um, I didn't see anything like that."  Magical words, written in fire, that promised doom?  Certainly not something meant to inspire confidence in anybody.  "Mr Voon told us that the Quasit Demon would try to play tricks on us and frighten us away.  That must be what it was...right?"

"Um, Pisca..."  The gnome's ideas for how they should investigate didn't seem helpful.  Much at all.  "Pisca, I don't think that licking anything will help us."  Images of sunflowers and fire lilies sprang uncontrollably to Liseth's mind once Pisca mentioned thinking about flowers.  Unfortunately, it didn't do anything to help her smell anything other than the particular scent of dirt, ruin and Rune Dogs.

Once Pisca forged through the door and everyone decided to follow closely this time, Liseth found Kerr insisting on guarding the rear of the group.  She had to agree that his armor would be helpful in case they were ambushed...and no one else really was in a good position to guard the back of the line.  Cato's magical protections might help him out, but he wouldn't be able to use his magic very easily if pressed by Rune Dogs; at least Kerr had his sword.

Still, the girl would just as soon not be ambushed from behind at all.

When she turned to say something to Kerr, the short blonde released a gasp before any of her planned words could get out.  Liseth stopped and pointed at the wall behind everyone, "I saw them!  The magic fire letters!"  Of course, they were gone before she could show them to anyone else.  "They were right there!  But they...disappeared.  I...um.  I don't know what they said."  Liseth frowned, "You might think that if he was trying to frighten us away, the Quasit Demon would put up warnings that we could all read."

"So..."  Liseth continued looking at the bare wall where the letters were just moments ago.  She decided to finish what she was about to say to Kerr in the first place, "Kerr, do you think that we could block or jam the door behind us somehow?  So that sneaky Rune Dogs don't use it to follow us?"  As soon as the thought left her mouth though, the diminutive acolyte noticed the flaw in her plan, "Oh, but that might get in our way if we have to escape...wouldn't it?"
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 444 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 21:44
  • msg #106

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was stomping along, watching for rune dogs and backing up his favorite gnome as she continued to fill his mind with chatter when all of a sudden a glaring suspicion entered his mind.

"Can she read my mind? Oh Desna!"

An awkward expression slowly overcame the young guardsman's face as they edged along the corner.

"Were you thinking about Shayliss before she said that? Did she cause you to think of Shayliss? Can Pisca hear this? Can they all hear this?!"

He started to glance over his shoulder to check when he caught himself

"No you fool!, don't look at Liseth, look at the ground or something, not that there is anything wrong with looking at Liseth but if Kerr can hear this it would be weird and..."

He took a deep breath

"Hello? Anybody Can you hear this?"

Silence, only the sound of them shuffling along

"You guys would tell me if you could hear my thoughts...right?"

More silence, he relaxed a little. This magic stuff was stressful.

"Ah...nothing on my end Pisca" he assured her finally outloud
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Tue 18 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 691 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 22:15
  • msg #107

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Is that???

The gnome narrowed her eyes and looked closer.  So intent was she that it was only by happenstance that she noticed the others creeping up on her from behind.

"Hey.  Hey, what are you doing here?"  She began shooing them back toward the Simula-room.  "The experiments.  What about the experiments?  Have you got results for me?  No?"

The face of Pisca Neep Freemish wore an expression of dejection and supreme sadness.  Without support, her dream of a fantastic magic room fell into the darkest depths of Ignorance to be swept away by the currents of the River of Lost Opportunities.  "Well, maybe you're right, Cato.  Maybe it's the Quasit playing tricks on us.  But if it is, you'd think there would be some sign.  Some signs of a scrying.  Or the blurred trace of invisibility."  Pisca took a hard look around herself.  A hard look.  But obviously not hard enough.

"Keep your eyes and ears open," Pisca suggested.  And then ... "WAIT!"

"Do you see that?"  The gnome pointed to the north, up the corridor in the direction of the widening of the corridor.  "Does that look like a blade to you?  I see a weapon."

"Follow me," said the gnome as she drew an arrow and headed up the corridor in stealth.

Stealth check, please.

Perception was to detect Invisible or see a Scrying Sensor.  I don't think that is good enough.

15:02, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Perception.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Tue 18 Mar 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 40 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 19 Mar 2014
at 03:33
  • msg #108

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“Pisca.”  Kerr grinned.  “I am NOT licking the wall of a demon-and-Freak-infested Thassilonian ruin.  Not even for my favorite gnome.”  But Pisca was already out the door and down the corridor.  Kerr put his hand to his forehead in disbelief.  She really was incorrigible.

Kerr was slightly relieved by the sight of Kellan stealing out the door to follow their half-pint scout.  He was glad of the guardsman's new commitment to stick close to Pisca; the gnome seemed to have no sense of self-preservation.  Or if she did it was dwarfed by her immeasurable curiosity.

“That’s an unnerving idea, Cato,” Kerr said as he couldn’t help glancing up at the corners of the room.  Who knew from where the quasit might be scrying on them?  “That she’s just playing with us and trying to freak us out.  On the one hand it seems like if she knew we were here she would be sending an army of Rune Dogs to evict us from her realm.  On the other hand, if she’s been down here ten-thousand years then we might just be her newest playthings.”  Kerr looked appalled as the words came out of his mouth.  “Now THAT’s an unnerving idea.”

Kerr followed the group out of the room, playing rearguard while talking to Liseth, who was expounding upon his amazing archery skills.  “You’re my biggest fan, Lise,” Kellan laughed.  He raised an eyebrow as he looked her up and down.  “And possibly my smallest."  He grinned.  "But I’m sure there are plenty of archers in Varisia who are better than me.  And when you think about Golarion as a whole?”  He paused, thinking of all the incredible shots who must be out there.  “Well, I’m okay.”

Kerr saw Liseth’s eyes widen in shock at something behind him.  Thinking they were about to be attacked, he spun, an arrow somehow already nocked, to find nothing there.  Well, not entirely nothing.  Once again he had seen something out of the corner of his eye.  Fiery letters?  Liseth seemed to think so.

He gave her a quick hug as she suggested blocking the door.  “Yeah, barricading ourselves inside the demon’s haunt probably isn’t the best idea.  She knows this place so much better than we do that I think we’re just going to have to assume she’ll be able to get any tactical advantage that might provide.  For all we know, there are secret doors and passageways running through this whole complex allowing troops of Rune Dogs to move undetected . . .”  Kerr stopped and his mouth twisted as if he’d just eaten something sour.  “I’m just full of happy thoughts, aren’t I?”

He noticed Pisca moving forward.  “Looks like Pisca’s seen something up there.”  His arrow was still nocked.  He signed ruefully as the gnome moved up the passageway.  “Guess we’re going to find out what it is.”


The Raconteur
GM, 754 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 19 Mar 2014
at 03:54
  • msg #109

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca crept down the hall towards the weapon she'd seen and whoever was holding it.

The person still didn't move, standing guard as if absolutely nothing was happening and a light was not brightening the passageway to their south.

Whoever it was didn't move when she was twenty feet away.  They didn't move when she was ten feet away.  And they didn't move when she and her gnome-shaped light source actually entered their room.

The passageway emerged into a small, 15' by 15' chamber.  The room's eastern end narrowed to a corridor that ran straight off for at least the distance revealed by the group's light sources.  The opening to the west widened and seemed to connect back to the dug-out tunnel through which the party had originally entered the area.

In the very center of the room stood an amazingly-detailed sculpture.  It was a red marble statue of a striking beautiful but, at the same time, monstrously-enraged human woman, her stony expression twisted in fury.  She wore flowing robes, and an intricate headdress of hooks and blades held her hair back from her face.  In her left hand she carried a large book, the face of which was inscribed with a seven-pointed star.  In her right she held a glittering metal-and-ivory ranseur, the blade of which had been visible to Pisca from down the passageway.

Nothing moved.  Nothing stirred.  If it hadn't been for the two Rune Dogs they'd encountered at the outset, it would be easy to believe that the entire complex was completely deserted.


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1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--XDDX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--XXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  XDL|  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--X--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  X  |  | X|  |  X P|SS|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--+--XXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | C|K | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--XXXXXXXXXX--XXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X LX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--X--+--X--+--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  X  |  X  |  |  X RX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--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
S = Statue


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 446 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 19 Mar 2014
at 05:08
  • msg #110

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan squinted his eyes as they beheld the blade in the distance and checked the corridors as they passed, wondering what it could be. When they were finally close enough to make out the details he gave out a low, impressed sort of whistle at what they were seeing.

"Well that looks expensive" he commented in a hushed tone, hanging back a little bit as if the woman might spring to life at any moment. To think that all of this had been right under his feet his entire life, waiting down here in the dark. The thought of the freaks waiting, staring upward with unblinking stares as the denizens of Sandpoint went about their day.

Every summer ride and winter night, every early morning drill session and every walk along the beach, they had been here. Here before Sandpoint had been Sandpoint if he guessed right.

He experienced a sort of inner chill at the thought, like hearing a rodent or an insect crawling in your bedroom in the dark, glimpses of things that you knew were out there but would rather not be reminded of. They would have to clean this place, all of it, from floor to ceiling so that nothing was left to escape up into Sandpoint.

He felt a little tired at the thought.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 388 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 19 Mar 2014
at 13:27
  • msg #111

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato examined the statue and then stood back and made an overly elaborate gesture.  "Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you Runelord Alaznist, who I believe is the Runelord of Wrath.  It looks like we might have solved the minor mystery of which Runelord Xialasa was a double agent for."

Cato examined the statue and the weapon again.  "Back when I was learning magic, the other apprentices would always grouse about how much better the world would be if it was run by the intelligent instead of the rich and well-connected."  Cato looked up at the enraged features of the Runelord again and back at the group.  "The Runelords were just that, probably the pinnacle of human arcane ability.  And what happened?  They made these Freaks, gave into vice, and Desna knows what else."  Cato shook his head sadly.  "I'm not sure what the best way to inspire and lead is, only that we haven't yet found it."

Cato gave a small smile.  "Though Mayor Deverin seems to be doing a good job so far."

Cato returned to the examination of the statue, looking past the physical world and examing the statue for signs of active arcana.  "That blade would certainly make an impressive find, don't you think?  I'm sure Brodert would love to have that to inspect."

OOC:
Detect magic, looking specifically for spells or wards on the Runelord Statue and weapon.

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 694 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 19 Mar 2014
at 16:17
  • msg #112

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Well, I'd say that certainly is a wrathy sort of expression on your Alaznist there, Cato."  In diametrical opposition to everyone else, Pisca was looking out the western door and back into what must have been the Smuggler's Tunnel.  Even after all this time, even amid the silence of the ruins, the gnome stuck to a whispered voice.

"Looks like they broke into the temple here too."  *They*, of course, being the smugglers.  "I wonder why they dug down further instead of just coming through the ruins?  Would have been much easier.  I wonder where they were trying to go?  And it looks like they kept digging even after this."  Pisca trotted down to the corner where the stone of the ruins met the dirt of the tunnel.  She took a brief peek to the north before returning back to the room with the sculpture.

"This looks to me like the entrance to some place special.  Hall of Wrathy Wrath Wrath or some such."  Much like Cato, Pisca took precautions before laying hands on the statue of the Runelord of Wrath.  She walked a circle about the statue of Wrath-ish Alaznist.  She examined the places, obvious and less so, where one might expect designers to take precautions against treasure seekers, laying traps for the unwary.

Taking her new longspear off her back, the gnome poked it up in the direction of Wrath-ish Alaznist's left hand.  "I'm more inclined to take the Book, Cato," the gnome whispered.  "Maybe I can jog it loose."

Perception check 28 Taking 20 for traps on the statue.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 669 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Wed 19 Mar 2014
at 20:52
  • msg #113

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth blushed when Kerr looked her over and mentioned that she was at both times his biggest and smallest fan.  It felt good to blush, down there under the ground; surrounded by hidden monsters.  The small blonde couldn't begin to relate just how glad she was to have Kerr along with them, with her, to search this underground ruin for a sneaky demon.  Talking with him had a way of taking her mind off of the frightening and dangerous situation that they were in; and every time he squeezed her she felt safe and reassured.  Kerr wouldn't let any monsters get her.

Her eyes turned back to the front just in time to see Kellan glance back at her and then look quickly away again.  That was curious.  He almost seemed concerned about looking at her.  Or was he just checking to make sure that she and Kerr were still okay at the rear of the line?  Just in case, the girl waved at the big guardsman to let him know that they were okay.

I wish that I could hear what people were thinking.  Then I would know why they do so many strange things.

"Wow, she looks...so mean."  Liseth was careful to stop at the edge of the passage before going into the room with the statue.  She peeked down the passage to her left when Pisca explored down it, but quickly returned her attention to the statue that Cato was studying.

"Shouldn't that be Runelady Alaznist?" Liseth corrected.  The fact that she was correcting an expert on the entire subject of ancient magic and history didn't seem to register in her at the moment.  "She is a lady, after all.  Even if she is, or was, a powerful wizard.  So she has be a Runelady.  Right Pisca?"  The young acolyte sought support from the only other girl down in the ancient ruin with her.

"I don't think that being rich and well-connected makes a good leader either."  She listened as Cato spoke about the opinions of some of his wizard friends, "But just being intelligent isn't enough either.  Power corrupts people.  And when people get too much power, they tend to do bad things simply because there isn't anyone to tell them not to.  Anyone to stop them."  Liseth had quickly entered lecture mode, "That's usually what the problem is.  The sorts of people who want to be leaders are usually the same sorts of people who want more power.  Then they make wars happen to try and get more power, or they make laws to hurt people that they don't like."  She looked up at the statue, "Or they use their magic to make evil minions so that they can be even more powerful.  So I think that the best kinds of leaders are the ones who don't want to lead.  Who don't want so much power or influence.  The kinds of people who lead because they have to, because other people need them to.  Not because they want to."

"Runelady Alaznist doesn't look like she was a very happy person, does she?"  Liseth watched as Pisca and Cato continued to study the statue and examine it, "That's another thing that I don't understand.  Why would somebody want to be so angry all of the time?  So wrathful?  Even if it gave them so much magical power.  I think that I would rather be happy than powerful; if being powerful meant that I was angry and miserable all of the time."

Everyone seemed involved in examining the statue of the Runelady of wrath, so Liseth turned back around and took Kerr's free hand.  "Come on Kerr, we should watch that other tunnel while everyone studies the statue.  So that no sneaky monsters surprise us from there."

OOC:  Liseth and Kerr are watching the tunnel at H8.  Mostly Kerr.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 697 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 19 Mar 2014
at 23:38
  • msg #114

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Well, this gnome doesn't see any traps on this statue," whispers the gnome, her sibilant voice thick with her desire for the star painted book and its contents.

"Lets see what poking it does."  And Pisca shoves the but of the longspear up at the book, striking it with the sound of ... wood on stone.  The gnome's mouth turned down into a frown.  "That didn't sound very book-like to me."  She sighed an ever so slightly affected sigh.  "How disappointing.  It's a part of the statue."

"Hmmm.  But still, it would make a nice trophy.  If we could detach it from the arm.  Or the arm from the body.  Or the ... no.  I think I stop at taking the RuneLady of Wrath back up to Sandpoint.  Speaking of which, I don't see any reason why she couldn't have been a Rune Lord too, Lysa.  Girls can be Lords just as much as boys.  You could be a lord, Lys.  Wouldn't you like to be the lord of your father's estate someday?  I don't see why you couldn't.  Alaznist could have been both a RuneLord and a RuneLady at the same time.  This gnome doesn't see why not."

"Oh, and what I think that your apprentices friends are missing is that a lot of those rich and well connected people out there are also intelligent.  They may not be wizards, but they know how to use their wealth, and they know how to use their connections.  Their powers may be mundane, but it would be a mistake to underestimate them."

"So, lets take the polearm and go."  The gnome secured the longspear on her back once again and began walking as she spoke in a circle around the statue of the RunePerson Alaznist.  "The antitoxin won't last forever.  There's nothing out in the tunnel.  It goes north for twenty-five more feet and stops.  I say that we go back and take that hallway going west.  This place, where we're standing looks to me like the entryway to someplace.  That means, if we go in this way, we're coming in the front door."

"On the other hand, the other hall leads in from a blank room.  If there's a back door here, that looks like it to me."  Pisca strolled back the way that she and the others had come, stopping at the threshold of the statue room.  "What do you say?"

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 393 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 01:52
  • msg #115

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato finished looking for auras shortly after Pisca made her declaration. "I don't see any signs of magic, just a very ornate pole arm.  I would suggest leaving any more work on the statue to later. Besides the issue of the antitoxin, we probably don't want to alert anyone who didn't hear our encounter with the Rune Dogs to our current location."

Cato chuckled at Pisca's observation. "I know there's more to intelligence than what I have. Being able to read dusty tomes and decipher magical secrets is certainly one kind of intelligence, but not the only one. Being able to lead people, hunt, cook, sew, pray and raise children all require a different sort of intelligence. I think that wizards often lose sight that there more in world beyond what they're doing. And it would be good, I think, for all those short-sighted fools to see what their short-sighted wishes would lead to."  Cato gestured again at the terrible visage of the statue. "Then again, some would probably want this."  Cato shook his head slightly.

"Anyways, back to our current problem. I say we take a back door. The whole place is probably guarded, but maybe they're slightly less likely to guard the back entrance if they have limited forces."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 450 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 02:03
  • msg #116

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

With Cato's assurances Kellan stepped forward and turned his neck sharply to the side, causing a few loud pops to sound as the bones shifted. Taking ahold of the statues  ranseur he attempted to work it loose of the grip, either by sliding it up and out vertically or perhaps working it free of some kind of restraining system.

His face made it clear that he expected something bad to happen any moment now.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Thu 20 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 760 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #117

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


After a bit of effort, Kellan managed to slide the ranseur clear of the statue.  To his surprise, absolutely nothing untoward occurred.  Now that it was in his hands, he realized that it was not only a piece of art but a well-made weapon in its own right.  The guardsman could tell that the polearm was perfectly balanced; it was easily the equal of the poleaxe from Lonjiku's cabinet.  In the hands of a proficient user it could clearly be quite deadly.


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:08, Thu 20 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 452 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 03:35
  • msg #118

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan hefted the thing, admiring the quality of the weapon in the artificial light. He was no merchant but he guessed that this thing alone could feed and clothe his family for a few seasons and then some. Perhaps some day it would find it's way into Pisca's library or Cato's museum but for today it was getting lashed to a farm boys pack.

"Betcha didn't see that comin ehh Alaznist" he thought to himself as he cinched it down at an angle, hoping to keep it from dragging in the floor or catching on the ceiling.

With his pilfered treasure secured he looked to the others with a grin.

"Well that's something at least...ready to move when you are"

Taking up his cold iron pole axe he prepared to follow Pisca wherever she may roam.
The Raconteur
GM, 762 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 06:39
  • msg #119

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


After a hurried conference regarding their available options, the group agreed that they would try exploring the southern corridor first.  They turned about, leaving the perpetually-furious stone Runelord to its outraged thoughts as they attempted to bypass what seemed to be the main entrance to the complex.

The southern corridor was exactly as they had left it.  Nothing stirred, and their light illuminated 35 feet of corridor that headed directly east into the darkness, turning neither right nor left.  As they began moving down the hallway, it continued straight for about 15 more feet before taking a short diagonal jag to the right and widening out into a larger room, about 25 feet wide by 30 feet long, with an alcove located in the north and double doors set in the southeastern corner.

The area appeared to be a shrine; to the northeast, steps led up to a platform of gray stone.  Sitting atop the platform was an ancient altar, little more than a jagged block of black marble with a shallow concavity on top of it.  The basin was filled with what appeared to be pure, clear water.  As far as the party could tell, no one had worshipped at this shrine for a very, very long time.

The stone here was far from the plain block that had marked the rooms and passageways to this point.  Carvings of misshapen and hideous creatures adorned its walls, each a work of art in itself and so lifelike that it seemed to their observers that they might spring to life at any moment.  Behind the altar stood a floor-to-ceiling depiction of a jackal-headed woman with a third vertical eye in the center of her forehead.  She was heavily pregnant, with feathered wings, a snake's tail, and taloned feet; she observed the area with the haughty disdain of one who knew she was better than all those who might come before her.

   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
    +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |XR| L|  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X C|K |P |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |DL|  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D = Door
A = Altar
S = Stairs


This message was last edited by the GM at 07:58, Thu 20 Mar 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 41 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 07:02
  • msg #120

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr had been watching the corridor to the south as the rest of the group set about investigating the statue and its valuable weapon.  He sympathized with Pisca’s disappointment that the book she desired was merely a carving, and grinned at Kellan’s sound of triumph as the big guardsman finally managed to pry the ranseur free from Alaznist’s wrathful grasp.

Kerr agreed that heading somewhere other than the main entrance was probably the best course of action, so he had no problem with standing aside as first Pisca, then Kellan, then Cato, and finally Liseth moved past him to take the southernmost corridor that headed east, deeper into the bowels of the Thassilonian ruin.  Kerr moved along behind them, staying close but keeping a weather eye out for any attacks from behind as they slowly traversed the passageway to discover the shrine.

Liseth felt Kerr grab her hand as they entered the room.  She turned, concerned, only to see him looking around wide-eyed at the chamber’s horrific artwork, face as white as a sheet.

“Lamashtu!”  Kerr whispered, pointing up at the giant woman looking coolly down upon them.  His tension was understandable.  Worshippers of Desna were well aware of how their goddess’ ancient and pre-eminent enemy was traditionally depicted, and Lasmashtu’s treatment of Desna and her faithful was truly the stuff of nightmares.

The young man’s face twisted as he looked around the shrine.  “And these must be the horrors she has created.”  Liseth felt his grip on her hand tighten; it was rare to see the normally happy-go-lucky Kerr so put out.  “We should be very, very cautious, I think.”  The acolyte looked around warily, seemingly ready for Rune Dogs or worse to come bursting forth from secret locations behind the walls.  “This is very, very far from a good place.”


This message was last edited by the player at 08:00, Thu 20 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 699 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 15:54
  • msg #121

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Lamashtu," agreed the gnome with a grim, tight-lipped expression.  "Ever wonder why me?" Pisca asked.  "Why grand and terrible things always seem to happen here?  In this small place that's nowhere near the size of Magnimar, or Kaer Maga, or Korvosa, or Cheliax, or Westcrown?  Why my small town of Sandpoint seems to be a crossroads for madness and destiny?"

"Well, actually, I mean you two, really.  You were born here," Pisca added, nodding in the directions of Kellan and Kerr Mollin. "Anyway, in case you've ever wondered this, I think we found the answer.  Ever hear of the notion that some places draw people to them in order to feed misery and misfortune?  Maybe that's why Sandpoint became Sandpoint in the first place.  I mean, why here?  Who builds a town so close to a creepy old ruined tower?  True, it's got a nice little bay for both shelter and easy access to the sea.  There's fresh water in the Turandorok.  But I hear there's much the same a few miles down the coast near Aldern's manor just the other side of the Brinestump Marsh."

"And I mean us too.  Why did you wind up here?  Of all of the places you could have wound up, why here?"  Pisca's whispering voice sounded eerie in the stillness of this shrine to the God of Monsters.  Distant, preternatural, and not of herself even within her own ear.  "I bet things all sounded reasonable at the time, didn't they?  The decisions that brought us from miles and miles away.  Ever have doubts, though?  That your destiny has not always been entirely your own?  That some greater powers have nudged and nudged and nudged and nudged to bring you here to this place and this time to be the instruments of fate?"

"It's something to think about."  The gnome nodded in agreement with her own words.  She drew in a deep breath and let it out, breathing deeply of insight and revelations and exhaling a pure wisdom, understanding, and resolve.

"Yup," said the gnome, crossing the room, propelled by the force of her vision.  Ignoring the Evil Shrine of the Monster God, Pisca went straight and true, headed for the only real important feature of this accursed room:  The door on the far side.  "Certainly something to think about."

With care she inspected the door for the nasty and the surprising.  Then, with equal or greater care, the gnome eased the door open for a peek at the other side.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 6/7

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 396 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 16:37
  • msg #122

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato stared at the blasphemous altar and the carvings decorating the shrine to Lamashtu.  "Lamashtu seems like an appropriate god for the servants of the Runelord of Wrath to worship."  Cato gestured at the carvings on the wall.  "I'd be hard pressed to imagine a more perfect fit than these monstrosities and that statue of Alaznist.  I wonder who it was that first created those Freaks?  Do you suppose it was the Runelord's idea, or Lamashtu?  Maybe that explains the close link between the two."

Cato shook his head.  "Hopefully there's no other 'successful' collaborative endeavors to be found here."

Cato stared at Pisca.  As always, his thoughts first jumped to suspicion, but then his fears eased as the gnome kept talking.  She was talking in a general sense, about all of their fates.  But still, he felt compelled to answer.  "I understand what you mean, Pisca.  In a way, what drew me here to Sandpoint was the Old Light, which must be linked to this very place.  I'd find it hard to believe that two Thassilonian ruins in the same town weren't connected.  So, although I didn't know I'd be coming to a town at the nexus of these ill events, the very thing that drew me here is connected in some way to those very events."

That, and the fact that Sandpoint was a small town on the edge of the world where Cato thought he could disappear for a time.  The scholar thought back to when he had decided to come to Sandpoint.  Certainly it seemed like a logical decision at the time.  Easy enough to reach, but far enough from Korvosa and other Hellknight outposts that he was likely to be safe.  Had something or someone pushed his decision?  The wizard understood that there were entire worlds beyond the mortal one upon which he trod, and that events played out in other realms that had very real ramifications here, but he never thought much about those personally impacting him, or compelling him.  He found it hard to believe that in all of Varisia, Desna or some other higher power would gather the five of them here.  There must be dozens, if not hundreds, or better-suited people for this task.

"You think we were sent here to find this complex and stop whatever would have happened to Sandpoint?  If that's what someone wanted, they could have leaked the mere existence of this place to the Pathfinders.  This place would have been swarming with glory-seekers inside of a month.  That would surely have upset the plans of this Quasit."

Cato was silent for a second.  "Or maybe that would be the worst thing that could happen.  If those Rune Dogs could infect anyone with their bite and turn them against their friends, maybe those glory-seekers would have doomed the town."

Cato stared for awhile at the carved image of Lamashtu and her vile offspring.  "Fated to be here or not, we are apparently all the protection Sandpoint has against these monsters."

Cato managed a laugh, which rang hollow in the shrine.  "Pisca, I never thought I'd be having a philosophical discussion down here."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 453 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 17:21
  • msg #123

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan did not know much about the Gods or their religions, but the way that everybody kept uttering Lamashtu's name caused the hair on the back of his neck to rise. This had been the one who had driven an orphaned daughter to exhume the corpse of her father and burn it as an offering, and that in itself told him more than he needed to know about what kind of deity she must be.

This was a priestly matter. Energies, spirits and rites to make this place clean and free from whatever sick influence it had seen. He stared at the alter in an almost defiant way before moving ahead with the others. Was this what Liseth had been talking about? why the Gods had supposedly taken an interest in them. He had considered it so far fetched before, but now...

He had to agree with Cato "Some of those adventuring types are the real deal...the guard would hard pressed to deal with one or two, never mind entire parties of them" He left it unspoken that they could easily become Sandpoints newest threat if that Rune Dog venom had its way/
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 672 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 20:19
  • msg #124

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I suppose she could be a Lord too.  Maybe she could be Lady Runelord Alaznist."  Liseth responded when everyone began to file back out of the room in order to explore the next passage.  "But I don't think that I would ever want to be the lord of my family's estate.  I don't know anything about managing lands and finances; Nivlak is supposed to take care of all that once Daddy retires.  If I had to be in charge, that would mean..."  She quickly covered her mouth to keep the words from escaping.  That was a particular thought that Liseth did not want to finish.

The girl was more quiet on the way through the passage, until they reached Lamashtu's altar room.  She stopped cold when the group's lights illuminated Lamashtu looking down at them.  Liseth was startled and frightened; her breath caught in her throat.  But her own reaction was dwarfed by how much it staggered Kerr.

[Language unknown: "Rutconall arusof."]  She squeezed back when Kerr's grip tightened around her hand.  It felt good, comforting, to speak in the celestial language.  The words were so melodic.  Liseth was glad that Kerr could speak it too, there were so few people who understood it.  She just hoped that it was as soothing to him as it was to her.

[Language unknown: "Ortiouiou redhasticing hiti el art wilthepro, Iou."]  Liseth turned around to face him directly and looked up at Kerr's face, [Language unknown: "Sefiarho ndrore enof n sihessna, cani fi und any waul forsomionred toti nte essardeau redli ma he.  T ha ri houmo.  Earilltic Iseind fiadngli ne unom.  Wasil Haswilare th Hatstaeen ugh li Tiooneounect.  Lesai latss sanhatate ek atrea.  Ic T intthuout e in butbe.  Ithck i iv artli po ati."]  Ending with a smile, Liseth got up on her tiptoes to give Kerr a reassuring kiss.

Now it was just a matter of actually dealing with the horrors that Lamashtu had left down here for them.  Liseth's attention returned to the group as Pisca was talking about the strangeness of destiny that had brought them all here.  That was something that Liseth could talk about for hours and hours, but this was far from the time or place for a conversation like that.

"Actually Pisca..."  The blonde acolyte decided that maybe she would go ahead with the abridged version, based on what she had learned, "That might be closer to how it worked than we can really know.  Sarenrae told me that the gods can only ever guide people, but never actually force them.  So it could be that all of us were guided to be here."  Liseth looked around at Kellan, Cato, Pisca, and Kerr; averting her eyes from the image of Lamashtu and the demon goddess's evil servants.  "Most people don't know that they are being guided, and many of them don't recognize or even follow the guidance that they are offered."

"That's why I'm in Sandpoint.  Sarenrae told me that I wasn't able to become her priestess because if I had I might never have left home and Galduria.  But since I didn't join her church, and thanks to Father Garrick, I came to Sandpoint in order to study the gods at the Cathedral.  But really, I think Sarenrae wanted me here so that I could help all of you.  To do...well, what we're doing right now."

Talking about Sarenrae and the other good gods helped to settle some of Liseth's own anxiety.  They all knew that the five of them could do this.  She glanced up at Lamashtu's altar and a passing thought wondered about how many evil acts were performed just right there.  There didn't seem to be any sign of them now.  Liseth suddenly wished that she was strong enough to consecrate that altar; it would make her feel safer to have Lamashtu's influence cut off from these ruins while they were still down there.

But that was something that was still beyond her abilities.  Maybe after the quasit demon and rune dogs were gone, Father Zantus would be able to do that?  Possibly in a more permanent fashion.

Watching Pisca go to the door at the far end of Lamashtu's shrine, Liseth felt a little bit relieved that the gnome didn't intend to investigate the altar up close.  Skirting it herself, by a wide margin, Liseth prepared to follow on their continued exploration.

She just hoped that her new found confidence lasted longer than their next meeting with the ruin's savage sentinels.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 42 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 07:39
  • msg #125

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr smiled appreciatively at Liseth’s words of encouragement.  “Thanks, Lise,” he said, accepting her kiss with a smile.  “You really are my biggest fan."  He visibly gathered himself.  "Sorry, I was just taken aback there for a moment.  All of the tales we’ve been told . . .”  His voice trailed off as he looked again at Lamashtu’s horrific countenance.  “Well, it’s just a strange thing to have heard these terrible stories about Lamashtu all your life, and then find yourself in a space specifically consecrated to her.”  He shivered, looking uncomfortably at the dark altar.  “A very strange thing.”

Kerr nodded along with Liseth’s explanation of the gods’ interaction with mortals.  “I don't think it's a matter of us being sent, Cato.  It’s a matter of us stepping up and accepting the call.  For all we know there were hundreds of others the gods placed on this path.  But each of those others turned aside for their own reasons.  To strive for wealth.  To fight another encroaching evil.  Maybe they suffered an injury.”  The acolyte shrugged.  “It could be anything, really."

"But we are the ones who remain who have made it to this point in the path.  So it might not be that we are the best people for this job in terms of skills or experience or what-have-you.  It might just be that we’re the ones who showed up to do it.  Or maybe,” he said, realizing how unencouraging his previous thought was, "we each have important skills or abilities or potential that we don't even know of yet."

Kerr glanced around as Cato mentioned the Rune Dogs’ venom.  “You’re right.  If people came down here who weren’t careful, or who were more susceptible to anger, then perhaps the town would already be overrun with wrath-crazed adventurers venting their rage on the innocent.”  He pointed at Kellan, then Pisca.  “Both of you were bitten, but you were able to fight off the Dogs’ poison even before you took the antitoxin.  Maybe all of us were chosen because we are particularly resistant to this specific venom?”  Kerr raised an eyebrow.  “We just don’t know.  All we can do is trust that we’re where we need to be, and accomplish what we came here for.”


The Raconteur
GM, 765 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 08:20
  • msg #126

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


As Pisca cracked open the double doors, she found a huge room that looked like nothing more than an immense underground cathedral.  20 feet high, the stone ceiling was adorned with a fresco of truly immense scope, containing images of various horrors inflicted by one sentient being upon another while gripped in the uncompromising vise of anger.  Stone doors stood to either side of the main entrance, and the walls were carved with strange, spiky runes.

In the center of the room was a large pool, with a ring of polished human skulls balanced on stone spikes arranged in a circle around the deeper midsection.  At the far end of the room, a pair of stone stairways led up to a pulpit on which sat a second pool, this one triangular and filled with churning, bubbling water that looked almost like translucent lava.  Yet while wisps of what looked like heat and steam rose from the strange orange liquid, the room itself was deathly cold.

Pisca spotted a small creature standing next to the smaller, more-active pool.



The creature stared at Pisca and the cracked double doors, as if she could not believe what she was seeing.  Suddenly she began shrieking.

"You dare to intrude upon the Mother's sanctum?  You shall pay for your insolence!  With your life!!"  The creature immediately slashed her own wrist with her dagger, allowing her blood to drop into the glowing pool.  The pool's glow diminished noticeably as Pisca watched a slavering Rune Dog begin to emerge from its depths.


OOC:  Well, looks like you guys have found another combat.  No need to roll for initiative; the party gets an action while the quasit summons her Rune Dog.

   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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  | R| C|  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  | L| K|  |DLX  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  | PD  |  | PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP| X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS|QP|RDXX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D = Door
A = Altar
S = Stairs
P = Pool

Q = Quasit
RD = Rune Dog



Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 674 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 14:17
  • msg #127

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

That's it!  That must be the Quasit Demon!  Liseth almost took a step back when she heard the demon shrieking.  But this was no time to be frightened.  This was why they were here and fighting it was what they had to do.

Instead, her startled reflexes caused the girl to tightly grasp her divine focus, "Desna, we plead for your aid!  Please guide us in this unholy place, as we struggle against your ancient enemy!"  Saying a prayer to Desna and asking for Her blessing seemed very appropriate, considering their circumstances.  Lamashtu has always been a bitter enemy to Desna, so Liseth had to imagine that The Tender of Dreams was watching them closely.

Reaching her shielded hand over, Liseth touched Kerr's free arm.  "This is it Kerr.  That has to be the Quasit Demon in there.  I know you can do this.  You have the gods fighting beside you.  Now you just have to show Lamashtu what Desna thinks of her evil minions and monsters."

OOC: Cast Bless

Effects: Antitoxin (+5 Saves vs Poison) < 1 hour
Bless (+1 to hit & saves vs fear) 20/20 rounds
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 703 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 17:32
  • msg #128

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Quasits can be girls?

Such was the first thought through the mind of the gnome as she peeped through the crack in the temple door.

Was that a worried look?

And such was the second thought.  Cause and Effect played through Pisca's mind, each chasing the other through the series of events leading up to that look of concern that had crossed the Quasit's face.  But thought gave way to action as the Rune Dog began climbing out of the translucent stuff of the pit.

"You can crush us, you can bruise us," sang the gnome to herself in a voice that was low, but filled with determination.  "But you'll have to answer to ... "

*BANG!*

The doors to the subterranean temple flew open to the kick of Pisca's booted foot.  "GO!" cried the gnome as she loosed an arrow in the direction of the Quasit.  "Go, go, go!"

Open Door MEA / Shoot at Quasit w/AL

09:41, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 15 using 1d20+6. Hit Quasit.
09:47, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 3 using 1d4+1. Damage.

Position: X13

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 20/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 5/7

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 455 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 17:47
  • msg #129

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan rushed forward at Pisca's urgings, invigorated by the blessings Liseth had beseeched on their behalf. Even if he did not understand the arcane speech.and intricate gesturing Kellan was quickly developing an ear for Cato's spellcraft. Forcing himself to stop and wait for the magic to take effect was remarkably hard, after all the talk of how dangerous this thing was his instincts screamed at him to close the distance and hack it to pieces.

Running forward in a clatter of mail he paused near the door within Catos line of sight. His mind a blur of excitement and adrenaline. He glared at the thing,  steeling himself for the battle to come.

HP: 26/26
AC: 19
Move: To Y14
Standard: Ready Against Attack (Combat Expertise)


This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Fri 21 Mar 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 398 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 18:01
  • msg #130

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato had been mentally preparing for this fight since they set foot in the dungeon, but he expected to fully explore these catacombs before finally stumbling onto the Quasit.  Avoiding the front door, indeed!  At least the plan had worked!

Cato reached into a small pocket in his spell component pouch and retrieved some powdered iron.  Casting it in the air, he intoned "[Language unknown: Oussonnte!]"

Trying to remain calm, he kept moving his hands in the intricate patterns, visualizing Kellan growing tall and keeping his eyes open for the Rune Dog charging through the door.

OOC:
Full-round Action: Cast Enlarge Person on Kellan

Mage Armor AC: 16

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 43 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 19:25
  • msg #131

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr started as the quasit's screech, Pisca's yell, and the bang of the door opening hit him in rapid-fire succession.  He saw the diminutive gnome dash through the door, with Kellan sprinting right after her, jangling in his armor.

This is it, he thought to himself.  This is why we're here.

He immediately felt the glowing, supportive energy of Liseth's divine blessing.  Shooting her a quick, nervous grin, he gathered himself, quickly following Kellan through the door.

This would be happening little less quickly than he was used to, he suddenly realized, due to the unfamiliar weight of his new breastplate.

Yet as he entered the temple, Kerr didn't have time to worry about his armor, gawk at the artwork, or admire the architecture; it looked like the quasit was summoning a rune dog, and who knew how long that would go on?  She needed to be stopped.

Kerr drew an arrow and nocked it.  As he did, he heard a whisper in his head, soft yet insistent but perfectly clear despite the clamor of battle.

Focus, my child, said the woman's voice.  Focus your will on protecting your friends and the innocent by destroying the evil that threatens them.  Focus it on destroying Lamashtu's plans for this town.  Focus.  Focus . . .

Kerr focused.

He let the arrow fly.

And put it right through the shoulder of the shocked quasit, who screeched again, this time in pain, anger, and confusion.

I can DO this, Kerr thought to himself, smiling grimly as he reached for another arrow.  I can DO this!

OOC:

Move Action:  To Y13
Swift Action:  Smite Evil on Quasit
Standard Action:

12:09, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 12 using 1d8+4. Arrow Damage to Quasit.
12:08, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 21 using 1d20+11. Bowshot (SE, PBS, Bless).

AC:  19/22 v. Quasit
Touch AC:  13/16 v. Quasit


This message was last edited by the player at 21:21, Fri 21 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 768 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 21:42
  • msg #132

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The quasit screamed as she took Kerr's arrow in her shoulder, as much from surprise as from pain.  She was outraged that these intruders would DARE intrude upon her domain.  To SULLY the purity of her Mother's temple with their pagan presences.  She could FEEL the good emanating from them.  They must be destroyed.

She knew exactly how they would pay for this insult.  But the archer's will was strong; she could sense his divine purpose.  She must remove the weak before she dealt with the strong.  She waved her hand, casting a spell at the armored man who had first come in the door.

He froze in place.  With a cruel smile, she sent her creation to tear him apart.  Either he would die to her spawn or he would be overcome with its poison and begin attacking his friends.

Either way would be fun.

She flew back behind the pool, attempting to shield herself from the archer's arrows.  They HURT.  She wasn't sure how he managed to do that, but she wasn't incredibly worried.

She had plans for him too.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  | C|  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  | L|  |  |DLX P|  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|Q XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D R|RD| PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D = Door
A = Altar
S = Stairs
P = Pool

Q = Quasit
RD = Rune Dog

Quasit Turn -

Takes 12 points of damage from Kerr's attack.

Heals 2 points of damage.

Standard Action:  Cast Hold Person on Kellan

14:11, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 11 using 1d20+1. Will Save v. Hold Person.

Result:  Kellan is paralyzed.  He may attempt to break the immobilization as a full-round action by making a Will save against DC 14.

Move Action:  To GG12, seeking cover from Kerr's bowshots behind pool.

Rune Dog Turn

Move:  Z13
Attack:  Kellan

14:28, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 7 using 1d6+1. Bite Damage on Kellan.
14:28, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 22 using 1d20+7. Bite Attack on Kellan.

Result:  Kellan takes 7 points of damage.  He must make a DC 12 Will save against the Rune Dog's poison (the antitoxin bonus applies).


Opponent Status

Quasit - 10 points of damage taken
Rune Dog - Undamaged

Party Status

Kellan - 19/26 hp, immobilized


This message was last edited by the GM at 21:44, Fri 21 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 456 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 21:54
  • msg #133

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan locked up where he stood, his arms falling slack as he stared glossy eyed into empty space. Even when the nightmarish creature sunk it's teeth into him he didn't register so much as a grimace despite the gruesome wound. In his mind however a battle was taking place as this alien presence vied with his will.

So focused was the guardsman on keeping his anger in check that he had little energy left to free himself from the bonds of the spell. Like bed half awake or in a dream everything seemed surreal and detached, he could feel the pain and yet he could not, he could tell something was wrong but could not quite put his finger in it. He knew he had control of his faculties...he just had to find a way to wake up now.

OOC
14:47, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 15 using 1d20+5. Will Save DC 12 vs Poison .
14:46, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 7 using 1d20+1. Will Save DC 14 vs Hold.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 679 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 22:09
  • msg #134

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

That's not what was supposed to happen!  Kellan was standing there, ready to receive the charge of the evil Rune Dog when he just...stopped.  He didn't move at all, even when it bit him!  The Quasit must have bewitched him!

"Fight it Kellan!"  Even as she shouted, Liseth took a step forward, reaching to her side in order to grab one of the special Befuddler bags that she was given before they started.  Liseth didn't know exactly what it was or how it was supposed to work, but she did know that it was supposed to befuddle things.  She just really hoped that it would work on that rampaging rune dog before it could get Kellan.

"Everyone step back, I don't want to hit you with this!"  Liseth called to Kerr and Pisca, who were right there next to the Rune Dog.  Waiting a heartbeat for them to step away, Liseth reeled back her arm and tossed the befuddling bag mixture at the monster with all of her strength.

Free: Five-Foot Step to V 13
Move: Draw Befuddler
Standard: Throw Befuddler

15:07, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 8 using 1d20+3. Throw Befuddler.

So much for that!  I hate making attack rolls.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 707 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 22:27
  • msg #135

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Step back?  Alright.

The gnome scooted back, following the wall.  She'd seen the Quasit cast some sort of spell on Stomper.  This could be bad.  "You!  Shoo," she hissed at the monster born of the nearby pit.  The gnome fired a quick shot at the Rune Dog, succeeding in banking an arrow off of the stone floor of the underground temple and sending it careening off across the room.

"Oh badgers," she cursed.  "That won't do at all."

5ft step / Shoot Rune Dog w/AL

15:21, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Hit Rune Dog.

Position: Y11

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 19/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 4/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 44 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 23:57
  • msg #136

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr blanched slightly; the slavering Rune Dog was RIGHT in front of him.  And something was wrong with Kellan; he had locked up and hadn't moved despite taking a severe bite from the creature.  Kellan wasn't going to be able to take much more of that kind of punishment, not without being able to defend himself.

Kerr stepped back and let off a quick shot, but it went wide.  He calmed himself, released another arrow, and this one took the Rune Dog right in the eye, snapping his head back.  Kerr was shocked that the shot hadn't dropped the Rune Dog, but it still seemed to be going, if barely.  Kerr briefly allowed himself to wonder what the quasit was up to, but right now the Rune Dog had to occupy most of his attention.

OOC:

Move:  5' step to X12

Full Round Action:  Rapid Fire at Rune Dog

16:52, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 17 using 3d8+6. Critical Damage to Rune Dog.
16:52, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 25 using 1d20+6. Critical Confirmation on Rune Dog.
16:51, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 26 using 1d20+6. Rapid Shot #2 (PBS, BL, RS).
16:51, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 8 using 1d20+6. Rapid Shot #1 (PBS, BL, RS).


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 399 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 22 Mar 2014
at 00:35
  • msg #137

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato remained concentrating on his spell as the quasit began her own spell. Cato felt the faint surge of arcane power directed at Kellan, and watched helplessly as the Rune Dog tore into the now-helpless guardsman.  Seconds later, Cato's spell was completed.

 "Kellan, you've got to fight her control!  I'll do what I can to help!"  Cato ran forward to the doorway, and easily reached Kellan's now-giant legs though the door. Cato laid one hand on Kellan and with the other, sprinkled fine iron powder in the air. "[Language unknown: Niunacsack!"]

OOC:
Enlarge Person takes effect. (+2 Str, -2 Dex, -1 AC, damage to 2D6. 2 minutes)
Move action:  Move to X13
Standard Action: Protection from evil on Kellan.
(+2 AC and saves versus effects from evil creatures, immune to mental control from evil. If the Rune Dog is a summoned creature, it can't attack Kellan with its natural weapons until Kellan attacks. SR applies to this effect.  2 minutes)

The Raconteur
GM, 776 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sat 22 Mar 2014
at 06:03
  • msg #138

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The Rune Dog's head rocked from the shock of taking Kerr's arrow right through the eye socket.  Its single-minded determination to savage Kellan was undeterred, but it did cause the creature's vicious bite to miss its target and saving the guardsman from yet another bout with its wrath-inducing venom.

Or maybe because Kellan had just grown to four times his normal size.

The Rune Dog did slice Kellan twice with his claws, however, drawing blood from the immobile young man's arms.  Still, as Kellan struggled to throw off the quasit's control he knew that he could have been much, much worse off.

Kellan's newfound vantage point allowed him a great view of the quasit.  The small creature was crouched behind the Rune Dog Pool, mouthing words to herself and making what looked suspiciously like arcane gestures.  Kellan was no wizard, but he'd bet his Taldan Fire-Brandy that the quasit was about to cast some sort of spell that he and his friends would not enjoy one bit.

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
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X P|  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |R X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|Q XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |L |  |C D  |RD| PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|K |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|K |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D = Door
A = Altar
S = Stairs
P = Pool

Q = Quasit
RD = Rune Dog

Quasit Turn -

Heals 2 points of damage.

Move:  None (at GG12).

Full-Round Action:  Begin Casting Spell


Rune Dog Turn

Action:  Full Attack
Move:  None
Attack:  Kellan

22:55, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 2 using 1d4+1. Claw #2 Damage to Kellan.
22:55, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 3 using 1d4+1. Claw #1 Damage to Kellan.
22:54, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 17 using 1d20+7. Claw Attack on Kellan #2.
22:54, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 15 using 1d20+7. Claw Attack on Kellan #1.
22:53, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Bite Attack on Kellan.

Result:  Kellan takes 5 points of damage.


Opponent Status

Quasit - 8 points of damage taken
Rune Dog - 17 points of damage taken

Party Status

Kellan - 14/26 hp, paralyzed


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 401 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 22 Mar 2014
at 07:55
  • msg #139

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato surveyed the giant-sized Kellan, and hoped the guardsman would break free of the quasit's enchantment soon. But first, to do something about that pesky Rune Dog. "Might as well do what worked in the past," Cato whispered to himself as he lined up his shot. As the acid sailed through the air, the wizard took a step back into the room.

OOC:
Standard Action: Acid Dart vs Rune Dog
Move Action: 5' step back to W13
03:52, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 4 using 1d6+1. Acid Dart Damage.
03:52, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 23 using 1d20+4. Ranged Touch vs Rune Dog.

Active effects: Mage Armor (Cato, AC 16)
Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil (Kellan)

This message was last edited by the player at 07:57, Sat 22 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 684 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Sat 22 Mar 2014
at 14:31
  • msg #140

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth observed with some dismay as her weak throwing arm did nothing but make a ruin of the Befuddler Bag that was supposed to help them.  It didn't even come close to striking the Rune Dog she was aiming at; the monster never even noticed as it sailed right by.  At least she didn't accidentally get one of her friends with it...

Her eyes closed once the Rune Dog started tearing into Kellan again, but she opened them again just in time to see Cato finish it with another one of his acid spells.  And that Kellan had grown to gigantic proportions again.  Liseth relaxed only slightly, the threat from the Rune Dog was gone, now they just had to deal with its diminutive demon mistress.

"Sarenrae, please grant me your healing light.  Let it suffuse my friend's bewitched body and heal it of harm.  Let it strengthen his will to fight free from demonic control."  Speaking a prayer to Sarenrae, Liseth walked forward, past Cato and Kerr, to stop next to Kellan.  With her hands glowing with healing energy, the girl touched the gargantuan guardsman on his thigh.

OOC:
Move Action: Walk to Y 13
Standard Action: Cast Cure Light Wounds on Kellan (Heal for 9 points)

Effects:
Bless (+1 to hit and saves vs fear; entire party) 18/20
Antitoxin (+5 to saves vs poison) < 1 Hour

07:26, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 9 using 1d8+4. Cure Light Wounds on Kellan.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 714 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 23 Mar 2014
at 23:41
  • msg #141

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Yeah!"  The gnome's voice came out in a soft breath of triumph as the Rune Dog fell under the pain and debilitation of Cato's Magic Fingers.  She small exultant leap and half turn before running off.  Pisca ran right off, deeper into the temple.

"I see you crouching behind that pool."  The girl Quasit was mumbling and moving her claws in a very spell-like manner.  She'd been molding the powers for what seemed a long time.  Pisca knew three spells that took that long.  One grew Stomper to a size even bigger than Lunk.  The other was her Hypnotism spell.  And the last conjured bright dogs with very adamant bites.  Given the way Quasit-Girl's first spell had affected Stomper, Pisca was definite and for certain sure that she didn't want to see the results of the second.

Pisca fetched up against the wall at a place where she had at least something of a side view of Quasit-Girl around the corner of the pool's edge.  "Fussbniz."  She spoke her own word of power and shot a finger at the tiny demon.  And then she whispered, "Break," for good measure.

Move / Cast Flare (Fort vs DC14 or be Dazzled for 1m.  Concentration vs DC14 + Level of Spell Casting or lose spell.)

Position: CC10

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 18/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 4/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 460 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 24 Mar 2014
at 03:44
  • msg #142

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan remained where he stood, even as the Rune Dog collapsed in front of him, it's flesh smoking and sloughing off as the acid ate away at it. Distant voices entreated him to fight back, to resist, and by the gods he was trying, but he seemed the harder he tried to think about something the more difficult things became. What were they even doing here? Was that sensation pain? Was it aching, was it sharp? He just...needed a few more moments.

OOC: 23:05, Fri 21 Mar: Kellan Storval rolled 7 using 1d20+3. Will Save DC 14 vs Hold.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Mon 24 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 717 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 24 Mar 2014
at 13:49
  • msg #143

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

A claw.  That would be much better than a tooth.

Pisca spared a glance from Quasit Girl for the body of the fallen Rune Dog that lay near Lysa and Giant Kellan.  She'd have to bring something back for Jubrayl, and what better than one of the fearsome weapons of one of the Rune Dogs he had encountered in the past?

They were certainly wicked.  Though the mouth was grotesque and horrible, the teeth were tiny and ... quiet frankly uninteresting.  The claws, by contrast, were long, dark, and curved.  Almost hooked.  A six inch claw.  Like a razor.  It doesn't bother to bite your jugular like a lion, oh no.  It slashes at you spilling your intestines.

She'd faced three!  And she'd bring back a claw as a present to prove it.  That'd have to count for some sort of respect.

Move / Cast Flare (Fort vs DC14 or be Dazzled for 1m.  Concentration vs DC14 + Level of Spell Casting or lose spell.)

Position: CC10

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 18/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 4/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 45 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 26 Mar 2014
at 10:51
  • msg #144

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr had intended to step forward and send off a couple of arrows at the cowering, spell-casting quasit, but just as he was about to move Liseth walked past him and stood right in the most-likely spot for such archery.  Kerr was glad that she was healing Kellan, but it meant that he was going to have to move further into the room, taking up time he might have otherwise used to take more shots at their crafty opponent.

Filled with the power the gods had granted him to smite the complex’s self-styled ruler, Kerr dodged around Liseth and took up a position in front of her, drawing an arrow and firing it up towards where the quasit was hiding behind the pool.  Unfortunately the quasit’s small size and Kerr’s movement conspired to send the missile wide of its intended mark.  The young acolyte grimaced as he reached back for another arrow, knowing that he had missed a chance to spoil her spell; he needed to be better than this.

OOC:
Move: to Z13
Standard Action:  Fire Arrow at Quasit
02:56, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Longbow Attack on Quasit.


The Raconteur
GM, 780 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 26 Mar 2014
at 11:10
  • msg #145

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The quasit had almost completed her spellcasting when Pisca's flare burst in front of her, causing the demon to avert her eyes and lose track of what she had been doing.  Spell lost, the creature screeched in anger and frustration, flying away from Pisca to the other side of the pool and again cutting herself, allowing blood to drip into the pool's muted brightness.

As before, the pool began to bubble and a Rune Dog began to emerge.  Yet again, however, the brightness of the pool diminished, now giving just a dim glow where it had previously shone quite brightly.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  | C|  D L| R| PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|K |  |PPPPPP  |SS|RD|Q XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|K |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D = Door
A = Altar
S = Stairs
P = Pool

Q = Quasit
RD = Rune Dog

Quasit Turn -

04:00, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Quasit, rolled 9 using 1d20+5. Concentration Check v. Flare.
03:52, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Quasit, rolled 7 using 1d20+3. Fortitude Save v. Flare.

Result - Casting interrupted, spell lost.

Heals 2 points of damage.

Move:  To GG14.

Action:  Use Pool.


Opponent Status

Quasit - 6 points of damage taken, dazzled

Party Status

Kellan - 23/26 hp, paralyzed
Pisca - 14/16 hp


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 463 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 26 Mar 2014
at 12:30
  • msg #146

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan snapped awake as if from a nightmare, stumbling to the side and making a pained noise as the dulled sensations rushed back to him with full force. His breathing went from a kind of hiss to a low growl as he locked eyes on the Quasit.

"I'm good...I'm good" he assured his comrades as he seemed to formulate his next move

OOC
HP:23/26
AC:17
Save: 23:05, Fri 21 Mar: Kellan Storval rolled 15 using 1d20+3.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Wed 26 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 720 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 26 Mar 2014
at 14:19
  • msg #147

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Curious the first time.  Curiouser the second.  Birthing the Rune Dogs looks to be taxing the Well.  That's good and expected, of course.  Birthing is almost universally a pretty arduous ordeal.  Why this Well birthed Rune Dogs, on the one hand, instead of lots of little baby wells is an interesting question.  Not, on the other hand, as interesting as the look she'd seen on Quasit Girl's face when the Well had birthed the first Rune Dog, dimming in the process.  Quasit Girl was worried.  She was worried for the Well.  Maybe concerned that she might run it down.  Would she be worried if the Well could refresh itself over time?  Maybe.  But this was a hopeful thing.  This might be one way to destroy the Well.

Maybe ... just maybe ... they could provoke her into breaking the Well herself.

"Kill the Rune Dog!" Pisca called out.  It was the first time in a while that she had spoken above a whisper.  The gnome then followed word with deed as she sunk an arrow deep into the skull of the Rune Dog as it climbed out of the Well.  Stepping closer to the pool, Pisca took out Nisk Tander's Befuddler preparing for a throw.

"Lysa," the gnome said covertly through her Whisper Magic, "ask Cato to come inside and close the door behind him, please.  I don't think we want Quasit Girl to escape until she's dead."

Shoot Rune Dog / 5ft Step / Take out Befuddler

06:44, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Shoot Rune Dog w/AL.
06:45, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 5 using 1d4+2. Damage +1AL +1PB.

Position: BB11

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 17/20r, Dancing Lights 1m, Dazzle on Quasit 9/10

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 4/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 404 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 26 Mar 2014
at 16:26
  • msg #148

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The wizard felt a surge of excitement.  The Rune Dog fell, Kellan was coming out of his trance, and the Quasit's spell had been interrupted.  Then the second Rune Dog emerged from the well, although Cato noticed with interest that the pool had begun to dim.

Taking Liseth's words to heart, Cato entered the room and closed the door behind him.  Hopefully, they wouldn't need to be fleeing soon.


OOC:
(Assuming Liseth relays Pisca's suggestion.)
Move Action: Walk to Y12
Standard Action: Close Door

Active effects: Mage Armor (Cato, AC 16)
Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil (Kellan)

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 693 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Wed 26 Mar 2014
at 18:20
  • msg #149

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Suddenly everything turned in their favor again.  Liseth looked away from Kellan for a moment when Kerr moved past her to shoot his bow at the quasit, who Pisca had just foiled with her quicker magic.  The diminutive demon's shriek was terrible, and Liseth gasped when she saw it begin to summon yet another Rune Dog from within her bubbling well.

That wasn't good.

Pisca seemed to have a good idea though.  Liseth quickly turned to Cato, "Hurry, come in and close the door.  Pisca thinks that the demon might try to escape!"

As soon as the door was closed, Liseth felt a surge of...emotion run through her.  She couldn't tell whether it was absolute terror or sudden excitement.  Maybe parts of both.  It felt like they were locked in now, with the demon and its Rune Dog summoning Well.  The blonde acolyte didn't know the extent of the minute monster's abilities and magic, and she certainly didn't know how many more Rune Dogs it would be able to summon to attack them.

Was closing the door really a good idea?

Seeing Kellan finally stir and free himself from the Quasit Demon's evil magic pushed Liseth into action.  It was almost inevitable that the Rune Dog would charge straight at Kellan, just like the last one did; at least he could defend himself this time.  He could hold it off no problem, she was sure.

What they needed to do was focus on the demon.  And with Kerr right there, shooting arrows at it, she knew that she could help him.

"Erastil guide your hand.  Let your aim be true against this minion of evil."  Liseth touched Kerr's hand as he reached for another arrow, while whispering a prayer from just behind him.  Then she reached her other hand down to her side and readied the other Befuddler Bag that she was carrying.

Just in case she needed it against the Rune Dog in a moment.

OOC:
Standard Action: Cast Guidance on Kerr (+1 to hit, a save, or skill check)
Move Action: Ready Befuddler

Effects: Antitoxin (+5 saves vs Poison) < 1 Hour
Bless (Entire Party; +1 to hit & saves vs fear) 17/20 rounds
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:14, Wed 26 Mar 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 46 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 26 Mar 2014
at 21:18
  • msg #150

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr saw Kellan beginning to move out of the corner of his eye.  That was good; the quasit's magic had kept their best warrior out of the fight for too long.  He was glad Kellan had survived the experience; he hadn't been sure when the Rune Dog had been standing there tearing at the helpless young guardsman.

Things were definitely looking up.  Kellan had been healed from most of his wounds.  Pisca had distracted the quasit and spoiled whatever nasty spell she had been casting, then injured the newest Rune Dog the demon had summoned.  They needed to press their advantage.

Kerr heard Liseth relay Pisca's idea to Cato that they should close the door.  That seemed like a good idea to Kerr; the quasit clearly knew every inch of her domain and would no doubt be able to use her superior knowledge to make their lives miserable.

Now that the door was closed, they needed to win the battle.  As Kerr exhaled and reached for an arrow, he felt a touch and experienced a rush of divine blessing that had to be from Liseth.  He drew, sighted, and sent the arrow flying toward the quasit.

Taking her right through the eye.

The quasit's earlier screeches had seemed loud, but they were dwarfed by this one, a sound of pain and fury that reverberated throughout the temple.  Kerr followed that perfect shot with another good one, burying a second arrow in the quasit's shoulder and eliciting yet another keening cry.

OOC:

Move - None
Full-Round Action - Rapid Shot

13:59, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 6 using 1d8+4. Rapid Shot #2 Damage.
13:59, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 24 using 1d20+8. Rapid Shot #2 (PBS, SE).
13:58, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 20 using 3d8+12. Rapid Shot #1 Damage.
13:58, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 28 using 1d20+9. Rapid Shot #1 Critical Confirmation.
13:57, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Rapid Shot #1 (PBS, SE).

Result - 26 points of damage.


This message was last edited by the player at 21:19, Wed 26 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 785 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 05:18
  • msg #151

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The quasit was beside herself with agony; she had never experienced anything like this in the thousands of years she had ruled the temple and its surrounding rooms. She had almost no idea what to do at this point.  The intruders were continuing to encroach and that damned archer had almost killed her.  He needed to be dealt with.

But first things first.  The quasit pulled herself together as she saw that the big warrior had finally resisted her magical paralysis; she knew that his deadly polearm could easily be the end of her.  She cast a sleeping hex upon him, almost sighing in relief as he collapsed to the ground.  At least that part of the battle was going well.

Now the archer.  She ordered her minion to charge in and trip him to the ground.  Ideally that would put the man on his back so that he couldn't shoot and allow her dog to do some damage to him.  Unfortunately her spawn bollixed up the attack; the holy bastard was hardly even required to move as the Rune Dog caught a hip while running past the bigger pool and nearly sprawled face-first on the ground.

Things could hardly be going more terribly.  The quasit prayed to Lamashtu as she hid behind the spawning pool.  Surely the goddess would not allow these interlopers to continue to defile her temple and inflict such horrific pain on her priestess?

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |P |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X C|  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D L| R| PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|K |RD|PPPPPP  |SS| P|Q XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|K |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D = Door
A = Altar
S = Stairs
P = Pool

Q = Quasit
RD = Rune Dog

Quasit Turn -

Heals 2 points of damage.

Action:  Casts Slumber Hex on Kellan

14:28, Today:  The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 9 using 1d20+1. Will Save v. Slumber Hex.

Result - Kellan falls asleep. 

Move:  Duck behind pool in square GG14.  (Full Concealment against any attack crossing pool).

Rune Dog Turn -

Move:  To AA14
Attack:  Kerr

14:34, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Trip Attack on Kerr Mollin.

Result - Failure, no effect


Opponent Status

Quasit - 30 points of damage taken, dazzled

Rune Dog - 5 points of damage taken.

Party Status

Kellan - 23/26 hp, prone, sleeping.
Pisca - 14/16 hp


This message was last edited by the GM at 06:17, Thu 27 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 696 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 06:55
  • msg #152

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"You're amazing Kerr."  Liseth whispered after he so expertly filled the evil Quasit Demon with arrows.  It's screeches of pain and anger were terrible though, and Liseth covered her ears against it.

She gasped when the Rune Dog began its charge towards them, glancing over at Kellan to make sure that he had recovered enough to receive it.  But she could not help but watch, stricken, as Kellan now drifted towards the floor; eyes closed.  The demon had cursed him again!

"Kellan...Kellan!"  With a quick look towards the Rune Dog in order to make sure that it wasn't about to pounce on her, and seeing it nearly fall on it's face in front of Kerr, Liseth knelt down on her knees next to the ensorcelled guardsman.  "Kellan, you have to snap out of it!"  With her hands laid on his now giant-sized head, she had to try and rouse him from his unnatural slumber.

Standard Action: Wake up Kellan


Effects: Antitoxin (+5 saves vs Poison) < 1 Hour
Bless (Entire Party; +1 to hit & saves vs fear) 16/20 rounds
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Thu 27 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 467 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 07:11
  • msg #153

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Just when it seemed Kellan would be of some use the boy staggered forward and collapsed with a metallic clatter, sprawled unmoving on the stone floor. He was simply in no state to fight, his mind ravaged my magics it seemed he was confused, tired and of little use to anybody.

As Liseth brought him round he rolled over onto his belly with a groan, grabbed his pole axe and pushed himself up, throwing a dismissive look to the Rune Dog as if he simply did not care if the thing lashed out at him or not. The weapon scraped loudly against the floor as he stood and wiped some blood from his lips with the back of his glove.

He looked angry, violent and decidedly un-Kellanish, his eyes a murderous glare as he looked around for the Quasit and muttered something under his breath.

OOC:
HP:23/26
AC:17
Move: Stand from prone
Standard: Retrieve weapon

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 726 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 13:20
  • msg #154

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

You can't help but be impressed by the sound that a giant human makes when he falls crashing to the ground.  Pisca nodded in appreciation.  That sure was some noise.  Highly dramatic.  Seven on a scale from one to ten.  You also have to wonder how they collapse down from so far up without hurting themselves.  Don't they understand the basic laws of nature that govern these things?  Could it be that the smaller the brain the more one was able to ignore the rules that govern the way of things simply through a lack of understanding of them?

Nah.

Interesting idea, though.

Pisca tore her attention from Stomper's rather spectacular fall, and returned to Quasit Girl.  The problem with hiding behind the wall of a well is that you never know when a gnome is going to sneak up on you.  That thought brought a grin to Pisca's face, and with bow in one hand, Nisk Tander's secret experimental weapon in the other, she crept to the opposite edge of the pool.

Quasit Girl would have to stand up if she wanted to cast another spell.  And when she did ...

Pisca the Very Sneaky Gnome hefted the Befuddler.

... Quasit Girl would get a pie in the face.

Move w/Stealth / Ready Action* (If Quasit tries to cast spell throw Befuddler.)

Note: Stealth should be 24 with Archeologist's Luck used this round.

Note2: Touch should be AC18.  I left the 5 in there from the Stealth roll instead of changing it to a 7 as should have been rolled for both AL and Point Blank shot.

05:54, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Touch (Hopefully vs Flat Footed).
05:54, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 23 using 1d20+5. Stealth 5 (-5 Penalty for Full Movement).

Position: FF11

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 16/20r, Dancing Lights 1m, Dazzle on Quasit 8/10

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 3/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Thu 27 Mar 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 407 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 20:34
  • msg #155

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato breathed a sigh of relief as once again all the party members were on their feet and conscious.  It seemed like an altogether too rare experience.  Now, if only they could keep it that way.  First to see about that Rune Dog.  Maybe the Quasit wouldn't be able to summon any more if they put down this one...

Cato move forward to line up his sizzling shot, and fired across the front of Kerr and Kellan.

OOC:
Move action: Move to AA11
Standard action: Acid Dart at Rune Dog

16:33, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 8 using 1d20. Ranged Touch +Bless -Fire Into Melee.

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 46 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 23:40
  • msg #156

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr's immediate instinct was to step away from the onrushing Rune Dog as it made its somewhat-clumsy attack on Kellan.  It was right there.  The acolyte could SEE the toxic saliva dripping from the creature's bared jaws, and the oversized, razor-sharp claws were far too close for comfort.

But Kerr knew he could not step back without giving the Rune Dog a path to Liseth, and that was something he just could not do.  So he steeled himself to stand there, toe to toe, with the horrifying creature of darkness.

Fortunately the Rune Dog seemed far more interested in attacking Kellan as the abnormally-large warrior rose from where he'd fallen than on attacking the smaller bowman standing next to him.  Kerr resolved to make the Rune Dog pay for that, but the beast's proximity and Kerr's general unfamiliarity with firing at a target only a few feet away caused his shot to go wide.

Kerr's second shot found its target, but it merely glanced off the creature's tough hide, causing it to grunt and swivel its dead eyes toward him.  Kerr grimaced as he drew yet another arrow.  It seemed like his time beneath the Rune Dog's notice was about to come to an end.

OOC:

Move - None
Full-Round Action - Rapid Shot at Rune Dog

14:38, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 3 using 1d8+2. Longbow Damage to Rune Dog.
14:37, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #2 at Rune Dog (PBS).
14:37, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #1 at Rune Dog (PBS).

Result - 3 points of damage to Rune Dog.

Arrows:  26/40



This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Thu 27 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 791 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 22:20
  • msg #157

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Liseth shook Kellan to consciousness; as he cleared his head and tried to stand he was welcomed to the waking world by a vicious attack from the recently-spawned Rune Dog.  The young guardsman threw up his arm to defend himself and received a bite for his troubles; once again he felt the Dog's venom flow through his veins, but this time it was easier than ever to overcome the angry feelings.

The young man ruefully suspected that he might be building up an immunity.

The Rune Dog continued its attack as Kellan retrieved his polearm, but the creature's fury was mostly ineffectual, merely scratching Kellan's other arm as it attempted to overcome both the warrior's armor and his magical protection from all things evil.

Meanwhile, Pisca waited expectantly, Befuddler in hand, for the quasit to show herself.

Nothing.

The demon was apparently still cowering behind her spawning pool; whatever she might be doing was completely hidden from the intruders to her realm.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |C |  |  | SS  |PXX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D L| R| PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|K |RD|PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X K|K |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D = Door
A = Altar
S = Stairs
P = Pool

Q = Quasit
RD = Rune Dog

Attacks of Opportunity

Rune Dog v. Kellan Standing From Prone (+2 AC Pro. From Evil, -4 AC Prone)

14:32, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 6 using 1d6+1. AoO Bite Damage.
14:31, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 18 using 1d20+3. AoO Bite on Kellan.


14:33, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 24 using 1d20+6. Will Save v. Rune Dog Bite.

Result - 6 points of damage to Kellan.



Quasit Turn

Heals 2 points of damage.

Action:  ???? (remains totally concealed behind pool)

Move:  ????

Result - ????.


Rune Dog Turn

Move:  None
Full-Round Action:  Full-Attack Kellan

14:42, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 2 using 1d4+1. Claw Damage to Kellan.
14:42, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 13 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack on Kellan #2.
14:42, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 20 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack on Kellan #1.
14:41, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Bite Attack on Kellan.

Result - 2 points of damage to Kellan


Opponent Status

Quasit - 28 points of damage taken, dazzled

Rune Dog - 8 points of damage taken.

Party Status

Kellan - 15/26 hp
Pisca - 14/16 hp

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 1 Channel Energy expended
Liseth - 1 Channel Energy expended, 3 1st-level spells expended, 1 Befuddler used
Cato - 4 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep, Mage Armor, Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil



This message was last edited by the GM at 22:24, Thu 27 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 707 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 22:55
  • msg #158

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

After she managed to get Kellan to stand again, only to see him take yet another bite from the Rune Dog, Liseth decided that maybe a little bit of distance between herself and the rampaging monster might be a good idea.  Especially since Kerr seemed to be having trouble with using his bow so close in.  The girl was pretty sure that he wouldn't move unless she got herself out of the path of the rabid monster's aggression.

"Everybody be careful and..."  When she started to back away, Liseth looked towards where the demon was; but could no longer see it.  That probably wasn't a good thing.  "Uh oh...it's hiding!"

"Pisca, can you see the Quasit Demon?"  Liseth continued to walk until she was apparently safe behind Cato, utilizing the effect of Pisca's Whisper Magic to speak with the gnome.  With both Kerr and Cato between her and the Rune Dog, Liseth at least felt she was out of immediate danger.  Now to think quickly and take advantage of that feeling of security.

"Look out!  I'm going to throw my other bag at it!" Raising up her second Befuddler, Liseth prepared to throw it at the Rune Dog.  She just prayed that her throwing arm was strong enough to reach the target.  And that the Rune Dog would succumb to the effects of the concoction, whatever it was supposed to do.

Move Action: Walk to AA 10
Standard Action: Ready Attack: Throw Befuddler as soon as everyone steps away from the Rune Dog.

15:53, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 10 using 1d20+1. Throw Befuddler (adding -2 from Range).

Assuming everyone does in fact step away...and the Rune Dog has a low touch AC.

Effects: Antitoxin (+5 saves vs Poison) < 1 Hour
Bless (Entire Party; +1 to hit & saves vs fear) 15/20 rounds
This message was last edited by the player at 23:05, Thu 27 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 470 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 23:34
  • msg #159

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The young guardsman seemed to be rapidly becoming inoculated to the more minor pains of lacerations and teeth marks as well as whatever was in the venom. They still hurt of course, but the shock of it all was fading and it was becoming more of an ache. He supposed it was all relative, where before the sting of a goblin blade registered as one of the more painful experiences of his life, now even the Rune dogs teeth seemed to pale in comparison to things like  the bite of the Goblin Dog during the swallowtail festival or Tsuto's throat punch.

At Liseth's urgings Kellan sidestepped, which amounted to a sort of gargantuan shuffle over towards the corner between the two doors. He hoped to get a better angle with his pole axe anyway and what he hoped would provide a good vantage point to keep the little demon from escaping,

Once in position he turned rapidly and stabbed down from his elevated position over the heads of his friends, trying to impale the twisted thing before it could try to infect anybody else.

HP:17/26
AC: 17
Move: To Y/Z 11/12
Standard: Reach attack Rune Dog
16:32, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 16 using 2d6+6. Damage Rune Dog.
16:31, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 27 using 1d20+8. Reach Attack Rune Dog, Bless.
The Raconteur
GM, 794 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 27 Mar 2014
at 23:55
  • msg #160

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The Rune Dog took another savage bite at Kellan as he moved away to gain room to swing his polearm, but its jaws closed on nothing but air.  Kerr ducked to the side as he felt the guardsman's cold-iron weapon come whistling down, splitting the Freak's head almost in two and rendering it quite dead.

The adventurers looked at each other, then around the room.  They had defeated the Rune Dogs, but there was no sign of the quasit.

OOC:

16:39, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog, rolled 12 using 1d20+3. AoO Bite on Kellan.


This message was lightly edited by the GM at 23:55, Thu 27 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 732 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 28 Mar 2014
at 00:07
  • msg #161

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Not coming out, eh?  The gnome continued around the pool, making her way to where Quasit Girl cowered behind the ...

"She's gone!" Pisca called out to the others.  The gnome looked about the room.  "She was right here!  I saw here.  She couldn't have gone anywhere without me seeing!  She ... "

Pisca's eyes narrowed with suspicion.  A very particular suspicion, in fact.

"Hold the door," the gnome called out.  "Hold it closed.  Don't let her get away!"  Her bow clattered to the ground and Pisca's slim blade sprang from its sheath with a singing rasp of metal.  But the rapier did not strike out at an enemy.  Instead, the gnome held it poised over her own hand.

"Alright, Girly Girl.  Come out," Pisca called.  "Show yourself now, or I destroy the well."

Move / Drop Bow / Draw Rapier

16:16, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 13 using 1d20+9. Perception vs Invisible +AL.

Position: GG14

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 16/20r, Dancing Lights 1m, Dazzle on Quasit 8/10

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 472 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 28 Mar 2014
at 00:16
  • msg #162

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan looked over to Pisca as he was wrenching the pole axe out of the fallen Rune Dog, having to place one boot in e creature to finally pull it free.  Immediately he shuffled a little to the north and bodily blocked that door, putting his back to it and casting his eyes about warily. To his delight he found that he could probably reach the opposite door with his pole axe if he had too, and felt rather well positioned for their impending game of cat and mouse.

"I've got this one!" He called out, his oversized diaphragm making his voice boom and echo around the chamber. His heart was will racing from the battle and the hope that this would all be over soon. If they could pull this off without any casualties it would be a small miracle.

"You guys ok?" He called out next to Cato, Liseth and Kerr

OOC: Do the doors have any kind of handle that could be manipulated? I was thinking specifically of using the manacles to chain one shut
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 409 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 28 Mar 2014
at 01:28
  • msg #163

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Looking uneasily around the room, Cato pulled out a small candle. "I'm okay. Let me try something that might help."

Working quickly, he started his summoning spell by chanting: [Language unknown: "Llomos..."]

OOC:
Full-round action: Summon Monster: Celestial Dog in AA12

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 46 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Sat 29 Mar 2014
at 07:04
  • msg #164

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr was impressed by Kellan’s prowess once the warrior finally overcame the quasit’s mind-magic and got down to the business of fighting.  He’d heard stories of the young guardsman’s growth to epic size during the battle they’d had in the Glassworks yesterday, but hearing stories was not quite the same as seeing a 12-foot-tall Kellan striding about the temple like a colossus.

Or splitting a rune dog’s head with the oversized, cold-iron blade of his polearm.  Especially when that head was mere feet away from Kerr's own.  That was a little closer than Kerr had ever wanted to be to such a demonstration of martial prowess.

Yes, Cato’s magic was quite something, Kerr decided.  He’d never really understood the more-arcane spellcasters; all the wand-waving was something of a mystery to him.  And Vorvashali Voon was the closest he had really come to seeing one in action until his experience with Cato.  It looked like the wizard was beginning to cast yet another spell; Kerr briefly wondered what it might be before he was distracted by other matters.

“I’m okay,” Kerr responded to Kellan as he looked around the room for the vanished demon.  It seemed to Kerr that being in the room with an invisible demon was quite a bit creepier than being in a room with a visible demon and rampaging rune dogs.  Maybe not as dangerous.  But creepier.

Kerr drew another arrow as he looked around for any sign of the quasit.  It was strange; concentrating on finding the quasit’s location gave him a sense of evil in the room.  And the more he concentrated on it, the clearer his sense of where that evil was became.  One source was almost definitely the pool from which the quasit had spawned the rune dogs and where Pisca was now standing, somehow threatening the unseen quasit with its destruction.  But the other was . . .

Kerr couldn’t quite pin it down.  Maybe if he concentrated harder . . .

OOC:  Kerr begins to Detect Evil, round 1/3 (presence or absence of evil).


This message was last edited by the player at 07:25, Sat 29 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 805 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sat 29 Mar 2014
at 07:21
  • msg #165

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca's threatening challenge rang out through the room, but if the gnome had expected an immediate demonic reaction she was to be disappointed.

Nothing happened.  The quasit did not respond with outraged fury or indeed in any other immediately-discernable fashion.  The room remained quiet except for the sound of Kellan struggling to free his weapon and Cato's murmuring as he chanted arcane words of summoning.

Kellan finally extracted the blade of his weapon from the destroyed rune dog, Kerr looked about with nocked arrow and narrowed eyes, Cato continued casting his spell, and Liseth stood alertly near the door.

The quasit had to be somewhere nearby.

Didn't she?


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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X K|K |C |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X K|K |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D L| R| PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|G XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


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

Quasit Turn

Heals 2 points of damage.

Action:  ????

Move:  ????

Result - ????.


Opponent Status

Quasit - 26 points of damage taken, dazzled


Party Status

Kellan - 15/26 hp
Pisca - 14/16 hp

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 1 Channel Energy expended, Smite Evil expended
Liseth - 1 Channel Energy expended, 3 1st-level spells expended, 1 Befuddler used
Cato - 4 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep, Mage Armor, Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil, and Summon Monster I.


This message was last edited by the GM at 07:21, Sat 29 Mar 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 476 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 29 Mar 2014
at 07:36
  • msg #166

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan shifted a little north and tried to catch his breath. Whatever magics that thing had wrought upon him had made him feel strange, weak, afraid. Was it really so simple to twist a mans mind? Was he really so vulnerable to a few words and a gesture. The thought of it put him in a state of unease. No wonder wizards were always being blamed for the worlds woes.

He did trust Cato though, he simply had a good feeling about the guy and he had certainly been handy in a fight so far. Maybe he would have some advise on keeping his head in the future.

"Maybe she'd like to stay for dinner..." He shot over in response to Pisca's challenge. His words seemed a little hollow after his bewitchment but he felt the need to show the thing that he was I afraid and still in the fight. "Wait a sec...do Quasits even eat..?." He mused aloud looking towards Cato "I'd be hard to get food down here"

Move: To Y-Z/10-11
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 724 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Sat 29 Mar 2014
at 08:48
  • msg #167

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth grimaced as Kellan moved away from the Rune Dog as she had asked, and then split its head open with his giant-sized spear.  Her arm dropped back to her side with the Befuddler; as gruesome as the sight was, she didn't think that covering a dead monster in Befuddler powder would help anyone.  Best to save it for later.

"We're okay, thanks to you Kellan."  The small acolyte tilted her head backwards in order to look up at the mammoth militiaman, concern plain on her face.  "Are you okay?"  He certainly looked less than hardy after his ordeal with the demon's magic and the Rune Dogs' assault; even with his enhanced size.

Her hand aglow with divine power, Liseth stepped after Kellan when he moved to cover the door; one of the doors anyway.  Gently, she placed her shielded hand on his leg and closed her eyes.  The glow transferred from her hand and into the gargantuan guard while she whispered an unintelligible prayer.

With Kellan healed, Liseth was able to turn her attention back to the frighteningly eerie temple, with its Rune Dog summoning pools and hidden demons.  Everyone was looking for the demon, and the blonde girl's stomach twisted in anxiety since it had apparently become invisible.  She kept imagining tiny claws and knives appearing out of the darkness and coming right for her.  The image was enough to make her glad that she was surrounded by the enchanted Kellan's bulk and Kerr's protective presence.

Kerr looked like he was concentrating very hard; trying to spot the demon no doubt.  Nivlak had told her before that Paladins can 'see evil;' she wasn't entirely sure what that meant at the time, but watching Kerr now she thought that maybe she understood.  She just hoped that he could find it before it did something dastardly.

But wait...what was Pisca doing?  "Pisca, how are you going to destroy the well?"

Free: Five-Foot step to follow Kellan (Y 12)
Standard: Cure Light Wounds on Kellan (Heal for 9)

01:30, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 9 using 1d8+4. Cure Light Wounds on Kellan.


Effects: Antitoxin (+5 saves vs Poison) < 1 Hour
Bless (Entire Party; +1 to hit & saves vs fear) 14/20 rounds
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 411 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 29 Mar 2014
at 17:44
  • msg #168

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato Cato was rewarded for his chanting with the appearance of a celestial dog in the room.  He quit his chanting, stowed the candle, and caught himself up on events.

"Uh, as far as I know, Quasits, like other demons don't actually need to eat, though they may enjoy doing so.  One way you could live in isolation for all this time.  I'm guessing these Rune Dogs don't actually need to eat, either.  But that would make sense, as I think they're more constructs made by that pool than actual living creatures."

Cato reached over and gave the summoned dog a quick scratch behind the ears.  "Okay, boy.  Can you find the Quasit?"

He looked to Kerr and Kellan.  "Be ready if she reacts to this."

OOC:
Move Action: Draw crossbow
Move Action: Load crossbow

Active Effects: Mage Armor (Cato), Enlarge Person & Protection vs Evil (Kellan)
Celestial Dog: 3 rounds
Dog move action: move to CC15
Dog move action: Use scent

This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Sun 30 Mar 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 742 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 30 Mar 2014
at 00:47
  • msg #169

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"THERE!" Pisca shouted!  "I mean, there!" and she pointed the tip of her rapier to her southwest.

Uh oh ...

"Sounds like a spell.  Get ready!"  Discarding her threat to further diminish The Well with her blood, Pisca upon one of her innate gnomish abilities.  Something she'd always been able to do.  This might help if Quasit Girl decides she wants to be invisible again.  She could feel the magic in her hand even as she sidled around the edge of the Rune Dog Well.  Quasit Girl was here somewhere.  And when she appeared, she'd be marked.

Cast Arcane Mark and Hold it for Delivery / 5ft step

Position: FF15

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 15/20r, Dancing Lights 1m, Dazzle on Quasit 7/10

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 47 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Sun 30 Mar 2014
at 06:09
  • msg #170

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr wondered what it must be like to be stuck in an area, even such a comparatively-comfortable area as this complex, for thousands of years.  The grinding boredom must eventually get to even a demon, mustn't it?  He wondered what the demon had done to occupy itself in the intervening millenia.  Or whether it had simply succumbed to the madness and gone stark, raving crazy.

Of course, the demon's battle tactics to this point suggested it hadn't completely lost its grasp on logical thought.

Kerr grinned as the celestial dog finally appeared at Cato's behest.  It was somehow both calming and invigorating to see something as normal as a dog here in a chamber of terrifying evil, even a celestial one.  Kerr had to restrain himself from dropping what he was doing, going up to the heavenly canine, and scratching it behind the ears.  He tried to look very serious when Cato asked him to keep track of the dog's activities, attempting to appear as if he was not at all the type of person who would be tempted to engage in such unhelpful ear-scratching activities.  Kerr nodded his acquiescence at the wizard, keeping one eye on the dog as he continued to concentrate on locating the quasit.

Liseth's brief question to Pisca caused Kerr to quickly glance at the well.  His eyebrows shot up as he saw Pisca hovering over it; playing with such an evil object was probably an activity best left to demons of questionable sanity.  He was about to voice this opinion when Pisca shouted and pointed.  Kerr looked in the indicated direction, following the tip of Pisca's rapier towards a point in the southern wall.  He continued to concentrate on the demon's location, determining that the spawning pool itself was a strong source of evil and another, slightly lesser sense of evil was emanating from . . . he almost had it . . .

OOC:

Kerr continues to Detect Evil, round 2/3 (Number of evil auras (creatures, objects, or spells) in the area and the power of the most potent evil aura present).


Arrows:  26/40


This message was last edited by the player at 07:59, Sun 30 Mar 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 813 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sun 30 Mar 2014
at 07:54
  • msg #171

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Cato’s summoned celestial dog began barking excitedly, jumping around and waving its nose in the air.

Suddenly, a four-and-one-half foot tall, shapeless mass of quivering flesh appeared out of nowhere next to Liseth and Kerr.  Its grotesque and useless features were nothing more than a churning pillar of cancerous flesh.  Only its knobby, flailing limbs seemed to work as they should, limbs it promptly used to open the recently-closed door, then to rake a claw towards the blonde acolyte standing directly next to it.

Almost by accident, Liseth threw up her shield arm and deflected the monstrosity’s attack.  It roared its displeasure as it turned from the door to fully focus on its white-robed target.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X K|K |C |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X L|  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  DSM| R| PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |CD| SS  |GXX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pool)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
               R = Kerr
Q  = Quasit   CD = Celestial Dog
SM = Shapeless Mass

Quasit Turn

Heals 2 points of damage.

Action:  ????

Move:  ????

Result - ????.


Shapeless Mass Turn

Summoned in Y13

Move Action:  Open Door

Standard Action:  Attack Liseth

00:41, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Shapeless Mass, rolled 11 using 1d20+2. Claw Attack.

Opponent Status

Quasit - 24 points of damage taken, dazzled

Party Status

Kellan - 24/26 hp
Pisca - 14/16 hp

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 1 Channel Energy expended, Smite Evil expended
Liseth - 1 Channel Energy expended, 4 1st-level spells expended, 1 Befuddler used
Cato - 4 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep, Mage Armor, Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil, and Summon Monster I.


This message was last edited by the GM at 07:58, Sun 30 Mar 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 733 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Sun 30 Mar 2014
at 20:05
  • msg #172

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato finished summoning his magical dog right before Pisca shouted that the hidden Quasit Demon was casting some kind of spell.  Liseth had to admit that her anxiety was steadily becoming fear as the demon remained hidden, planning who knows what.  She hoped that between Kerr's divine sight and the magical dog's potent nose they could locate the demon quickly.

Before she knew what was happening, the most horrifying and terrible thing that the small blonde had ever seen was suddenly there.  Right in front of her.  The split second that passed while it used one of its horrible limbs to open the door up again gave the acolyte all the time she needed to shriek in terror and bring her shield up.

She was amazed that she somehow managed to deflect the monstrosity's claw with her new shield.  But a few thoughts quickly passed through Liseth's mind.  One was that the thing's roar indicated it intended to tear her to pieces.  The other was that she wasn't confident enough in her shield work to keep that from happening.

Before it could redouble its attack against her and under the oppression of it's roar, Liseth kept her shield up while she groped behind herself with her other hand.  Finding one of Kellan's legs, she grabbed hold and half-pulled herself away from the horrid monster.  She ducked around Kellan before depositing herself behind Cato where he was preparing his crossbow; making sure to get clear of Kellan's legs so that he could fight properly.

"What is that thing!?"  Liseth stared warily from behind Cato, unsure of what she could do next.  Then her eyes landed on Kerr, "Kerr, be careful!  Keep concentrating, we need you to find the quasit!"

Full-Round Action: Withdraw to AA 10

Effects:
Antitoxin (+5 saves vs Poison) < 1 Hour
Bless (Entire Party; +1 to hit & saves vs fear) 13/20 rounds
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 479 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sun 30 Mar 2014
at 20:52
  • msg #173

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was looked around suspiciously, trying to keep down the feeling that the Quasit might be hovering right in front of him when everything seemed to happen at once. The dog that Cato had summoned looked appeared out of thin air, bringing a smile to the guardsmans face. Something about the primal magics of evil being undone by a pup made him happy.

This moment was short lived when Pisca started shouting and all of sudden a writhing mass blinked into existence in front of him. He jolted with the shock, practically hitting his head on he ceiling and almost stepping in poor Liseth's new dress before he lashed out with a flurry of overhead chops and stabs, looking more surprised than anything.

"Whoah! What the hell is that thing?!" He asked nobody in particular, his voice undulating with every blow.

OOC:
HP: 24/26
AC: 17
Move: None
Standard: Reach Attack Shapeless Mass
13:43, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 14 using 2d6+6. Damage.
13:43, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Reach Attack Shapeless Mass, Bless.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 415 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Mon 31 Mar 2014
at 00:49
  • msg #174

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato grinned as his celestial dog barked excitedly, then stared in shock at the mass of shapeless flesh conjured forth. Apparently they knew what the quasit had been doing while invisible. Cato studied the shapeless mass of flesh. He knew it seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. The wizard had purposely avoided learning about summons from the evil planes, intending to rely on good creatures like this dog instead. Maybe that had been to his detriment when it came to adventuring. Cato breathed a sigh of relief when Liseth avoided the thing's attacks and retreated to relative safety. Of course, the quasit could be anywhere and was the larger threat. And that also made it clear what Cato had to do. Trusting his magical armor, the wizard calmly walked forward into the space vacated by Liseth and closed the door, his rational mind calmly executing the actions while the rest of him screamed in fear. Simultaneously, his dog ran up behind the shapeless mass and tried to grab hold with her teeth.

OOC:
Move Action: Y12
Move Action: Close Door
Free Action: Knowledge Arcana on Summon

Active Effects: Mage Armor (Cato), Enlarge Person & Protection vs Evil (Kellan)
Celestial Dog: 2 rounds

Dog move action: Try to move to Y14, stop in Z14 if Quasit occupying ground.

Dog standard action: Attack

20:48, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 3 using 1d4+1. Dog damage.
20:48, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 15 using 1d20+2. Dog bite.

This message was last edited by the player at 13:34, Mon 31 Mar 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 48 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 31 Mar 2014
at 00:49
  • msg #175

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


For a second, the only sound in the chamber was the sniffing of Cato's summoned dog as it tested the air for its quarry.  Then, after an all-too-brief period of quiet, chaos ensued.  Kerr heard the dog begin an agitated bark as some sort of horrific monstrosity appeared right between him and Liseth.  The young archer spun around and nearly lost his concentration, not least because the summoned spawn took a swipe at the blonde acolyte with its mean-looking talons.

Kerr was relieved to see Liseth manage to throw her shield up to block the blow, then get away from whatever-it-was.  Kellan seemed to have things well in hand, punishing the creature with his polearm.

Then, as Kerr quickly backed away from the creature, he knew where the quasit was.

"THERE IT IS!!!!  Next to the door!"  His nocked arrow went flying towards the area where he could feel the quasit's presence, but hit nothing.  The second arrow fared better, hitting its target with a dull thud and eliciting a screech of pain from the unseen fiend.

OOC:

Kerr continues to Detect Evil, round 3/3 (The power and location of each aura. If an aura is outside your line of sight, then you discern its direction but not its exact location).

Locates quasit in Y14.

Full-Round Action - Rapid Fire at Quasit

Move:  5-foot step to AA14

17:27, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 69 using 1d100. Rapid Fire #2 Miss Chance (Miss on 01-50).
17:27, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 17 using 1d100. Rapid Fire #1 Miss Chance (Miss on 01-50).

17:30, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 9 using 1d8+4. Rapid Fire #2 Damage.
17:29, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 26 using 1d20+8. Rapid Fire #2 Shot (PBS, SE).

Result:  Inflicts 9 points of damage on Quasit.

Arrows:  24/40


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 753 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 31 Mar 2014
at 13:39
  • msg #176

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

THERE!  The spurt of blood.  The arrow sticking out in midair!  Quasit Girl was making for the door!

"SHE'S TRYING TO ESCAPE!"  The gnome barreled down the stairs and across the room.  From the corner of her eye she watched as Cato braved the Claw Wielding Blamange to cut off Quasit Girl's escape.

"Coward!" Pisca called as she charged the dancing shaft of the arrow.  "Turn, face us, and ... "  Pisca swept her hand at the shaft of the arrow delivering the Arcane Mark to ... empty air.

"Oh badgers."

Charge (-2 to AC) / Swipe Air (Spell still held.)

06:17, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 11 using 1d100. Miss Chance (Miss on 01-50).

Position: Z15

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 14/20r, Dancing Lights 1m, Dazzle on Quasit 6/10

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

The Raconteur
GM, 823 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 1 Apr 2014
at 03:35
  • msg #177

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The quasit reeled as the accursed holy archer punctured her with yet another arrow, spoiling her summoning spell.  She needed to get out of the chamber to heal, recuperate, and figure out what she was going to do about these intruders.  She had ordered her just-summoned devil to keep the door ajar, and it obediently opened it again before raking an ineffective claw toward the wizard who had just closed it.

Now was her chance.  The quasit easily avoided the jumping gnome as she sped toward the opening, gaining altitude to put her out of reach of the wizard; only 10 feet separated her from glorious freedom.

But suddenly, as if from out of nowhere, a huge blade appeared, heading straight for her neck.  The quasit had time only to be surprised at the size of the blade and register a brief second of terror at its cold-iron construction before it smoothly separated her head from her shoulders, causing both to fall, now lifeless and quite visible, to the hard, stone-paved ground below.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X K|K |L |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X K|K |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X C|  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  DSM|  | PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |CD|R |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |G |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pool)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
               R = Kerr
Q  = Quasit   CD = Celestial Dog
SM = Shapeless Mass

Shapeless Mass Turn

Location: Y13

Move Action:  Open Door

Standard Action:  Attack Cato

19:40, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Shapeless Mass, rolled 12 using 1d20+2. Claw Attack on Cato.

Quasit Turn

Heals 2 points of damage.

Action:  Withdraw.

Draw Attack of Opportunity from Kellan

19:57, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 92 using 1d100. AoO Miss Chance (Miss on 01-50). .
19:58, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 19 using 1d20+8. AoO Attack on Quasit [uses Ogre Stomp! Champion trait for additional +1].
20:18, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 14 using 2d6+8. Damage to Quasit.

Result - Quasit killed


Opponent Status

Quasit - Dead

Shapeless Mass - 9 points of damage.

Party Status

Kellan - 24/26 hp
Pisca - 14/16 hp

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 1 Channel Energy expended, Smite Evil expended
Liseth - 1 Channel Energy expended, 4 1st-level spells expended, 1 Befuddler used
Cato - 4 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep, Mage Armor, Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil, and Summon Monster I.
Kellan - Ogre Stomp! Champion trait used.


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:16, Tue 01 Apr 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 482 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 1 Apr 2014
at 04:00
  • msg #178

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

It was all kind of a surreal blur at first, the chaotic movements, the unbelievable shapes, his friends fighting, yelling, running. Much like a nightmare adrenaline does strange, unbidden things to perception and time, and while he was becoming more inoculated to it's effects by the day, it still reigned over his mind for these briefest of instants.

Fighting, pain, exertion, the encumbrance of his armor, the smell and taste of his own blood, the sting of sweat in his eyes only to relax, calm down, continue, then repeat the same jarring process all over again, and again, and again. It was equal parts exhausting, terrifying and exhilaring. The moments of doubt and glory, sometimes intermixed, the ever present fear of the alien and the unknown.

When Kellan saw the fletching of Kerr's arrow standing out against the stone floor, hovering in mid air, bathed in the light cast from his polearm he immediately associated it with the piercing scream that echoed around the chamber. He felt his body wind up like a spring, lash out and watched as the blade met nothing but air. The arrow had shifted, it was bolting for the door, Pisca was screaming.

Then to his surprise he watched the blade of the pole axe come around again, expertly skirting the edges of the walls, the ceiling, it spun in his grasp and came back, using the momentum from from the failed swing to follow through. It was a remarkably simple combination Alergast had showed him long ago, one of the ones he practiced just about every session, and here it was in familiar execution.

He saw that fletching, every strand of that feather highlighted and watched in trepidation as much as felt the blade as the blade struck something. With a small *click* the edge seemed to find the spine of the little creature and that was that, it fell with an unceremonious thud onto the floor, the arrow now huge in comparison to its body.

Somewhere in the back of his mind the enormity of the event rocked him. That thing had been over a thousand years old, and now it was dead. It was a joyous, momentus event that would take time to appreciate, but for now his more base instincts took over.

"Hah ha! Where's your magic now huh?!" Maybe not the most inspired line, but it sure felt good on the lips, despite the continuing danger of the shapeless mass

OOC:
HP:24/26
AC:17


This message was last edited by the player at 04:09, Tue 01 Apr 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 418 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 1 Apr 2014
at 04:25
  • msg #179

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato stood his ground against the flailing devil. It was one thing to read about these least minions of hell, and quite another to face one in combat. Cato's stomach turned slightly at the mere thought of touching the tumorous surface of that creature. Or worse yet, being touched by it. And then the arrow flying through the air, burying itself in the invisible quasit, and Kellan's final attack against the thing, too quick to catch. And like that, it was over, at least for the Quasit.  But the devil was still in front of them, and likely a threat for the immediate future.

"Kerr, Kellan, nice job!  This thing in front of me is a devil. Doesn't seem quite right, I know. I'm not sure if I can hurt it, but good or silver weapons can get around its defenses. If the dog or I get a lucky hit, it'll feel it, though."

Cato dropped his crossbow and prepared his quarter staff for an attack as his summoned dog moved in to flank the devil. When the dog was in place, both struck almost simultaneously, as if by an unseen signal, the dog bringing its full celestial might to bear.

OOC:
Free Action: Drop Crossbow
Move Action: Draw Quarterstaff
Standard Action: Attack

Dog Move: 5' step to Z14
Dog Swift Action: Smite Evil vs Devil
Dog Standard Action: Attack Devil

00:24, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 8 using 1d20+6. Dog attack (Bless, Smite Evil, Flanking).
00:23, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 5 using 1d6. Cato Damage.
00:22, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 13 using 1d20+4. Cato attack (Bless, Flanking).

Active Effects: Mage Armor (Cato), Enlarge Person & Protection vs Evil (Kellan)
Celestial Dog: 1 rounds

This message was last edited by the player at 04:26, Tue 01 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 755 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 1 Apr 2014
at 14:25
  • msg #180

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Yip!"  The gnome threw a fist into the air followed by a leaping half turn that brought her to the ground with crossed legs.  Uncrossing her legs brought her right front again and her fist stabbed out at the now lifeless form of the extraplanar entity lying in pieces, oozing its lifeblood across the stone floor.  "Ha!  No escape for you," cried the exultant gnome, acting, for all the world as though the battle was over and done.

"Don't kill it."  Pisca turned her back on the shapeless monstrosity.  "Don't kill it."  She strode to the edge of the nearer of the two pools and slapped her hand down on one of the skulls balanced on its stone spike.  A mark in the shape of a stylized fish - or was it a sideways number eight, or possibly two hedgehogs kissing - the mark glowed bright blue for a moment before settling into the smooth forehead of the aged skull.  "Pisca was here!" declared the gnome before turning back to the desperate battle between her friends and the fiendish Shapeless Mass.

"Don't kill it!  I've been counting.  I've been counting," Pisca said without explaining much beyond that.  "It's a measure of her power.  Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen ... "

5ft step / Touch Skull delivering Arcane Mark

Position: AA15

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless 14/20r, Dancing Lights 1m, Dazzle on Quasit 6/10

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 737 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Tue 1 Apr 2014
at 17:40
  • msg #181

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Just like that.  First there was screeching from the invisible demon when Kerr shot more arrows at it, then almost faster than Liseth could see Kellan had lashed out with his over-sized polearm.  The quasit demon was slain; it had to be.  Liseth didn't know many things that could survive without their head attached.  Well, except for some insects.

But that wasn't the end of their problems.  That bulbous...clawed...horrible mass was still clawing at everyone.  And Cato said that it was a devil.

"That's a devil?!"  Liseth found that she might have been under-prepared for what they were facing down in the ruins.  The Rune Dogs were so much more fierce and terrible than she had expected, the Quasit Demon seemed to be a priestess of Lamashtu in addition to being a demon.  And now there was a devil that it had summoned to fight them before Kerr and Kellan managed to stop it.

She was also very surprised that the Quasit Demon was a girl.  For some reason, Liseth had not expected that.

"Don't kill it?  Pisca, what are we supposed to do?  What if it gets someone with its claws?"  At least the young acolyte had managed to get away from it herself, but now it was trying to attack Cato.

Staggering suddenly, Liseth reached her hand to take hold of Kellan's enlarged leg and steady herself.  Then she had an idea.  "Kellan, do you think that you can knock it over?"  As she spoke the words, a minor divine presence entered the large warrior through her touch.

Standard: Cast Guidance on Kellan (+1 to an attack, save, or skill check)

Effects:
Antitoxin (+5 saves vs Poison) < 1 Hour
Bless (Entire Party; +1 to hit & saves vs fear) 12/20 rounds
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 484 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 1 Apr 2014
at 17:58
  • msg #182

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan seemed to consider Liseth's question. Could he? He didn't know, the thing seemed to lack any sort of conclusive shape or form. Was it worth a shot? Sure.

"Uh...maybe...yeah, just let me..."

Riding high on the death blow against the Quasit The huge guardsman darted in was suddenly presented it's a most promising opening, he took that instead, not wanting to mess around with whatever this thing was.

HP:24/26
AC: 17
Move: None
Standard: Readh AttackShapeless Mass
10:52, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 23 using 1d20+12. AttackShapeless Mass, Large, Guidance, Bless, Flanking.
14:46, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 16 using 2d6+6. Damage Shapeless Mass.</Blue>.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:48, Tue 01 Apr 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 831 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 2 Apr 2014
at 03:35
  • msg #183

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kellan's mighty blow felled the quivering, devilish, shambolic mass, which immediately disappeared, giving what might have been an anguished cry as it was whisked back to the infernal region from which it had been summoned.

After the clamor and effort of battle, quiet reigned.  Millenia-old stone stared down upon the five victorious combatants, withholding judgment on those who had conquered the being who had reigned supreme in that space for so very long.

Upon searching the quasit's decapitated body, the party found a small dagger, a jeweled tiara, a black silk gown, and an obsidian holy symbol of Lamashtu.

OOC:  Battle is over and you have again emerged victorious!  Combat rounds have ended and you can proceed with narrative posting.


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 421 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 2 Apr 2014
at 12:45
  • msg #184

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato breaks the oppressive silence first.  "I've been thinking back to what Pisca said during the fight, about that pool dimming every time the Quasit called forth a new rune dog.  And she stopped doing it.  Maybe we can extinguish the power of the well by summoning a few more.  Now would be the time to do it, while my spells and Liseth's are still working to help us."

Cato walks over to the pool, and studies it, looking for tell-tale traces of arcane energy.

OOC:
Deteect Magic, Knowledge: Arcana check on the pool.

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 758 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 2 Apr 2014
at 14:13
  • msg #185

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"That is just what I was thinking, Cato," said the gnome without looking up from her examination of Quasit Girl's nude decapitated body.  "The only question in my mind," Pisca added, moving on from the body to the possessions that once belonged to it, "is who's blood do we use?"

"Looks like we have plenty of Quasit Girl's blood left here.  I say we try that first.  Nice dress."  The gnome held the black silk gown up to her own body.  "Too small."  The tiara, likewise, seemed on the small-ish size.  The dagger, on the other hand, was a different story.

"Lets try it, shall we?"  Without actually stopping for consultation, Pisca the Experimental Arcanist took a few drops of the Quasit's blood on the tip of the dagger and made her way to the Pool of Rune Dog Birthing.

"Get ready.  Here goes."  With a flick of her wrist, the gnome flung a drop of blood into the pool.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless ??/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 16/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 744 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Wed 2 Apr 2014
at 15:57
  • msg #186

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth's breath escaped her, along with her adrenaline, in one long sigh after the devil monster was struck down by Kellan, only to vanish; sent back to hell no doubt.  She sagged against the wall and breathed out a thankful prayer, "Thank you Sarenrae, thank you Desna.  For watching over us and delivering us to victory over Lamashtu's demonic priestess."

Her eyes, however, stayed focused on the slain quasit while Pisca looted it.  Something was wrong.  The devil monster that it had summoned vanished after Kellan killed it.  The girl thought back to what Mr Voon had told her yesterday about planes and summoned demons, then realization hit her with a gasp.

"The quasit demon was supposed to disappear when it died!  Just like the devil monster that it summoned!"  She continued to stare at its body while pushing off from the wall and walking to Kerr.  Liseth worriedly took his arm, "Mr Voon said that it should disappear back to its own plane.  And that if it didn't, we would need to bring the body to him and Father Zantus, so that they could destroy it."

"Wait, you want to try to summon more Rune Dogs!?"  Liseth tore her eyes off of the dead quasit demon to watch Cato and Pisca considering the pool.  And Pisca with the demon's blood already going to try and activate it.  "Wait!  Pisca, we don't know what will happen even if it does break the pool!  We should...should..."

"What if we came back with Holy Water from the Cathedral?  We could put that in the Rune Dog Pool.  It would have to be safer than demon's blood, and I bet that it would break it too."
The Raconteur
GM, 842 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 00:29
  • msg #187

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The blood flew from Pisca's purloined dagger into the pool, hitting it with an audible hiss.  Steam rose from the pool's bubbling, dimly-lit water, gradually dispersing into invisibility as it hit the cool air.

Nothing happened.

Then the basin's light flickered, flickered again, and went out.

The bubbling ceased.

Suddenly, without warning, a Rune Dog burst from the water, liquid streaming from its long claws and pallid skin, seeking to destroy the gnome who had spawned it.  Its mouth was a rictus of anger; its small, dead eyes were focused on the one it purposed to destroy.

Pisca stumbled backwards, but not before the freakish monstrosity was on her, burying its teeth deep in her shoulder and raking its claw along her side.  The gnome again managed to resist the monster's poison, but she could tell by the freak's angry growling that it would not be satisfied until she lie dead, broken and bleeding on the stones of the steps on which she stood.

OOC:

Party turn.  Everyone can act.

   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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |C |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  | PPPPPPPPPP|  SFPPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |L |R |PPPPPP K|KS|GP|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | KSK | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


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

F  = Rune Dog Freak

Freak Turn

Location:  FF13

Full-Round Action:  Full-Attack Pisca Neep Freemish

17:16, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog Freak, rolled 4 using 1d4+1. Claw Damage to Pisca (using correct die).
17:15, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog Freak, rolled 6 using 1d6+1. Bite Damage to Pisca.
17:14, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog Freak, rolled 19 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack on Pisca #2.
17:14, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog Freak, rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Claw Attack on Pisca #1.
17:14, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog Freak, rolled 20 using 1d20+3. Bite Attack on Pisca.

17:18, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Pisca Neep Freemish, rolled 19 using 1d20+9. DC 12 Will Save v. Freak Bite.

Result:  10 damage to Pisca

Opponent Status

No damage

Party Status

Kellan - 24/26 hp
Pisca - 4/16 hp

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 1 Channel Energy expended, Smite Evil expended
Liseth - 1 Channel Energy expended, 4 1st-level spells expended, 1 Befuddler used
Cato - 4 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep, Mage Armor, Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil, and Summon Monster I.
Kellan - Ogre Stomp! Champion trait used.


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 490 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 02:09
  • msg #188

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan stood ready, looking a bit concerned about the current plan.

"Wouldn't it be better to conserve out strength until we are done clearing this place out? We could have a lot more to..."

He broke off as the thing clawed it's way up, taking a step forward with wide eyes and trying to bring the blade down on it as it reached the rim of the pool.

HP:24/26
AC:17
Move: None
Standard: Reach Attack Rune Dog
19:06, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 9 using 2d6+6. Damage Rune Dog.
19:06, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 20 using 1d20+8. Reach Attack Rune Dog.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 430 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 04:52
  • msg #189

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Even completely prepared for it, Caro was still surprised by the raw anger of the Rune adog as it surged forth from the pool, intent on Pisca. Maybe they'd handled that part of the plan poorly,  Pisca didn't need to stand right next to the pool to have this work.  But now it was done, and by the look of the pool, their work had succeeded.  There would be time for deeper inspection in the future, but one of the first things Cato had learned as an apprentice regarding powerful magic was that when something stopped glowing, something was amiss. There were exceptions to this rule as to everything, but Cato was surprised as how often that particular generality proved true.

But now, there were more pressing concerns that magic could solve. Like Pisca being mauled by the Freak. Cato lined up his shot and sent another streamer of acid through thr air.

OOC:
Standard Action: Acid Dart
00:49, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 1 using 1d20. Acid Attack (Bless, Fire into Melee).

Active Effects: Mage Armor (Cato), Enlarge Person & Protection vs Evil (Kellan)

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 786 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 13:30
  • msg #190

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"STOPDOINGTHAT!!!!"  The words rip from Pisca's throat in a single snarl.  Her eyes go wide with feral fury.  And her veins bulge standing out from beneath the gnome's fine alabaster skin.  Then, as though it had never happened, the fit of anger was gone.

"Ook.  What am I doing here."

Pisca took a single ineffectual swipe at the slavering Rune Dog using the still bloody dagger of the dead Quasit, then she dove backwards, rolling down the stairs and through Kellan's legs to roll back onto her feet just behind the giant-sized guardsman.

Stab Rune Dog with Quasit's dagger / Tumble Away

06:03, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 2 using 1d20+1. Hit Rune Dog w/+1Bless.
06:04, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 16 using 1d20+11. Tumble.

Position: CC15

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless ??/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 11/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Thu 03 Apr 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 768 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 18:41
  • msg #191

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

I knew that was a bad idea!  Liseth tensed up and her grip on Kerr's arm tightened significantly when the new Rune Dog launched out of the pool and mauled Pisca.  She didn't know how making another Rune Dog was supposed to help, even though both Cato and Pisca seemed to think that it would.  The pool did stop glowing though, maybe that was what they were talking about?

There was no time to think about it though.  Reluctantly releasing Kerr's arm (he might need it to shoot his bow anyway) Liseth started moving when she saw Pisca break away from the Rune Dog and escape under Kellan; her hands gaining an all too familiar glow.  "Sarenrae, please lend me your healing light!"

Touching her hand to the wounded gnome, Liseth discharged healing energy into the gnome...only to find it much weaker than she had hoped for.  Interference from being in Lamashtu's shrine?

Move: Walk to BB 15 (10 feet)
Standard: Cast Cure Light Wounds on Pisca (Heal 5)

Effects:
Antitoxin (+5 saves vs poison) < 1 hour
Bless (+1 to hit and saves vs fear) 8/20 (? Estimation ?)

11:26, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 5 using 1d8+4. Cure Light Wounds on Pisca.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 49 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 19:31
  • msg #192

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


"Pisca, wait.  I don't think . . ."  But Kerr's words of caution were too late; the gnome had already flung the quasit's blood into the bubbling water of the Summoning Pool.  The young archer waited apprehensively as the light from the pool flickered and died, feeling Liseth's nervous grip on his arm and finding that he had already reached his free arm back to retrieve another arrow.

Just in case.  But maybe Pisca's action really had drained the pool's . . .

The Rune Dog's vicious attack on Pisca, springing directly out of the pool like some sort of cursed leviathan, badly startled Kerr even though he had been half-expecting something of the sort to occur.  He saw the slavering Freak latch onto Pisca, mauling her with both tooth and claw.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kellan swing his polearm at the beast, while simultaneously feeling Liseth leave his side to try and cure their injured comrade.

Kerr moved slightly to his left in order to line up a clear shot on the Rune Dog's torso as it savaged Pisca.  He released an arrow, reaching back for another before the first had even arrived at its target and sending it after it's fellow.  Both arrows plunged deep into the Rune Dog's side, eliciting a wailing keen from the monstrous creature.

OOC:

Full-Round Action - Rapid Shot

Move:  5-foot step to AA13

Attack: Rapid Fire on Rune Dog

12:15, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 5 using 1d8+2. Rapid Shot #2 Damage.
12:15, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 4 using 1d8+2. Rapid Shot #1 Damage.
12:12, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 18 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #2 (PBS).
12:12, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 15 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #1 (PBS).

Result:  9 damage to Rune Dog

Arrows remaining:  22/40


The Raconteur
GM, 844 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 19:51
  • msg #193

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca gave the Rune Dog an almost desultory swipe with her dagger, then tumbled backwards, just missing the chomp of its bared fangs as she dove down the stairs, hitting the bottom with her shoulder, coming up in a perfect roll, facing the Freak, her dagger drawn.  The Rune Dog, finding its teeth closing on nothing rather than delicious gnome, howled its rage, a howl that quickly turned into a screech as it was almost simultaneously cloven be Kellan's polearm and punctured by Kerr's arrows.  As Cato's acid whistled harmlessly overhead, the Rune Dog crumpled, deprived of life only a few angry seconds after its creation.

In the quiet that followed, all present could see that the pool was no longer glowing or bubbling.  It looked, for lack of a better term, inert.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |C |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  |RPPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP K|KS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |L |G | KSK | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


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

F  = Rune Dog Freak
Freak Turn

Pisca succeeds in Acrobatics check vs. Rune Dog's CMD 15.

Rune Dog takes 18 points of damage and is killed.

Party Status

Kellan - 24/26 hp
Pisca - 9/16 hp

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 1 Channel Energy expended, Smite Evil expended
Liseth - 1 Channel Energy expended, 5 1st-level spells expended, 1 Befuddler used
Cato - 5 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep, Mage Armor, Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil, and Summon Monster I.
Kellan - Ogre Stomp! Champion trait used.


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:04, Thu 03 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 790 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 20:08
  • msg #194

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Well ... whew ... "  The gnome straightened from her crouch.  Blood was dark on her Shoanti leathers.  And, despite Liseth's healing, the wounds were still visibly obvious.  The jagged lines of small holes on her shoulder for the bite marks, and the less well defined parallel slashes across her torso from the claws.

Despite her wounds, however, a gnome had to do what a gnome had to do.  Though the pool appeared lifeless and inert, there was one last definitive test, and it had to be done for the experiment to be complete.  "Everyone might want to back away for a moment," she warned her friends - a warning, that, perhaps, should also have come with the last test.  Walking gingerly back to the body of Quasit Girl, Pisca acquired another few drops of blood.  This time, she stood a good ten feet away before flicking the droplets up the steps and into the pool.

Position: DD15

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless ??/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Thu 03 Apr 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 773 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 21:07
  • msg #195

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Are you okay Pisca?  You don't look very good."  Liseth spared a glance to the fallen Rune Dog; at least Kellan and Kerr managed to stop it before it could keep attacking.  But by the time she brought her attention back, Pisca was already getting more demon blood to throw in the pool!

"What are you doing!?"  But by then the injured gnome had already sent the blood into the pool.  "Pisca, we don't want more Rune Dogs!"

Already expecting another Rune Dog to come bounding out of the waters, and with Pisca in her current state, Liseth called the positive energy to herself once more.  At least she should be able to get everyone in better shape to face another assault.

[Language unknown: "Ma artanther!  Tiner il nepr trinsa isas leardi ainwhitin!"]  The shining light burst from Liseth and spread through the chamber to engulf everyone present.  It was much more powerful than the weaker energy that she had summoned a moment ago, but unfortunately too broad and unfocused to help Pisca fully recover.

She was careful, though, to exclude from its effects the fallen Rune Dogs.  Liseth didn't think that her healing light would do anything to them, but did not want to find out.

OOC:
Channel Energy for 6 healing to everyone; excluding the Rune Dogs.

14:01, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 6 using 1d6+1. Channeled Healing.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 492 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 3 Apr 2014
at 22:35
  • msg #196

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan rolled the creature over with the blade of his pole arm before poking it in the eye with the blunt end. The way he figured it even unnatural creatures would have a hard time playing dead while getting poked in the eye. As he felt the wave of healing energy wash overhim he felt his lacerations tingle, itch and close. The relief was tempered with the thoughts that Liseth could onlu do that every so often and they still had no idea how large this place was.

"Pisca, I..." he tensed up as more blood fell into the pool, raising his weapon once again
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 433 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 00:58
  • msg #197

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato watched with relief as the latest Rune Dog went down under Kellan's blad and Kerr's hail of arrows.  "Kerr, it's a good thing you came!  I don't think we could have done this without you."

Although Cato was relieved as the lights on the pool flickered and faded, he nevertheless took a few steps back when Pisca approached with yet more blood from the Quasit.  The mage was 95% sure that the absence of light meant an absence of further spawning, but he didn't want to test that theory with a Rune Dog claw to his face.  He took another step back.  Maybe 90% sure.


OOC:
Move to Y12
Active Effects: Mage Armor (Cato), Enlarge Person & Protection vs Evil (Kellan)

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 50 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 01:24
  • msg #198

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr sighed with relief as the latest Rune Dog went down to his arrows and the cold-iron blade of Kellan’s polearm.  The young acolyte had to admit that he was pretty impressed with Kellan’s battle prowess; he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stand toe-to-toe with these beasts and take the kind of punishment the guardsman experienced.  But Kellan kept on fighting through horrific injuries.  The man was brave.

The archer was also concerned about Pisca.  She seemed to take almost as much damage as Kellan and she didn’t have the frame or the armor to help her weather the blows.  Yet she still seemed to put herself right in harm’s way as often as not.  Kerr wasn’t sure if that was brave or foolish.  Probably a bit of both.

Right now was a case in point, no sooner had the Rune Dog gone down than Pisca was flinging more quasit blood into the pool.  Kerr tried to register an objection, but it was already done.  He reached back for an arrow as he felt Liseth’s healing energy wash over him, ready for anything . . .


The Raconteur
GM, 847 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 01:33
  • msg #199

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The drops of blood left Pisca’s dagger and seemed to hang in the air, moving in slow motion as all five people present watched with varying degrees of interest, anticipation, or horror to see what would occur.

And what occurred was very little.

The drops of blood hit the surface of the pool with a barely-audible “plop.”  The pool did not hiss, bubble, or otherwise react the way it had the previous times it had experienced the introduction of quasit blood.  This time it did absolutely nothing.  Seconds turned into a minute, but no Rune Dog emerged from its depths.  It seemed as if the pool was, at least for the moment, not the least bit interested in spawning anything.


Party Status

Pisca - 15/18 hp

Party Resources Check

Kerr - 1 Channel Energy expended, Smite Evil expended
Liseth - 2 Channel Energy expended, 5 1st-level spells expended, 1 Befuddler used
Cato - 5 Acid Darts expended, has cast Sleep, Mage Armor, Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil, and Summon Monster I.
Kellan - Ogre Stomp! Champion trait used.</Blue>


This message was last edited by the GM at 06:06, Fri 04 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 794 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 12:50
  • msg #200

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Yeah!"

The exultant exclamation was small and terse as though squeezed down and compacted by the pressures brought on by fears of the further biting and clawing of gnomes.  Most specifically, herself.  Pisca sighed a sigh of relief.  "Well.  That settles it now.  Doesn't it?"

"Yom-yom, yom-yom, yom-yom, yom."  With each word she flicked the dagger, sending four ineffectual drops of quasit blood into the Ex-Pool of Rune Dog Birth.  "We ... " she said, mounting the stairs and turning to the others in a highly presentational manner, " ... have just saved Sandpoint from the curse of the Rune Dogs!"

"And now we have an entire Temple of Ultimate Evil all to ourselves!" she added with a grin as wide as her statement was grandiose.

"Oh wait!"  The lure of the fresco of truly immense scope, the strange, spiky runes, and the deceased Pool of Rune Dog Birth itself called to the curious gnome.  But ...

"We still have our fantastically powerful magics!"  Pisca gestured up to the towering height of Kellan Storval before rushing down the stairs and out the doors of the Quasit's Sanctum of Corruption and Malevolence.  As she passed through the double doors, the gnome called over her shoulder, "We should use them while they still last!"

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless ??/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 778 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/18
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 17:14
  • msg #201

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Waiting.  Waiting, until finally...no more Rune Dogs showed up.  Liseth could not hide her relief; maybe Pisca had broken the Rune Dog pool?  Could that mean that there would not be any more Rune Dogs hiding down here someplace?  Liseth could only hope.

"I don't think I want a 'Temple of Ultimate Evil.'"  Liseth watched the victorious gnome proclaim their success over the curse of the Rune Dogs.  The girl was just happy that there was no more immediate fighting about to happen.  She traipsed wearily back to Kerr's side.

"No, wait!  Pisca!"  The gnome was already heading out of the evil temple; ready to delve into the rest of the underground ruin.  There was no way they could know if there was other threats waiting for them.  "Desna's blessing won't last much longer, and I'm too spent to refresh it.  We need to go slowly and carefully if we want to keep exploring."

"And..."  Gripping Kerr's arm once more, her eyes drew themselves to the slain quasit, "We can't leave the quasit demon's body there.  Mr Voon said that we have to take it to him and Father Zantus, so that they can destroy it."  Liseth quivered suddenly in revulsion, "She doesn't look very heavy, but...I don't think that I want to touch it."
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 51 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 19:48
  • msg #202

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr sighed in relief when no further Rune Dogs sprung from the enchanted pool.  He didn't know about anyone else, but he would be perfectly happy if he never saw another one of the monstrous creatures again.  He hugged Liseth as she came over to him, as much as to just share the closeness of human contact as to reassure her, although there was that as well.  Kerr let out a long breath, gently stroking her hair as she rested her head on his chest, trembling slightly.

It had been a rough few minutes.

Kerr could hardly credit what they had just experienced.  A millenia-old demon, slain.  An evil pool of ritual spawning, seemingly deactivated.  And who knew what other dangers or wonders these catacombs might hold?  Kerr kissed Liseth on the head, gave her a squeeze, then stepped back to look at her.

"I've got a bag in my pack," he said simply as they both looked down at the quasit's headless torso.  "I can, um, bag it up, I guess, and take it with us?"  He looked slightly appalled at the idea.  "Then Father Zantus and Loon . . . I mean, Mr. Voon can decide how best to destroy the body."

With a reluctant look, Kerr dragged a bag out of his pack and set about gingerly putting the quasit inside with the absolute minimum touching required.  After he had, with a look of distaste, dropped the demon's detached head inside, he pulled the drawstring closed.  He looked at the bag ruefully.

"Guess I won't be using THIS bag again," he ventured, in a brief attempt at levity.  He then looked out the door where Pisca had gone.  "Pisca, I'm not sure we're going to be able to go anywhere until Kellan, um," he looked over at the oversized warrior, "shrinks.  I don't think he'll be able to fit in those smaller passageways very well."


This message was last edited by the player at 09:16, Mon 07 Apr 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 440 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 20:09
  • msg #203

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato watched as Kerr carefully bagged up the remains of the Quasit.  "I'm sure we can chip in and buy you a new bag, Kerr.  You've certainly earned it!"  He didn't know if the attempt at levity worked.  Everything seemed more grim here, though the prospect that there could be more death lurking around the next unexplored corner certainly added to it.

He looked up at giant-sized Kellan.  "I can dismiss this spell at any time."  Cato snapped his fingers, and Kellan shrunk back to normal size.  "Of course, I can only cast one more spell today, thanks solely to this fine gift."  Cato produced the pearl and rolled it in his fingers, before stowing it in his belt pouch.  "I hope there's not too much more waiting for us here, because I am almost out of tricks."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 799 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 20:28
  • msg #204

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth's words were spoken to an open door.  The gnome was gone.

"What?"  Pisca's head popped around the edge of the doorjamb.  The gnome, apparently, had not been that far gone.  "Oh.  Well then, I suppose we have all the time we want, don't we.  All for the best, really."  Pisca sauntered back into the Quasit's Sanctum of Corruption and Malevolence.  "I wonder what these spiky runes are?" she said, and began an investigation of said, spiky rune.

"Might as well do a thorough investigation of this place while we're here, then.  Wouldn't want to miss any hidden compartments filled with powerful magic items or any such.  Say, you know what might make a nice present, Cato?"  The gnome shrugged from her pack and then riffled within for her journal.  She tore a page from the book and then reached up onto her toes to hold it firmly against one of the runes.  With her other hand, she rubbed a piece of charcoal over the paper, making a tracing.  "For Brodie, I mean.  There.  A rune.  If I had more time, I'd make some drawings.  But that would take a while.  A long while."

"How long did you say the antitoxin would last?  Aaahh!  I want a picture of that very interesting fresco!"  Pisca frowned a very dissatisfied gnomish frown.  "Well, we'll just have to come back later.  I'll take a quick look around to see whether we're missing anything or not.  Then we'll move on."  The gnome took in the entirety of the room, able to view it now with true leisure for the first time.  The pools.  The runes on the walls.  The ring of skulls on spikes.  The fresco above.  And the decapitated body of Quasit Girl.  Even a small portion of it would take up hours of investigation, but Pisca gave it what appraisal one could in the short moments allowed.

Before beginning her search of the room, however, she returned Quasit Girl's dagger to the place where the other things were arrayed on the floor.  "Cato, could you see whether any of these things are magical in nature?" she asked.  Then she set about her search of the room and the two doors to the north and south.

"Oh, and Stomper?  Would you mind chopping a claw off of one of the Rune Dogs for me?  No!  Two of them, if you please.  I have someone who might appreciate a gift of those as well."

Please roll the following checks.
1) Linguistics (+8) to read the runes.
2) Knowledge Arcana (+9) for mysteries involved in this room.
3) Knowledge Religion (+3) for Lamashtu's connection to the Rune Dog well.
4) Knowledge History (+3) for this place's role or place in history.  Also for an insight into the fresco on the wall and ceiling.
5) Knowledge Nobility (+7) for any insights into the culture that built this place.  Also for an insight into the fresco on the wall and ceiling.
6) Knowledge Planes (+3) for the dangers presented by the Quasit body.
7) Perception to Search for secret doors

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless ??/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 441 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 20:43
  • msg #205

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato set to work on the items, casting Detect Magic,  to identify auras present, and then carefully examining any items that showed an aura.

OOC:
Spellcraft checks, if applicable: +8
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 494 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 4 Apr 2014
at 21:28
  • msg #206

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was delighted to find that he was not as tired as he had expected, and was recovering fairly quickly. Unlike some of the previous fights where he had been so tired he felt like being sick, instead he felt a kind of pleasant warmth in his limbs that helped against the constant chill

At Piscas request he turned and examined one the the fallen rune dogs, rubbing his chin.

"Sure, I think I can handle that."

Stooping he pulled out his dagger and set to work, employing some of the same lessons he normally used for dressing out game. "A short break would be good...I was going to say before that this could go on for awhile...I would hate to have to take another day and let Gods know what shift around down here...or try to come up"
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 791 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 5 Apr 2014
at 21:17
  • msg #207

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth closed her eyes to shut out the horrible scenery and relaxed in Kerr's arms when he squeezed her.  Even if it would last for only a moment.  Then he had to step back and Liseth was again confronted with the terrible underground cathedral to Lamashtu and the corpse of the slain demon.

At least Pisca came back inside and abandoned her plan to rush through the rest of the ruin.  Now she was bouncing around the chamber trying to examine everything; which had to be safer than running through the dark tunnels though.  Liseth turned back to Kerr.

"Are you sure that you're going to be okay carrying it?"  The small acolyte balked at the idea of bringing the demon's body with them, but they couldn't just leave it.  She offered a weary smile when Kerr joked about needing a new bag; she didn't know how he could be funny at a time like this.  But she was very grateful to him for doing so.

"Pisca..."  When the demon was stowed in a bag, Liseth once again turned her attention to the gnome, "The antitoxin should work for about an hour.  Wait, you want to give somebody a Rune Dog claw as a gift?  That doesn't sound like a very nice gift to me."  But Kellan got down and started gathering them anyway, so Liseth made a grimace and turned away from the awful work.

With her back to the now properly-sized Kellan, Liseth decided to study Lamashtu's temple.  Lamashtu was far from a deity that Liseth wanted to associate with, but she was still a deity.  Even if she was the evil Mother of Monsters.  And the white-clad acolyte didn't foresee many more times that she might find herself inside of one of the Demon Queen's temples.  She did want to learn about all of the gods, after all...

Knowledge (Religion) in studying Lamashtu's temple.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 810 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 6 Apr 2014
at 16:04
  • msg #208

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Pisca pulled her head back in from the southern most of the two side doors leading somewhere off of the Tee oh Eww EE.  "Well, Lys," said the gnome, "he's not exactly what most people would call a Nice Guy, if you know what I mean.  So it's not a nice gift.  But I think he'd understand the gift.  And I think he'd appreciate it."

"Oh, wait.  Right.  You've met Jubrayl," she added, resuming her investigation.  Her Pisca-less voice drifted back into the temple from beyond the door as she entered the other room.   "So you know what I mean.  He isn't Nice, but he's very good at the sort of thing that he does.  And he's very fair too," the gnome added.  "Given the sort of thing that he does."

"You didn't look as though you liked him much.  It's surprising, though.  Quite a lot of human girls seem to be attracted to that sort of thing.  Dangerous.  And not very nice.  I'd almost think it was a human thing.  But I don't think that it is."

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless ??/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

This message was lightly edited by the GM at 09:14, Mon 07 Apr 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 52 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 7 Apr 2014
at 09:57
  • msg #209

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr grinned at Cato as he put the bagged-up quasit in his pack.  “Can it be a special bag?  With meaning?  Like, inscribed with ‘To Kerr, the best archer in the world, thanks for all the arrows.  Love, The Sandpoint Saviors?’”  He chuckled slightly, glad for an opportunity to relieve the tension.  “Yes, Liseth, I think I’ll be fine.”  He patted his backpack, smiling appreciatively at the most-beautiful woman in the world.  She was so thoughtful.  “I don’t think I’d want to carry a dead quasit around on a regular basis, but it should be okay for the couple of hours it will take for us to get it back to Father Zantus and Mr. Voon.”

“Thanks for the kind words earlier, by the way, Cato.  I’m just glad I can help out in some way.  I’m sorry, I was rude not to acknowledge you right away but with all that was happening . . .,” the acolyte swept his hand around the temple, as if to encompass everything they’d experienced over the last few minutes.  He shrugged helplessly.  “Well, you know.”

Kerr tried to keep his mouth from dropping open as Cato reduced Kellan to normal size with a simple snap of his fingers.  He was still a little in awe of what the scholar could do.  “Well, it seems like this quasit was running the place, so I’d have to guess that she would be the most-powerful being here, right?  Or else whatever was more powerful than her would have deposed her over the course of the centuries?”  Kerr shrugged again.  “Of course, I’m no expert.  Maybe things work differently with demons.  Although if I had to guess I’d say that demons would have an even stricter power hierarchy than normal, if only because I can’t see a more-powerful demon kowtowing to a lesser one if it didn’t have to.”

He looked on with an unreadable expression, holding Liseth as she turned away from Kellan’s sawing of trophies off the fallen Rune Dogs.  “Jubrayl is definitely not a good guy.  But he’s reputedly got his own code.  He likes to think of himself as a gentleman.  And yeah, now that we’ve stirred things up down here I don’t think it would be a very good idea to just leave.  Who knows what else is down here, or what it might do now that we’ve killed its leader?”

He paused as the import of Pisca’s statement hit him; he looked at his girlfriend in surprise.  “Wait, Liseth, you met Jubrayl?”


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 448 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Mon 7 Apr 2014
at 13:12
  • msg #210

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato laughed at Kerr's reply.  It felt good to laugh, as though it pushed back the oppressive spirit and terrible nature of the dungeon they were in.  "Anything you want, Kerr.  And don't worry about anything; I can't imagine a place I'd least like to have a conversation."  Cato's face paled..."Actually, I take that back.  But this is certainly one of the worst."

Cato handed Pisca back the dagger.  "This is certainly magical, but I'm afraid I can't quite tell what the enchantments are right now.  Maybe being in this shrine is throwing me off."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 813 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 7 Apr 2014
at 13:25
  • msg #211

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"And besides," Pisca said, re-entering from the door to the north, having made a circuit of the Tee Oh Eww Eee as a whole, "wasn't part of this to make sure that there were no other ways for things to climb up from here and attack the town?  For all we know there might be a network of catacombs down here that connect to Thistletop!  The gobbies might be able to sneak right through here and come up inside ... say ... Old Light!"

This was said amidst a flurry of pointing and arm waving to put emphasis on how bad this could become if it should ever decide to become a reality.  Pisca the Small Whirlwind of Hands and Arms, however, stilled rather suddenly.  The hands went on her hips, and she turned a look of suspicion that was, if such a thing is possible, directed at the entire room as a whole.  "No secret doors in here, though," she said, and the tone of her voice reflected her lack of trust in this ultimately very evil temple.  "That does make a certain amount of sense.  Who wants armies of goblins trooping through your sacred temple to Lamashtu.  Right?  Though, I'll have to say, Cato, that despite the dedication of this place as unholy to Lamashtu, that is a pool of very advanced arcana, don't you think?  Probably an arcane device developed by one of the Runelords or a follower using long-forgotten Thassilonian magics."

At long last, though, Pisca broke off her deadlock with the silent and inscrutable Thassilon-Lamashtun Temple of Ultimate Evil.  She gave one last finger wag at the grim and tight-lipped walls, and then said, "Oh well.  Might as well move on.  There's nothing beyond those doors.  Just two small rooms.  Maybe used as dressing rooms for priests and exotic dancers.  Just one more thing before we go, though."

The gnome then approached the now inert Pool of Rune Dog Birthing.  From her pouch she fished out the vial that had contained her dose of antitoxin.  "Another present for Brodie," she said by way of explanation.  Then, carefully -carefullycarefullycarefully- she dipped the vial into the translucent lava-like substance.

"By the ... by ... Kerr Mollin ... you ... might be careful ... with the body of Quasit Girl.  I've ...  Ah, gotcha."  Her sample secured, the gnome went about stoppering the vial and then cleaning the outside of it.  "I've heard stories of demon bodies drawing the attention of other creatures from beyond the veil.  According to the stories, the demons never lose their connection to their homes and that connection can be used to breach the veil, creating a tear through which others might come into our world."

"Or ... I suppose ... we could go into theirs.  I guess.  If someone really wanted to do such a thing.  I suppose demon bodies could be used in Veil-Sundering magic.  You know, the dark evil kind.  Um ... how well do you know this Voon, Kerr Mollin?"  The last of the translucent lava was wiped away, and Pisca placed the sample in her pack.  "You trust him, right?"

"Oooh.  Magic dagger," grinned the gnome as she accepted the weapon from her wizardly friend.  "Well, we'll just have to try it out, won't we.  It's a shame that the other things aren't magic too, though," Pisca added as she tucked both the dress and the tiara into her pack along with the sample from the pool.  Not that any of us could wear the dress," she said.  Then the gnome gave Cato a long appraising look, smirked, and then shook her head.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless ??/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 502 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 8 Apr 2014
at 00:52
  • msg #212

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Jubrayl?" Kellan stopped his work and looked up "Jubrayl Vhiski?" He repeated as he set one hand on his hip. "I...ah..." he seemed to thing about his next words carefully "Jubrayl does not really get along with the guards...or a lot of people. I'm suprised you know him at all"

He glanced down to the rune dog then back up towards where Pisca had reappeared. "I'll cut these things off for you, but I'm going to suggest you stay away from him...he just...he's not good people" still seeming a little conflicted Kellan worked the dagger between the joints before taking the things by one finger each and offering them to the gnome.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 795 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 8 Apr 2014
at 01:54
  • msg #213

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"He didn't seem very nice, that's true..."  Liseth answered Pisca about Jubrayl.  It was a topic that the girl didn't relish remembering.  The short amount of time that she spent within the Fatman's Feedbag was something that she would not mind forgetting.  "I don't know why so many girls would like dangerous people who aren't nice."  That statement caused something to click in Liseth's mind, but she would need a little time to consider it before she was sure of what she was thinking.

The small acolyte nodded reluctantly along with Kerr when the young hero spoke about how they should finish exploring everywhere down in the ruin.  She certainly couldn't argue against it; what if there were more Rune Dogs hiding somewhere?  They could come out and attack people at any time now that the Quasit Demon was dead and couldn't give them orders.  That wasn't something that they could risk.

"Oh, well...yes.  Briefly."  Now Kerr was asking about her meeting with Jubrayl; and Kellan even seemed very concerned.  Liseth supposed that she would have to tell them what happened, "Remember the other day when I told you about how I talked with Katrine and...only ended up making her mad at me...?"  The small blonde sighed, she still hadn't seen Katrine since then to try and apologize.  "This was before our dinner to celebrate the boar hunt...where Lord Kaijitsu showed up..."  Liseth paused, she didn't want to say anything that might sound disrespectful of a man who was just recently killed.

"Well, before we found Katrine, Pisca and I went all over looking for her.  Pisca wanted to learn about Katrine's mysterious boyfriend, so I followed her into the Fatman's Feedbag."  Liseth fidgeted nervously as she recounted what happened, "I don't think that it was a good idea to go in there."

The white-clad girl frowned, "A big man named Conor grabbed me after I went inside."  That was a name Liseth was not likely to forget soon, "I was so scared that I didn't know what to do, but then Jubrayl showed up and sent him away.  I thanked him, but he didn't seem very happy to see me there,"  She glanced over at Pisca, "And I think that he wasn't very happy with Pisca either."

Liseth wanted to change the subject.  She looked away from everyone and brought her attention back to the temple to Lamashtu that they were inside.  The horrible imagery and evil feel that the temple had about it were preferable at the moment, when compared to talking more about that terrible time spent in the Feedbag.

"So, I think that this room here, with the summoning pool, is where the temple's priest was supposed to perform rituals.  The altar room that we came through is where worshipers would have mundane services performed."  She frowned again, "Whatever mundane services might be for worshipers of the evil Demon Queen of Monsters.  I think that the whole temple is probably big enough for fifteen, maybe even twenty people to have worshiped here at once.  I wonder how many people...or maybe they were monsters?  How many did actually use this temple?"

She nodded to Pisca when the gnome spoke about the pools, "I don't know about arcana, but I am pretty sure that Lamashtu worshipers don't typically have things like these pools in their temples.  So someone else might have put it here for a different reason."

But Pisca was now talking about how the demon's body might attract even worse things to it; or even be used to get to where the worse things are.  That certainly didn't sound good, "I don't think that Mr Voon would want to do anything like that Pisca.  I hope not.  He said that he would need Father Zantus's help to destroy the demon's remains, and I don't think that Father Zantus would help him if it might result in something like that."

"Hmm..."  Liseth took Kerr's free arm again, "We should hurry and make sure that no more monsters are hiding down here.  I don't really want to spend more time here than we have to."
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 53 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 8 Apr 2014
at 02:33
  • msg #214

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr's mouth fell open as Pisca indirectly suggested that Mr. Voon, Looney Voon!, might possibly use the quasit's body as the focus for some sort of dark magical rite.  It was something that hadn't even occurred to the young acolyte.  He wanted to slap himself on the forehead; he felt so naive sometimes, especially around people with more life experience, like Cato and Pisca.

"Um, I don't know, Pisca.  Mr. Voon's been in Sandpoint as long as I can remember.  I've never heard anything about him doing dark deeds, but he has always been a little mysterious and, er, eccentric."  Kerr started to scratch his head in consternation, then realized he was still holding an arrow.  He put it back in its quiver.  "But I don't know him well enough to vouch for his character one way or the other."

Kerr was slightly comforted as Liseth spoke; his visions of a revealed Voon using the quasit to perform some unspeakably evil ritual dimmed, even if they did not entirely disappear.  "That’s right!  We can give it to Father Zantus and he can work with Mr. Voon to dispose of the body.”  Kerr looked very relieved at the idea.  “I know for a fact that Father Zantus would never be involved in anything like that.”

Kerr hugged Liseth, relieved that her visit to Fatman's hadn't resulted in something worse than hurt feelings.  “I don’t think you should go back to the Feedbag,” he said simply, trying not to sound like a nag.  “There are some really rough characters there, and Vhiski’s not always around to keep them in line.  I don’t want to think about what might have happened if you had run into this ‘Conor’ guy in Jubrayl’s absence.”  His eyes had gone hard, almost flinty, at the prospect.  He hugged her even more closely.  “I never want you in harm’s way, Liseth.”

He looked at the others.  “But I agree, we should explore the rest of this place as soon as we can.  Those antitoxins won’t last forever, and we have no idea what the quasit’s death will mean to whatever else might be down here.”  He paused.  “Does anyone have anything else they need to do here before we head out?”


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 503 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 8 Apr 2014
at 03:46
  • msg #215

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Nope, lets get back to it" Kellan replied to Kerr as he used the leverage from his pole axe to push himself back into a standing position. The young guardsman was feeling relieved at the destruction of the quasit, had been treated by the wonderous healing magics of Liseth and appeared to be ready for more.

In truth he simply wanted to be done with this place. The darkness, the ever present feeling of being watched, the terrifying creatures lurching from alcoves and hallways. The sooner they could delcare the complex safe the sooner they could be back outside with the sun on their backs and the sea breeze in their hair. He did not know how, or if he could explain any of this to Shayliss, but even just seeing her smiling face would make a world of difference.

"Care to lead on Pisca?"

It was hard to be cross with the gnome, and he knew first hand that Jubrayl could be the manipulative sort. The thought however of Liseth being harrased at the Fatmans made him want to storm the place, so he could just imagine how Kerr felt. The life of a Paladin was about as hard as one could choose. Sure you got the respect, but it seems like one would have to give up so much.

As they prepared to move out Kellan was struck with the idea that this must be kind of how adventurers must feel, or those members of the Pathfinder society. Exploring moldering ruins and tracking down things like this rouge Quasit. He decided that it agreed with him more than he would have thought.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 815 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 8 Apr 2014
at 13:09
  • msg #216

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

For some reason, the gnome looked something on the verge of being put out.  This reason soon made it self apparent.  "Lysa was never in any danger," said the gnome.  She gave both Stomper and The Boyfriend a look that did its best to draw from both the schools of hurt and indignant as she collected the two dark and wickedly curved claws from the former of the two male protectors.  "She was with *me*."  And Pisca hooked a thumb at herself for emphasis.

"And it was important.  There's something going on at the mill, I tell you, and people can get hurt.  Especially people like your girlfriend's sister, Stomper."

Then the gnome wandered off in the direction of the door again, admiring the Really Terribly Sharp claws.  Until, that is, she turned about rather suddenly and leveled one of previously said, Really Terribly Sharp claws at Kerr Mollin.  "And I could have handled Conor," she added as abruptly as she had turned.  "Even without Jubrayl."

"Everything was under control," she said in a firm and decisive manner.

Her point made, Pisca returned to her previous Exit-Heading ways, tucking the claws into her pouch as she left the temple behind.  "Why don't we go back to the statue of the Runelord Lady and see what's down the hallway that she seems to be welcoming everyone into, huh?"  Nocking another arrow, the gnome took Kellan's offer and lead the way, softly padding back along the winding corridors, her eyes and ears open for danger.

Perception and stealth again.  Headed back to the statue of Runelady Alaznist again and then down the east-heading corridor.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message on Liseth and Kellan 20m, Bless ??/20r, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 449 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 8 Apr 2014
at 13:32
  • msg #217

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Refreshed after their brief rest, Cato packed his few supplies into his pouch and climbed up.  He listened to Liseth and Pisca describe their adventures in town.  "You know, it sounds like the two of you had almost as much excitement in town as we're having down here.  Well, less mortal danger, but equal amounts of moral danger."

Cato still wasn't sure about whether everything that piqued Pisca's seemingly endless curiosity actually was a threat, but the gnome seemed to be right about things more often than not.

Cato pulled out his crossbow and loaded it again, preparing to use the weapon once he was out of spells.  "What do you think is going on at the mill, Pisca?  Do you think there's other things happening in town?  Are they related to the goblins and this?"

Cato followed the group through the doors.  "Going back to statue and entering this complex the 'right' way sounds like a good plan, now that the is dead.  Lead the way, Pisca."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 796 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Wed 9 Apr 2014
at 02:17
  • msg #218

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"You don't have to tell me twice."  Liseth rested in Kerr's comforting hug, "I don't want to go back in there ever again."  The blonde gave him a kiss and returned his hug, despite the hard metal breastplate that Kerr was wearing, "Thank you for being concerned for me Kerr.  I know that I'll never be in harm's way when you're with me."

"Oh, I know that you weren't going to let anyone hurt me,"  Liseth was quick to add when Pisca started becoming indignant.  She pulled away from Kerr and looked apologetically towards Pisca where the gnome was pointing with a Rune Dog claw.  "I would just rather not be in a place where you would have to.  Handle someone like that mean Conor."  Pisca had an awful lot of pluck; and she was so small!  Liseth wished that she could be brave like that.

Staying with Kerr, the young girl followed when everyone decided that it was time t finish exploring the ruin.  Lamashtu's temple felt somehow less...oppressive now that they had defeated the quasit demon.  But Liseth still felt a chill under the gaze of Lamashtu's image behind the altar and was very glad to be out of the evil place once it was left behind.

"So, Kellan..."  Liseth's mind was still working on a problem, but something that Pisca said a few moments ago gave her an idea.  "Do you think that I could meet with Shayliss?  Since I haven't been able to find Katrine, I could ask Shayliss to convey my apology to her."  The slight acolyte frowned, "I don't want Katrine to keep thinking that I don't care about her feelings.  And she has to see her sister, right?"
The Raconteur
GM, 857 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 9 Apr 2014
at 04:04
  • msg #219

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Led by their intrepid gnomish explorer, the party trekked back the way they had come, returning down the long temple hallway and north to the upset-looking statue of Runelord/lady Alaznist.  As far as they could tell, the death of the quasit had not resulted in any seismic change to the area.  No uncontrolled monsters roamed the halls.  No cracks appeared in the ceilings.  No huge stone boulders descended from above, forcing them to dive out the entrance and into the waiting hands of rival adventurers.

The complex was as quiet as a tomb.

Pisca led them past the statue and down the hallway stretching eastwards from the room where it stood.  Or, rather, led them UP the hallway.  The hall rose relatively steeply over its fifty-foot length, traveling upwards through a stone-lined passageway to an unremarkable but solid stone door at its terminus.  The portal bore no markings indicating its purpose or what might lie behind its uncommunicative stone.  Not even the party's most-acute ears could hear any sound at all from whatever area might lie beyond.

  <Blue>OOC:<pre>

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19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


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


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 818 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 9 Apr 2014
at 13:42
  • msg #220

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"No," the gnome had whispered while on the way to the mysterious door, before realizing that the human arcane scholar was not within the network of her Whisper Magic.  And then, "Badgers," she'd cursed.  "Let's try again with a different selection."  But, this time, when Pisca had begun weaving her fingers in the pattern of the simple spell, she could picture all three of them -Stomper, Lysa, *and* Cato- all in her mind.  "That's better," the gnome had said with a satisfied nod.

"As I was saying," she had then restated, "No, I don't think it has anything to do with the gobbies, Cato.  Probably more to do with one of the Five Families that's willing to burn down other peoples' mills in order to further themselves.  Dangerous people.  And, I think that Katrine Vinder is drawing her family closer to these dangerous people by seeing the man that she's seeing."

"Vim Vinder is very protective of his family," had said the gnome in a recognizable copy of Jubrayl Vhiski's voice.  "And that protectiveness might interfere in others' business, yes?  In a way that might not be ... healthy for anyone."

"This gnome would, personally, rather not see the General Store burned down," she had then said, with a meaningful look in Stomper's direction.  "With, possibly, someone's girlfriend possibly inside.  Something to look into once we settle with the gobbies."

She had gone silent then, after reincarnating her gnome-shaped light and sending it on ahead as she had done many times before.  But here, now, presented with this inscrutable and Highly Stoic door, Pisca chose to send the gnome-shaped light away.

"Lets try this ... "  The gnome gave as small sigh as she switched back from her Whisper Magic to a normal whispered voice for the sake of Kerr Mollin.  "Lets try things a little differently this time.  No light to give us away.  Hide, or extinguish all lights.  I'll open the door as quietly as I can.  Maybe take a look.  Maybe have to take a listen.  Maybe after that, I close the door again."

"Alright?  Ready?"

Stealth check, please.  To open the door w/o being noticed by anyone who might be on the other side.  Oh, and might as well have a Perception check to detect anything on the other side.

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 450 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 9 Apr 2014
at 19:54
  • msg #221

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato gave a small chuckle, and replied via Pisca's spell.  "Somehow, it's good to know that other plots and activity is evolving that has nothing to do with the goblins and these ancient dungeons.  The world keeps spinning, and people keep plotting.  Perhaps it's up to us to ensure that happens, however.  I wouldn't have thought I'd have found myself in this position."

At Pisca's words of preparations, Cato regained his composure, reaching out with his senses, trying to discern anything he could from the dark and quiet around him.  Mostly, he reflected to himself, he'd just wait until Pisca heard something and then react.  He nervously cracked his fingers, limbering up his hands for whatever tiny bit of arcane energy he could still muster versus whatever foes still remained in this dungeon.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 798 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Wed 9 Apr 2014
at 21:23
  • msg #222

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"But, Pisca..."  Liseth recognized that now was the time to be quiet and whispered her responses.  It was a good thing Pisca's magic let her hear what was being said, "Who would have something to gain by burning down the General Store?  They wouldn't want to hurt Mr Vinder and his daughters just because of Katrine's boyfriend; would they?"

"Is that what you were saying earlier?  About how some girls like dangerous and not-so-nice boyfriends?"  Liseth frowned, was Katrine seeing her mystery man because he was tied to a mill-burning plot?  But Katrine wouldn't be party to something like that...right?

"No light?"  Her surprise caused Liseth's voice to scale up beyond a whisper, "But, if there are more monsters, how would we see them?  I don't want to be stuck in the darkness."  Liseth sputtered for a moment before getting an idea.  "Kellan, I'm going to have to cancel the light on your spear."

Touching a hand to Sarenrae's symbol around her neck, Liseth whispered a brief prayer.  The divine focus brightened with light, then she removed it from around her neck and tucked the glowing implement into her pouch so that the light would be concealed.

"Okay Pisca, I'm ready."  In the darkness, the girl reached for Kerr and took hold of his arm; then waited for Pisca to see what was through the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:23, Wed 09 Apr 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 504 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 10 Apr 2014
at 02:18
  • msg #223

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan spoke in a conversational tone, apparently not in the mood for stealth as they travelled. He seemed a bit bothered by Pisca's words, cocking his head as he seem to ponder over the situation.

"So you can't tell us because somebody might get hurt? What exactly do you mean by that...and what do the Vinders have to do with it?"

He threw a glance back at the others behind him in the column as if by habit, to make sure nothing was sneaking up on them before continuing. He obviously did not like this talk of secrets and threats

"Jubrayl may think himself clever, and in some ways he may be. But Sandpoint is not Magnimar ...push these people too hard and he'll find himself run out of town...or hanging from a tree..."

He turned to Liseth "I'm hardly in a position to speak for Shayliss, I don't know what she would say but I don't mind if you try...I'm just the boyfriend"

As the lights went out Kellan tried to quiet his breathing, shifting his weight now and then as they waited.
The Raconteur
GM, 859 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 10 Apr 2014
at 06:01
  • msg #224

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr looked a little troubled by Pisca’s idea.  “Okay,” he said doubtfully, nodding at Liseth’s concern about being able to see the attacking monsters that had seemed pretty plentiful to this point in their exploration.  “But those Rune Dogs didn’t look to have much trouble seeing in the darkness earlier.”  He put a protective arm around the small blonde.  “Seems to me like anything that’s been down here for this long would have developed ways of seeing that didn’t depend on light sources, you know?”

Reservations expressed, the archer acquiesced to Pisca’s plan.  One by one, the party extinguished its lights.  Pisca’s glowing gnome faded into nothingness.  Cato extinguished the light from his staff.  Liseth hid her glowing holy symbol in a pouch so completely that not the faintest glow leaked out.  Kerr dismissed the light that had been glowing from Liseth’s white robes.

And darkness fell.

Or rather, it returned.

The closeness of the passage hadn’t seemed quite so oppressive when the group was traveling with the aid of four different light sources.  But now that all trace of those lights had disappeared, they could almost feel the corridor’s walls pressing in on them, sentinels that had stood for millennia and would stand for millennia more after these strange, scurrying creatures left them in peace.

No one could see anything.  Liseth could feel Kerr’s bicep tighten with tension as she held onto his arm; she fancied she could feel the blood pulsing underneath his skin.  The clink of Kellan’s armor seemed magnified a thousandfold in the still darkness.  Even Cato’s measured inhalation and exhalation appeared to be amplified far beyond the volume that any normal breathing could hope to attain.

Pisca felt around on the door in front of her; the latch that had been so obvious in the brightly-lit corridor was much less so when that corridor was steeped in pitch blackness.  After a few seconds, the groping gnome found the handle and turned it, cracking the door slightly open while listening for any sounds of an occupant in the space beyond or indeed any sign of life at all.

The door's creaking seemed cacophonous, but Pisca knew that the sound of its opening couldn’t have really been that loud.  Yet in the deep, still, dark silence of the passage, it seemed like anything waiting on the other side could not fail to hear the door’s opening as a nigh-heraldic announcement of their presence.

The rest of the group couldn’t tell what Pisca was doing with the door.  Only the sound of the door’s movement gave them any hint that she had done anything at all.  The door’s opening did not cause any movement of air not caused by the door’s movement itself.

If anything did lie in wait on the door's opposite side, it gave no sign of its presence.


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 819 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 10 Apr 2014
at 13:43
  • msg #225

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Ever so quietly, Pisca eased the door closed again.

"Whew.  I didn't hear anything," said the gnome through her Whisper Magic.  "But that doesn't really mean a whole lot.  Except that I didn't hear anything."

With a few quick gestures and the word Jibber Pisca reincarnated her Gnome Shaped light.  Then, in the soft glow from the friendly figure, she faced the four human friends with whom she had found her way into this frightful place.

"Now listen," the gnome began, and, after a moment it became clear that she had jumped tracks and was now speaking of something entirely other than these dangerous Thassilonian ruins and the room beyond the door they now faced and what danger might lie beyond, "what I meant, Stomper, is that I don't know for certain.  That's why I can't tell you.  What I see is like a trail of tasty cheese bits leading little mousies to the edge of a very unstable and crumbly cliff.  I see Katrine Vinder involved with someone at the Scarnetti's mill.  I see Vim Vinder, who is very protective of his family, poking around the Scarnetti's mill in order to find out who Katrine is seeing.  I see the Scarnettis who have many things to hide and a habit of burning down the property of their enemies not liking Vim Vinder poking about their mill."

"And yes, Lys, that is very much what I meant by some girls liking dangerous and not-so-nice boyfriends.  I think it works that way for boys too," the gnome mused, now headed well and truly along a path only marginally tangential to the one dictated by the ancient ruins within which they now stood.  "Boys sometimes like girls who are entirely ill-suited for them.  For some reason known only to fairies and wood spirits, they're attracted to pretty evil things.  And these pretty evil girls always seem to delight in corrupting good boys.  I think there's something in the nature of good and evil that attracts one to the other."

"Alright, now.  Hide."  The short command was the only warning that the gnome had returned to the immediacies of the moment.  "I'm going to throw the door open and send the Gnome-Shaped light through.  Hopefully that will buy us enough time to surprise whatever might be on the other side of this door.  Even more hopefully, there will be nothing on the other side of this door and we'll take it completely by surprise."

"Ready?"

Open door and send the Dancing Lights straight ahead 15ft into the next room.

Stealth check, please.  And Perception.

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Fri 11 Apr 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 451 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 10 Apr 2014
at 14:17
  • msg #226

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Most of the time he had been in town, Cato had thoroughly enjoined Sandpoint.  But occasionally, things in the small community made him jumpy.  And one of them was talk of stringing outsiders up to hang.  Cato tried to appear nonchalant when he turned to Kellan.  "You think Jubrayl might be strung up because he's from Magnimar?  Has the guard had a problem with that sort of thing in the past.  I know Sandpoint had the recent unpleasantness, and now this trouble with the goblins, but it seemed to be a quiet, happy town for the most part."  Cato thought about the people he knew in town.  If there was a xenophobic mob who distrusted him, would Brodert help?  Would Ameiko?  Would Kellan?

Cato shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts.  Exploring these dungeons was no place to think about things like this.  He was a hero in Sandpoint.  Why would they drive him out?  Jubrayl was most certainly not.  And that was why Cato found himself in the dark, listening carefully for some terror to defeat.

He responded to Pisca's whisper magic.  "I think scouting with your lights makes sense.  The Rune Dogs we first encountered in here seemed to attack those first.  Presumably, they're aren't the most intelligent monsters in Golarion."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 802 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Thu 10 Apr 2014
at 20:11
  • msg #227

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The darkness was terrible.  If it wasn't for Kerr's arm around her, and her own grip on him, Liseth was certain that she would already be starting to panic.  She had never liked the darkness; in fact, one of the very first things that she had learned how to do was to summon a divine light to keep such darkness at bay.  The young acolyte couldn't imagine many things worse than being lost in the darkness, unable to see, with monsters lurking about.

Feeling the tension in Kerr, Liseth imagined that she must feel the same way to him.  Audible relief escaped her when Pisca summoned her own small gnome-light to chase away some of the gloom.  At least now she could see something.  Even though the words that followed the newly created light source did little to lessen the tension.  Words that spoke about 'pretty evil girls' who 'delight in corrupting good boys.'

That mean girl Cerlynne came to mind again, causing the diminutive blonde to reflexively tighten her grip on Kerr once more.  But she trusted Kerr; he said that he didn't even like Cerlynne, she had always been mean to him.  Liseth did not, however trust Cerlynne.  Especially after that cruel glare that was leveled at her during their first meeting.

Thinking about things like that was only going to make Liseth upset and anxious, so she did her best to return her attention to the present.  They were still in a dark passage possibly full of monsters, after all.  She recalled Kellan and Cato having said something about stringing up Jubrayl.

"Oh!  No one would do that just because someone was from out of town, would they?"  That didn't sound like anyone in Sandpoint, she had only been in town for a little while and Liseth had never felt unwelcome.  "I mean, wasn't there just all those visitors for the festival?  Nobody seemed upset because of them.  But I suppose that the goblins did kind of interrupt things..."

"Hide?"  Liseth was interrupted by Pisca's command.  She didn't know how to hide!  Not knowing what else to do, the girl simply leaned in closer to her hero-boyfriend.  She spoke back through the Whisper Magic, "Pisca, I'm as ready as I can be.  Wait, if there is nothing in there, how can we take nothing by surprise?"
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 505 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 04:40
  • msg #228

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan seemed to consider the responses then shook his head.

"Well not because he is from Magnimar, I don't even know of he is really...it's just that a lot of people around here associate his type with the big city. We normally don't have many problems with city people, I mean, the sheriffs there right now."

He gestured a little as he spoke.

"But in the city you have so many people, Sandpoint is a close knit little community, pretty much everybody knows the Vinders, most everbody buys from them too. A general store can burn down in the city, and maybe a few people get upset but its just another store, ya know? For us it would be personal..."

He cocks his head a little as he formed his next words

"Its hard to hide in Sandpoint...most everybody knows everybody, and every town has a few bad apples. But there is a big differance between drinking away the day at Fatmans with your thug friends and burning down a store... or murdering someone. Mayor Deverins a fair sort, and not prone to side with a mob...she'll act on evidence, but if even the rumor got around that Jubrayl was involved in anything that serious I imagine they would run him out...stop selling to him, stop selling to people who deal with him, people are afraid of him, sure, but that only goes so far for so long..."

He readied his weapon

"Anyway...guess we should get back to work" he added with a nod as Pisca threw open the door
The Raconteur
GM, 866 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 06:47
  • msg #229

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca gently opened the stone door for a second time, in this instance with much-better illumination, and sent her gnome-shaped lights dancing into the circular room she discovered on the other side.  The small chamber was dominated by a round stone pool located in its exact center.  Water rippled quietly in the pool, the rim of which was lined with skulls.

Indeed, skulls seemed to be the order of the day when it came to decor for this particular room.  Pisca's sorcerous light cast ominous shadows across its expanse, reveling the decapitated, dessicated heads of various creatures, both real and stylized, placed carefully about in a macabre imitation of interior design.  Skulls of varying sizes hung from the walls, some obviously carved from wood, some metal, and some (most disturbingly) from bone.  Each skull stared down at the pool in the room's center, as if to ensure that nothing pool-related could possibly occur without their knowledge.

On the other side of the room, about 15 feet away from where Pisca stood in the doorway, was another door.  This far portal was twin to the one Pisca had just opened in every perceivable way.  The gnome's light-homunculous stood patiently and politely in front of the stone barrier, as if waiting for someone to open it.

Other than the staring, leering skulls and the mysterious pool that had captured their attention, there seemed to be no recognizable threat in the room.  The area was quiet except for the rippling pool's infrequent sloshing.

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
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1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |R |L |C |K |P D  |PP|DLD  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  |RPPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


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

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


This message was last edited by the GM at 17:50, Fri 11 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 824 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 12:46
  • msg #230

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Nothing ... " said the gnome, as though in a whispered answer to Liseth's question.  "That's a surprise."

"You see," she went on to explain, "this gnome was thinking that this must be an entrance from the surface.  Or, it must, at one time, have been an entrance from the surface.  Not only does the hallway to this point incline upwards, which I'm sure you've all noticed.  But, that statue of Runelord Lady Alaznist back there is facing in this direction, which you might not have noticed, welcoming, or warning, if you will, all who enter from above."

"And, the reason this is surprising," Pisca goes on to explain even further, "is that if I were a gnome with my very own underground laboratory and prison catacombs, I would put a guard on the entrance."

"But," the gnome then shrugs, "maybe that's just me."  With a twitch of her finger, she directs the Gnome-Shaped Light to wander slowly along the southern wall of the room as though admiring the craniofacial decor.

"This still looks like a highly likely place for an ambush, though.  And not all guardians are Rune Dogs, or even living, so wait here while I make sure that no huge stone balls are going to roll down on us when we lift the golden idol before following me into the room.  Alright?"

And with those words, the gnome begins a thorough search for tripwires and pressure plates as she traverses the room to the north of the mysterious and possibly deadly pool.

Perception, please.  To search for traps.

BTW, how high is the ceiling in this room?  Is there any possibility that there are spikes in the ceiling?  Is there a lip or raised wall around the pool?

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 825 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 19:37
  • msg #231

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Well, that was almost shocking," commented the gnome as she arrived at the far door none the worse for having traversed the Incredibly Dangerous But Absolutely Trap Free room with a pool.

Nothing.

"Nothing!" Pisca straightened from her stealthy crouch and called back across the pool to the others just outside the far door.  "Looks safe."

On the other hand, would you trap your front door if you were one of seven competing Thassilonian Runelords?  The answer that came to the mind of the gnome gave her pause.  But it was still not enough to stay her hand as it reached up to open the far door to whatever might lie beyond.

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 453 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 20:12
  • msg #232

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

As their explorations revealed yet another empty room, Cato began to suspect that the truly stressful part about exploring these dungeons wasn't the encounters with whatever horrid beasts still sheltered here, but instead the tension about exactly when those encounters would occur.  The wizard looked around again and shivered.  Not that the decor improved the mood any.  Cato couldn't imagine spending everyday in a place like this.  Would the cultists or who or whatever else lived and worked here adjust to it?  Did this room of staring skulls seem normal when you'd walked through it 100 times?  Maybe that explained part of the insanity of the Quasit.  After passing through this room everyday for millennia, summoning Rune Dogs and creating other monsters must seem like a completely normal thing to do.  Or did those creatures start out wrong, and this place had always seemed right and normal?

Cato sighed.  It was hard to be on guard for this long, and it was weighing on him, along with the sheer amount of arcane power he had channeled.  Then again, the wizard considered himself lucky.  Kellan and Pisca had suffered far more serious physical harm than he, and Pisca for one seemed to be completely okay.  Then again, the gnome always seemed to be disturbingly energetic regardless of what had just happened.

"Is that what being a guardsman is like, Kellan?  Hours of tedium interspersed with brief moments of sheer terror?  How do you do it everyday?  I had some brief..." Cato searched for a good word, "experiences with this in the past, but this is harder.  Maybe it's the surroundings, or the horrific nature of the beasts we end up fighting against, but it's enough to age a person prematurely.  And nothing's even touched me.  You've been bit and cut and beaten up worse than any of us.  Well, aside from maybe Pisca."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 826 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 22:40
  • msg #233

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Humm?"  Pisca heard her name spoken.  Then she heard something else.

"SOMETHING!!!"  And still, despite all her apparent panic, despite her mad diving roll back across the room, the gnome kept to her silent discipline and whispered back through her magic.  Truth be told, it was a rather loud-ish whisper.  But, it was a whisper none the less.

"Something!  Somethingsomethingsomethingsomething somethingsomethingsomething!"

She fetched up just outside the room.  Eyes wide, she stared hard back into the room where her Gnome-Shaped light stared back, quietly waiting for commands.

"Lysa?  How quickly can you become a ghost?" the gnome asked.  "I heard wings.  Flapping wings.  You don't think Quasit Girl is following us around as a ghost, do you?"

Acrobatics to tumble back out the door from which she came.

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -2

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 804 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 12 Apr 2014
at 00:28
  • msg #234

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Skulls?!  When Pisca's gnome-light illuminated the many gruesome and various skulls displayed throughout the small room, Liseth had a start.  What possible function could all of those horrible skulls serve?  Who would even want to put them there like they were, arranged all around that small pool which the girl hoped did not summon any Rune Dogs like the last one did.

But the group was moving forward, into the room.  They had to, there was still another door on the other side of the room which might contain anything.  Liseth didn't make it very far though.

When Pisca said it was safe, or at least that she heard nothing, Liseth thought it was okay.  As far as dark, skull-filled, scary rooms with mystical pools could be considered okay.  Then the gnome whisper-shouted that there was indeed something!  And tumbled back through the little room.

Liseth had another start.  Expecting something terrible to happen, the small blonde found herself ducking behind Kerr and whispering frantically to back to Pisca, "What is it?!"

"A GHOST?  I don't...I don't think that demons can become ghosts.  I hope that they can't."  Liseth squeezed her arms around Kerr's waist, staring forward for signs of demon-ghosts.  "Kerr, you could see if there was a ghost hiding in there, right?"

"Pisca, is it okay for me to bring out my light again?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:29, Sat 12 Apr 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 506 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 12 Apr 2014
at 01:22
  • msg #235

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan crept along with the others, stop, shuffle, listen, stop, wait shuffle. He was glad that they were taking their time but a small part of him just wanted to throw open the doors cone what may. Taking a deep breath he steadied himself and spoke to Cato over his shoulder.

"Maybe in the big cities...but Sandpoint it is mostly boredom. Its kind of rough because the Sheriff and Alergast are very big on keeping us to a professional standard...and that requires a little detachment sometimes. I think as kind of a small town outlanders tend to expect us to be corrupt or incompetent bumpkins with spears."

He shifted his weight a little bit, feeling the strain of the days work on his shoulders and back

"When things do go bad, like the late unpleasentness...or the goblin attacks it seems to pretty much come out of the blue. One day your trying to deal with cattle grazing on the wrong land, or a husband and wife having a spat, and the next your fighting for your life...or hacking up a thousand year old demon" He grinned "Kind of a weird feeling"

At Piscas warning he froze and readied his weapon, expecting something to burst through the door
The Raconteur
GM, 867 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sat 12 Apr 2014
at 07:33
  • msg #236

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The group moved hesitantly into the circular room when Pisca gave the all-clear, skirting the skull-rimmed pool as they advanced carefully towards the chamber's other door.  No one saw anything amiss; there was no discernable movement aside from the pool's gentle rippling.

Suddenly Pisca began whisper-yelling and diving back along her line of allies to and through the open door by which they had all just entered the room.  Each of them managed to dodge out of the gnome's way, gripping their various weapons, holy symbols or arcane components as they looked around, wide-eyed, for whatever had caused her to go leaping so violently away from the still-closed door at the other end of the room.  It seemed as if she might have heard something from beyond that portal that didn't agree with her.

Then suddenly, they all heard it.

The gentle rustling.

At first, it seemed as if it might be a particularly forceful sloshing from the pool, but the more-perceptive members of the party quickly determined that that wasn't it.  It was almost like a . . . like a flapping.  The flapping noise gradually became more pronounced, finally allowing them to locate it by direction.

That direction was . . . directly above them.

As the party slowly looked up, they were horrified to find two blackened fiends' heads unfurling heretofore hidden wings from the shadows which had to this point concealed them.  Tentacles dangled from the skulls' chins and scalps, and their fanged mouths hung agape, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.

As the group watched in stunned silence, wondering what sort of new devilry this might be, the animated skulls opened their mouths wide, distending them far past the point where any normal creature would have dislocated its jaw.

Then they shrieked.

These shrieks were not normal, run-of-the-mill shrieks, like those made by a person suddenly surprised by something frightening.  No, these shrieks were louder, and fuller, and altogether more terrible.  They were shrieks of hideous despair that wallowed in the secret pain each person carried with them, even those hidden from all others.  They were shrieks that delved deep inside, piercing the soul, allowing for all the ill feelings, self-doubt, and insecurities that might be sequestered there to well up and overwhelm the psychic defenses that normally held them at bay.

They were the shrieks of the damned, and they threatened to overwhelm the party before combat could even be joined.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |XL|  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |P D R|PP|1 D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |X2|C |KX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  |RPPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


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

1 = Skull #1
2 = Skull #2

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights
Combat:

Everyone needs to make two DC 12 Fortitude checks against the shrieks, one for each skull.  Please note against which skull you are rolling (#1 or #2) as you are immune to a particular skull's shriek once you successfully save against it.

If you fail one or both of these Fortitude checks you are paralyzed for 2d4 rounds.

If you make both saves you may take an immediate combat action.  The skulls are located on the walls about 15 feet up.




This message was last edited by the GM at 07:36, Sat 12 Apr 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 807 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 12 Apr 2014
at 15:48
  • msg #237

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Gentle rustling.  In any other time or place the sound might seem innocent; normal even.  But down here, under the ground with so many staring, horrible skulls perched around the small room, Liseth thought that the rustling was the most terrifying noises that she had ever heard.  The girl found herself looking all over, trying to locate the source.

Once she had, she wished that she hadn't.

Liseth met the shrieks of the winged, fanged, tentacled...head monster things with a shriek of her own.  Screaming in terror, horror, and dismay, the young blonde acolyte tried to cover her ears in order to shut out the terribly evil noise.  In doing so she lost her grip on Kerr and stumbled backwards, trying her best to get away from the monsters and their shriek.

Bumping her back into the wall, she realized that she wasn't getting away quite as effectively as she had hoped.  Under the oppression of the unrelenting shrieks she almost crouched down right there in a tear-streaked panic.  Liseth felt the worst kind of panic coming one, and she almost froze.

But, she didn't.  All of her secret self-doubts and insecurity tried to come up to the surface again; but they didn't.  They weren't secret anymore; they couldn't hurt her because she had just shared them, all of them, with Kerr.

The horrible monsters were made no less terrifying though.  Sputtering with small, unintelligible noises, Liseth retrieved her Befuddler Bag once more.  The girl tried to throw it, she hoped that it would make them stop, but when she attempted the maneuver found the bag slipping from her fingers and dropping straight into the floor.

OOC:
Move: Retrieve Befuddler (Again)
Standard: Throw Befuddler; Natural 1

06:56, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 22 using 1d20+3. Fortitude Save #2.
06:56, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 23 using 1d20+3. Fortitude Save #1.
07:01, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Throw Befuddler at Skull Face #1.

At least I made the important rolls!
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 508 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 12 Apr 2014
at 17:16
  • msg #238

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan had been so focused on the door that even the rustling above him failed to draw any attention until it was nearly too late. With both hands on his weapon his ears were left to the mercy of the shrieking, that seemed to piece his skull right into the most sensitive regions. His hearing rang and ached, causing him to clench his eyes shut in pain and shock.

The sensation was momentary however, as the guardsman managed to pry himself lose from the shock to step forward and crane his neck up at whatever this wretched creature was. Letting the spear tip trail along the floor as he moved he suddenly whipped the business end around up at the thing, the blade giving that signature sound as it passed.

HP: 35/35
AC: 18
Move: 5' Step to W4
Standard: Reach, Power Attack Skull #1
10:07, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 14 using 2d4+7. Damage Skull #1.
10:06, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 19 using 1d20+7. Reach Power Attack Skull #1.


This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Sat 12 Apr 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 454 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sun 13 Apr 2014
at 01:03
  • msg #239

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato stared up at the skulls, taking in the latest form of monster in these dungeons.  At first, he was relieved.  Some sort of flying undead, perhaps?  Compared to the Rune Dogs, these monsters didn't seem nearly as bad.  Something tugged at the back of his mind, that perhaps these skulls were something to worry about, but then they opened their fanged jaws and shrieked.  Perhaps if it had just been one skull, Cato would have been able to act.  But the two together was too much to take.  Cato's mind flooded with painful moments from this life, freezing the mage in place.

He remembered his father, on the day he left to join the Hellknights.  "Ha!  Been reading books all your life, and what has it got you so far?  You won't last a week with the Hellknights before you're forced to come crawling back here."

He remembered the look on Paravicar Lucius Winters' face when he tracked Cato down in Magnimar, and the threat: "The Order WILL find traitors!"

He remembered a dozen nights spent in roadside inns, in villages, looking over his shoulder, constantly paranoid that another Hellknight agent would send a report of him back to Korvosa.

And all Cato could do was stare, frozen at the shrieking skulls above him.


OOC:
20:54, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Fortitude Save vs Skull #2.
20:54, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Fortitude Save vs Skull #1.


20:55, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 3 using 2d4. Paralyze Duration.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Sun 13 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 828 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 13 Apr 2014
at 23:44
  • msg #240

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I knew it!"  The gnome cried out even as her hand reached for an arrow from her quiver.  "I knew it, Iknewit-Iknewit-IIII-AAAAAAAAAAAIIIII!"  Pisca's voice rose in pitch as though in tandem with the twin sonic declarations of death and despair issuing from the mouths of the pair of tentacle waving skulls.  The screams of death pushed in on the gnome's psyche, but the voice of the gnome pushed back.

"CUT THAT OUT!" Pisca snapped in the direction of the two skulls as her own shout peaked and ended.   Then she also snapped off an arrow in the direction of the furthest T-Skull, driving the shaft deep into it's mouth.

Attack S1

Could you roll an appropriate knowledge check for Pisca to identify these creatures and one or two weaknesses?

16:16, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Fort vs S2.
16:16, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 15 using 1d20+3. Fort vs S1.


16:41, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 22 using 1d20+6. Hit S1.

16:41, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 3 using 1d4+1. Damage.

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 54 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 14 Apr 2014
at 20:33
  • msg #241

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr thought he would be very, very justified in starting to feel just a little bit skittish about entering ANY room in this godsforsaken place.  First there were Rune Dogs boiling out into the corridor, then there was the vengeful quasit, and now there were . . . whatever these things were.  And Pisca had even said that the room was safe!

Truth be told, the acolyte was feeling a mite bit put-upon by whatever mad Thassilonian had designed this place.

But in this case, he also questioned the mad Thassilonian’s skills.  Kerr wasn’t sure exactly what it was that the tentacle wing-skulls were supposed to do; they certainly didn’t seem to be the most impressive guardians imaginable.  Maybe they had a vicious head-butt of some sort?  Kerr really didn’t want to wait around to find out.  He reached back for an arrow, and then . . .

. . . and then they shrieked.  A deep, anguished, harrowing shriek that searched through one’s psyche and sought for any hidden hangups that might be used to rack the recipient with grief, doubt, or indecision.

Fortunately Kerr didn’t have much along those lines to get hung up about.  Or at least he didn’t think so.  But suddenly he was almost overwhelmed by a fear of losing Liseth.  Of her lying bleeding and broken, dead at his feet after he was unable to save her from a painful, horrific end.  Of never hearing her musical laugh, never seeing her shy smile, never walking along the Turandarok with her, listening to her talk about the gulls.  The vision was so powerful, it was . . . .

Courage, my child.  A voice stole through Kerr’s mind, banishing his anguished thought of a perished Liseth and clearing his mind for what needed to be done.  His vision cleared.  Nocking an arrow, he sent one flying after Pisca’s towards the first skull, turning quickly and sending another almost directly upwards at the second.

He would not fail Liseth.  Not now.

Not ever.

OOC:

Kerr’s Shriek Saves

13:00, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 19 using 1d20+8. Fortitude Save v. Skull No. 2.
12:59, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 12 using 1d20+8. Fortitude Save v. Skull No. 1.

Kerr Turn:

Full Round Action – Rapid Shot

Move – None

Attacks –

13:06, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 15 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #1 (PBS, DA).
Damage (+DA).
13:07, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 7 using 1d8+4. Rapid Shot #1 Damage (+DA).

13:06, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #2 (PBS, DA).
13:07, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 10 using 1d8+4. Rapid Shot #2


This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Mon 14 Apr 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 875 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 14 Apr 2014
at 21:07
  • msg #242

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The skull at the far side of the room had barely finished its horrific wail when it was immediately shattered by the tripartite force of Kellan's poleaxe, Pisca's shot, and Kerr's first arrow.  No longer animate, the skull's broken fragments immediately fell to the floor, where they lay on a bed of tentacles that flopped for a couple of seconds more before they too were still.

The second skull received a direct hit from Kerr's arrow, but that wasn't enough to ground it.  It flew down toward Cato, the only person who had succumbed to its scream, just barely dodging Kellan's poleaxe as the warrior swung it back around in a desperate attempt to knock the creature off its course before it reached the wizard.

Kellan's attempt was for naught.  The skull reached Cato and fastened itself onto the paralyzed scholar's mouth, giving him a deep kiss.  The whites of Cato's eyes stood out prominently as he was forced to endure this horrific invasion of his person, but he was unable to do anything to prevent it.  The scholar felt the skull's decay and rot seep through his mouth, down his throat, and into his lungs as his horrified companions brought their weapons to bear, intent on destroying the thing that was attacking their friend.

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
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1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |P D R|PP|K D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |X2|C | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  |RPPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


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

2 = Skull #2

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights

Skull #1 takes 24 points of damage and is destroyed.

Skull #2 takes 10 points of damage.

SKULL TURN

Skull Number 2

Move:  5' directly downward to attack Cato

Attack:  Melee Touch Attack (Kiss) on Cato

Per Special Rule, inspires AoO from Kellan

13:45, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Polearm AoO (Power Attack).

Skull Kiss Attack

13:47, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skull No. 2, rolled 19 using 1d20+5. Kiss Attack on Cato.

13:47, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Skull No. 2, rolled 19 using 1d20+5. Kiss Attack on Cato.

13:48, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Cato Crispin, rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Fortitude Save.




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 835 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 14 Apr 2014
at 22:40
  • msg #243

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Soul Tormentors!" cried the gnome.   "It's laying its young in Cato's chest!!!  They'll keep him dormant!  It'll kill him if we try to cut them out!  it'll grow and grow and soon it'll burst out of his chest and hunt us down, stalking us across the levels, burning holes through the deck with its acid blood!"

The words made less and less sense as she went on, but Pisca could not stop the images that flooded her brain.  So dark.  So intense.  So full of cold, naked fear and a brutal, uncaring malice.  Overcome by these images the gnome drew and fired again, unaware, this time, of whether her arrows hit or not.

15:33, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Hit the Soul Tormentor.
15:34, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 2 using 1d4+1. Damage.

Position: T4

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 819 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Mon 14 Apr 2014
at 23:56
  • msg #244

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Finally, finally their terrible shrieking ended.  Thanks in no small part to one of the horrible flying skull face monsters being broken apart by Kerr's and Pisca's arrows and Kellan's spear no doubt.  Liseth was desperate for her light now and reached down to her side in order to retrieve her glowing focus from it's place concealed within her pouch.  With the comforting, white light now aglow in her hand, the girl held it up to better illuminate the room along with Pisca's glow-gnome.

Her eyes found the remaining skull monster just as it violated Cato by pressing it's filthy, rotten lips on his mouth and...kissing him.  Deeply.  The young acolyte was mortified beyond words and her mouth merely hung open in horror and revulsion.  Then like a trap her mouth snapped shut and her focus-less hand covered her mouth.

Pisca's 'explanation' of what it was doing to Cato didn't help Liseth much either.  She took a step away, frantically searching the room for any more of them that might be waiting to swoop down on her and do the same.  Reaching her hand, with the brightly-lit focus clutched tightly in her grasp, towards the now-nearby Kellan, the young girl touched it to him.

"Kellan, you have to stop it before that thing Pisca said happens!"

Move: Retrieve Glowing Focus
Free: 5-Foot Step to V3
Standard: Cast Guidance on Kellan (+1 to an attack, save, or skill check)
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 511 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 00:56
  • msg #245

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan had no idea what Pisca was on about, but it sounded absolutely horrid. Yes despite Liseths blessings and all the good will he could muster Kellan could not seem to hit the blasted tentacled thing, perhaps our of fear of striking Cato. Between the dim light, Piscas dire omens and the gallery of skulls peering down on them, it was enough to throw the young guardsmans aim.

HP: 35/35
AC: 18
Move: 5' step to W5
Standard: Reach Attack Skull 2
17:49, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 13 using 1d20+8. Reach attack Skull 2 w/ guidance.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 458 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 01:34
  • msg #246

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

After the "kiss" had been delivered, Cato found himself once again able to move.  "Kiss" really was a poor explanation for what happened, as the awful sense of decay crept into his body.  He let out a shuddering breath, and then quickly took a step back.  "Ah!  That was awful.  I can feel it inside me."  Cato retched, and weakly wiped his mouth.  "Pisca was right.  That's how these things reproduce.  And it did it to me."

The wizard's eyes glared at the flying skull, and he snapped up his crossbow and let a bolt fly.  The effects of the paralysis and his retching ruined his aim, and the bolt sailed wide.

Cato stood, shuddering.  Every report from his body's nerves was a new symptom of infection.  Had his ears itched 5 minutes ago?  Was his scalp tingling?  When did his shoulders start aching?  "We need to finish in here and talk with someone back in town.  Maybe Father Zantus can help.  Whatever that thing has started doing to me, we need to stop."

*Edited for continued paralysis
*Edited again for activity
Move Action: 5' step back to W5
Standard Action: Shoot Crossbow

21:29, Yesterday: Cato Crispin rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Crossbow Attack vs Skull 2.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:27, Tue 15 Apr 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 55 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 13:46
  • msg #247

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr grinned as the first skull burst into pieces and fell to the ground, but his thrill of victory was short-lived.  The young archer blanched as he watched the second fiend shrug off his bowshot and descend to attach itself to a seemingly-frozen Cato Crispin.

Liseth unveiled her light just in time for Kerr to see, in disgusting detail, the skull give Cato the nastiest perversion of a kiss one could possibly imagine.  With all the horrors the young acolyte had seen this morning, this was the first one that had nearly made him lose his breakfast.

Steeling himself against his revulsion, Kerr almost stumbled backwards, giving himself room to shoot, and sent another two arrows speeding towards the monstrosity.  The first missed, but the second looked to be right on target . . .

OOC:

Full-Round Action:  Rapid Shot.

Move:  5-foot step to U3.

Attack:

06:21, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 11 using 1d8+4.  Rapid Shot #2 Damage (+ Deadly Aim).
06:21, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 20 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #2 (PBS, DA).
06:20, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 13 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #1 (PBS, DA).


The Raconteur
GM, 879 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 15:34
  • msg #248

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


As the skull finished with its ghastly osculation, it detached from Cato, dipping down just in time to avoid yet another slash from Kellan's polearm.  Meanwhile, Cato, who had shrugged off his paralysis, stumbled backwards and brought up his crossbow, but in his disgust at what had happened sent his shot wide of its mark.  The skull, with some fancy flying, was just able to dodge Pisca's shot and one of Kerr's arrows, but Kerr's second shot struck true, bursting the monster into pieces and scattering it across the corner of the room.

In the sudden quiet, Cato's dry heaving and retching seemed incredibly loud.  The water from the pool gently lapped at its skull-lined rim as the group stood there, stunned at what had happened in the space of no more than twenty seconds.

Kerr was the first to break the silence.  "Cato!"  He said, dashing to the scholar's side.  "What . . . "  Pisca's yelling finally registered with him, as did Cato's more-sober explanation of what had just happened.  Kerr had thought he could not possibly be any more disgusted with the situation than he already was.  He had thought wrong.

"Wait," the acolyte said, not wanting to understand.  "Cato, are you saying that thing, um, IMPREGNATED you?"


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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |XR| L| X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |G D  |PP|K D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  |CX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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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
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights

Skull #2 takes 11 points of damage and is destroyed.

Combat concluded.



Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 461 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 15:52
  • msg #249

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato nodded weakly in response to Kerr's question.  Vigorous motion still threatened to make the scholar queasy, though he seemed to have finished for the moment.  Just the thought of that thing...Cato shivered and forced him mind to move on.

"Yes, from what I understand, that's exactly what it did.  Those things reproduce by kissing, and I can still feel..."  Cato's stomach roiled and he trailed off, trying to think of other things.  Cato looked first to Kerr, than to Liseth.  "I don't suppose you know any divine spells for abortion?  I don't think Sarenrae would mind in this case, seeing as how it would kill one of those monsters before it was born."

Cato looked at Pisca.  "Do you anything about how long this gestation period is?  Do we have time to finish down here before getting help in town?"

The wizard stowed his crossbow and pulled out his quarterstaff, leaning on the heavy carved wood.  "I think I'm feeling a little better.  At least I should be able to manage down here if we need to.  At the very least, we need to make sure there's no more of those flying skulls down here.  Could you imagine if those got loose in Sandpoint?  I think it'd be worse than the Rune Dogs."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 512 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 15:55
  • msg #250

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan rushed over even as the disparate pieces of rotten skull were still settling upon the floor, the jangling mail and clatter from his armaments incredibly loud in the small enclosed space. He sincerely doubted that he could help against whatever black craft  Cato was reffering to, bur the urge to try something was too much.

"Cato!" He called perhaps a bit loudly as his boot crushed a small concave piece of skull in his passage.

"Your sure your ok? What was that thing?" He shot a worried look to Liseth and Kerr "Should we head back up straight away?"

His concern was worn plainly on his face. He wished that he knew more about the world and the things that lived on and beneath it.

"Stop jumping to conclusions, let him speak" he admonished himself interally "Keep it together"

He willed his heart to slow down and took a slow breath. Panicking would solve nothing here.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 836 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 17:04
  • msg #251

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I ... I ... "  Pisca's feet shifted uncomfortably, driven by sympathetic waves of squeamishness.  Rune Dogs she'd been prepared for.  And Quasits.  And death.  Even the eventuality of death was something that the gnome had steeled herself for, whether it be her own or one of the other Saviors of Sandpoint.  Even death would have been ... heroic in its own tragic way.  But, the slow painful, debilitating, demise as one became the spawning grounds of the evil ...

"I don't know, Cato.  They ... The Soul Tormentors are from the fiendish outer demesnes.  They ... Time ...  I don't know, Cato.  Time might pass differently there than it does here.  It could be hours.  It could be years.  And there's no guarantee that we'll have what we need up in Sandpoint to get it out of you, either.  I mean, what if we need eye of newt and no one has eye of newt?  We might have to send to Magnimar for eye of newt, and that might take days."

"I think we should go now.  Um ... Kerr, could you take one of the Soul Tormentors with you too?  We'll go to Father Zantus.  The Soul Tormentors are fiendish, so he'll probably know what to do.  But it might be best to take one so that he knows exactly what he's dealing with.  Or, maybe he might need a part of the Tormentor that kissed you, Cato.  It would be really bad to go all the way back to Sandpoint only to find that we needed it, wouldn't it.  Or, maybe better to take both, huh?  They're from the outer demesnes just like the Quasit, right?  Best not to leave bits and pieces around to become the foci of unholy rituals."

The gnome sighed.  It was a sigh of worry.  It was a sigh the color of deep concern, heavy with an aura of frustration.

"But ... but, but first, I'm going to see what's behind that door.  Get ready."  And, without really leaving a whole lot of time for readiness, Pisca opened the door.

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 820 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 18:56
  • msg #252

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"It...but..."  Liseth was still processing what had just happened.  It had been over so quickly!  The light cast by her glowing focus made eerie shadows dance on the wall of the skull-filled chamber; thanks to her shaking hand clutching it so tightly and the light spilling through her fingers.

A loud gasp escaped her when the small acolyte realized that she was surrounded by those staring, grotesque skulls that were arranged in the room.  Any one of them might be another of those monsters, waiting to strike!  She desperately invaded Kerr's personal space, pale and wide-eyed in shock.

"How could it do that?  By kissing you?"  Liseth cringed at the thought; as though a horrible skull-faced monster kissing you wasn't bad enough!  It was a twisted perversion of the worst kind.  She had wondered before what having a baby was like; there was never an older woman around to tell her.  She supposed that was one of the things mothers were supposed to teach their daughters.

But having an awful monster put its...its spawn inside of you was too terrible for her to imagine.  Liseth didn't know how Cato was so calm; if it had happened to her she would be an absolute wreck by now.

"I don't know any magic that can take a baby out of someone; even a baby monster.  That isn't the sort of thing that Sarenrae teaches."  The girl looked down at her white-knuckled grip on her holy symbol to Sarenrae and frowned in thought.  "Maybe a priest of Pharasma could help; if we can find one?  Or even a priest for Naderi...as long as her solution isn't killing yourself."  She frowned again.

"Um...um...I think that we should go right away."  Liseth placed her divine focus back around her neck while she answered Kellan.  "We should take one of these...Soul Tormentors?  We should take one to Mr Voon too.  He knew all about the quasit, maybe he knows about these too?"

Anxiously rubbing Kerr's arm, Liseth watched Cato lean heavily on his staff.  She suddenly released Kerr and swung her knapsack off of her shoulders, setting it down on the ground.  Leaning over it, the girl dug around for a few moments before taking a tin cup out from within the knapsack.  Holding it in both hands, she walked to Cato before concentrating a moment to fill the cup with clean water.  Then she offered the cup of water to the stricken wizard.

"Maybe a drink will make you feel a little better?  You could...um...wash out your mouth at least."  Frowning in concern as she looked up at Cato's face, Liseth tried to think of some kind of solution.  "Do you think that medicine from my healer's kit will help?"  She watched Pisca open the next door, "Maybe the...um...the monster baby is like a parasite?  The right medicine might get rid of it?"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 462 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 19:03
  • msg #253

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato gladly took the offered cup.  He took half the water into his mouth, and spit it back onto the ground.  Then he downed the remaining half of the cup, waiting to feel the cool trickle as it made its way into his viscera.

"I'm as concerned about whatever that skull put inside me as any of you.  I want it out as soon as possible.  But if another of those things made it out of here and attacked someone in Sandpoint when we could have prevented it, I don't think I'd ever be able to live with myself.  The people above are counting on us to end the menace these dungeons represent.  There could be even worse things down here than what we've already seen."  Cato shuddered.  "Though I can't immediately think of what those might be, and what we've seen so far has been bad enough.  I'm a little worried that with the quasit gone, whatever else is lurking down here might not respect the boundaries of the dungeon."

Cato stood up straight, flexing his knees and arms.  "I feel okay for right now.  Whatever that thing did to me, it's not immediately affecting me.  Kerr, would you mind taking one of those skull-corpses in a bag?  I'll really have to owe you for bags now, between the quasit and these things.  Hopefully, when we're back in Sandpoint, Father Zantus or Voon or someone can help me.  Maybe even Brodert!  He's read a lot more than I have.  I'm sure someone in town has heard of this or can do something about it."

Cato smiled a little.  "Or at least I hope they can.  Maybe you're right, Liseth.  Maybe this is like a parasite or a disease, and we can find a way to cure it."
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 56 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 16 Apr 2014
at 19:58
  • msg #254

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr looked vaguely ill; he hugged Liseth tight as she flew to him in her distress.  “That’s . . . that’s just horrible, Cato.”  He gave the shattered skull a look of distaste as he listened to the wizard’s explanation, favoring the remaining skulls in the room with his own suspicious glance.  “And now that you mention it, I think I learned something about this kind of thing in my theological studies for the priesthood.  Apparently priests should know about these things, I guess.”  He looked at the scholar with some trepidation.  “And if I learned it aright, the way these,” he kicked a skull fragment, “things reproduce isn’t by laying eggs in your stomach, or anything like that.  It’s by, um,” he looked uncomfortable, “giving you a disease that eventually turns you into one of them.”  He shrugged uncomfortably.  “Or your head at least.  Which is a silver lining of sorts, isn’t it?”  Kerr looked as if he was trying hard to believe his own words.  “I mean, diseases can be cured, right?  Um, easier than removing unwanted demon babies.”  He paused, not really liking where his train of thought was going.  “I would think.”

The young acolyte gamely changed the subject.  “But I agree, I think it’s important that we finish clearing this place out as quickly as we can, then get you to Father Zantus.  He’s a full priest, and very knowledgeable, so hopefully he’ll know what to do.”  Kerr gave Pisca a half-hearted grin as she suggested he collect the destroyed creatures for study.  “You know I’m never going to be able to use these bags again, right?  I’m going to have to burn them.”  Nevertheless, he knelt down and began placing the fragmented, formerly-flying skull into the aforementioned bag.

“And no, I don’t even want to imagine what would happen if some of these things got loose in Sandpoint.”  He stopped and looked up at Cato.  “You know, if I remember correctly the disease is delayed by daylight, or the presence of a strong light source.  Maybe we should keep you as lit up as possible?  You know, just to be safe.”

Kerr looked up in concern as Pisca headed for the rooms sole sealed portal.  “Wait, Pisca, I’m not done, do you want to . . .”  But the gnome had already thrown the door open, revealing whatever horrors might lie beyond.


This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Wed 16 Apr 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 464 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 16 Apr 2014
at 20:02
  • msg #255

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato barely had time to respond before Pisca flung the next open.  "Ah, that certainly makes sense, I suppose.  So these flying skulls here used to belong to some poor unfortunate soul who turned into more of them?  That's hard to contemplate.  Well, if sunlight helps delay the disease, that's fortunate.  I'll try and stay in the light down here, for whatever good it does, and then see Father Zantus as soon as we finish."

Cato whispered, and his staff flared to brilliance in front of him.  "It's not sunlight, I guess, but maybe it will help."
The Raconteur
GM, 882 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 16 Apr 2014
at 20:08
  • msg #256

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca flung the door open to find . . . that whatever horrors remained in these evil catacombs were not present in the space beyond.  Rather, she found a 15-foot passageway, a smaller twin to the one that had led to the Skull Room, making a steady incline upwards to yet another unmarked, closed stone door.

OOC:

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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights



This message was last edited by the GM at 20:08, Wed 16 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 841 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 16 Apr 2014
at 20:33
  • msg #257

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Pisca frowned.  More doors.  How many doors did they need?  This wasn't even a proper room.

"Are you sure, Kerr?" the gnome asked, turning her back to the newly opened stretch of short corridor.  "I could have sworn ... "  The images had been so intense that she never even questioned the fact that it was nothing that she'd ever actually seen herself with her own eyes before.  Even more curious, the gnome didn't really find this in any way odd.  "I have a vague memory of this sort of thing requiring a ... a ripley ... for the cure.  Whatever that is."

She shrugged.  "Well, at least the floor is still going up.  It might open up into sunlight.  Then we can get help.  And, you know, if the disease is stopped by sunlight, then maybe the Tormenters couldn't have made it into Sandpoint anyway.  Well, during the day at least.  I suppose night would have been bad."

"Lets keep going."  Pisca turned back to the empty corridor, and for the first time today wished that she had her hat.  Some places were just simply hat places, and this place seemed like one of them.  But, there was no going all of the way back just for a hat.  Sometimes you just had to make do.  Sometimes life was disappointing that way.  Gnomes didn't always get their way, as amazing as that was to imagine.

"Lets see what's behind door number two," she said as she stepped cautiously into the corridor and made her way with great care and much alertness.  Hopefully this short stretch of corridor wasn't designed to suddenly fill with sand.  That could make things difficult.

Perception check for traps.

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

This message was last edited by the player at 23:21, Wed 16 Apr 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 514 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 16 Apr 2014
at 20:52
  • msg #258

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was obviously having reservations about continuing with Cato in his current state. The thought that these hideous winged thungs had been people like himself made his stomach clench up. He could scarcely imagine that Cato, the same guy who had saved the life of his godson could have his head ripped free from his body to flap around in some sort of cruel mockery. That it would seek to do the same thing to himself.

And yet Cato was right. They had a duty to clear this place out and they were not done yet. With a heavy sigh he resigned himself to sticking it out.

"If your sure...but if anything changes let us know"

Taking up his poleaxe he followed Pisca, picking up his shuffle to catch up to, and hover over the intrepid gnome.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 824 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Thu 17 Apr 2014
at 02:02
  • msg #259

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Once Cato had finished with her tin cup, Liseth took it back and held it in her hands.  "If you think that you'll be okay for a little while...I guess...we do need to make sure that there isn't any more monsters hiding down here."  The acolyte concentrated again to put more water in her cup, then drank some herself.  In the light being cast she still appeared rather pale.  "Don't worry Cato, we'll find something that will cure it."

Liseth was a little bit surprised when Kerr corrected everyone on exactly what was happening.  She didn't think that he would know anything about monsters like those flying skulls; Kerr was even smarter than she thought.  But the information that he revealed sounded even more terrible than what she had originally imagined about baby monsters growing inside of people.  And she hadn't thought that was even possible!

Finishing with her water while Pisca announced that she was getting ready to open the next door in the climbing passage, Liseth returned to Kerr.  She tried her best to not imagine Cato or anyone else actually turning into one of those terrible, cruel monsters; but of course the act of trying to not think of something resulted in the opposite of the desired effect.  The fact that there was so many skulls in this particular room, along with the shattered ones that Kerr was collecting, didn't help any.

She wanted to help Kerr gather the pieces up and place them in his bag.  But every time the young girl almost picked one up she felt queasy; she really did not want to touch them.  Instead, Liseth put her cup away into her knapsack, put it back around her shoulders, and helped by holding the bag open for Kerr.  The whole time she kept her eyes closed and the girl's lips moved as she silently said a prayer to Sarenrae.

Hopefully, Pisca would be right about the passage opening up into the sunlight.  Liseth had never missed the sun as much as she did right at that moment.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 465 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 17 Apr 2014
at 02:19
  • msg #260

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato watched Kellan exit. He briefly considered making a joke, but the Mage honestly didn't know if he'd be able to keep going, or if his forced laughter would turn into sobs. If Cato kept quiet, and kept busy, he could push what had happened to the back of his mind for now. Later, later he could deal with what had happened and figure out a way to stop the deadly transformation. It was strange, in a way. As a Hellknights, and later running from the Hellknights, or when fighting skeletons or goblins in Sandpoint, Cato had risked death. But now he knew it was coming, knew for certain he would die if nothing changed. Before, it had been a calculated risk, and he had no choice but to fight to survive. Now, nothing he could personally do would save him. He just had to hope that Father Zantus or Voon could help him.    Cato finally let out a small chuckle. In a way, this was the most faith he ever had.
The Raconteur
GM, 884 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 17 Apr 2014
at 16:57
  • msg #261

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca's careful journey down the 15-foot corridor revealed no traps or any suspicious indications whatsoever.  She carefully inspected the door at the far end, but the portal was just as uncommunicative as its brethren had been; it gave no indication of any trap, trick, or anything else to hint at what might lie beyond its stone-faced visage.

Pisca carefully tested the latch; once again the door opened easily, almost strangely easily for something that had lain unusued for millenia.  It seemed as if Thassilonian engineering was truly built to last.  As the gnome crept into the room, she found a flight of spiral stairs winding up a circular pillar into the darkness above.

The circular room itself was as sparse and spartan as the passageways had been, save for a stylized rune carved on the door.  The rune depicted two jagged symbols that looked almost like Rune Dog legs, each the mirror image of the other, laid atop a distinctive seven-pointed star.



Looking more closely, her keen gnomish eyes discovered that the darkness was caused by an expanse of rock that had apparently collapsed in atop the staircase.  Although there were small fissures at various points, the rockfall seemed to be very solid and completely immune to any further passage in that direction.

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
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |XSSSSSSSX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXS-+--+-SX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  D  |PP|R DL |C |K DGS|DL|SSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXX--+S-S-SX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |XS|SS|SX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  |RPPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights



This message was last edited by the GM at 16:59, Thu 17 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 845 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 17 Apr 2014
at 18:00
  • msg #262

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Well ... "  The gnome stood at the bottom of the spiral stairs with hands on hips.  "Didn't expect that," she said, momentarily at a loss as to what to do.

"Looks as though this might have been a way up at one time.  But now it's blocked.  Maybe the floors up above collapsed.  Or, maybe something big and stony landed on top of the entrance at one time in the past.  Maybe fired by some great and inexplicable Thassilonian engine of war.  *PUH-SHOOM*"

"Anyway, there's no getting back to Sandpoint this way.  And maybe better yet, there's no way for any Rune Dogs to get out this way either.  Looks like we'll just have to go back the way we came.  And maybe this is it.  Maybe that's all there is to this place."

"Maybe ... "

"Not very likely ... "

"I mean, this was supposed to be a prison laboratory, right Cato?  Where's the lab?  And where are the prison cells?  The only thing left for us to do is to go back to the Statue.  There was a door in the north of that room.  Maybe that leads to more of this place.  We could also check the tunnel.  It seem to go on further and just stop.  But we haven't really checked to make sure."

"Are you sure you're alright, Cato?  We have to go past the room with the Statue anyway.  Come on, lets go," Pisca said leading the way back, with the Gnome-Shaped light trailing obediently behind.  "We can peek through the door and decide at that time whether to back to Sandpoint or to push on."

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 515 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 18 Apr 2014
at 00:37
  • msg #263

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Huh"

Kellan stood staring up at the ancient collection of stone that had falled during the collapse. Leaning slightly on his weapon at first he stepped forward and tool a quick look at the damage before shrugging and begining to make his way back the way they had came.

"I wonder where this came out at" he mused to the others.

Had the situation allowed for more time, it would probably be fun to aid Cato in a few arceological searchs of the place. It probably contained all sorts of interesting baubles and valuable finds. Of course with what had happed to the Mage, Kellan keenly felt eqch second ticking by and as sure was eager to see the job done.

"Well...back to the statue then?"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 467 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 18 Apr 2014
at 00:55
  • msg #264

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato looked with interest at the collapsed staircase.  The first indication so far that the Thassilonian ruins were not indestructible or immune to the passage of time.  Something interesting to note in and of itself, even if there were more pressing concerns on Cato's mind.

Cato stopped for a few seconds to study the stylized rune, hoping to gain any more insight into the nature of this place.

"You're right, Pisca.  There definitely has to be more to this complex than what we've seen so far.  But I think there's at least two ways we haven't gone yet.  Back in the statue room, as well as that original hallway we came in, where we found the two Rune Dogs.  That kept going, I think, after we exited into this complex to avoid the 'front door.'"

OOC:
Knowledge checks to ID the rune.  History, perhaps?

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 827 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Fri 18 Apr 2014
at 01:35
  • msg #265

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kerr and Liseth, mostly Kerr, finished the grisly task of gathering up the fragmented skull monster corpses while everyone else explored the dead-end chamber.  Once it was done, Liseth gave the monster-and-demon-filled sack back to Kerr without ever once having looked inside of it.  The mere thought of what was contained inside made the girl shiver.

"Father Zantus will know what to do, right Kerr?"  Once she finished shivering, Liseth looked towards Cato where he was still occupying himself studying the ruins.  "He's close to Desna, She'll tell him how to cure Cato.  Right?"  The young acolyte's face clouded with worry.

Filled with so much concern, Liseth left the skull-filled room to get closer to Cato.  She couldn't imagine that he was doing as well as he claimed.  Passing Pisca as the gnome already made her way back out, Liseth took a look at the rune Cato was studying just as he turned to leave it alone and follow Pisca.  She placed her hand into his and walked with him; to make sure he knew that he wasn't alone.

"So, um...Cato..."  Liseth wanted to say something, but she didn't think that he would appreciate her talking about what she was really thinking, "You...um...you studied Thassilonian ruins like these a lot, right?  Are they anything like you imagined them so far?"

OOC:
I'd think that the rune might just fall under Religion.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:37, Fri 18 Apr 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 885 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 18 Apr 2014
at 17:23
  • msg #266

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr accepted the demon-skull-sack from Liseth with a small grin.  She was clearly disgusted by the whole process, but he loved her for helping out as much as she could despite the fact that she would clearly prefer to be standing at the very opposite end of the room pretending that no demon skulls ever existed in the first place.  He secured the sack with some rope, placed it in his pack next to the quasit sack, then washed his hands in some water Liseth quickly conjured for the purpose.  He gave her a kiss of thanks, an encouraging hug, and offered her an arm as they went to follow Pisca and the others towards wherever the mysterious door went.

“I think he will, Liseth,” Kerr nodded encouragingly.  “After all, Father Zantus is the one who was teaching me the lore about outsiders.  And no one’s ever been able to bring Father Zantus an illness or injury that he wasn’t able to at least help somehow.”  His eyes glazed over slightly, remembering.  “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to become a priest, you know.  To help heal people, like Father Zantus and Father Tobayn did.”  He sighed, giving his bow a slightly-sour look.  “But I guess the gods really made me to destroy, not to heal.”  He looked saddened at the thought.

After the group found the blocked staircase and the intricately-carved door-rune, they made their way back down the long passageway to the statue room.  Not one to waste time, especially given Cato's condition, Pisca immediately moved to the northwards door, cracked it open, and peeked inside.

As she did so, she saw that it let out onto a raised, rickety wooden platform that jutted out about 25 feet into a room of indeterminate purpose before a similarly-raised wooden walkway led off to the right.  The door itself seemed to be located in a 15-foot wide alcove that subsequently widened out into the room in full.  A forbidding stone wall stood some 40 feet away from where Pisca stood, seemingly demarcating the limit of the room's area.

Pisca could neither see down to the floor area or into the right or left portions of the room from where she stood peeking in the door.  She stopped to listen, but could not hear any noise from the room that might indicate the presence of any potential attackers.

   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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--X--+--XX-+--+--+-XXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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21|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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22|  |  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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24|  | X|  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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25|  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +-X+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|X |  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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D = Door
S = Statue


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 468 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 18 Apr 2014
at 17:50
  • msg #267

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato pondered Liseth's question, glad to have something to distract him.  "Most of the other Thassilonian ruins in Varisia have been exposed and open to people for millennia, and reveal little about their original purpose.  Sure, the Old Light is still standing there right outside Sandpoint and the Irespan still stands in Magnimar, but most of the interesting parts have been carried away or lost to the ravages of times.  It's certainly interesting to see someplace like this, with all the 'art' and the original furnishings - as well as some of the original inhabitants - left for millennia.  I think a find like this will have sages buzzing all around Varisia - perhaps all around Golarion - once they hear of it."

Cato looked briefly worried.  And will the Hellknights hear about a certain wizard who helped to explore them?  "It's almost a shame that this place is full of monsters and we need to seal it off.  Maybe once all this trouble with the goblins has settled, we'll be able to make sure these dungeons are secure and open it up to the wider world.  I'm sure Sandpoint would appreciate the new traffic in town.  Ameiko and the other tavern owners would certainly have a new clientele to serve!"

Cato pointed back the way they had come.  "I mean, take those runes back there.  That was the symbol for Wrath, over the symbol of the Thassilonian empire.  What those are is well known, but one hasn't been found in that fine a condition in, well, ever."  Cato shook his head.  "It's just a tragedy that such a great historical find has to be linked to such terrible things."  Cato's face fell again, as his mind remembered what lay lurking for him in his own body.

Trying to ignore that, he peered around the corner, looking between Kellan and the wall.  "Wooden platforms?  I trust those aren't thousands of years old, unless there's some very potent magic at work here.  This must be more recent."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 847 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 18 Apr 2014
at 17:57
  • msg #268

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Rickety ...  Walkway ...  Rickety ...

This was where Right-Sized folks had a distinct advantage over the Bigguns.  She'd have to warn the others back a bit before testing Mister Rickety Walkway.

"Hold up."  Still looking through the door and into the room, Pisca held up a hand to call a halt.  "There's a walkway from here that doesn't look too stable.  Made of ... wood.  That's strange.  Don't you think?"

"I see a wall quite a bit away, but the walkway looks like it ends half way there.  No telling what it might drop off into.  Why don't you wait here and let me go in first and test the walkway."

"Errr ...  Does anyone have any rope?  I was thinking that maybe I should have something tied around my waist before I go."

"In the meantime, why don't you go on ahead of me," Pisca whispered to her Gnome-Shaped light.  This, despite the fact that she knew full well that it could neither hear her nor respond in any way.  "Go over to the edge there and take a look over," she prompted, before willing the Dancing Lights forward to the edge of the walkway.

Send Dancing Lights to H-3.

Position H2

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 828 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Fri 18 Apr 2014
at 23:27
  • msg #269

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"That's not true Kerr."  After being given a welcome kiss, a hug, and an arm by Kerr, Liseth had to correct him when he said that the gods made him to destroy things.  "You are a healer.  You healed me after I was cut up by those mean goblins.  Nobody else has ever healed me before.  And you healed Pisca too; she even gave you a hug for it.  Right Pisca?"  She asked, but the gnome was already off and away.

"And you're a protector too.  Not a destroyer.  The gods don't need you to be a destroyer, Kerr."  She looked up at him, "What did you say Desna told you?  That you were supposed to protect and support me, right?  A destroyer doesn't protect things.  A destroyer destroys things.  A protector keeps people safe, and only fights when he has to.  So that makes you a protector and a healer.  A hero."  Liseth stood up on her tiptoes to give Kerr a kiss, "My hero."

Liseth gave Cato her attention as they followed Pisca.  She displayed a polite level of interest, but clearly knew very little about ancient empires and symbols.  But she did chime in once he mentioned what it might mean for Sandpoint, "Do you really think that so many people would travel all the way here just to explore these scary ruins?  I wouldn't want to come down here, except that we're the only ones who can stop the monsters before they climb up into town."

"A wooden walkway?"  Liseth whispered back once Pisca gave her report of what was through the door, "I'm sorry Pisca, I don't have any rope.  Be careful."  At least Pisca was so small and light.  The walkway shouldn't collapse under her petite frame...right?  "Kellan, maybe if you prod the walkway with your spear, we can see if it's safe to step on?"

Seeing Cato's face fall again, Liseth became flustered in her concern, "Gods grant you courage."  She touched the wizard and transferred a mote of divine power into him.  Liseth held Cato's hand again, with both of hers, "Um, Cato...if you don't mind my asking...which god do you favor?"  She amended quickly, "So that I know who I should pray to, to help you get better."

Cast Guidance on Cato.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 469 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 19 Apr 2014
at 00:39
  • msg #270

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato looked to Liseth.  "I favor Desna, actually.  I'd done quite a bit of traveling before coming to Sandpoint, and I find comfort on the road in praying to her for my continued safety on the road.  I think my travels have honestly gone smoother since I found her."  At least the Hellknights don't seem to have found my trail again, which is saying something.  The mage smiled.  "And, of course, for luck.  Everyone needs that, right?  I actually remember it.  I had a rather bad night in Magnimar, and I happened to run into an itinerant priest of Desna's on the road the next day.  As we walked, we exchanged stories and advice, and he convinced me to try addressing my prayers to Desna as long as I was traveling, and The Great Dreamer would aid me in my travels."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 517 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 19 Apr 2014
at 04:51
  • msg #271

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan couldn't help but chime in during Liseths and Kerrs conversation. He waited for a good moment of course, not wanting ro interupt the two love birds.

"You say destroy like thats always a bad thing Kerr" speaking over his shoulder while mostly keeping his gaze to the front.

"If you destroy the problem in the first place, like that Quasit for example...then you don't have to protect anybody from it ever again, right? Just think of all the hate and fear and harm that thing has been responsible for over the years. How many people it could have hurt if it got loose."

He turned to face the young acolyte right as they reached the wooden platform

"Would you rather heal all the victims? Or just kill the thing causing the victims in the first place? Hell, you can probably do both"

All this talk of people coming from far and wide to visit Sandpoint made him kind of excited. It would be good for the town, for Ameiko, for the Vinders...

"Hmmmm, you'd think this stuff would have rotted a long time ago" he mused as he prodded the first plank firmly with the blunt endof his pole axe. At Pisca's question Kellan perked up a little.

"I do have some in fact...useful for when the cows or horses around here get loose." He grounded his pack and came away with a coil, wrapped around the middle mountaineer style which he handed to her.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:38, Mon 21 Apr 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 470 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Mon 21 Apr 2014
at 13:48
  • msg #272

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

While waiting for Pisca to explore the dungeon, Cato activates Detect Magic and examines the rickety wooden structures in the next room.  Could this wood have been preserved for thousands of years by preservative magic, or is it of more recent construction?  If the former, there sure must be a tell-tale aura.

OOC: Cast Detect Magic
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 849 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 21 Apr 2014
at 17:37
  • msg #273

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"You wouldn't want your gnome to plunge down into the dark depths of the pit when the rickety walkway collapses from age, would you?"  With the piteous look of a gnome thrown to the cold and impersonal dangers of the world, Pisca took the rope from Stomper and undid the bindings.  She secured one end around her waist and held up the length somewhere in the middle for the human to take.  "Grab hold of this and play it out as I work my way onto the walkway, alright?"

Cautiously, the gnome edged her way, further and further onto the walkway of dubious durability.  The slide her feet across the ancient wooden boards competed with the beat of hear heart.  Slowly, slowly slowly she made her way.  Then, fully out into the room, Pisca finally stole the opportunity to examine the room in its entirety.  She stood quietly, and glanced around herself.

Perception check ... and stealth for the heck of it ... please.

Position H-1 / Dancing Lights at H-3

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

The Raconteur
GM, 886 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 21 Apr 2014
at 20:30
  • msg #274

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“It really is a shame, Cato.”  Kerr nodded; he knew about things that should otherwise be unalloyed sources of joy proving themselves to be wellsprings of trouble instead.  “Do you really think this would drive a lot of tourism to Sandpoint?”  The young acolyte hadn’t been that impressed with the ruins to this point.  “I mean, we’ve found a lot of Thassilonian, er, monsters I guess, but it doesn’t seem like there’s been much in the way of important ruins.”  He gestured around the corridor as they walked back.  “I mean, it’s mostly just stone.  Right?”  He scratched his head.  It seemed strange that one well-preserved rune could cause a wave of scholarly attention to crash into their little town.

Kerr smiled down at his adorably-short girlfriend; she had an uncanny knack of making him feel better.  “I guess that’s true, Liseth,” he said, squeezing her close.  “Just make sure I keep on that road, okay?”  He glanced over at the big guardsman.  “That’s true, Kellan.  Destruction isn’t automatically bad.  I just don’t ever want to be one of those people who destroy things just for the love of battle or destruction, even if the things being destroyed are evil.  While things might need to be destroyed, I would always rather do it out of a sense of sorrow, rather than gladness.  I think it’s better for me.  Or my soul, at any rate.”

Kerr helped secure the rope around Pisca’s waist, then drew an arrow as she stepped out on the walkway.  “Be careful, Pisca,” he said, an admonition which didn’t seem as unnecessary with the gnome as it might be for some others.  He watched with some trepidation as she slowly made her way out onto the platform to see what she could see.


The Raconteur
GM, 887 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 21 Apr 2014
at 20:30
  • msg #275

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Secured by the rope to Kellan's imposing bulk, Pisca carefully stepped onto the wooden platform, which, to her surprise, she found to be much sturdier than it looked.  The large chamber was obviously once a prison, as Pisca could see from the twenty cells lining the room's perimeter.  The intrepid gnome could see the rotting remains of skeletons inside the cells; most of the doors stood wide open.

The wooden platform onto which Pisca crept overlooked the room; it was clearly some sort of walkway from which prison guards could observe those unfortunate enough to be incarcerated in the facility.  Two flights of stairs on either side descended to the prison floor ten feet below.  A five-foot-wide wooden walkway ran from the northern edge of the platform, ending at a passageway that ran off to the east.

Most importantly, the gnome spotted three Rune Dogs bickering amongst themselves near the southeastern group of cells.  The Rune Dogs seemed very agitated; they did not notice the gnome's impressive display of sneakiness.

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


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:31, Mon 21 Apr 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 519 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 21 Apr 2014
at 21:04
  • msg #276

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan made a stout knot at the end of his line before looping it through his belt like a make shift climbing harness. Coiling the rope carefully near his feer he let out a little slack at a time, keeping the rope taught in the case that one of the platforms gives way. As he fed the rope through his gloved hands, his weapon leaning against the wall at his side, he kept his attentions on Pisca and her crossing.

All the while however his mind was slowly ticking away the seconds and wondering how quickly Cato's condition would begin to manifest.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 829 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Mon 21 Apr 2014
at 22:00
  • msg #277

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Of course I will."  Liseth smiled when Kerr squeezed her.  For a moment it was as though they weren't inside a dark, scary, monster-filled, underground ruin.  "That's why the gods put us together.  Because you're a brave, strong hero, and I'm the one who gets to make sure that you never change."  She nodded at Kerr's comment to Kellan about destroying evil, "That's right.  If you enjoy killing and destroying, even if you only kill evil things, it makes you just as bad.  That's why Sarenrae teaches that you should only ever kill something as a last resort; as long as they are alive, there is always a chance that they might be redeemed of their evil."

Then Liseth frowned, "I don't think that there was ever any chance of helping that quasit demon...it must have been worshiping Lamashtu for thousands of years.  And I don't know whether Rune Dogs or Skull Monsters can even change...they seem to attack right away.  Can Rune Dogs even talk and listen?"

Musing as Pisca walked out onto the walkway, with her safety rope attached just in case, Liseth almost forgot that they were still in a dangerous situation.  Wondering about whether it is possible to redeem savage monsters would have to come later.  Seeing that Kerr was readying an arrow, Liseth stepped up to lay a hand on his arm and grant him a minor blessing. It was about all that she could accomplish after the battle with the demon.

"Let Erastil guide your aim and let Iomedae give your courage.  May Sarenrae bolster your resolve, and let Desna soothe your worries."

Cast Guidance on Kerr
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 850 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 21 Apr 2014
at 23:25
  • msg #278

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Rune Dogs!  Three of them." Pisca froze at the sight.  Three together.  They'd never fought three together at once.  Thank Desna for her Whisper Magic.

Three of them could get in around Stomper and make things tough for him.  However ...  The gnome looked back at the doorway.  It didn't look big enough for but one to come through at a time.  Yes.  That would be it.

"We can hold the door," sent the gnome over her Whisper Magic. "They can only come at us one at a time that way.  Get into position.  I'm going to put an arrow into a Rune Dog bottom and then run for the door."

Slowly, slowly she drew an arrow and nocked the shaft to her bowstring.  With the greatest of stealth she drew the arrow back till the fletching tickled her ear.

If only they had a keg of grease.  That would be just divine.  The Rune Dogs in the narrow passageway trying to keep their balance with Stomper chopping down on them with his polearm.  Divine.  Too bad they didn't think to bring a keg or two.

"Ready?  Just say when."

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 520 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 08:06
  • msg #279

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan perked up at the sound of Piscas voice. Three of them at once would be no small feat, and any that got though still carried that terrible poison. Even the smallest cut seemed to make the blood run hot, and the thought made the young guardsman wary. There would be no way to sneak around them, and they would have to be dealt with anyway. Steeling himself for another bout of combat he widened his stance and leveled the spear tip of his weapon towards the door.

Letting out a deep breath, he rolled his neck causing a few muted pops before he nodded to the gnome that he was ready.

OOC
Remain at H3, Ready an attack on any enemy within range
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 57 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 08:37
  • msg #280

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr watched Pisca creep out onto the wooden platform.  He watched her look to her left, then to her right.  He saw her react by nocking an arrow and pointing it off at something she saw to the right.  Mostly, he watched in bewilderment.

What was going on?

The bowman looked around in confusion and growing dismay.  "Wait," he whispered.  "What's going on?  Did Pisca SEE something in there?  Because it looks like she saw something in there."  Kerr was trying to get an idea out before Pisca did something irreversible but wasn't having the best of luck articulating it.  "Why is she engaging whatever-it-is alone?  Is she trying to draw it back here?  If so, are we SURE that this," he pointed to the door, "is the only way for whatever-it-is in there to get here?"  He tapped the floor with his hand where he was kneeling.  "These things might have been here for thousands of years, right?"


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 471 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 13:43
  • msg #281

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato used Pisca's magic to whisper back to her.  "Pisca, we can lay of trap of sorts for the Rune Dogs.  I have one spell left, and can cast Grease on the floor in front of the door to slow down the Rune Dogs and make them vulnerable to us.  But you need to retreat in here once you draw their attention."

Cato relayed his plan to Kellan, Kerr and Liseth and readied to cast his spell when Pisca was out of the way.

OOC:
Readied Action: Cast Grease on H0,H1,I0,I1 when Pisca retreats through door using Pearl of Power.

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 851 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 15:02
  • msg #282

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"That's the idea," the gnome replied through her Whisper Magic.  She drew a bead on some Rune Dog butt, took a breath, and then released the string.

And Pisca was in motion. Even before the meaty thunk of arrow striking flesh, even before the inevitable startled yelp of the arrow-struck, she was moving toward the door, barreling across the rickety boards of the walkway.

"Lookoutlookoutlookout," she called, leaving her Whisper Magic behind as well.  "Incoming gnome!"  She saw Stomper standing ready in the doorway, and with Cato's Grease coming at any moment, her place would be at the forefront.  That way none of the Rune Dogs would be able to slide past the grease and get in under Stomper's guard.

Pisca drew her slim blade as she pounded across the boards and then whirled just in front of Kellan.  "None shall pass," said the gnome, imagining her voice deep and infinitely menacing.  And then came the grease.

Surprise Round?
05:35, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 22 using 1d20+6. Hit 3 w/PBS.
05:35, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 3 using 1d4+1. Damage +1PBJ.

Wins Initiative?
07:49, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 23 using 1d20+4. Initiative.

Position:  H4???

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

This message was last edited by the player at 17:55, Thu 24 Apr 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 831 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 17:59
  • msg #283

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"More Rune Dogs?"  Liseth whispered back once Pisca made her announcement, "Wait, Pisca; do you think that we could...or maybe if we..."  The girl's mind was going too fast for her to keep track of her thoughts.  She wanted to think of some plan, but she had really assumed that there wouldn't BE any more scary monsters down here after they got rid of the demon and it's summoning pool, and those skull monsters.

Needless to say, the short blonde was disconcerted by the news.  Three of them!  There wasn't much left that she could do in another fight like that; and if it went poorly, Liseth knew that she would quickly become too tired to keep channeling divine energy in order to help her friends.

"Pisca says that she sees three more Rune Dogs in there.  She's using Whisper Magic to talk to us, I guess she can't make it big enough to talk to you too."  Liseth responded to Kerr's seeming bewilderment.  Too bad Pisca couldn't whisper to him too, it wouldn't do to have someone left out of the loop.  "She wants to lure them up here so that they have to squeeze through the doorway one at a time."

Kerr's question made Liseth pause though.  What if they could get past Kellan some other way?  Maybe through a hidden tunnel that opens up in this very room!  The nervous acolyte did not like the implications of that; she kept imagining Rune Dogs popping up from trapdoors all around them.

"That doesn't sound very good at all...um...um um um..."  Liseth looked up when Pisca started her plan to lure the Rune Dogs to them and ran back into the room.  She looked down at the floor that Kerr was examining, then all around the statue room.  "Oh, I hope that there aren't any other ways for them to sneak in here..."

Surprise Action: Search for hidden or concealed doors in the statue room (Perception)

OOC: My bonus is only +1, so don't place too much stock in my ability to find anything!  I'm considering using my Herb Challenge Trait Bonus to give that another +1, but it says I can apply it after seeing the die roll.  So I'll leave that up to Racon's discretion.
The Raconteur
GM, 891 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 00:13
  • msg #284

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca fired her arrow with precision, drawing a pained yelp of surprise from the Rune Dog into whose buttocks she buried her bowshot.  The Rune Dogs had hardly turned their heads to locate the source of this surprise attack when the gnome darted out of sight, running back across the wooden platform to take up a position directly in front of Kellan, ready for anything.

A few seconds passed with only a brief scuffling sound indicating that anyone was in the prison-room at all.  Suddenly a Rune Dog burst up onto the top platform, growling and slavering and immediately heading in to attack as soon as he spotted the gnome and the warrior in the doorway.

Unfortunately for the Rune Dog, he hadn't taken into account the fine, slippery film that had suddenly appeared on the walkway at the behest of one Cato Crispin.  The Rune Dog immediately fell flat on his face, yowling in surprise and frustration as he scrabbled against the slippery surface.

Or perhaps it was fortunate.  Two of Kerr's arrows went flying over the creature's head as he struggled to recover his footing.

The Rune Dog let out a long, ululating cry which was met by short answering barks.  But those barks were the only sign the other Rune Dogs gave of their existence.  They did not appear on the wooden platform to support their comrade.  Where had they gone?  Only the Rune Dogs and perhaps the angry-looking Alaznist knew for sure.

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

Rune Dog Turn

R1 moves to H0 and falls as a result of Cato's Grease spell.

Opponent Status

Rune Dog 3 has 3 points of Damage.

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 859 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 00:35
  • msg #285

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Get it, Stomper!"  With no one to oppose, with no one to defend against, the gnome whirled and took of at a quick sprint.

"I ... I have a bad feeling about something," was all the explanation that she gave.  She passed Kellan.  She passed Cato.  Briefly Pisca grabbed hold of Kerr Mollin's sleeve and used him as an anchor to pivot around as she took the corner

"Bad feeling.  Bad feeling," Pisca repeated as she rushed out into the dirt tunnel and looked to the north.  The dirt tunnel had to continue on for a reason.  And the big room of the rickety wooden platform looked to be just big enough to be where the dirt tunnel went.

Double Move to ...

Perception check, please.

Position:  D5

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

AC15
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 474 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 01:16
  • msg #286

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato grinned as the first Rune Dog went down under the effects of his grease spell.  The mage had almost nothing in the way of magic left, and decided to save his last remaining acid dart for use if things looked grim.  Not that three Rune Dogs attacking them wasn't already bad!  Cato smiled.  Well, he still had a few more tricks up his sleeve.

Cato held the flask of acid in his robes and prepared to attack the Rune Dog when it stood.

OOC:
Active Effects: Mage Armor (AC 16)

Readied Action: Attack Rune Dog 1 with Acid Splash (+1 damage because of alchemical focus) if it stands.

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 837 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 01:53
  • msg #287

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I don't see any trapdoors..."  Liseth knew that her not finding a hidden door did not mean that there wasn't one nearby.  That's why they were hidden, after all!  But before she could comment further, Liseth was startled by the cries and barks of the Rune Dogs.

It looked like they were going to have to fight again already...

"Wait, what do you mean Pisca?  What bad feeling?"  When the gnome suddenly ran off towards the tunnel, Liseth became flustered again.  Maybe the Rune Dogs can get through there?!

The young acolyte really didn't know what to do.  If those Rune Dogs did have another way to get at them, they could come from anywhere!  And she was almost exhausted of her usefulness.  Looking next to her at Kellan, Liseth laid a hand on his side before he could advance on the Rune Dogs with his spear.

"Gods guide your hand..."  She channeled a small amount of divine energy into Kellan, hoping to aid his spear in striking his savage opponent.

Then with a quick glance all around, the blonde girl decided that staying where she was could be a bad idea.  Especially if a Rune Dog managed to sneak behind her from that passage they just came down!  Liseth quickly limped around the statue of the Lady Runelord and stopped next to Kerr.

Maybe she wasn't actually more safe there, but being next to him at least made her feel that way.

Standard: Cast Guidance on Kellan (+1 to an attack, save or skill check)
Move: Walk to I 5

Effects: Antitoxin (+5 saves vs Poison)
This message was last edited by the player at 01:54, Thu 24 Apr 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 524 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 02:14
  • msg #288

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan put a hand on Piscas shoulder as they swapped placed, shuffling past her with his weapon clutched tight against his chest in the close confines of the hallway. As he stepped into the mouth of the room he caught a glipse of the oily sheen upon the floor before the terrible visage of a rune dog rounded the corner.

Despite having seen them so recently he jumped despite himself. The almost claustriphobic hallway, the darkness, noise and rapid movement all combined to bring back that almost nightmarish quality. He was upon it even as it scrambled alon the slick floor, its mishapen limbs sprawling this way and that. He jabbed at it with the spear point, reeling back for the thrust even as the gnomes troubled words filtered into his ear over the cacaphony.

Move: 5' step to H2
Standard: Power Attack #1
19:08, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 13 using 2d4+6. Damage?
19:06, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Reach, Guided, Power Attack vs Prone #1.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 58 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 06:37
  • msg #289

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr looked helplessly at Pisca as she came barreling by him and took off down the western tunnel.  "Pisca, what . . . ?"  He said, somewhat uselessly, as the gnome was already off down the passageway muttering to herself about something being wrong.  Kerr wasn't too keen on the group splitting up; they seemed to have a pretty-defensible position in the statue-room and he would prefer to hold it rather than go running off to gods-knew-where.

Of course, it was becoming clear that Pisca and Kerr didn't share the same approach when it came to battle-strategy.

At all.

Kerr shot Liseth a quick, reassuring grin as she almost hobbled around the side of the statue to join him.  He was pretty concerned for her; she looked tired.  He wished there was something he could do for her.

He also wished there was something he could do to contribute to the fight against the Rune Dogs.  The sole available Rune Dog was already a difficult shot now that it was down on the ground, and Kerr would have to take care to avoid both Kellan and Cato if he wished to send any arrows that way.  It took only the two shots he had essayed earlier to convince him that sending good arrows after bad was a fool's errand until a clearer target presented itself.

But maybe Pisca knew something he didn't.

Kerr nocked an arrow and turned to watch the passageway down which the gnome had run off.  If she came scampering back with Rune Dogs on her tail, he would be ready.

OOC:

Ready Action - Rapid Shot against any enemy who appears down the corridor.


The Raconteur
GM, 892 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 06:37
  • msg #290

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kellan's spear-strike into the flailing Rune Dog struck home, drawing an agonized wail from the creature.  Looking like nothing so much as a turtle or other shelled creature rolled over onto its back, the Rune Dog ceased its attempts to find a purchase on the greasy wood of the platform and half-curled into a ball, its entire attention on Kellan and his fearsome polearm, apparently deciding that doing whatever it could to avoid Kellan's weapon trumped all other considerations at this point.

Meanwhile, Pisca ran down the hallway to the excavation as quickly as she could, moving out into the corridor by which they'd originally entered the area just in time to see the other two Rune Dogs boil out of an opening at its terminus.  Apparently whoever had dug out the tunnel had broken into one of the cells, creating a passage between the prison area and the earthen tunnel.

The undamaged Rune Dog howled upon seeing Pisca, charging out of the breached cell and attempting to savage her with a bite, but it was simply too slow for the nimble gnome.  The other Rune Dog followed its companion at a more-measured pace, moving out to one side, easily dodging Pisca's stabbing rapier and simply sweeping her legs out from under her as she dodged its charging companion, landing her on both her pert gnomish rear end and in a great deal of hot water.

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25|  X  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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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

R1 cowers on the ground, employing Total Defense.

R2 charges to D4 and attacks Pisca.

23:14, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 11 using 1d20+5. Charge Attack on Pisca (Bite).

Result:  Miss, no effect.

R3 moves to E4 and attacks Pisca with Trip combat maneuver.

Interrupt - Attack of Opportunity

10:27, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Pisca Neep Freemish, rolled 7 using 1d20+1.
Attack of Opportunity in Response to Trip.

23:15, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Trip Attack on Pisca.

Result:  The Rune Dog successfully trips Pisca; she is now prone.


Opponent Status

Rune Dog 1 has 13 points of damage.

Rune Dog 3 has 3 points of Damage.
 


This message was last edited by the GM at 17:30, Thu 24 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 862 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 12:36
  • msg #291

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Was it a curse?  To always be right?  The gnomish curse.  The bane born to all gnomes across Golarion.

Inwardly, Pisca bemoaned her predicament.  Outwardly, she said, "This ... might ... hurt ... "

First lesson in defense:  Wave your sword around.  A lot.  Wave it around a lot.  Second lesson in defense:  Dodge and squirm a lot too.  Squirm.  After applying lessons First and Second of Basic Combat Defense ... the gnome stood up.

"Don't worry about me!" she called to the others as she backed cautiously into the hallway from which she'd just come.  "I'll hold these two here until Stomper can come ... well ... stomp them."

Total Defense / Stand / 5ft step

Position:  E5

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

AC15 - Total Defense AC17 (15 -4Prone +6TotalDefense) Prone; AC21 Standing
HP 15/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 525 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 19:56
  • msg #292

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan felt the pole axe jerk this way and that as the rune dog writhed in pain before he withdrew it and moved to stab the creature once more. He hesitated however, just a fraction of a second at the creatures behavior. It's sheltering and attempt to get away seemed almost human...he had not thought these things really capable of thinking for themselves, or of self preservation.

His fear of the thing quickly overwhelmed the shock of this new discovery, causing him to  send his spear point towards the beasts rib cage in hope of ending it's struggles. He could hear Piscas voice dimly over the sound of the things squeals abd it did not sound good.

Move: None
Standard: Reach, Power Attack
12:39, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 14 using 2d4+6. Damage?
12:38, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 15 using 1d20+9. Reach, Power Attack vs 1.

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 839 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 23:28
  • msg #293

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

It was another one of those moments when Liseth just did not know how she could help her friends.  Rune Dogs were rushing at them from two different sides, and then Pisca was thrown from her feet by them.  "Oh no, Pisca!"  But the gnome squirmed back to her feet, swinging her sword to deter the Rune Dog jaws biting at her.  The girl glanced quickly to her side to see Kellan stabbing at the other Rune Dog and Cato readying his magic.

"Cato, there's more Rune Dogs!  We have to help Pisca!"  This said despite Pisca saying to not worry about her.  Liseth was all the more frantic because there was very little that she could actually do to help.  She could just barely see the monsters looming over the little gnome; not that Liseth had anything she might be able to do to them.  She had dropped and wasted all of her special Befuddler bags...and the acolyte didn't think that conjuring a splash of water on one would deter a Rune Dog.

"Oooh..."  Liseth placed her arms around Kerr's waist, trying to not get in the way of his archery.  She glanced down the empty passage to their other side, as though expecting even more Rune Dogs to appear from there as well.  "Let your aim be true."  The girl whispered; at least she could help Kerr to help Pisca.

Standard: Cast Guidance on Kerr (+1 to an attack, save, or skill check)

Effects: Antitoxin (+5 saves vs Poison)
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 475 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 25 Apr 2014
at 00:51
  • msg #294

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato looked at the lone Rune Dog writhing in grease on the floor, covered by Kellan.  "Kellan, it seems as though you've got this under control.  Pisca might need help facing two of those monsters at once."

Cato moved quickly past Kerr.  As he advanced down the hallway, the mage drew his quarterstaff.  "I seem to be relying on this more than I thought.  But in these tight quarters, I don't think I'm going to have a good chance at getting a spell off!  And I don't really have much left, either."

OOC:
Move Action: Move to E5
Move Action: Draw Quarterstaff

Active Effects: Mage Armor (AC 16)

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 59 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 25 Apr 2014
at 03:15
  • msg #295

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


As Kerr kept watch down the hallway, he saw Pisca emerge out into the larger excavation, look to her right, and almost immmediately go down.  Kerr started with concern; he knew Pisca was too light on her feet to just fall on her rear for no reason and, far more ominously, he thought he could see other movement in the shadows, movement that looked to include slavering fangs and sharp claws.

"PISCA!!!"  He yelled, feeling without seeing Liseth's supporting arms and the divine encouragement they imparted.  He took off running down the hallway, nearly cursing the unfamiliar weight of his new breastplate, following hot on Cato's heels, and finally dodging to the right in order to clear up a shot on Pisca's nearest attacker.

The Rune Dog was RIGHT THERE, but fortunately far too involved in keeping Pisca on the floor to worry about the young acolyte's sudden presence on its flank.  Kerr quickly made the creature pay for that negligence, sending an arrow scoring along its side from a range so close that it seemed to Kerr as if they were almost in hand-to-hand combat despite the weapon involved.  As the freakish creature yowled in pain, Kerr briefly wondered how many more of these things there were down here, and if they would ever be done with these accursed catacombs.

OOC:

Move: to E4

Standard Action:  Bowshot on R2

19:04, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 6 using 1d8+4. Damage to Rune Dog #2.
19:03, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 21 using 1d20+7. Longbow Shot (PBS, Guidance, DA).


This message was last edited by the player at 03:15, Fri 25 Apr 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 901 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 25 Apr 2014
at 03:30
  • msg #296

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Far from the flanking action between Pisca, the Rune Dogs, and what was rapidly becoming the rest of the party, Kellan fought his own personal Rune Dog in what was suddenly a one-on-one duel.  But things weren't very fair for the Rune Dog.  It couldn't stand, as a result could hardly defend itself despite its best efforts to do so, and as it flailed Kellan finished it off with an accurate chop that split its head open, spilling dark fluid out on the already-slick boards of the platform.

. . . Meanwhile . . .

As Pisca fell to the ground from the Rune Dog's sweep of her legs, she used her momentum to land on her back, roll over her shoulder, and end up right back on her feet, waving and squirming just like it said in the Big Book of Lessons.  The Rune Dogs snapped at her as she rolled and dodged, trying to keep her on the ground, but their teeth closed on empty air and in the case of the already-damaged Rune Dog almost ended up biting his freakish friend rather than the slippery gnome.

The first Rune Dog attempted to take the gnome's feet out from under her again as its companion moved around behind her.  The gnome couldn't keep her eyes on both of them, and as a result ended up back on her backside ineffectually trying to fend off the first Rune Dog's slashing claws.  She managed to keep it from doing as much damage as it could have, but she was still bleeding freely before she was able to disengage.

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

Attacks of Opportunity

As Pisca stands, she at AC 17, CMD 14, +6 AC from Total Defense/Acrobatics, -4 AC from prone.

18:52, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Trip Attack on Pisca.
18:52, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Trip Attack on Pisca.

Result - Pisca stands from prone, and is now at AC 21, CMD 18 from Total Defense/Acrobatics.


Rune Dog Turn

R1 takes 14 points of damage from Kellan and dies.

R2 takes 6 points of damage from Kerr.

R2 does not move.

R2 attempts to trip Pisca

19:05, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 7 using 1d20+3. Trip Attack on Pisca.
19:39, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 3 using 1d4+1. Claw Damage #2.
19:39, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 4 using 1d4+1. Claw Damage #1.
19:38, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 20 using 1d20+5. Claw #2 Attack on Pisca.
19:37, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 11 using 1d20+5. Claw Attack #1 Crit Confirmation.
19:37, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 25 using 1d20+5. Claw Attack #1 on Prone Pisca.

R3 attempts to trip Pisca

R3 moves to D6

19:06, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Trip Attack on Pisca.

Result:  Pisca is prone.

Opponent Status

Rune Dog 1 is dead.

Rune Dog 2 has 6 points of damage.

Rune Dog 3 has 3 points of Damage.

Party Status

Pisca is prone, has taken 10 damage.
 


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 526 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 25 Apr 2014
at 04:22
  • msg #297

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan felt the skull give way under his blade before he wrenched in free with a grunt, whirring around and trailing black fluid in an arc across the wooden platforms. He felt a sudden clentching in his stomach as he realized more fully that the fight hsd been moved. They were being flanked!

Cursing under his breath the guardsman stalked down the hallway to his rear and gave a slightly sweaty, tight lipped look to Liseth as he broke into a jog. Relieved at seeing the others alive, albeit in combat he picked up the pace and ended up behind Cato, giving the mage a double pat on his shoulder as he came up to let him know he was there.

Double Move to F5
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 845 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 26 Apr 2014
at 00:13
  • msg #298

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

When Kellan worked his way back and gave Liseth that look, she was at least sure he had...dealt with the Rune Dog that had fallen in the magical grease.  She didn't feel that she needed to look over there and confirm it.  After the guardsman passed by and turned down the tunnel to help the others, Liseth followed right behind him.  Everyone was down there now, and she couldn't do anything at all to help by staying back.

Liseth stopped right behind Kellan when he started to ready his spear.  She peeked past him and gasped when she saw Pisca being thrown once more to the ground, and then clawed at as the Rune Dogs got all over the tiny gnome.  And she couldn't even see Kerr anywhere!  He must have slipped around the corner, but that would mean he was right next to the Rune Dogs...

Kerr had said he hadn't ever swung a sword before, but if he was that close Liseth didn't know how he could bring his bow to bear, not without the Rune Dogs clawing and biting him.  She prayed that he would be alright.

"You can do it Kellan,"  The girl swallowed her concern for her boyfriend for the moment; right now she could only try to help Kellan.  "These evil monsters are no match for you."  She touched her hand to Kellan's back and channeled a mote of divine inspiration into him.

Move: Walk to G5
Standard: Cast Guidance on Kellan (+1 to an attack, save, or skill)

Effects: Antitoxin (+5 saves vs poison)
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 478 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 26 Apr 2014
at 01:50
  • msg #299

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato squeezed his hands on his quarterstaff until his knuckles turned white and the lines in the wood dug into his palms.  He studied the Rune Dogs, closely watching the pattern of their bites, then waded out into the passage way, carefully stepping over Pisca and working to fend off attacks from the Rune Dogs with his quarterstaff.  My wizard training certainly never covered this! he thought to himself.  He kept up the careful pattern of step, riposte, step, block until his was in position behind a Rune Dog, ready to distract it for Kellan next turn.

OOC:
Standard Action: Total Defense
Move Action: Move to C3
Active Effects: Mage Armor
AC: 12+4(Mage Armor) + 4 (Total Defense) = 20
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Sun 27 Apr 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 877 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 28 Apr 2014
at 13:00
  • msg #300

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Pisca sprang to her feet as Cato passed above her.  Bow in one hand and slim rapier in the other she stood with feet apart taking the briefest of pauses in order to breath through the pain of her wounds.  The gnome shook her head to clear the sweat from her eyes.  No.  It was blood.  Was she going to die again?

If death calls, then let there be a party in hell.  Who said that?  Did it matter?

The gnome watched herself as though she was a spectre floating above.  Below the gnome danced with rapier in hand.  A pretty little gnome.  Pretty bloody.  The little dancing gnome seemed gathered all of the concentration and wherewithal at her disposal.  She would have to, mused the spectral watching gnome.  It was either that or faint away from the horror of her own body so badly rent.  That, or flee for her life.  And, as the spectral watching gnome mused, the little dancing gnome lashed out, scoring a bloody line across the throat of one of the Rune Dogs.

Well done, thought the spectral watching gnome.  Unfortunately, there's only just so much that a small gnomish blade can do.  More's the pity.

Stand / 5ft step / Attack #2 fighting defensively

05:27, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 17 using 1d20-3. Attack Fighting Defensively.
05:27, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 15 using 1d20-3. Threat.
05:28, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 1 using 1d4-1. Crit Damage.
05:28, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 1 using 1d4-1. Damage.

Position:  C4 (If can't take 5ft step, then D5)

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

AC15 - Total Defense AC14 (15 -4Prone +3Fight Defensively) Prone; AC18 Standing
HP 8/18
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Mon 28 Apr 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 59 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 15:39
  • msg #301

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr had never been this up close and personal with anything at which he was shooting, much less a rampaging monster with razor-sharp claws, slavering jaws, and poisonous saliva.  The creature’s location mere feet away didn’t do anything to make Kerr feel good about the situation, especially considering how clear it was that these things would just as soon rip the young acolyte to pieces as look at him.

But the closest Rune Dog was apparently too concerned with tearing Pisca apart to worry about anything else, even after Kerr had already hit it with an arrow.  Kerr saw Cato slip by, holding his staff in a reasonable approximation of a guard stance, but the monsters were not even tempted by his passage.  They were solely concerned with disemboweling and eviscerating their gnomish quarry.

That had to stop.

Fortunately Pisca seemed to be able to take care of herself in this situation.  In an amazing display of agility, the gnome leaped to her feet by apparently pressing her back into the ground and undulating her body so that she kipped up into a standing position.  Her maneuver surprised both Rune Dogs, each of whose jaws closed ineffectually on the empty space that had just an instant before contained a prime gnomish meal.  Not only that, but the gnome was simultaneously able to quickly slip her rapier into the Rune Dog’s shoulder, a perfect strike causing it to rear back in surprise and pain.

This gave Kerr the opening he needed.  He sent his fletching flying four feet into the fiend’s forehead, and then one foot further to fully filet his foe.  The Rune Dog rocked back, Kerr’s arrow buried deep in whatever passed for its brain, and then collapsed to the floor, quite dead.

OOC:

Rune Dog Attacks of Opportunity

14:06, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 3, rolled 13 using 1d20+5. AoO Bite on Pisca (flank bonus).
14:06, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Rune Dog 2, rolled 13 using 1d20+5. AoO Bite on Pisca (flank bonus).

Result:  Both AoOs miss Pisca.

Kerr Mollin Action

Full-Round Action:  Rapid Shot

Move:  None

Attack:  Rune Dog 2

13:59, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 11 using 1d8+4. Rapid Shot #1 Damage.
13:59, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 6 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #2 at Rune Dog (PBS, DA).
13:58, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 20 using 1d20+5. Rapid Shot #1 at Rune Dog (PBS, DA).

Result:  Rune Dog 2 has taken 21 points of damage and is killed.


This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:39, Tue 29 Apr 2014.
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: 
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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: "Unsihi p eau Saecpa!  Linhasnot o amentedertra!"]  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
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  +--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  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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1 |  |  |  |  |  |  XWW|WG|WGX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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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: "Ntivan Teilch, fions herwa ie nahodi roha Urere Encvershe!"]  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

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 483 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 2 May 2014
at 17:59
  • msg #327

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato shook his head.  "Yet capacity for redemption is not the same as interest in redemption.  Theoretically, yes, any intelligent humanoid might be able to be redeemed.  But you don't find many of Sarenrae's paladins seeking to redeem gnolls or orcs.  And the intelligent undead are beyond redemption, yes?  Their very existence is grounded in evil."

Cato looked around the grim room.  "I find it hard to believe that the people who chose to work with these implements day in and day out would have been very interested in redemption.  And if they wouldn't even consider it, do they really have the capacity for redemption?"

The wizard shook his head again.  "I think greater minds than us have spent years debating these very ideas, and there is still doubt about it.  So what does it come down to?  Should we do the greatest good for the greatest number by killing those who commit evil?  Or are we sacrificing potentially good souls to an eternity in an evil afterlife by killing them without redeeming them?"
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 62 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 2 May 2014
at 20:23
  • msg #328

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr grinned happily as the Most Wonderful Girl in the World told him she loved him.  He happily walked arm-in-arm with her to help with the search of the prison.  As he worked, he looked up from the ginger movement of dusty bones to grin at Liseth, who was watching him.  “I think that’s a good plan.  You staying nearby, I mean.  You never know when there might be an emergency, um, requiring your presence.”

Kerr suddenly found himself blushing.

Recovering slightly, he offered the young blonde both a bashful grin and his arm for the short walk down the eastern corridor.  But what they found in the room at the end of the passageway caused Liseth to tighten her grip on his arm and wiped the smile right off Kerr’s face.  The room’s insidious purpose, the infliction of horrible pain on others, was impossible to miss.

Kerr nodded glumly at Kellan’s expression of incredulity.  Whoever had used this room HAD to be broken in some way.  The use of such devices on unwilling captives was . . . well, it was evil.  Just evil.

“I think you’re right, Kellan.  I think these people are broken.  But sadly there are a lot of broken people in the world, and Lamashtu’s promises of power and immortality sound good when you feel like you’re powerless and friendless.”  Kerr ran his hand down the grain of the wood of the torture table, giving it a look of distaste.  “Of course, some people just enjoy hurting other people.  For the fun of it.”

He listened to the back-and-forth between Pisca and Liseth regarding what might have made Lamashtu-worshippers do the things they do.  “I don’t think it’s necessarily an either-or thing.  It’s both.  Some people are predisposed towards evil, and will gravitate that way no matter how good their upbringing.  And some people are predisposed towards good; they will be okay even though they might have been raised in squalor, want, or depravity.”

He knocked on the table for emphasis.  “But I think upbringing has something to do with it too.  I don’t mean poverty, though.  The vast majority of poor people I know, and really a lot of Sandpoint fits in that description, are very moral.  And there certainly isn’t any lack of stories regarding rich people who are near-psychopaths.  In fact, now that I think about it, it might be harder for a rich person to be good than for a poor person.”

He pondered the matter for a moment.  “No, I think the upbringing part revolves around whether your family gave you boundaries and moral instruction.  I think that’s where the,” he gestured at Pisca, “Thrunes fail, for example.”

Kerr nodded along with Cato.  “I think anyone can be redeemed.  It’s only a question of their realizing that they need redemption, and having the will to go through what is necessary for redemption.  But I think even people who work with implements such as these can come to realize the evil of what they’re doing.”  He raised one of the now-dull knives.  “In fact, I think it might be easier to realize you need redemption when you are doing something like this, inflicting pain on people right in front of you whom you can see, than if you engage in evil at a distance.  For example, someone who signed papers condemning these poor wretches to this sort of torture.”  He put the knife back on the table.  “When it’s less immediate and visceral, evil is easier to ignore.  Or to rationalize.”

Kerr patted his bow.  "But just because people have the capacity for redemption doesn't mean they don't deserve the consequences of their evil.  They've still made their choices.  And the fact that they still have the opportunity to change their path doesn't mean that they shouldn't be punished for the path that they've chosen."


This message was last edited by the player at 20:46, Fri 02 May 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 927 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 2 May 2014
at 20:23
  • msg #329

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Finding absolutely no traps whatsoever, hidden or otherwise, Pisca opened the southern stone door as slowly and sneakily as she could.  Unfortunately, this resulted in an alarmingly-loud creak that resounded through both rooms and could not fail to warn the occupants of either that someone was at the door.  Fortunately, there did not seem to be anyone in the adjoining room to react to the noise.

Pisca winced at the sound and waited for some sort of rampaging, wrathful monster to burst from the recently-revealed room.  When none was forthcoming, she stuck her head through the aperture between the door and the frame to see what she could see.

What she saw were the crumbling remnants of several chairs and a long table cluttering the floor of the room.  To the south stood three stone doors, each bearing that strange symbol that resembled a seven-pointed star.  To Pisca's eye, the room resembled a study, although time and what seemed like some person or being's occasional expressions of frustration had taken their toll.  Nothing stirred; it seemed deserted.

Pisca opened the door wider and entered the study-like chamber.  Her brief search of the rubble found fragments of countless books and scrolls covered with bits of spiky writing in a strange language.  Pisca's keen gnomish eyes even spotted what seemed to be the one undamaged document in the room, located discreetly under a chair.  But her attempt to read the page could make neither heads nor tails of it.

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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-6|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-5|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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-2|  |  |  X  | L| C|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXDDXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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0 |  |  |  |  X  | G|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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4 |  |  |  |  |  D  |PP|  D  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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5 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 900 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 2 May 2014
at 21:41
  • msg #330

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Books, books, books, books!  And nothing that's any good!"  The gnome gave an overly dramatic sigh.  Into one hand, she placed her head, to declare her gnomish disappointment.  With the other hand she held out the lone undamaged document.  "Cato?  Cato, could you take a look at this please?  The one salvageable thing in this room and the gnome can't read it.  The world is so sad now."

"But wait!  I could!"  Pisca snatched the document back, gazing at it in a new, once again eager light.  Which then faded and dwindled and died away.  "But no.  I could read it if it were magic.  But, it's best if you try first.  You're the scholar.  Brodie would want it that way."  She held out her hand again with the document in it.  "He would," she added solemnly.

"I'll just check these other doors here.  Maybe I'll find some books of Ustalavan Camp Stories behind one of them.  Or Ancient Tian Poetry.  Something.  Something.  Anything for the library."

Perception checks, both to search for traps and to listen at the doors.  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

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 487 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 3 May 2014
at 00:55
  • msg #331

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato perked up at the mention of a readable scroll.  He made a comically formal bow to Kerr and Liseth.  "If you'll exceed me, our discussion about morality will have to wait.  If appears my skills with the written word are needed elsewhere."  Cato quickly crossed the threshold and entered the new room, eager both to leave behind the vile room filled with instruments of torture and examine a new piece of ancient history, one that promised to take his mind off more current concerns, if only momentarily.

"Let's have a look at that scroll, Pisca."  Cato eagerly examined the scroll.  "Unfortunately, I didn't prepare read magic for this excursion, though I can always do that tomorrow.  I can try to decipher it anyway if it's magical writing, or just see if it's normal language."

OOC:
Try Linguistics first, then Spellcraft if I can't decipher it.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 535 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 3 May 2014
at 19:26
  • msg #332

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan lingered outside the decaying study, helping himself to another mouthfull of water from his skin, which he swished around in his mouth before he swallowed.  As he wrapped his cloak a little tighter around himself and watched for any more threats, he pondered what Kerr had said.

If Tsuto had recieved a more loving childhood...would he have taken the route he did? Or would he have ran off regardless. He imagined the kind of hatred one would have to possess to seek out the kind of people he did, to agree to attack his own fathers shop filled with defenseless workers with a tribe of goblins in tow.

Where did it start?

And did Lamashtu have a hand in it? Much like Liseth believing that she had seen the gods themselves, what if Tsuto had recieved a visit of some kind? Or this Nualia? That would be enough to make a person feel special, he was sure. But enough to turn your back on all that was wholesome and good in the world? What future could they possibly hope to see in that?

"I just want to keep Sandpoint safe and happy" the farm boy chimed in rather simply "If we can pull that off I figure we are doing pretty good" he grinned to Liseth and Kerr before glancing in to see how Pisca and Cato were coming along
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 863 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 3 May 2014
at 22:27
  • msg #333

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I...um.  Hmm."  Liseth had never really had a discussion about her core beliefs before.  Not that it was a bad thing to do so; Father Garrick had taught her that such discussion helped you learn more about yourself and explore your beliefs.  "It might be that wicked people aren't interested in redemption, that's true.  But there is always the chance for redemption.  It's up to other people to show them that what they are doing is wrong and convince them to seek it out."

Liseth nodded along while Kerr spoke, once again happy that he was with them.  He talked as though he had thought about these things before.  "That's another thing that Sarenrae teaches.  Everyone can change; anybody, no matter how cruel or evil can seek redemption.  But, sometimes they are too resistant.  They don't want to change, or they don't think that what they are doing is wrong.  Sarenrae says that, in that case, it might be best if they had justice dealt to them for the evil that they've done.  To keep them from continuing their evil.  That's why Sarenrae's paladins are more concerned with protecting people than trying to redeem villains and monsters."

"I just...I just don't think that I can do that.  Kill someone; even if they were completely evil."  Liseth fidgeted with her hands, "I would want to do everything I could to help them first.  To convince them that they should seek redemption for the evil things they might have done."  Liseth grasped Kerr's hand, "Maybe that's why Sarenrae wants me to have a protector."

She didn't realize that Cato had excused himself to explore the antechamber, and Liseth found herself talking with Kerr and Kellan.  She looked around the torture chamber again and decided to stop focusing on the horrible implements.

"I want to keep Sandpoint safe too Kellan.  We all do.  I just hope that it doesn't mean we have to kill everyone who is threatening it."  She shrugged, "It would be really nice if we could find Tsuto and convince him to come back to Sandpoint and live with his sister, don't you think?  After everything that has happened, I think that it would make Ms Kaijitsu very happy."

The girl glanced into the antechamber where Pisca and Cato were examining documents, then looked across at the other door exiting the torture room, then back to Kellan.  "Maybe we should see what's through there while they look through the...um...library.  It would go quicker that way..."  She left out reiterating why they should want to move more quickly.  Cato probably didn't want to think too much about it.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 536 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 5 May 2014
at 05:01
  • msg #334

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan seemed to consider Listens suggestion. He could peek through the door, it was probably another little corridor or room, but this being an truly ancient ruin and knowing his own luck it would probably have a trap or something attached to it.

Piscataway had been doing an excellent job being careful with the doors, and while they had not found anything yet the extra few moments it took did not really hurt them...normally at least.

"We should probably hold off..." he replied as he looked to the door "It only takes one time, ya know?" He rapped on the door to the study "How we lookin guys?" His own little brand of encouragement, and a somewhat subtle reminder that Cato would be needing medical attention sooner than later.
The Raconteur
GM, 929 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 5 May 2014
at 17:02
  • msg #335

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca listened at and examined the three stone doors with uncharacteristic patience, but was unable to either hear or find anything out of the ordinary.  The stone did not speak to her in any way, perhaps due to her lack of Dwarf blood.

She tentatively opened the west-most portal.  It slowly creaked open, revealing what looked like a five-by-five prison cell containing the skeleton of a deformed humanoid with three brittle arms.  A search of the small area found nothing more.

Pisca opened the middle door to find the same sort enclosed space, only this time the skeleton had an enormous, misshapen skull.  Again, the room seemed to contain nothing apart from the skeleton and ages worth of dust.

The third door revealed a space similar to the other two; this one’s skeleton had an enormous rib cage reaching all the way down to its pelvis, a pelvis with stunted leg bones strewn beneath its strangely flat girth.  As far as Pisca could tell, the third cell also contained nothing aside from the remains of its unfortunate occupant.

What caused the skeletons’ deformities, and how the devices in the larger room to the north contributed to those disfigurations, was probably best left un-thought-about.



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
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12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 905 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 5 May 2014
at 18:12
  • msg #336

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The hands of the gnome were on her hips, and there was a frown on her attractive gnomish face.  "This ... was not the book repository," she said, stating something rather of the obvious.  For a moment she gave the symbol on each door a hard look of scrutiny.

"Cato, could you examine these rooms for magic?"  It was hard to make a polite request while harboring deep suspicions with regards to the purpose of the doors and the small rooms behind them.  With recognition of such difficulty, Pisca added, "Please?"  I have two hunches as to what these rooms might have been used for.  The first one is magical in nature.  The second is not."

"First, it's possible that Runelord Lady Alaznist was putting together her own super team.  These rooms in some way accelerated mutation.  Perhaps by bombarding the inhabitants with high degrees of arcane particles.  The use of arcane particles would explain why the doors aren't open or transparent so that they could watch the mutations as they were taking place.  Most of the results, as you can see from the examples presented in these poor victims, are non-beneficial.  But, with enough subjects, they were bound to get four or six beneficial mutations, developing super powered beings that Alaznist could form into a super team to fight for Wrath.  Task Force W.  Or, maybe, The Angry Birds.  Something.  They'd think of a good name."

"Second, maybe this was the naughty room.  This was where Alaznist put all of the bad mutants.  She locked them here, each alone in their small, dark, soundproof cells where they slowly lost all touch with the outside world and went mad."  Pisca breathed in a tragic breath and shook her head.  "Now, *that* is evil, Lysa.  Pure and incarnate.  It's not an act of wickedness that a Runelord can take back or apologize for.  It's evil that stems from what they are.  And that is Ee Vee Aye El:  Evil."

"Sure.  Anything is possible.  In theory, it's possible for me to put the moon in my pocket.  But it's not something that you'd really want to count on."

"It would be really interesting to know whether there's any magic on those rooms, Cato," the gnome suggested again.  She gave the cells one more hard piercing look before turning and walking back out into what she'd christened, the Room of Devices.

"I'm going to take a look at this door, alright?"  Pisca was back to whispering.  But, for Kerr Mollin's sake she used a normal, mundane whisper this time, rather than her magic one.

Knowledge Arcana to determine the function of the small cells.

Perception check, to search for traps and to listen at the eastern 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, 537 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 5 May 2014
at 18:16
  • msg #337

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan peeked now and then as the cells were opened, then paused with a concerned look on his face that rapidly grew worried. He moved towards Listen, gently attempting to guide her towards the safety of the room as he assumed her place in the center of the room as he spoke.

"Did you he...yeah, guys...Guys! they're coming!"

He lowered his pole arm and focused on the Eastern door while occasionally glancing to the west in the case that it had been a strange echo.

OOC: If Liseth does not feel like moving just let me know : )
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 864 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Mon 5 May 2014
at 19:31
  • msg #338

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

With her stomach threatening to revolt, Liseth nodded weakly at Pisca's description of the malformed skeletons as an act of pure evil.  There was nothing that she could say, or wanted to say, to counter that.  She could only imagine the incredible pain and torment inflicted on those poor souls in order to...alter them in such a way.

"You don't think that..." the girl started when Pisca went to check the next door; then stopped suddenly and listened.  Immediately her eyes fell and she paled at the thought of what the sound of distant howling must mean.

"I heard them too...it sounds like more Rune Dogs...angry Rune Dogs."  Liseth said as Kellan guided her towards the uncertain safety of the deformed skeleton room.  She took advantage of Kellan's nearness to channel a small bit of the divine into him; to prepare for the doubtlessly coming battle.  "May Erastil grant you the endurance to face your enemies."

The acolyte paused just at the door, looking inside with a very uncertain and disturbed frown.  She swallowed, hard, when her eyes went over the misshapen forms of the skeletons.  With a shiver, she could not keep herself from imagining those horrible skeletons springing to life and pouncing on her.

"Cato, you...you could tell if they were undead skeletons, right?"  Liseth's hands were fidgeting, and she kept looking over the skeletons as well as glancing behind herself to see how everyone else was doing.

OOC: Cast Virtue on Kellan (1 Temporary Hit Point); 10 Rounds
This message was last edited by the player at 19:32, Mon 05 May 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 489 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Mon 5 May 2014
at 20:42
  • msg #339

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato looked up from his study of the scroll.  "Yes, definitively magic.  It's a scroll of Flaming Sphere.  Could be helpful, and if we don't need it today, maybe I can add it to my spell book."  Speaking about future plans made Cato feel somewhat better.  If he had plans for the future, it meant that the grim fate promised by the Skulls was avoidable.  Cato trailed off as the familiar Thassilonian burned to life in front of him, then extinguished before anyone noticed.  Cato's face went pale, and the silence dragged on.  "Has anyone else seen anything strange lately?  I just saw some more flaming letters, promising doom.  At first, I thought it might have been the Quasit, but she was obviously surprised to see us, and I just saw some more.  So it's not her.  Something is still alive and controlling things down here, unless it's some very powerful and ancient magic that's still active after all these centuries...like the magic preserving the wood and these skeletons, I suppose."

Cato rubbed his eyes and looked up at Pisca.  "Sure, I can scan the cells for active magic.  It'll probably take a little while.  There's almost certainly that preservative magic, or the skeletons would have long since crumbled to dust.  But I can try to see if there's anything else."

Just as Cato was about to cast the spell and start his observation, he heard Kellan's warning.  "Maybe I'll leave that examination for later.  When we're not under threat of attack again."  He glanced back at the decrepit skeletons. "I haven't been able to check them yet, Liseth, but I could detect a necromantic aura if I took the time."

Cato considered again.  "Maybe it would be worth it to not be taken by surprise.  Like those skeletons back in the vault in Sandpoint."  Cato involuntarily grimaced at the memory of being attacked.  "We certainly would want to avoid that."

Cato stepped closer to the spell, and cast Detect Magic, scanning the cells for active auras, looking specifically for Necromantic energy and anything other than the preservative magic he had earlier observed maintaining the wooden walkways in the other jail.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 906 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 5 May 2014
at 20:59
  • msg #340

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

What?????

"What?"  Standing in from of the eastern door, Pisca made an exaggerated face of puzzled enquiry directed at Lysa and Stomper.  Puzzlement gave way to annoyance, which could look similar to puzzlement, but with more frowny eyebrows.  The gnome shook her head and cast her eyes to the heavens which she knew to be somewhere up above a hundred feet of rock and stone above their heads.  With a quick dip into her pouch she took out a shim and shoved it under the door.  A swift kick of her booted foot wedged the door shut, temporarily barring the portal to anyone not expecting this particular door to be balky and intransigent.

Then, with a sigh, Pisca returned to the mutant creation chamber.  "What?  I don't hear anything."  And she tipped her head to listen once again.

And yet, silence reigned.  And reigned.  And reigned some more.  With a queer look for her human friends, the gnome returned to the eastern door, removed the shim, and opened the door as quietly as she could for a peek.

Stealth check to open the door and Perception to see what might be on the other side.

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 21:12, Mon 05 May 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 865 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Mon 5 May 2014
at 21:13
  • msg #341

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"It...they stopped."  Liseth looked around in bewilderment, then down towards Pisca, "I heard howling, just like the Rune Dogs might make.  It sounded like there was more than one of them too."  She shook her head as though she might clear her ears that way, then cocked her head again to try and hear the howling once more.

"I can't hear it anymore.  The howling sound stopped as soon as you came back into the room to check the door, Pisca..."  Liseth frowned and continued to fidget, "You heard it too, didn't you Kellan?  Did you hear anything Kerr?"

"Cato, you said that you saw those magic fire letters again, right?"  Liseth suddenly had a sneaking suspicion that she really hoped was correct, "Maybe the howling wasn't real?  It could be another magical thing trying to scare us away; an..."  Liseth searched for the proper word regarding magical noises, "illusion."
The Raconteur
GM, 930 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 5 May 2014
at 21:45
  • msg #342

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca slowly cracked open the door and peeked around the edge.  She stopped.  She looked.  She listened.

She heard nothing.  Whatever the howling was that Liseth and Kellan had heard, it wasn't coming from this direction.  At least, it wasn't coming from this direction NOW.

Nothing moved.

All she observed was a tunnel, much like the ones the group had traversed before in height, width, and stone construction, only this time descending, descending via staircase further into the bowels of the earth below Sandpoint.  Pisca could only see about 25 feet of corridor before it disappeared down into the depths of the complex.

The air seemed . . . cooler . . . on the other side of the door.  But other than that, the passageway gave no sign of its destination nor any indication of recent use.

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-7|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-6|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-5|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-4|  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-3|  |  |  |  | R| L| GD|||||||||||||||  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-2|  |  |  X  |  | K|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXDDXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-1|  |  |  |  | X| C|X |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+X-+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
0 |  |  |  |  X  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XDDXDDXDDX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  X  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |XSSSSSSX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXS-+--+-SX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  D  |PP|  D  |  |  D S|DL|SSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXX--+S-S-SX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |XS|SS|SX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  X  X  S AAA | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  | PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Mon 05 May 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 538 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 5 May 2014
at 21:48
  • msg #343

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Oh yeah, I heard it" he assured Liseth without taking his eyes off the eastern door "And yeah, it stopped right as you came in Pisca...I would guess more than one but the echos do strange things down here" he found that his mouth had gone a little dry and licked his lips in anticipation.

With intense concentration he watchd Pisca place the shim, wait, then open it back up. He looked ready to lay into whatever lay beyond the door, his body visably tensing up.

And then...nothing, more tunnel. He breathed a little sigh of relief and shook out his limbs

"Looks like were not done yet..." he said as he peered into the darkness, steeling himself for whatever lay down there.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 63 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 5 May 2014
at 21:52
  • msg #344

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr fidgeted, a little uncomfortably.  "I didn't hear anything," he said, not wanting to gainsay Liseth but also wanting to be truthful.  "But that doesn't mean it wasn't real.  I mean, you both heard it, right?"  He gestured to Kellan.  "And I was concentrating on watching back down the corridor we came from."

The young acolyte looked around the room, as if checking for vents or other means by which sound might make it into the room.  "I don't really see anything that would carry sound."  He frowned.  "But we heard howling earlier, right?  Back before we met the quasit?  Near that storeroom?"

He rubbed his chin with the thumb and forefinger of his free hand.  "It's certainly mysterious.  But Cato's been seeing the flaming letters, right?  Not only here but back there, in the same place.  Maybe it is some sort of magical trigger, or something.  Illusions can consist of sound as well as visuals, right?"  He looked to Cato for confirmation.  "Maybe the flaming letters and the howling are some sort of a package deal?"  He looked uncomfortably uncertain.  "Or something."


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 908 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 6 May 2014
at 13:02
  • msg #345

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The gnome gave her four human friends the queerest of looks.  Then she remembered the baying of Rune Dogs that she'd heard just as they entered these Thassilonian ruins.  Oh well.  So much for the idea of the wonderful sensory Expe-arium.  Maybe it was just an ordinary unused room after all.

"Maybe these ruins are haunted," Pisca suggested, even as she surveyed the downward-going stairs.  "Maybe a rather gloomy fire elemental with a penchant for writing in the air with its finger died here long ago.  Maybe it was a prisoner of Alaznist or Quasit Girl who were trying to extract the secret of central heating from it.  It died in agony and haunts these ruins to this day."

The gnome lapsed into silence as she began a careful walk down the stairs, feeling her way foot by foot, probing for trigger steps that might convert the stairs into a slide that would propel her hapless group of Town Defenders into a pit of Carrion Crawlers.  Or enraged Fire Beetles.  Or feral badgers.

"And dogs," the gnome added in reference to her previous speculations regarding the hauntings that they'd experienced.  "The fire elemental would have owned dogs.  Dogs that mourned its passing and roam these halls to this day as disembodied voices.  No wonder they abandoned this place.  Do you know how annoying that could be every day all the time?"

"You see, the alternative that you're talking about, Illusion Magic, is problematic.  Magic has purpose.  It's directed with intent.  What's the purpose of flaming letters?  Especially if not everyone can see them?  What's the sense of hearing dogs down here underground?  To scare us?  To make us uneasy?  Even I can think of better things than the sound of dogs.  Clanky chains.  Rattling bones.  The sound of vicious hamsters that want to burrow up your anus."

"Lets get some light down here."  And with those words, Pisca directed her gnome-shaped light to proceed her.

Perception for traps.  Stealth as a generally good idea.

Send Dancing Lights down 20ft ahead.

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

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 490 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 6 May 2014
at 16:52
  • msg #346

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato turned from his study of the cells, and rejoined his companions in the outer room.  He listened to the discussion about the mysterious manifestations they had all seen in the complex.

He nodded at Kerr.  "Yes, illusions can be multi-sensory things.  Simple ones are usually only sight or sound, like Ghost Sound or Minor Image, but very detailed illusions can be much more complex.  There's a higher-level spell that can make a person's worst fear attack them, which can actually kill."

He considered a little further.  "It's possible these are the remnants of some sort of ancient magical defense or warning system.  Not all spells might survive the ages well.  I don't think there's much research into how well spells work after being 'on' for millenia.  Maybe these were once more directed, or more harmful, but now their energy has degraded to the point where all they can do is produce dire warnings in flame or strange noises."  Cato shrugged.  "I'm sure Brodert would love to investigate more."  Cato smiled.  "Come to think of it, so would I.  It'd certainly be a unique avenue for research.  There's not many places where you'll find still-active examples of Thassilonian magic.  It's certainly something majestic to consider.  I wonder if the Runelords ever suspected this magic would outlive them...or their empire."

Cato ceased his rumination as Pisca directed her lights down the next hallway.  No reason to call attention to to their group.
The Raconteur
GM, 931 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 6 May 2014
at 20:10
  • msg #347

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The gnome-shaped dancing lights moved down, down, down the plunging stairway until they emerged into a large room that appeared at the bottom.  Pisca, following the illumination of her summoned apparition closely, but not TOO closely, peered out from the safety of the corridor at what it was that her light revealed.

What she saw was that the ceiling of this strangely-cold chamber arched to a vaulted height of twenty feet; even the gnome could tell it was of the same Thassilonian-era construction that had marked the rest of the complex.  The room's far end tapered into the same sort of rounded arc as the quasit's temple.  What looked like yet another passageway ran off to parts unknown about twenty to twenty-five feet down the southern wall.

More interestingly, perhaps, the floor contained eleven wooden lids strewn haphazardly over eleven five-foot-wide pits in the ground.  As Pisca listened silently, she could hear strange shuffling sounds echoing up from the darkness within the pits and, every so often, a low moan.

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

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:11, Tue 06 May 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 909 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 6 May 2014
at 20:44
  • msg #348

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Pits," whispered the gnome through her magic.  "With lids.  The pits all have lids," she said.  And then, inexplicably, the gnome added, "Silly rabbit."

"There's ... shuffling coming from the pits.  And ... low moans.  And ... I don't think that means lawn games either."

"There's another door to the south.  I'm going to slip down along the wall in that direction so you can come off the stairway.  I wouldn't recommend stepping on any of the lids."

Pisca slipped around the corner with a wary eye on the Spooky Pits.  As she sidled along the wall to the corner the gnome took a moment to direct the gnome-shaped light to a place next the pit that a charging Rune Dog might fall into, on the off hand chance that a charging Rune Dog were to come charging in a very Rune-Dog-ish way out of the southern door.

"I'm going to see what's in that door," Pisca whispered back to the others.  "Warn me if undead dealers of playing cards burst out of the pits, will you?"  And Pisca continued on her way, this time along the south wall toward the door.

Perception for traps.  And Stealth as a generally good idea.

Position:  FF-1
Dancing Lights: GG-4

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, 867 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 6 May 2014
at 21:17
  • msg #349

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

If Cato was finished examining those horrendous skeletons, Liseth was at least reasonably satisfied that they weren't undead.  Reasonably satisfied.  After the wizard left the skeleton room, the small acolyte cast a final squeamish glance at the misshapen occupants before closing the door.  Just for good measure.

Liseth quickly got into her spot behind Cato and in front of Kerr when everyone started following Pisca down into the latest tunnel.  She listened to Cato and Pisca talk about their theories on fire ghosts and illusion magic, often casting an anxious glance to the rear of the group in order to reassure herself that there were no malformed skeletons stalking them.  And to remind herself that Kerr was right there behind her, ready to protect her if they were.

"The last time we saw those fire letters was when we were entering the ruin, wasn't it?"  The diminutive blonde added to the conversation, knowing full well that she would only make herself a nervous wreck should she keep thinking about those horrible skeletons coming to life behind them.  "Maybe that means that this way leads to another entrance?  And they were warding each way in to frighten people away?"  Liseth ended hopefully, "That could mean that we might find a way back out soon!"

Unfortunately, that was not to be.  At least, not just yet.  Rather than the exit she hoped for, what was found turned out to be another big room, like the demon's temple.  Except with lids all over.  Covering what Pisca claimed to be undead-filled pits.

Now that the moaning had been mentioned, Liseth could hear it as well, "Rune Dogs moan like that too..."  As she said it, Liseth did not know which would be worse.  Undead or Rune Dogs.  Either way, the girl planned to give those pits a lot of space.

Which appeared difficult, seeing as they were spaced all over the big room.

"Be careful Pisca.  That door might lead underneath us...  Deciding that it might be safest to stay in the stairway passage, Liseth watched Pisca from the bottom; letting Cato and Kellan do whatever investigating that thought was necessary.  While she stayed with Kerr.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 540 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 6 May 2014
at 22:06
  • msg #350

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan seemed hesitant at first, but was more or less pulled along by the more daunting prospect of their scout being overwhelmed by a surprise attack. He had no desire to see what was making such terrible noises and skirted the pits with one arm dragging softly against the wall as he went.

"Can you imagine how long it must have taken to build all this?" he asked quietly as they went "All the stone you would have to quarry and move...all the excavation, and for what?" He guessed that the Thassolonians must have had some serious resources at their disposal back in the day.

"Were prpbably going to have to come back and kill whatever is in there...pour some burning oil down there, or shoot whatever it.is with arrows...that is if they cant just climb out some other way..."

It was a little odd, how unconcerned he was with whatever was down there. On any other day the very sound of a moan like that would have chilled his blood and sent him at a brisk pace towards the exit. But after what they had accomplished today he was almost desensitized to the mystery, and just eager to be done with their task.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 492 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 7 May 2014
at 00:54
  • msg #351

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I think, however much power, wealth and magic you assume the ancient Thassilonians had, they had more.  Have ever been to Magnimar, Kellan?  Seen the Irespan?  It's a massive bridge, built on a gigantic scale.  Only a part of it remains today, but it casts a substantial portion of the city into shadow.  It's over 300 feet tall.  Really, compared to something of that scale, this little basement is nothing.  If you could craft stone into a bridge hundreds of feet tall and miles long, carving out this little space would be the work of an afternoon.  You could bind a group of earth elementals to carve through the earth, perhaps."  Cato shrugged.  "Actually, what's more impressive is that it's still here after all these years.  That's much more powerful magic than making it in the first place.  I mean, you could make a house.  But could you make a house that lasted for 7,000 years?"

Cato looked uneasily at the pits.  "We shouldn't leave potentially dangerous creatures down here.  If they're truly trapped, it would be easy to eliminate them with ranged weapons.  If they're not...well, we wouldn't want them attacking town.  It's possible they're only there out of fear of the Quasit.  Without her presence, they might become bolder."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 541 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 7 May 2014
at 01:21
  • msg #352

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan shook his head a little "No, no I've never really left the Sandpoint area to tell the truth...Magnimar sounds big, I'm not even sure I can really imagine a thing that big...maybe some day I'll have a reason to hear out that way...and the money" he managed a tired grin. "Maybe buy Shallots a nice dress from there or something..."

He paused at Cato's suggestion, admitting that he had a point "Yeah...we've come this far, no reason to leave the job half finished" he set his pole axe against the wall and pulled the crossbow at his hip off the brass ring it was attached to.

"Are you guys alright with me taking a shot at whatever's down there?" He asked Kerr and Liseth mostly, but loudly enough for Pisca to hear the question
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 64 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 7 May 2014
at 20:14
  • msg #353

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr put a protective arm about Liseth's torso as the stood in the corridor just outside the room, watching Pisca check out the southern passageway while Cato and Kellan discussed what should be done with whatever creatures resided below the wooden lids dotting the room's floor.  "I don't know what those flaming letters mean either," he said, not without some consternation.  "And how come they appear to Cato, and not me?  How come only certain people can hear the howling?  I was standing right in the room too!"

At that point, Kerr had a bad premonition about what might be waiting for them under the room's mysterious lids.  He quested out with his newfound ability to sense the presence of evil, and nearly recoiled at what he felt.  "Be careful, Kellan!"  The young acolyte warned.  "There are multiple sources of evil in this room; it seems to be coming from everywhere!  I don't think whatever is under those lids is very friend . . . ."


The Raconteur
GM, 932 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 7 May 2014
at 20:15
  • msg #354

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


From deep in the shadows dancing in the northwest corner of the room, a misshapen, deformed, three-armed goblin, wearing a tattered brown tunic fastened by a tooth-covered belt and shod with worn leather boots, emerged from behind what looked like a stone-colored sheet specifically designed to match the color of the wall.  In one hand the goblin wielded a longsword glowing red with what seemed like the fires of hell.  In the second he held a fine-looking handaxe covered with what appeared to be carved runes.  In his final hand the goblin grasped a dagger whose hilt was adorned by a stylized, elongated skull.

The goblin's red eyes gleamed with the frenzy of fanaticism.  "DIE!!  DIE, INTRUDERS!!"  He screamed, before rearing his head back and bringing it forward in a jerking motion.  As he did so, an amazing volume of foul-smelling, acidic blood spewed forth from his mouth directly towards the crossbow-wielding Kellan.  Fortunately, the guardsman managed to, with an impressive feat of agility, twist out of the way of the goblin's forceful regurgitation without getting too much of the awful expectoration on him.

Unfortunately, this left Pisca directly in the line of fire, and the gnome, who was busily checking out the southern passageway, simply did not have time to perform a similar feat of acrobatics.  It hit her directly in the torso as she turned toward the mutant goblin, the acid scarring her armor and burning the uncovered portions of her neck and arms.

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
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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

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights
Surprise Round

Three-Armed Goblin spews a vile stream of acid over Kellan and Pisca.

12:52, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Pisca Neep Freemish, rolled 8 using 1d20+6. Pisca Reflex Save.
12:53, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 22 using 1d20+4. Kellan Reflex Save.

Result:  Pisca takes four points of damage.  Kellan takes two points of damage.  Pisca, you must make a DC 13 Fortitude save or be nauseated for two rounds.

Surprise round is over.  Combat begins.  Roll for initiative.  If you beat the Three-Armed Goblin's initiative of 9, you may take your combat actions.


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 493 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 7 May 2014
at 20:32
  • msg #355

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato barely had time to fully process what had just happened before his body began to react, purely on instinct.  Later, he would remember his arm coming up in the familiar gesture and flinging his last Acid Dart at the monstrous goblin.  At the time, all he could think was: I sure hope this monster isn't immune to acid, if it vomits it up.  I remember reading somewhere that snakes are sometimes immune to their own venom.  Or was that spiders?  No, because some spiders kill their mates...

OOC:
Standard Action: Acid Dart at 3-arm.
16:31, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 7 using 1d20+3. Ranged Touch.
16:29, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 23 using 1d20+6. Initiative.

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 870 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Wed 7 May 2014
at 21:35
  • msg #356

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Just as Kellan loaded his crossbow, after putting away his polearm, Liseth started at Kerr's mention of all of the evil throughout the room.  She was grateful that he was there with his arm around her, but then Kerr couldn't even finish what he was saying when there was a horrible goblin-shriek and then a stream of something shot past her field of vision and got all over Kellan and Pisca.

"What!?"  Her hands shot to her mouth and Liseth nearly fell backwards into Kerr.  She edged up to the corner of the passage and peeked towards where the spit must have originated, gasping terribly at the frenzied, three-armed goblin wielding all sorts of terrible weapons.  "Where did he come from!?  Look out!"

Liseth was just about out of energy, she had been hoping that they could get lucky just once and there wouldn't be any more terrible monsters here.  But this mutated goblin looked even worse than the quasit demon; especially with that glowing demon sword!  She still had Mr Voon's wand though, and might just be required to use it soon.

"Be careful Kerr.  Let the gods guide you."  She whispered to Kerr, grasping his free hand before he could move by her and into yet another battle.  Then Liseth retrieved her ivory wand, clutching it tightly in her right hand to await the inevitable injuries sure to follow quickly behind the mutant goblin's assault.

She really...REALLY hoped that those pits didn't hide reinforcements already getting ready to jump out of them.

Standard: Cast Guidance on Kerr (+1 to an attack, save, or skill check)
Move: Retrieve Wand

13:33, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 10 using 1d20+1. Initiative.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 542 posts
Former Red Shirt
Wed 7 May 2014
at 23:00
  • msg #357

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was practically mid sentance when his eyes went huge at the sight of the surprise goblin. By reflex alone he threw hinself to the side and felt the instant, itching, burning sensation seep into his arm where the stray droplets had fallen, little wisps of acrid smoke wafting up from between the links of his chain mail.

As he glanced around at the pits that surrounded himself, his stomach worked itself into a clenched knot. This was not what Alergast would have called a "tactically sound position"

Intitative: 5
HP: 33/35
AC: 18
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 913 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 8 May 2014
at 00:04
  • msg #358

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Nauseating!

Goblin loogies!!!

Vile, disgusting ... and ... what's that steam?  And what's that burning feeling?  Oh!  Desna's grace, that's so ...

Pisca could feel the pulling at the base of her tongue, the chokey feeling, that threatened to pull your esophagus inside out.

"OH MY STARS, YOU ARE DISGUSTING!!!"

In a flash the nausea was gone, banished by a sudden cresting wave of outrage and indignation.  "Spit on me, you filthy, lizard bumping ... "  There was a fire in the gnome's violet eyes, closed as they were to snarling angry slits.  The petite strawberry blond gnome ripped off a string of creative invective that would have blistered the goblin had it been any nearer.  With a quick angry jerk, Pisca whipped out the magic dagger captured from Quasit Girl and threw it straight as an arrow.

"Take that," Pisca said with a feral grin as she saw the magic dagger buried to the hilt in the arm of the mutant goblin.

Draw Dagger / Throw at MG

16:10, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 15 using 1d20+3. Fortitude.
16:10, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 13 using 1d20+4. Initiative.
16:33, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Hit Mutant Goblin w +1PBS +1AE +1Weapon.
16:34, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 7 using 1d4+3. Damage.

Position:  FF-1
Dancing Lights: GG-4

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

AC15
HP 18/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 1/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Thu 08 May 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 65 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 9 May 2014
at 03:47
  • msg #359

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Standing back in the passageway behind Liseth, Kerr couldn't really tell what had happened other than that some sort of enemy had appeared, and that said enemy had a truly impressive regurgitation range.  Immediately concerned for Liseth, the young acolyte stepped in front of her and out into the room, looking quickly to his right to ensure Pisca and Kellan were okay, then to his left to find a three-armed mutant goblin screaming with all the frothy-mouthed frenzy of an insane cultist.  He flinched involuntarily, but it looked like the goblin wasn't spitting any more acid.

At least for now.

Kerr had rarely enjoyed such an open shot in the close confines of claustrophobic catabcombs.  He nocked the arrow he already had to hand and sent it flying towards the capering creature.  He smiled grimly as it buried itself in the goblin's shoulder alongside Pisca's small dagger, morphing its defiant yell into a pained shriek.

OOC:

Move:  To CC-3

Standard Action:  Fire Longbow

19:36, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 10 using 1d8+4. Longbow Damage (with Deadly Aim).
19:36, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 21 using 1d20+7. Longbow Attack on Mutant Goblin.
19:35, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 18 using 1d20+5. Initiative.



The Raconteur
GM, 936 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 9 May 2014
at 04:39
  • msg #360

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Koruvus was infuriated.  Who WERE these people, to come in and disturb Mistress Elyrium's flock with their tromping and their talking?

Of course, Koruvus knew that he had been the very same way.  A treasure hunter and a glory seeker, with dreams of taking the chieftanship of the Seven Tooth Tribe, he had ventured into this underground lair to prove his worth.

And he had, just not in the way he had intended.  Once he drank from the waters in Mistress Elyrium's temple, it became clear to him, so clear to him, that his destiny was to serve her.  At her side, as she extended her kingdom into the township above.  Oh, and she needed Koruvus.  She greedily extracted from him everything he knew about the outside world, even things he didn't KNOW he knew.

She was that good.

And she would be furious if she found that Koruvus had allowed these interlopers to disturb her flock or make off with any of her treasures.  He screamed his defiance at the tree intruders, using the acid breath his mistress had given him to burn two of them.  A fourth invader appeared at the corridor entrance and had the nerve to shoot him, HIM, Koruvus, chosen of Mistress Elyrium, in the shoulder!  Almost simultaneously, the gnome scored his arm with her dagger.  Koruvus screeched in pain; he knew he needed to do something, and fast, or he would join Mistress Elyrium's flock in death.

He quickly shoved the lid on the closest pit open with his foot.  With a low moan its occupant, a walking corpse wearing only a few soiled rags, with flesh rotting off its bones, climbed jerkily out of the shallow pit next to the bowman, who looked on in unabashed shock.  The undead minion clasped its hands together and brought them both around, crashing them into the head of the young warrior and causing him to stumble back.

Koruvus took the opportunity to leap forward and slash the young man's leg with his longsword, eliciting an agonized yelp.  The goblin grinned as the human's blood flowed freely.  It looked like the archer wouldn't be long for this world; once he was finished, Koruvus and his congregation could move on to the others.

OOC:

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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
3  = 3-armed goblin

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights
Party Turn Result

3-armed Goblin takes 17 points of damage.

Goblin Turn

Move Action:  Uncover Pit
Free Action:  5-foot step to CC-4
Standard Action:  Attack Kerr

21:25, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Goblin, rolled 9 using 1d8+4. Longsword Damage to Kerr.
21:24, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Goblin, rolled 19 using 1d20+4. Longsword Attack on Kerr.

Result:  Kerr takes 9 damage.

Zombie Turn

Move Action:  Climb out of pit to DD-3
Standard Action:  Attack Kerr

21:22, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 1, rolled 10 using 1d6+4. Slam Damage to Kerr.
21:20, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 1, rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Slam Attack Critical Confirmation.
21:20, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 1, rolled 24 using 1d20+4. Slam Attack on Kerr.

Result:  Kerr takes 10 damage.

Party Status

Kerr has taken 19 points of damage and has five hit points left.  Pisca has taken four points of damage.  Kellan has taken two points of damage.

All party members may now take a combat turn.</b>


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:39, Fri 09 May 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 917 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 9 May 2014
at 12:51
  • msg #361

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"So that's what's under the lids," the gnome muttered a somewhat bemused mutter to herself.  "Not at all what I'd expected."

"Ee poh nee woe."  The gnome spat a goblin invective that insinuated its target had an affinity for reading.  Then Pisca the Mutant Goblin Hunter of the Cinderland wastes, pierced her foe for the second time, this time sinking an arrow deep into its highly irradiated flesh.

[Language unknown: "Poofunil, allpreman whidayera oeroveareder nato th ndeur onweet,"] Pisca demanded in the goblin language.  She raced out between the pits to cut off the Mutant Goblin's path to any more of the lids.  Her slim steel blade rang from its sheath, a percussive accent to her voice.

"Try to take it alive," she called to the others.  "It might be able to answer questions."

Then ... it was suddenly Pisca verses the Millennial Zombie.  It must have been thousands of years old.  And it had nearly killed Kerr Mollin.

"Cato!" she called out to the wizard.  "Lets put down this zombie.  Between us we should be able to handle it."

And so, it was with a look of surprise when the gnome saw the magic dagger tear itself from the flesh of the Mutant Goblin and fly back to where she had just been standing.  Pisca's eyes flicked from the Millennial Zombie, the Mutant Goblin and the magic dagger now lying useless on the floor, and, in reaction, she said, " ... hey ... "

Shoot MG / Move drawing rapier

05:32, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 19 using 1d20+8. Hit Mutant Goblin w +1PBS +1AE +1vsGoblin.
05:32, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 5 using 1d4+2. Damage +1AL +1PB.

Position:  EE-4
Dancing Lights: GG-4

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

AC15
HP 18/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Fri 09 May 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 495 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 9 May 2014
at 13:31
  • msg #362

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato was about to follow through on Pisca's suggestion, but ceded the initiative to Kellan, who moved into flanking position.  Cato instead settled for flinging an acid splash at the zombie.


OOC:
Standard: Attack Zombie 1

09:29, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 8 using 1d20+3. Attack Zombie (Flanking).

This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Sat 10 May 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 880 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Fri 9 May 2014
at 14:14
  • msg #363

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Kerr!"  A zombie smashed Kerr!  An undead zombie, from the pit in the ground!  Not to mention the evil glowing sword that was wielded by the mutant freak goblin.  Kerr was surrounded!

Before she knew it, Liseth was touching her healing wand to Kerr; praying to every god that it worked like Mr Voon said it would.  The familiar, divine glow that Liseth herself channeled started in the wand, then discharged into Kerr.  The blonde acolyte's face fell when she saw that the healing wand only barely managed to help Kerr at all.  He was in trouble.

"They're surrounding you!"  Liseth screamed the obvious as she tried to tug Kerr back into the passageway with her.  "Use your sword, make it into a shield.  Don't let them get you!"

Standard: Activate wand to heal Kerr; 3 Hit Points
Free: Five Foot Step backwards; AA-3

06:59, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 3 using 1d8+2. Healing Wand on Kerr.

OOC: Me and my healing rolls...
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 543 posts
Former Red Shirt
Fri 9 May 2014
at 15:35
  • msg #364

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan watched as the room erupted into chaos, the sounds ofn sudden combat being joined and the frantic shadows and movement pressing in on his senses like an icy wave. He dropped the crossbow with a clatter, the thing bouncing a little as he ran past, snatching up his pole axe and scooting past Cato on his way to back Kerr up

Pisca was screaming about taking it alive...the gnome was fearless, he had to give her that, but the guardsman was more concerned about keeping those three wicked looking weapons from being brought to bear on Kerr.

He swung the poleaxe in a wide arc, attemping to sweep its feet out from under the goblin


HP:33/35
AC: 18
Free: Drop Crossbow in EE -2
Move: To CC -2, Grab Pole axe enroute or draw lashed polearm from statue
Standard: Trip Attempt Goblin
00:10, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 15 using 1d20+9. Trip 3 Armed Goblin

This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Fri 09 May 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 66 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Sat 10 May 2014
at 01:32
  • msg #365

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Whatever Kerr had expected after stepping out of the tunnel and into the room, it hadn't been a three-armed mutant goblin wielding a magic sword and bringing his undead friends out to play.  The young bowman had hoped his shots would finish off the screaming fanatic, but they just seemed to make him angry.

Angry enough to open one of the pits and let out a zombie.

Angry enough to attack Kerr with the glowing magic sword.

The ferocity and unexpectedness of the two-pronged attack knocked Kerr off balance.  He hadn't been ready for the zombie barreling out of the pit, but that's exactly what happened.

Kerr had thought zombies were a little slower than that, but this one must have been really hungry.

They young man had nothing to block the zombie's two-fisted attack with other than his bow, and that was a paltry defense against the undead creature's blow.  The zombie's clenched fists slammed into Kerr's head, setting his ears ringing.

As if that weren't bad enough, the zombie's relentless battering distracted Kerr from the goblin, who moved in to follow up the zombie's attack with one of his own.  The goblin's magic sword found an opening in Kerr's armor, slashing a cut deep into his leg.  In response, Kerr let out what he hoped was a tenacious growl of toughness and feared was a high-pitched keen of pain.

But just when things looked their worst, he felt Liseth's healing magic flow into him, fortifying and sustaining him against the evil he faced.  Kerr knew what he had to do.  He had to protect Liseth from these monsters.

Kerr stumbled backwards into the tunnel after the blonde acolyte, drawing arrow after arrow and sending them flying towards the recently-freed zombie.  The first arrow buried itself in the zombie's shoulder, knocking it back slightly.  The second went right through its eye, ripping the corpse from its ugly unlife.

Kerr moved to draw another arrow as his leg throbbed.  He fully expected the sword-wielding goblin to charge around the corridor's corner at any moment.

And he would be ready.


OOC:

Free Action:  5-foot step to CC-3

Full-Round Action:  Rapid Shot on Zombie

09:42, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 7 using 1d8. Shot #2 Damage to Zombie.
09:42, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 5 using 1d8. Shot #1 Damage to Zombie.
09:41, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 25 using 1d20+6. Rapid Fire Shot #2 on Zombie (DA, PBS).
09:40, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Rapid Fire Shot #1 on Zombie (DA, PBS).

Result:  Zombie takes 12 points of damage and is slain.


This message was last edited by the player at 01:44, Sat 10 May 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 944 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sat 10 May 2014
at 06:50
  • msg #366

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Koruvus screamed in frustration as his first congregant crumpled to the ground from the archer's well-placed missile fire.  Elyrium was going to be SO angry!  But at this point it seemed more important to successfully deal with these intruders than to preserve his mistress' minions in their pits.

So Koruvus made an executive decision.  Bring as many out as he could.  He hoped Elyrium wouldn't mind.

And if what the gnome said was true, a tiny voice in his brain whispered, then you won't have to answer to her at all!  YOU'LL be the ruler!  Of the congregation, and the pools, and the entire realm!  Koruvus almost cackled to himself.  It would be a dream come true.

If only he survived this battle.

The dark-haired archer had disappeared back into the passageway, but Koruvus still faced more than enough opponents to keep him occupied.  He ducked between the polearm-wielding warrior and the rapier-brandishing gnome, kicking aside two more of the fragile pit-lids to free their captive congregants.  As he did so, he ventured a sword slash at the gnome, more to keep her off balance for the coming zombie attack than to do any real damage.

Unfortunately the zombie that attacked the gnome seemed unfamiliar with fighting someone that small; it seemed slightly confused and the small woman easily dodged its attack.  Koruvus glanced over his shoulder and grinned as he saw the other zombie lunge out of its cage to knock the staff-wielding human up against the wall.  That looked like it had hurt!

Koruvus could feel his own rent flesh knitting together via the divine power he had been granted by the holy waters of Elyrium's fountain.  His confidence renewed, he vowed to himself that he would see these intruders dead.

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
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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

Zombie 1 is slain.  Er, re-slain.  Un-un-slain.  Something along those lines.

Koruvus the 3-armed goblin takes five points of damage for a total of 22.  Koruvus the 3-armed goblin has healed four points of damage over a total of two turns, so is at a total of 18 points of damage.

Goblin Turn

Free Action:  5-foot step to DD-3
Move Action:  Kicks open lids at EE-3 and DD-2
Standard Action:  Attacks Pisca

23:24, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Goblin, rolled 6 using 1d20+4. Longsword Attack on Pisca.

Result:  Miss

Zombie Turn

Zombie 2

Moves to FF-3
Standard Action:  Attacks Pisca

23:25, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 2, rolled 8 using 1d20+4. Slam Attack on Pisca.

Result:  Miss

Zombie 3

Moves to CC-1
Standard Action:  Attacks Cato

23:34, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 3, rolled 9 using 1d6+4. Damage to Cato.
23:33, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 3, rolled 19 using 1d20+4. Slam Attack on Cato.

Result: Cato takes 9 points of damage

Party Status

Kerr has taken 16 points of damage and has eight hit points left.  Cato has taken nine points of damage.  Pisca has taken four points of damage.  Kellan has taken two points of damage.

All party members may now take a combat turn.</b>


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 500 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 10 May 2014
at 13:09
  • msg #367

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato gasped in pain as the newly-freed zombie slammed him against the wall.  He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and managed to stumble back away from the zombie.  His head clear, Cato was finally able to cast Acid Splash against the zombie.

OOC:
Move: 5' Step back to EE-1
Standard: Acid Splash at Zombie 3


09:09, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 4 using 1d3+1. Acid Splash Damage.
09:08, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 15 using 1d20+3. Acid Splash vs Z3.

HP: 16/25

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 888 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 10 May 2014
at 17:01
  • msg #368

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Great Kerr!"  Liseth peered past him when Kerr launched his arrows.  Even the undead zombie couldn't withstand those powerful shots, and Liseth never even thought that zombies could really be hurt by arrows.  She was impressed, but Kerr was still really hurt.

"You have to stop that evil goblin before he lets out more zombies!"  The girl saw that the goblin had stepped right to where the zombie was that Kerr just destroyed.  As she shouted, Liseth concentrated on the healing wand once more, getting it to summon up the healing light.  She touched Kerr again, frowning once more when the healing energy still had little effect.

Kerr was still bleeding, and she had used the wand twice!  Liseth just hoped that the others were faring better, but she couldn't even see them from the passage!  She needed to get into the larger room...as soon as that goblin wasn't menacing her from right at the mouth of the passage.

Standard: Activate wand to heal Kerr; 3 Hit Points

09:26, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 3 using 1d8+2. Healing Wand on Kerr.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 548 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 10 May 2014
at 17:49
  • msg #369

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

10:45, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 9 using 1d20+7. Reach, Power Attack Goblin.

ellan circled round in Catos foot steps, prodding at the goblin but finding no real purchase as he both tried to avoid the disturbing creature in the corner and reach across the now open pit.

"Relax...slow down"

He admonished himself, feeling the excitement chip away at his form and accuracy.

HP:33/35
AC: 18
Move: 5' step to DD -1
Standard: Power Attack Goblin
10:45, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 9 using 1d20+7. Reach, Power Attack Goblin
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Sat 10 May 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 930 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 12 May 2014
at 12:58
  • msg #370

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Wah!  Zombies and zombies!

Behind wide and frantic eyes, the gnome performed a count of the wooden lids that scattered the room and mentally berated herself for not having done that the very first thing when they were all safely back in the stairway and only one zombie could come at them at a time.  Next time, Pisca, before you sneak into a room with lids all over the floor ...  Next time, you hear zombie moans coming from under the lids ...  Next time, poke one open first.  Next time, *before* you go in ...

Next time.

"Forget what I said!" cried the frantic gnome.  She backed to the wall, and her rapier fell to the floor as she fired an arrow that glanced off the armor of the mutant goblin.  "Kill it!  Em Gee is not talking.  Maybe it's mute.  I don't know.  But it's not talking."

5ft step / Drop rapier / Shoot MG

05:41, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Hit Mutant Goblin w +1PBS +1vsGoblin.

Position:  FF-5
Dancing Lights: GG-4

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

AC15
HP 18/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -5

The Raconteur
GM, 946 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 12 May 2014
at 22:59
  • msg #371

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr felt another healing surge from Liseth, but somehow, even without looking at her, he could tell that the young blonde was exhausted.  And the mad, mutant goblin was capering about, bringing even MORE foes into the fray.  That had to stop; the group could easily be overwhelmed if the three-armed threat released all the pit-zombies into the fight.

As the young acolyte drew his arrow and nocked it, he prayed to Desna, and Iomedae, and Erastil.  Divines, please bless these shots, he thought to himself as he breathed, willing himself to calm.  Give me the strength to protect this group, to further you will, and to keep your chosen from harm.

He released the arrow.

It sped across the few feet that separated the young man from the goblin, taking the creature right through the head as it focused its gaze on other pit-lids from which it might summon more undead allies.  The goblin, taken by surprise, could only issue a quick intake of breath before he was dead, falling lifelessly into the pit that had so recently contained another of his mistress' unliving minions.

OOC:

Move - None

Full Round Action - Rapid Shot at Goblin

15:46, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 12 using 1d8+5. Shot #1 Damage to Goblin.
15:45, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Rapid Fire Shot #2 at Goblin (DA, PBS).
15:45, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 17 using 1d20+6. Rapid Fire Shot #1 at Goblin (DA, PBS).


This message was last edited by the GM at 23:00, Mon 12 May 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 948 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 12 May 2014
at 23:31
  • msg #372

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The two freed zombies seemed completely unaffected by the sudden defeat of their putative leader; they mindlessly pressed their attack, intent only on the destruction of the living beings before them.  The zombie in the corner took advantage of Kellan's split concentration to nearly level the guardsman with a mighty blow that the young man just was not quick or strong enough to block.  The zombie's clasped hands came thundering down on Kellan's clavicle, nearly dislocating his shoulder and almost driving him to his knees.

The pain was intense.  But perhaps not as intense as the zombie's lack of reaction to its telling blow.  There was no exultation or look of accomplishment in its eyes.  No recognition that it had even landed what would count as a victorious blow in the dueling arena.  Just a vacant-eyed look of hunger.  Only a brief, low moan from the back of the creature's throat warned Kellan of its next attack . . .

. . . Meanwhile . . .

The zombie in the middle of the room had a choice.  It could either move north to engage the gnome, or south to engage the wizard and the warrior.  It moved south, but whether that was because of the multiplicity of targets, the noise, Cato's burning acid splash, or the shining glint of Pisca's dancing lights off Kellan's armor none could tell.  The zombie stepped forward, bringing its hands around and forcefully swinging them into Cato's magical armor with the full weight of its undead body.  Again, the former Hellknight was rocked.  The force of the blow slammed the scholar against the stone wall, hitting his head hard enough that he briefly saw stars.

Again the zombie did not pause to exult in its success.  It just continued to press its attack, teeth bared as it focused on the wizard's exposed, edible flesh . . .

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
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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
3  = 3-armed goblin
UT = Uncovered Pit
Z# = Zombie

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights
Party Turn Result

Z3 takes three points of damage.  Koruvus the Three-Armed Goblin is slain.

Zombie Turn</b>

Zombie 2

Takes 5-foot step to EE-2
Standard Action:  Slam Attack on Cato

16:07, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 2, rolled 8 using 1d6+4. Slam Damage to Cato.
16:07, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 2, rolled 20 using 1d20+4. Slam Attack on Cato.

Result: Cato takes eight points of damage.

Zombie 3

Does not Move
Standard Action:  Slam Attack on Kellan

16:08, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 3, rolled 10 using 1d6+4. Slam Damage to Kellan.
16:08, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Zombie 3, rolled 21 using 1d20+4. Slam Attack on Kellan.

Result: Kellan takes ten points of damage.

Party Status

Kerr has taken 13 points of damage and has 11 hit points left.  Cato has taken 17 points of damage.  Pisca has taken four points of damage.  Kellan has taken 12 points of damage.

All party members may now take a combat turn.</b>


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 932 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 13 May 2014
at 00:41
  • msg #373

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Yeah!"  The gnome threw her fist into the air as the Mutant Goblin fell to Kerr Mollin's arrow.  Pisca herself drew another shaft and sunk it into a zombie's back, driving it nearly to the fletching in the putrefying flesh.

"Yeah!"  Pisca exulted once again.  Until she noticed ...

"Hey.  That didn't seem to work as well as yours did, Kerr."  The gnome favored her bow with a dubious look.  She gave it a shake as though some small internal mechanism might have broken loose, and that, by shaking it, she might in some way be able to hear it rattling around inside.

Then, "It's not broken."  Pisca pointed an accusing finger at the zombie, as though this may, in some way have been its fault.  "It's not."  She leapt forward and scooped up the longsword of the mutant goblin.  Fire burned up and down the blade.  The gnome pointed again, this time with the fiery blade.  And she said, "It's not broken.  It's just resting."

Shoot Z2 / 5ft step / Pick up Hellfire Longsword

17:21, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Hit Z2 w +1PBS.
17:22, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 5 using 1d4+1. Damage.

Position:  EE-4
Dancing Lights: GG-4

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

AC15
HP 18/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 502 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 13 May 2014
at 01:41
  • msg #374

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato took a few seconds to regain his bearings after being hit by the second zombie.  He definitely wasn't used to combat experiences like this.

Again, he stumbled back, trying to put distance between himself and the zombie.  He wasn't able to get far enough away before the zombie would have time to attack, but maybe soon he could.  Cato winced at his aching head.  Assuming he was still on his feet.  The scholar decided to play it safe.  He used his quarterstaff defensively as he moved back, trying to predict the the zombie's attacks and fend it off.

OOC:
5' Step to FF-1
Fight Defensively.
21:40, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 0 using 1d20-3. Attack Z2, Fighting Defensively.

AC: 18

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 550 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 13 May 2014
at 02:22
  • msg #375

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan gasped in pain as the clammy, unyielding hands rained down upon him like hammer blows. His armor seemed to do little to deaden the impact and he felt himself suddenly unsteady on his feet. Backing up a few paces with one gloved hand covering his collarbone he turned and glared at the unfeeling thing, separating his feet as the shaft of the pole axe bent slightly in his grip.

Stepping forward he struck back hard, the spear point driving into the sternum and impact in with a dull metallic sound into the wall behind it. He twisted the weapon once in his grip before ripping it out sideways, his face flushed with pain and anger.

HP: 23/35
AC: 18
Move: 5' Step to EE -1
Standard: Power Attack Z3
19:08, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 12 using 2d6+4. Damage
19:07, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 25 using 1d20+7. Reach, Power Attack Z3

This message was last edited by the player at 02:22, Tue 13 May 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 895 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 13 May 2014
at 06:51
  • msg #376

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth let out a sigh once Kerr struck down the evil, three-armed goblin.  But based on the sounds of things, the fight with the zombies was taking a toll on her friends.  Liseth had one more divine burst left in her, but then she would be completely finished; she just prayed that it would be enough.

"Were almost done...almost."  She softly reminded herself when moving past Kerr to get into the zombie room.  After Kellan struck down one of the zombies, that left just one more.  Liseth hoped.

[Language unknown: "Omewheera Reaardove!  Esecna e na aioumeev et ainersomeort onslinith reisho sanichlar itaica!"]  Liseth summoned up her power one last time and released a bright white burst to envelop the room, mending the injuries of the living.

Move: CC-4
Standard: Channel Energy to Heal 7 points to everyone; Exclude Goblin but *not* zombies (I don't think it will heal them!)

23:50, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 7 using 2d6+1. Channeled Healing.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Tue 13 May 2014.
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:

   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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-7|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-6|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-5|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  XX |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-XX--+--+--+--+--+
-4|  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  XL |UT|G | T|DL| T|  |T XX |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+XX+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+XX+--+--+--+--+
-2|  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  X  |UT|Z2| T|  | T|  |T XX |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXDDXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-XX--+--+--+--+--+
-1|  |  |  |  | X|  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |K |C |  |  |  XX |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+X-+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--XXXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+
0 |  |  |  |  X  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XDDXDDXDDX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  X  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |XSSSSSSX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXS-+--+-SX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  D  |PP|  D  |  |  D S|DL|SSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXX--+S-S-SX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |XS|SS|SX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+XXXXX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  | XX  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXX+--+XSS-AAA-+X-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--D--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  | PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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
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
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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:

   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
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-9|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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-8|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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-6|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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-5|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  XX |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-XX--+--+--+--+--+
-4|  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  X  |UT|  |UT|  |UT|  |UTXX |  |  |  |  |
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  XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+XX+--+--+--+--+
-2|  |  |  X  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  X  |UT|  |UT|  |UT|  |UTXX |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--XXXXXXXDDXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-XX--+--+--+--+--+
-1|  |  |  |  | X|  |X |  |  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  XX |  |  |  |  |  |
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0 |  |  |  |  X  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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1 |  |  |  |  X  X  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  X  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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3 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |XSSSSSSX|  |  |  XC X  |XSSSSSSX|  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXS-+--+-SX--+--+--X--XXXX--+--+-SX--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  D  |PP|  D  |  |  D S|  |SSX  |  |  XR |L | S|  |SSX  |  |  |  |
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--XXXXXXXXXX--+S-S-SX--+--+--X--XXXX--+S-S-SX--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |XS|SS|SX|  |  |  XK X  |XS|SS|SX|  |  |  |  |
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6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  XP X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  XXXXXXXXXX--+XX+--S--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |X |  |  |SSSSSSSSX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |X |  | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+-X+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+-XXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  |  |XX|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+-S+--XX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  | SS  | XX  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+- X--+--+--+--+--+--SS-+--+XX+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  X  |  |  |PPPPPP  |SS| P|  XX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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13|  |  |  |  X  |  |  |  |  D  |  | PPPPPPPPPP|  S PPP | X|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--PPPPPPPP-+--S-PP--+-X---+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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 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.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 561 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 19 May 2014
at 20:23
  • msg #402

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan smiled softly at Piscas efforts, door kicking was a fine art after all and one that he himself did not get enough practice with. Why Alergast had once taken one right off the hinges after those Stewart boys had gotten rowdy drunk on spiced wine and barricaded themselves in old man Gills barn. That had been a fun night.

He was about to open the door for her when she did it for herself, and like his comrades he stood struck dumb at what he was seeing. This did not make one lick of sense, but then again magic seldom seemed to. How Cato managed to keep it all straight was beyond him, and even little Pisca seemed to know a few tricks but this...he did not even know where to begin.

"Well..." he began peering from the edge of the door "That aint natural..."

He looked back at Cato and clapped him firmly on the shoulder with that now trademarked farm boy grin "This ones all you buddy"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 512 posts
Monster incubator
Mon 19 May 2014
at 20:33
  • msg #403

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Once it was clear there was no danger of immediate attack, Cato walked to the front of the line and gazed at the room.  He pointed to the glowing runes on that appeared and disappeared.  "I wonder if perhaps these might be related to the fiery messages promising doom I've been seeing in the rest of this complex?  From what I can catch before they disappear, most of these runes deal with things like wrath, anger and revenge."  He gazed appreciatively at the room.  "You know, if this wasn't at the end of a dungeon filled with horrible monsters and except for the writhing maggots, it might be almost relaxing.  I bet you could float in there, sleep if you wanted, without caring about anything else."  Cato laughed.  "Well, except for the buzzing and the strange runes on the wall.  That ruins the peaceful vibe."

Cato cast Detect Magic, and carefully examined the room, trying to discern the exact enchantments that powered the room.

"Pisca, I'd love to see that book and scroll as well.  It might give us more insight into what's happened down here, and what kind of deal the quasit may have had with the goblins and Nualia."
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 71 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 19 May 2014
at 22:55
  • msg #404

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr covered Liseth’s hand with his as he too stared at the strange room revealed by the obstinate stone door.  “That does look like a raven,” he said in response to his girlfriend’s possibly-rhetorical question, scrunching up his nose slightly.  “But remember this place has had access to the outside via the Glassworks’ tunnels for some indeterminate amount of time at this point.”  He nodded.  “We know some people have even visited.  Maybe they brought gifts.”  He gestured at the wine bottle.  “That wine bottle doesn’t look thousands of years old either.  Or maybe the quasit had already sent out her minions to scout the surroundings and bring back the spoils.”  Kerr didn’t like that thought.  What if those minions were still out there?  Or possibly worse, returning here?

The young acolyte nodded at Liseth’s suggestion that they shouldn’t enter the room.  “I agree.  I’m not sure rooms themselves can be evil, but if there was ever a room dedicated to evil,” he pointed into the spherical chamber with its sparking red-metal walls, “this one would certainly seem to fit the bill.  As Kellan said,” he nodded grimly at the guardsman, “it isn’t natural.”


The Raconteur
GM, 964 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 19 May 2014
at 22:57
  • msg #405

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca’s flung arrow floated with some velocity towards the ceiling of the room, hitting it with an audible “tink” before bouncing off at an angle towards the far end at the same, slow, lazy pace as the rest of the chamber’s items.  Meanwhile the wand, as if responding to Pisca’s call, moved purposefully in the gnome’s direction, traveling directly towards her until it reached the frame of the door, whereupon it suddenly dropped to the floor, striking the fitted stone tiles with a startling clang that echoed up and down the corridor.

These twin disturbances did not seem to affect the room or its remaining contents at all; they continued their slow, relaxed spinning in the charged reddish light of the chamber’s metallic walls.



Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 951 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 20 May 2014
at 00:32
  • msg #406

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Maybe Neutrogena brought the wine," the gnome mused.  "A welcoming gift for the Freaks."

"Iponznig."

"I'll pull out the book.  And the scroll," she said as she reached again, this time for the later of the two objects she'd just mentioned.  "But if you want to go in there, feel free.  It didn't seem to do the arrow much harm."

"But if it is relaxing, I wouldn't sleep with your mouth open," Pisca added, and gestured to the orbiting debris field composed of pale squirmy fly larva.

Use Mage Hand to pull out the book, the scroll, and the bottle.

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, 563 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 20 May 2014
at 06:17
  • msg #407

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan watched as Pisca began pulling out the items one by one from a distance. He seemed to have no desire to enter the room himself, but did gesture towards the bottle.

"Would you mind grabbing the bottle too? Who knows what could be in there"

He then looked to Cato with a smile "Well if you guys do end up turning this place into a mueseum or a library...I think you have your center piece."

He looks back at the ominous red plates and arcing energy "Assuming its safe of course..."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 952 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 20 May 2014
at 12:49
  • msg #408

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

pfhmpf *snork* the gnome snorked.  "Right, Stomper.  Sure."

The scroll paused briefly on its Pisca-bound trajectory.  Then it continued again as the gnome recovered from her moment of thought and also resumed speaking.

"Not a library.  It's too far away from Sandpoint for a library.  All that walking through the tunnels.  If there's one thing you have to know about libraries, it's that location is important.  Location, location, location.  And there are no nice airy windows here.  And no coffee.  No, not a library."

"But a museum on the other hand ...  That's an interesting idea, Stomper.  What do you think, Cato?  A museum of Evil!  Why, just the room back there with the dubious recreational equipment would be a great draw.  And it has a Zombie Pit room!"

"Too bad we can't open up the original entrance.  That would make a much better entrance for a museum."

Use Mage Hand to pull out the book, the scroll, and the bottle.

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

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 513 posts
Monster incubator
Tue 20 May 2014
at 14:29
  • msg #409

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato gestured at the contents of the room.  "That book is probably ancient.  It's got the same kind of magic coming from it as everything else in this complex that's been preserved.  The scroll and the wand are also magic, though I can't see that preservative effect.  I think they're of more modern creation, perhaps.  If I can examine them more closely, I can probably figure it out.  I think the room itself is powered by some kind of permanent levitate spell.  It looks somewhat ominous, but I think it's safe."

Cato smiled.  "I think, perhaps a museum of evil would be interesting.  Might not be exactly the kind of tourist attraction that the Sandpoint...Sandpointians?  Sandpointers?  Well, it might draw the wrong people.  Ancient and mysterious, like the Old Light is nice.  Evil and disturbing, less so."

Cato pointed at the bottle of wine.  "And good news, Kellan.  I think that wine is of a relatively recent vintage, too.  It might be a gift.  Hopefully not from the goblins.  Who knows what kind of taste in wine they have?"
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 912 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 20 May 2014
at 18:34
  • msg #410

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I...I don't think I understand why this evil magic room is here."  Liseth continued to watch Pisca draw floating items out with her magic, "And if those are gifts, or even spoils, why were they put in there?  Just to make them float?"  She shook her head, "After all of the terrible things we've seen down here, I don't think it could be so simple."

"Maybe we shouldn't take all those things out of there..."  Her eyes went to the levitating raven and maggots.  "What if the evil magic in there rubbed off on them?  They might be cursed!"  She rubbed her hands anxiously, "Um, Kellan...you don't plan on drinking that wine, do you?"

"But a museum is a bad...bad idea.  I wouldn't want to visit a museum dedicated to evil monsters, torture, and even Lamashtu."  Liseth nodded at Cato's comment, "That's right.  Something like that would definitely attract the wrong kinds of people.  Bad sorts of people."  She frowned and looked at their resident scholar, "But I suppose that no matter what we do, people are going to want to visit this place anyway, won't they?  Historians and wizards that would love to study this place and...things like that."  The girl in the white dress pointed at the evil levitation room.

Tearing her eyes from the room, the blonde acolyte looked back the way that they had come, "We could probably leave now; I think that's a good idea.  We already did everything, and more even, that we came here for..."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 564 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 20 May 2014
at 19:49
  • msg #411

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan shook his head at Liseths question. "No, no...I am just curious to see if its wine at all, and if so if its actually that old...which it sounds like its not."

He took one last look around "As for getting out of here, I think that's a great idea." Turning and beginning to make his way out.

"I suppose I had not really thought the mueseum thing through...maybe you would have to limit it to only respected scholars or things like that...Academies..not just anybody who wants to wander through. And only after Father Zantus and the Mayor and the Sheriff have all weighed in of course...who knows, maybe they will just want to flood it"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Tue 20 May 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 953 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 20 May 2014
at 20:26
  • msg #412

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"You know, I hear that there are people in Westcrown who dig huge stone lined holes, forcing slaves to carry countless buckets of water just so they can swim, Lysa.  Maybe this room is built this way just so someone can float.  I think the answer to the question of why they built it is pretty simple.  It's because they could.  Why does a cat worry a mouse?  Why does a badger balance a peppercorn on its nose?"

The gnome rolled her eyes at the unspoken answers.

Next came the scroll.  Pisca repeated the spell again, locking onto it and tractoring it in through the pod-bay doors.

"I don't see why you don't like the idea of the museum, though.  It's a good idea.  Well, it's a good bad idea.  It wouldn't be an Evil Museum if it wasn't bad.  At least we could get them to pay to come see it.  If you restricted it to scholars and such you wouldn't be much of a museum.  It would be ... an archanic research site.  Not much fun in that."

"Say, are the rest of you feeling alright?  You sound ... well ... tired."

Use Mage Hand to pull out the book, the scroll, and the bottle.

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, 565 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 20 May 2014
at 20:53
  • msg #413

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Just worried about Cato mostly" he admitted as he tried to follow Liseths suggestion to be back up to the sun and fresh air. "It seems clear, we can post another guard tonight and make a good, deep sweep of it tomorrow...I wonder what time it is anyway."

Relaxing a little bit he let the head of his pole axe rest on one shoulder.

"Well if we were going to destroy it...I might consider trying to get the town to recycle all this stone" he rapped on a nearby wall.

"Get a team of Dwarves in here maybe and collapse it section by section...or fill it in. I bet we could rebuild the walls and maybe have enough left over for a whole other building...or maybe a tower" the guardsmen obviously was growing more fond of the idea as he spoke
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:54, Tue 20 May 2014.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 72 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 20 May 2014
at 21:38
  • msg #414

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


"I know I'm exhausted, Pisca," Kerr responded to the gnome's comment before raising a dubious eyebrow.  “But I don’t know if a Museum of Evil is something Sandpoint wants to be known for.”  He squeezed Liseth’s hand.  “I agree with Liseth; I think it’s best if we leave this place for study by people like Brodert and Cato.”  He nodded at the scholar.  “Seems like a Lair of Wrath would lure definitely lure the wrong clientele, if you know what I’m saying.”

The young acolyte grabbed the wine bottle as Pisca maneuvered it through the open doorway.  “Look at this,” he said, a note of surprise in his voice.  “A Varian Jeggare chardonnay.”  He looked up at the others.  “A very nice, but still recent, vintage.”  He paused.  “Don’t you think, Cato?”


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 514 posts
Monster incubator
Wed 21 May 2014
at 16:24
  • msg #415

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Yes, I suppose you're right.  Though I'm sure Brodert will be itching at the chance to examine this place once he hears more about it."

Cato perks up when the wine is retrieved.  "Oh, that is a rather nice vintage.  And you know, white wine isn't really supposed to be aged anyway.  I think it's better if we were to consume that soon, perhaps as a small reward for defeating these monsters.  The only question left is, with what should we pair the wine?  I bet this would go splendidly with some cedar-roasted salmon.  I bet some nice spice would go well, too.  I'm sure Ameiko could prepare the perfect dish."

Cato sighed.  "But yes, I'm feeling somewhat tired.  I'd be glad for an opportunity to finally head back up and talk with Father Zantus about..." the wizard gestured aimlessly at himself.  "Well, about what happened.  I'd feel much better knowing that he could help."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 917 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Wed 21 May 2014
at 19:44
  • msg #416

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Mmhmm..."  Liseth nodded her agreement with Kerr.  She was exhausted, "Father Garrick told me that I have to use my power so that I could strengthen my 'divine muscles.'  But he never said how tiring it would be."  She reached a hand out and said a prayer; for a brief moment it glowed lightly with divine energy, then the glow faded away.  Beads of sweat formed on the girl's forehead and she closed her eyes, "I can't..." she breathed deeply, "I can't even summon enough energy to mend a small bruise."

The acolyte swayed unsteadily on her feet, reaching for and leaning against the wall.  "I don't think that I want to drink any wine from down here..."  She glanced towards Cato, "I'm sure that we can find something a lot better to toast your health with Cato.  After we get Father Zantus' help."

Pushing off of the wall, the small blonde took hold of Kerr's arm and leaned on him for support; glad that they were finally leaving.  "I'm sorry Kerr.  I shouldn't have tried to use my healing magic again..."
The Raconteur
GM, 969 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 22 May 2014
at 20:44
  • msg #417

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


A quick perusal of the formerly-floating volume proved it to be completely incomprehensible; none of the group was familiar with the language in which it was written.  Pisca, ever the one to rise to a challenge, took the book for further examination, and was seen to be puzzling over it as the party returned to Sandpoint.

Deciding that perhaps discretion was the better part of valor when it came to the Room of Mysterious Levitation, the group headed back the other direction, past the blocked staircase and into the Zombie Pit Room.  Skirting past the dismembered remains of the zombies, they labored back up the incline to the Room of Torture Devices, and then on into the prison.

They walked single-file on the prison’s wooden walkway, each thinking back on what had happened to them during the expedition and worrying about what might become of Cato.  Returning to the entry hallway, they passed the eternally-wrathful statue of the Runelord Alaznist and headed back out into the tunnel excavated by, it seemed, some enterprising but unfortunate Sczarni.

Although they kept a careful watch as they traveled, nothing moved, stirred, or otherwise indicated the presence of any sentient creature in the complex.

It seemed that the Sandpoint Saviors were victorious over the catacombs' subterranean evils.

Although it was something of a bitter victory, given what they had seen and experienced.  Not to mention what had happened to Cato.

The return trip to the room below the Glassworks felt much shorter than the seemingly-interminable outbound trip.  It was almost difficult for the five tired explorers to believe that relative normalcy and peace were just a few short steps away from the horrors of the prison/laboratory.  But they could feel accomplished, proud even, that they had protected Sandpoint from those horrors.

Before they knew it the frightened faces of Santo Flitworth and Quint Plinsman appeared from behind the barricade, the gleaming blades of their poleaxes reflecting their pale, peaked features.

“Kellan, is that you?”  Ventured Santo, as if he thought that Kellan might be some sort of apparition, undead creature, or other unimaginable monstrosity.  “You guys okay?  What happened?  We . . .,” he glanced at Quint, “. . . heard things.”

“Yes we did.”  Agreed Quint, who, apparently not as unsure about the group’s status as his comrade, began opening the barricade.  “Fighting.  Howling.  It was . . . unnerving.  But you guys look,” he took in the bedraggled, blood-and-gore splattered figures before him, “um, okay, I guess.  I mean, considering.”

He paused, then gave them a relieved grin.  "To tell you the truth, we weren't sure if we would ever see you again.  We were half-convinced that an army of Howlers was going to come boiling out of the passageway at any moment."  He stepped through the now-open barricade to grasp Kellan's forearm.  "So I can't tell you how good it is to see you, big guy.  I'm guessing," he glanced over Kellan's shoulder, "that whatever was down there, um, isn't there any more?"




This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Thu 22 May 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 566 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 22 May 2014
at 22:44
  • msg #418

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

It took a few minutes for the realization that they were leaving to sink in. Since entering this place it had all been a blur of fatigue, pain and fear. Time had ceased to make any sense and without any natural light to guide them Kellan half expected to be emerging into darkness.

Cato had suffered a terrible experience, but the wizard was wiser than Kellan by no small margin and did not seem afraid, this more than anything bolstered Kellans belief that Father Zantus would have whatever they needed on hand to stop the blasphemous transformation that the others believed was coming.

So with that in mind his spirits seemed to lift with every step towards the exit. His weariness seemed less pressing and his thoughts less dark. They had done it...he had been so worried, for his friends, of failing the town, of dying in some dank pit down there that being able to walk back out made him hold his head up high and his smile to shine through the grit and dried blood.

"Santo!" He called out through a cupped hand as he recognized the first face peering over the barricade. "Were comin out!" His words echoing down the hallway.

As he saw his friends and compatriots the thought suddenly struck him that this entire event was huge, massive, nothing like this had ever happened in the in the history of the town, to his knowledge of course.

The recent unpleasantness had shook the little seaside hamlet to its core...but compared to the last few weeks in seemed almost quaint in retrospect. Goblin attacks? Lord Kaijitsu murdered? Followed by an assault on a subterranean temple of a dark goddess, with an honest to Desna thousand year old demon priestess and her whole host of slavering beasts! How was he even going to explain this to his family? To Shayliss? To Alargast?

"Hey guys" he accepted the hand warmly and helped to reseal the barricade.

"So..." he looked back at his party as if trying to find the words.

"It's a mess down there...I'm pretty sure we got them all, but we are going to need to do a real slow search through that place again...just to be safe."

He took a deep breath

"But first we need to talk to the council about some things...so if I can ask you guys to just stay posted up here for a while longer, I'm hoping we can hit it again in the morning and finally call it good. Does that work for you?"
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 918 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Fri 23 May 2014
at 04:15
  • msg #419

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The trip out of the underground ruin was done in something of a daze for Liseth.  It was all a blur as she wearily walked with Kerr; staying in contact with him as they traversed the dark passages one final time.  She couldn't believe what they had all done today, but the evidence was plain to see even as she closed her eyes to avert them from the image of the slaughtered zombies and their goblin leader.

How many horrible monsters and demonic creatures did they fight down here?  How many did they kill?  All those Rune Dogs, the Quasit demon, the skull monsters, the mutant goblin and all it's zombies...the girl had never imagined herself helping with anything remotely like that.  But it was exactly what Sarenrae had planned for her; to confront evil in it's purest form.  Liseth was not going to let Her down.

But with how exhausted she felt, the small acolyte just hoped that her body could keep up with her conviction.

"I can't believe what we did..."  Liseth breathed once they were finally clear of the ruin and back into the passage leading towards the glassworks basement and Sandpoint.  "How long have we been down here?"  So much had happened, she was having trouble determining whether they had been going for an hour, a day, or a week.

Hearing the voices of the men stationed to guard the passage was the final evidence that their task was complete.  It was just a few steps further and they would all be back in the sunshine, reporting their success.  Liseth let Kellan talk with his friends; instead thinking about Cato.  They had been purposefully keeping from speaking about what had happened, but now that they were almost out of the ruin it would have to be dealt with.

"Before we do anything else we have to talk to Father Zantus," she added once Kellan finished.  "And Mr Voon too even."  They had those demon bodies that had to be disposed of properly; even if Cato wasn't...ill.  But he was, so that made seeing Father Zantus doubly important.

"Are you still feeling okay, Cato?"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 519 posts
Monster incubator
Fri 23 May 2014
at 14:44
  • msg #420

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato breathed a sigh of relief as the party made their way back to the entrance to the dungeon.  He felt somehow better, just knowing that the outside world was close once again.  Then he ran his hand through his hair, and felt his stomach sink when a few stray strands came out.

He smiled weakly at Liseth.  "I'm still feeling mostly okay, but..."  Cato open his hand, and a few strands of hair fell to the ground.  "I think I'd like it if we saw Father Zanus as soon as possible."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 957 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 23 May 2014
at 15:06
  • msg #421

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"We're coming out ... "

"Huh?  Wha???"  The book snapped shut with that satisfying *fwap* that paper in well-fitting reams can have when working in concert.  "We're coming out?  Oh.  Right."  Pisca Neep Freemish tucked the Prayer Book of Evil Lamashtu-ness under one arm and strode out into the now-familiar basement section of Lonjiku Kaijitsu's Glassworks.  Or, at least, the short stretch of rubble filled corridors should have been familiar.  By now at least.  And, in truth, it was not as though anything was particularly out of place.  But ... things seemed different.  The world was a bolder place.  This small room at the end of the tunnel was a bolder room.  The corridor outside was a bolder corridor.  And, it occurred to the gnome that, perhaps, in entering the Thassilonian ruins and by passing through the ordeal through which they had passed, perhaps, just perhaps, they, the five of them, had recreated the world.

This was an idea that Pisca almost immediately discarded.  (Sort of.  Actually, less discarded than tucked away upon a high shelf where one kept the sparkly things that one fondly treasured.)  It was, the gnome admitted to herself, much more likely that they had themselves been transformed by the experience.  And that they now saw things through different eyes.  Pisca hoped that hers were still the nice pale violet that they had been before.

"You're right, Lys.  We need to get Cato to Father Zantus as soon as possible."  For some reason she still was unable to get the image out of her mind.  The man flopping violently about atop the table, being held down by his friends as the demonic thing burst from out of his chest.  Pisca shook her head and the image got the hint and went off to where images of its kind go when they aren't wanted.  "Keep a close watch," Pisca warned the two guardsmen, Santo and Not Santo.  "Don't let anything out of there," she said.  And then she added, "I'm pretty sure we haven't left anything live down there.  But, that might not stop some of those things from wanting out anyway."

Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6
Spells: L1-2/3

The Raconteur
GM, 971 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 23 May 2014
at 23:07
  • msg #422

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Quint grinned at Kellan’s suggestion that they stay at their posts, raising an eyebrow and very-obviously taking in the group’s battle-worn appearance as the two guardsmen completed reassembling the barricade.  “Well, Storval, we weren’t exactly viewing you guys as our relief.”  He glanced at Santo.  “And I don’t think either Flitworth or I are going to be leaving our post until Sergeant Tiller sends down our replacements.  Heck, we might even ask for permission in writing.”  He lowered his voice, as if the bald-headed sergeant might be able to hear them.  “Man’s in a mood.”  Santo nodded in fervent agreement.

“So, we’ll just stay here and watch this creepy-but-hopefully-empty-hallway some more while you guys go tell the Council about your adventures.”  Quint Plinsman sat down in a comfy-looking chair the pair had apparently purloined from elsewhere in the building.  A quick glance at the barricade showed a small aperture right at the eye level of the chair’s occupant.  “To tell you the truth, it’s not hard duty.”  The guardsman swung his boots up on a table that had apparently been dragged over just for that purpose.  “Tell Mayor Deverin ‘hi’ for us.”

Quint looked bemused at Pisca’s instructions regarding the hallway.  “Yes indeed,” he said, giving the gnome a jaunty salute from his seat.  “You can count on us, Pisca.”  Apparently the gnome’s name was now well-known, at least to the members of the Sandpoint Guard.  The guardsman patted the polearm he was currently using to balance himself as he rocked back on two legs of the chair.  “If anything wicked does come down that hallway,” he winked at Kellan, “you’ll know it.  Flitworth’s frightened screams will be the first thing you hear.”

“Hey!”  Said Santo indignantly, grinning all the same.  “You definitely scream louder than I do.  That’s what your mom says, anyway.  Must run in the family.  She’s quite the screamer herself.”

A rock “plinked” off Santo’s armor.  “Ignore him, ladies,” responded Quint, lowering his arm as he mustered what might have been a false dignity, “man hasn’t learned how to carry on a conversation in polite company.  In any event, we’ll be here.  And if you see Tiller, Storval, make sure to tell him how vigilantly we are watching yon tunnel.  Now,” he said, waving his arm toward the doorway, ”be off with you.  I don’t want to be forward, but you all need to bathe.  Or at least change clothes.”


Torv Tiller
NPC, 2 posts
Hard-Ass
Sergeant
Fri 23 May 2014
at 23:08
  • msg #423

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The group left the room and headed up to the Glassworks to the fading sounds of the kind of good-natured insults that were the hallmark of armies everywhere, only to run straight into the gimlet-eyed Sergeant Tiller.  “Glad to see you made it back Storval,” he said, foregoing the usual pleasantries.  “Can’t say I thought we’d ever see you again.”  He ran his gaze over the rest of the group.  “So, give me a status report.  Plinsman and Flitworth still alive down there?  And do I need to be keeping guardsmen in the Glassworks in case we’re overrun by the terrifying, nightmarish spawn of evil?”  He crossed his arms.  “Because I have places for them to be if I don’t.”


Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 921 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 24 May 2014
at 00:54
  • msg #424

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Oh..."  Liseth frowned and covered her mouth with her hand when she saw Cato's hair starting to come out.  "Um..."  She nodded; seeing Father Zantus would have to be their top priority.

The two tunnel guard's good-natured humor and jabs at each other felt almost mean to Liseth, given the seriousness of Cato's condition.  But they didn't know what had happened, what they had to work quickly in order to stop.  And it would probably be best for everyone if they didn't know; at least not right away.  It would only scare them...and maybe even cause Cato to get bad attention from frightened people.

She looked down at herself when the men mentioned how everyone was in need of a bath.  It was an unconscious action, but it did make the girl realize just how dirty she was; in addition to being tired.  Dirt and sweat was stained all over her brand new dress, even a little bit of blood; not hers this time.  It was completely filthy.  And Liseth had a new appreciation for the thickness and weight of the garment.  It was hot, it was like wearing a winter coat, which made her sweat even more during their long, exhausting, underground adventure.  Then the sweat got absorbed in the layers and layers of cloth, which made it even heavier, and dirty, and smelly, and plain uncomfortable.

As miserable as she felt wearing her heavy quilted dress, Liseth imagined that Kerr must feel twice as miserable.  With that heavy steel plate and the padding underneath; the girl might not have been able to make it through the day in something like that.  She glanced at Kellan, in his heavy suit of mail armor.  How does he do it?  Being so big and strong probably helped a lot.

"Hello Sergeant Tiller..."  When they met the Sergeant upstairs, Liseth stayed behind Kerr.  After everything that they had been through today, he could at least be a little bit nicer.  She decided to let Kellan take the lead in answering him; Kellan was a member of the militia, after all.  But then again...

"Kellan, maybe it would be best if you stayed here to tell Sergeant Tiller what happened.  We still need to hurry and find Father Zantus."  She glanced worriedly at Cato, "I'm sure you can meet us at the Cathedral after your...um...debriefing."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 568 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 24 May 2014
at 02:38
  • msg #425

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was trudging up the steps, trying to keep his mind off of his aching muscles when he spotted the Sergeants trademark profile, stiff as a board and a face full of scowl.

"Sergeant" He began, loudly enough to give early warning to his comrades down stairs. "It was probably a good call posting you here...things could have easily gone south down there."

He looked over to his party and nodded to Liseths suggestion to catch up with them later. "Good idea, I'll catch up" he slapped Cato on the shoulder with the back of his gloved hand. "Feel better ok? I'll be right there"

Looking back to Tiller, Kellan straightened a little as he thought on what details to include. No doubt people would learn of it all eventually, but it was a small town and controlling the gossip around here was like trying to outrun a brush fire.

"Plinsman and Flintworth are well, they heard us coming up the tunnel from quite a ways away. I think its best we keep at least two men posted for another night. We made a pretty complete sweep but there  are lots of little nooks and cranny down there, and we were ambushed more than once" he looked to Cato once more as his friends filed out.

He cleared his throat "That being said we killed everything that moved" his voice sounding a little tired "So with luck and another detailed search that should hopefully be the end of that place for us"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 959 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sat 24 May 2014
at 05:49
  • msg #426

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"We even killed all of the things that were already dead," added the gnome.  "And a few things that had just been born," Pisca continued, swaggering somewhat as she sauntered her way past the guard sergeant and, from there, to the door to the street.  "But, according to Cato, they were never alive to begin with.  Like having a pet knife-rack with spider's teeth."

"Rahr-rahr-rahr-rahr."

The gnome walked about, stiff-legged with her arms outstretched before her.  She stopped just in time to catch the Prayer Book of Evil Lamashtu-ness, saving the book from a fall to the floor.

"Don't keep Stomper for long," Pisca called behind her as she disappeared through the doorway and out into fresh air and lofty sky of Sandpoint.  "After we save Cato from becoming a Flying Skull, we'll want to talk to the Mayor.  And he won't want to miss being there for that."

There were, in fact, many things to do.  But there always were, weren't there?  Upon coming home from a trip one invariably found that there were just as many things to do, what with unpacking and settling the many things that had happened while you were away as well as cleaning up the things that you had just done while on your trip, that you might as well not have left to go on your trip in the first place.  Or, as an alternative to that, never come home from your trip at all, and continued wandering on forever and into ever.

"I think the question we have to ask ourselves," said the gnome as they made their way the short distance between the north door of the Glassworks to the Temple, "is what does all of it mean?  So, Neumonia met with Quasit Girl.  They spent some time together floating around in the Room of Evil Levitation, strangling birds and planning the downfall of Sandpoint.  What exactly does it mean that we've removed Quasit Girl from the goblin stew?"

"Tsuto's escaped and probably told Neurosita that we now know all about the ruins.  She'll have to assume the worst, (and rightly so) that Quasit Girl is dead.  What more do we need to convince her that attacking Sandpoint is something she does not want to do?  Do we have to knock on her door?  Go to Thistletop and rescue Tsuto?"

"At least now we have magic weapons.  I tell you, those gobbies better have the sense to be scared now.  I want to see more fleeing and less stabbing when we show up this time."

Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6
Spells: L1-2/3

This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Sat 24 May 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 520 posts
Monster incubator
Mon 26 May 2014
at 01:07
  • msg #427

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato listened to Pisca's rumination, grateful to have something to distract his mind from ramifications of his hair loss.  "Yes, it's probably safe to say that Tsuto's told Nualia all about.  Or maybe not.  It's not unheard of for despotic, evil leaders to punish the bearers of bad news.  But Tsuto probably wouldn't be able to hide the fact that he was in a fight.  Not with his acid-scarred face anyway."  Cato managed a brief smile, suddenly feeling ashamed that he could find horrifically scarring another person a bright thought.  "But this just might convince Nualia that Sandpoint's starting to organize, and she needs to strike before the town is totally prepared.  Maybe going to Thistletop is just what we need."  Cato paused, quickly running a hand through his hair again.  "After we see Father Zantus of course.  I don't think I'll be much help soon if we don't..."  Cato trailed off, unable to complete the thought.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 73 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 27 May 2014
at 18:46
  • msg #428

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr couldn’t help but grin at Quint and Santo’s antics in what he was starting to think of as “the guard room.”  After hours spent tense, stressed, and more often than not in battle with creatures of dark origin and darker purpose, it was nice to be reminded of what they were fighting for.  The opportunity for regular people to joke around.   For Sandpoint’s guardsmen to do nothing more dangerous than deal with petty toughs down at Fatman’s or inebriated farmer’s boys out on the homesteads.  For people to lead their lives without having the threat of invasion or attack hanging over their heads.

The young acolyte nodded to himself and hugged Liseth closer.  It was easy to lose track of their larger purpose and fall into a one-foot-in-front-of-the-other sort of tunnel vision.  It was nice to be reminded of the big picture.

Kerr found that walking back up the steps of the Glassworks was a little tougher than he’d anticipated.  His legs were sore.  Shoot, his whole BODY was sore.  It certainly wasn’t used to dragging forty pounds of metal around for any length of time at all, much less for hours at a stretch, and certainly not while doing strenuous activities like fighting for his life.  Kerr adjusted the breastplate uncomfortably and tried to stretch out his fatigued muscles as best he could; he couldn’t wait to get back to the cathedral and get out of this cursedly-heavy armor.

He suppressed a groan as they ran into Sergeant Tiller on their way out of the building.  Kerr didn’t want to be impolite, and he tried to think the best of people, but in his opinion the Sergeant was a little too terrifyingly strict.  The man certainly seemed to enjoy his ability to cause fear in those around him.  Although, Kerr had to admit, he always seemed to be fair about things.  And now that he’d had more up-close interactions with the man, Kerr was starting to think it was possible that he had a sense of humor.

A very, very dry sense of humor.

But given the situation, Kerr was glad to leave the Sergeant to Kellan and accompany the rest of the group out the door into the mid-afternoon sunlight, heading down Rat Alley to Main Street, moving towards the cathedral.  They needed to get Cato to Father Zantus as soon as possible.

“Well,” he offered, after listening to the others talk about the effect of their expedition, “I mean, we’ve cut off one avenue of attack for them, right?  Didn’t Tsuto’s journal indicate that they were planning to attack from below as well as from above?  Now if they want to attack Sandpoint they’re going to have to come over the bridges, and that,” he gestured to a platoon of levied guardsman running double-file down the street in some semblance of time under the watchful eye and strict cadence of Sergeant Rowen Fletcher, “is going to be harder every day they delay.  So if they have scouts watching the town, like Dav said . . .,” Kerr paused, not liking where his thought was going, “. . . then maybe they will accelerate their attack plans.”  He looked unhappily from Pisca to Cato.  “I hope not, though.”


This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Tue 27 May 2014.
Abstalar Zantus
NPC, 10 posts
High Priest of Sandpoint
Disciple of Desna
Tue 27 May 2014
at 18:48
  • msg #429

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The remaining four members of the group arrived at the Cathedral in a somber mood, pondering what might be in store for Sandpoint and, in the shorter term, what might be in store for Cato.  They opened the ornate double doors that opened out onto Northchurch Square and entered the building.

The cathedral was buzzing with activity, and Father Zantus wasn’t hard to find; he was standing right in the middle of the whirlwind, giving orders to acolytes and riding herd on the chaos swirling around him.  From what the group could hear as they approached him, it sounded like the town’s chief prelate was deep in the middle of preparations for that evening’s funeral ceremony honoring those the town had lost to the recent attacks.

That didn’t stop the older man from giving them a worried look as he took in their bedraggled, war-torn appearance.  Giving a final murmured instruction to Daena Broadleaf, he moved towards them, brows drawn together.

“I am glad to see you’ve returned!”  He looked around, noting the group’s absent member.  “Is Kellan okay?  It looks like you’ve seen some fighting.  Quite of bit of it, actually.”  He gestured to some cushioned benches in what looked like an indoor prayer garden.  “Here, please sit down and rest; you deserve it.  Now,” he said, visage still dark with concern, “I would have been called if you had already been to see the mayor.  Something must have brought you here first.  What is it?”


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 960 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 27 May 2014
at 23:04
  • msg #430

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"You know, I keep coming back to the question of how Neutrala happened to find Quasit Girl."  Trotting along with the three remaining humans, Pisca responded to the speculations posed by Kerr Mollin.  "Even if she's been working with the goblins and even if the goblins knew of the Tunnel of the Freaks, how does an Ex-Daughter of a Desnan priest find a Several Thousand Year Old Demon Girl?  It sounds like such an improbable combination.  But, then you go back to the root of all those wacky West Cranian infernal romantic comedies and the answer is there.  Lamashtu.  It's the god who brings them together.  So, what this gnome says is that if you want to know what the gobbies will do next, you ask yourself this question:  What would Lamashtu do?"

Inside the Cathedral, the gnome turns this way and that watching this human or that human hurry off on missions various and sundry.  Everything was certainly busier than before.  The hummies do take their goblin invasions quite seriously.  It was also a good thing that there were not a lot of them running around declaiming in high excited voices and stabbing each other for bread and spare toiletries.  That sort of panicking and turning on each other was never good.

"Stomper's fine, Father Zantus," the gnome replied.  "He just remained behind to fill in Sergeant Tiller on what we found ... in ... in that place that we went into."  Pisca gave an uneasy look at the many possibly panicky, toiletry-hoarding humans within earshot.  The gnome reached up and tugged at the priests robe, drawing him down to normal eye-level while gesturing her other three friends to huddle in close.

"We think Cato might be turning into a Bat-Winged Head," the gnome whispered in a highly covert voice.  "He was kissed by a skull from the fiendish outer planes, and we think it might be turning him into one of them.  We brought one back in case you needed to see it.  Or, maybe, needed the tongue for a spell.  Or maybe just want it for a reason all your own.  Kerr Mollin has one of them in his pack."  Squatted down amidst the canopy of humans, the gnome gestures for Lysa's boyfriend to bring out the afore mentioned fiendish, Bat-winged skull.

"Don't open your bag all the way," warned the gnome.  "I don't think we want anyone else to see what was living just beneath their feet all this time.  No need for Pee Aye En Eye See.  Right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:54, Wed 28 May 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 922 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Wed 28 May 2014
at 03:42
  • msg #431

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"We can't go to Thistletop..."  Liseth partook of the conversation while they all walked to the Cathedral.  "Sheriff Hemlock needs us all to stay in Sandpoint to help people feel safe.  What if the goblins saw us leave and attacked while we weren't here to protect Sandpoint?"  The disheveled girl frowned, "Maybe we'll get lucky and they will call off their attack plans completely once they learn what we did.  Or if they do attack sooner than they thought, maybe they won't be as prepared either."

"But that would explain how Nualia knew about the quasit demon.  If they both worship Lamashtu...and Lamashtu wants to hurt Sandpoint...then she might have told them about each other."  She thought about what Sarenrae had said, how the evil gods would send their minions against her; Liseth.  That they want to destroy her and her friends.  Lamashtu wasn't making goblins attack Sandpoint just because she was here...right?

Liseth suddenly felt very vulnerable.

The acolyte visibly slumped, the last of her adrenaline fading to leave her with nothing but exhaustion, when the Cathedral came into view.  Another day's terrors were finally, hopefully at an end.  Just getting to the top of the Cathedral's steps, even with Kerr's help, was difficult to manage, "Thank you Sarenrae..." she whispered once the doors were opened.  Everything would be fine again as soon as Father Zantus helped Cato.

She had never seen the Cathedral so active before, it looked like every single acolyte was hard at work.  The small blonde felt a little bit self-conscious; she didn't know if any of the others knew why she and Kerr had been gone all day.  Preparations would be simpler if they were at the Cathedral helping, after all.  But now that they were showing up, and the way that they all looked, it wasn't difficult to imagine a lot of talking going on.  Especially with the way that Daena looked at her and Kerr before going off to attend what Father Zantus had told her.

Daena was Sarenrae's acolyte in the Cathedral; other than Kerr she was the one that Liseth had spent the most time with.  But even then she didn't really know what the other girl thought of her.  It had been awkward during her first few days at the Cathedral; Liseth imagined that Daena might have suspected she was trying to replace her as Sarenrae's acolyte, though things got better when Liseth revealed that she wasn't consecrated to Sarenrae's service.  And why.

It probably didn't help that Liseth had very little practice interacting with other girls close to her own age.  As evidenced by the way she had so inexpertly talked with Katrine the other day.

With a weary nod, Liseth very gladly sat on a bench when Father Zantus greeted them and let Pisca report what needed to be said.  Looking down at her arm, she saw that her shield was still strapped there; that didn't need to be there anymore.  The girl removed the little round shield from her thin arm, pausing a moment to run a finger along the scratch in the wood.  From the devil monster that tried to claw her; a physical reminder of the danger everyone had been in today.  She wanted to tell Father Zantus everything about what had happened since they went underground this morning, especially the Lamashtu Temple they discovered.  But Cato's predicament came first.

"It's awful, Father Zantus."  Liseth added once Pisca had finished, after the gnome gestured for Kerr to show what was in the bag and in the same quiet tones, "Cato's hair has started to fall out even...I don't know how to heal what the monster did to him."  She sounded frustrated and felt useless; healing was what she was best at.  It always had been.  Watching somebody, her friend even, suffer and not being able to do anything about it weighed heavily on the diminutive healer.

"You can help him though, right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Wed 28 May 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 521 posts
Monster incubator
Wed 28 May 2014
at 15:19
  • msg #432

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato followed the group to the Cathedral, thinking through the conversation.  "Well, we can coordinate with Sheriff Hemlock, at any rate.  It looks like the militia and the guardsman are getting a good bit of training in."  Cato gestured at the town.  "And people are preparing.  The goblins certainly aren't going to find an undefended town this time.  And they won't have the advantage of surprise now that we've sealed up the tunnels.  They'll have a much harder time trying to force the gates.  There's other ways into town, I know, but now everyone is watching which counts for a lot."

Cato fell quiet as Pisca talked through her theories about Nualia and the Quasit, and found himself nodding along.  "That certainly makes sense.  How often do the gods actually intervene and talk with mortals, though?  Liseth, have ever had that kind of contact?"

Finally, they arrived at the Cathedral, and Cato felt a mixture of relief of helplessness.  He wasn't used to having to rely on others for help, and throwing himself at the mercy of Father Zantus felt strange to him.  He was used to using his wits and his magic to solve problems, and it was more than a little difficult to admit that he couldn't solve his own problems.

Cato looked at the comfortable cushions and carefully brushed the worst of the mess of his clothing before taking a seat, struggling to avoid closing his eyes and relief continued to wash over him.

After Pisca and Liseth explained his predicament, Cato just smiled, hopeful that this nightmare was at an end, waiting to hear what Father Zantus would say.
Abstalar Zantus
NPC, 11 posts
High Priest of Sandpoint
Disciple of Desna
Wed 28 May 2014
at 17:51
  • msg #433

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Father Zantus’ shocked face looked at Pisca’s eye-to-eye.  “Well, I’m glad to hear that Kellan is uninjured,” he said, voice dropping into a murmur as he watched Cato with concern.  “Here, my boy,” he said, holding his hand out to Kerr, “let me see your pack.”  Kerr dutifully handed the bag over to the priest, who surreptitiously glanced inside.  Upon seeing the head, the prelate's face fell and he sighed heavily.

“It is as I feared.  This is very disturbing.  VERY disturbing.  We are dealing with what is called a vargouille,” he pronounced the word as if it created an awful taste in his mouth, “and its ‘kiss’ can be deadly, if left untreated.”  He gave Liseth a serious glance.  “The hair falling out is only the first step of the process.  Soon, if nothing is done, his head would begin changing to look more like this,” he shook the bag lightly, “then he would get sicker and sicker until finally, at the end,” the chief priest frowned, still keeping his voice low, “he would become one of them.  A nasty business all around.”

“Bright light, such as sunlight, stops this transformation but does not reverse or end it.  That requires divine intervention.  Which, fortunately for Cato,” he gave the scholar a sympathetic smile, “I am equipped to bestow.  But,” he looked around, “this is probably not the best place to do it.  And the infirmary,” he older man mused, “is full of those injured in the goblin attacks.”  He snapped his fingers.  “Let’s go to the chapel.”

Kerr helped Cato up from his seat on the cushions and let the wizard lean on him as the group made its way across the common area to the chapel.  Father Zantus opened the intricately-carved wooden doors and led them into the chapel’s dark, cool, quiet interior, lit only by the consecrated candles burning along the sides of the room and up at the altar.

“Place him here, if you would.”  Father Zantus pointed to what looked like a large, cushioned prayer mat.  After Kerr helped Cato lie down on the mat, he stepped back.  Father Zantus knelt next to the scholar, raised his head to the ceiling, closed his eyes, and began to pray.

“Desna, please hear your servant.  This man has been afflicted with a disease brought on by his fight with the minions of Lamashtu, your sworn enemy.  And he has more to do.  Please grant him the mercy and grace of your healing, and prepare him to bring your light and justice to the ones who have fallen under the sway of the Queen of Monsters.”  The older man placed a hand on Cato’s forehead.  “Starsong, please heal your child.”

A moment passed in complete quiet.  No one moved.  Father Zantus remained kneeling next to Cato, silent and beseeching.  Even breathing seemed almost sacrilegious.  Then, as an almost-inaudible hum started up, Father Zantus’ hands began to glow.  The glow spread through his hands to Cato’s body, enveloping it in an unearthly blue light.  Ephemeral butterflies seemed to flit around the scholar’s form, landing here and there before taking flight again.

Eventually, the blue light faded.  The entire process seemed almost eternal, but must have taken mere seconds.  Father Zantus looked down at Cato and smiled, then looked up at the group.  “Desna has answered our prayers,” he said simply, as the smile became a broad, relieved grin.  “Cato is healed.”


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 522 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Wed 28 May 2014
at 19:20
  • msg #434

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato gratefully leaned against Father Zantus's arm as the priest led him to the chapel.  Laying on the map, Cato closed his eyes, feeling strangely calm as Abstalar began his prayer.  Cato held his breath in anticipation, and felt a calming influence fill his body, and expel the foul, noxious presence he had felt deep inside him since the horrible kiss he had experienced deep in the dungeon.  Finally, the wizard let out a long breath.  He waited a second, exhaling loudly, and breathed in another breath, relishing the feeling of having his body free of contagion again.

Cato quickly regained his feet and embraced the High Priest.  "Thank you, Father.  Sandpoint is truly blessed to have a disciple such as yourself to help guide it in these troubled times.  I've prayed to Desna in the past when I needed help, and though I'm not sure if she ever heard my prayers, I think I actually felt something of her this time, helping to heal me."  Cato patted the man's back, then released the hug, and turned to his companions.  "And thank you all, as well."

Cato smiled.  "I suppose with my selfish needs taken care of, we should probably report to the mayor.  Or maybe rescue Kellan from Tiller?  Is there anything we can do to help you here, Father?"
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 923 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Wed 28 May 2014
at 20:27
  • msg #435

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth was very solemn when Father Zantus described exactly what was happening to Cato.  It didn't sound real; he was being transformed into one of those things?  She knew that was what Cato and Kerr said was likely to happen, but now Father Zantus had confirmed it.

Stowing her small shield into her knapsack when Father Zantus recommended they take Cato into the chapel, Liseth forced herself up from the cushioned bench to walk slowly at the rear of the serious procession.  Her hands were kept clasped at her waist and she concentrated on walking straight to keep her weary limping from spoiling the solemnity.

The acolyte silently said her own prayers to Desna after Kerr helped Cato lay down and Father Zantus began to beseech the goddess for her intervention.  She didn't know that it would help; in fact, Liseth was almost certain that even if she was strong enough to have helped in the first place, she was too exhausted for it to matter.  But that wouldn't keep her from trying.

Then it was done...Liseth watched the blue light that Father Zantus channeled into Cato; complete with Desna's butterflies.  And the prelate announced him to be healed.  "I knew you could do it, Father Zantus," she said, releasing her held breath.  "I was worried that it wouldn't be so easy, or quick though.  Desna must be looking out for you after all Cato."

"You're feeling better then?"  Liseth watched Cato embrace Father Zantus, "All of the...infection is gone?"

"Wait, before we go to see Mayor Deverin,"  Liseth turned back to Father Zantus, "There was something else that we needed to show you Father Zantus."  The small blonde gestured to Kerr, bearer of bodies, "Yesterday when we asked him for his help, Mr Voon told us that..."  She looked around the chapel to make sure that none of the other acolytes were near enough to hear what she was saying.  It might not yet be a good time to let everyone know about the demon.  "Mr Voon said that the demon was supposed to vanish after we defeated it...but if it didn't we needed to bring the body back with us so you and he could...dispose of it properly."

"Well..."  Liseth frowned, "the quasit demon didn't vanish like he said it would.  Mr Voon implied that it probably wasn't a good thing."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 961 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 28 May 2014
at 21:31
  • msg #436

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The Cathedral was the perfect place.  Beautiful and holy.  With a highly sanctified feeling about it.  No rings of spiky poles with skulls mounted atop them.  Not one.  Rather the exact opposite of the place from which they had just come.

Pisca pulled her own mat as Cato lay down upon his.  Kneeling down at Cato's side on the Not-As-Soft-As-A-Gnome-Might-Like mat, Pisca took the young human wizard's hand in both of hers as Father Zantus began his divinely magic healing.

"So long as we have hands to clasp ... " crooned the gnome in a high clear voice.

"Fahoo fores dahoo dores ... "

Pisca sang at Cato's side as the butterflies of Desna danced about them.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 571 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 29 May 2014
at 00:34
  • msg #437

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was not quite running, but was certainly "moving with purpose" as Sheriff Hemlock might say. He was conscious that he still had the rather ornate pole arm strapped to his pack, and that Tillers suggestion to get changed had been entirely warranted. Even if it had just been the morning, they had seen so much action that Kellan was spattered in all manner of drying fluids, clumped spider webs and swaths of dust.

He hoped and prayed silently thay Cato would be alright. It would be nothing less than tragedy if they would be forced to endure the slow, fatal transformation of such a brilliant young man, and an increasingly close friend at that. So by the time Kellan reached the Cathedral doors he threw them open with a touch more force than he had intended, looking around pointedly for his scholarly companion.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 962 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 29 May 2014
at 14:12
  • msg #438

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Stomper!"  The gnome rose from Cato's side as the wizard himself stood, once more his old self, no longer a fledgling Bat-winged Head.  "Oh, and don't worry, Cato," Pisca took the human's arm and pulled herself up on her tip-toes to whisper something that wasn't exactly so low and whispery as to be unheard, "the hair will grow back.  Hair is very reliable that way."  Then an image of the guard sergeant of Sandpoint flashed through the gnome's mind.  Torv Tiller, his pate shiny and quite innocent of hair.  "Well, mostly," Pisca added.  "Mostly reliable."

And, speaking of which, "Stomper!" the gnome exclaimed again.  She approached the young guardsman in greeting, then stopped just before him.  With a question on her face, she leaned to the left, looking around the legs and hips of Kellan Storval as though expecting something to be just behind him.  Not finding that expected something, she leaned to her right, as though this expected thing might somehow have managed to hide from her on this opposite side of Kellan.

"You seem to have lost your Rudder, Kellan," quipped the gnome.  "Or should I say, your Tiller."

Pisca snorked at her own joke.  It was a delicate gnome-like snork into her hand.  Then, "Oh, and by the by Father Zantus?"  The gnome's demeanor transformed, becoming serious even as she turned to the prelate of the local temple.  "You wouldn't happen to know anything about Vorvashali Voon, would you?"  Pisca picked through the many things she's learned since arriving here in Sandpoint, sifting for bits that might relate to the owner of the Feathered Serpent.  "Before we leave a dangerous body with someone, it would probably be best if we knew a little about him.  Don't you think?"

Knowledge Local check, please.  For information on Vorvashali Voon.

Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6
Spells: L1-2/3

Abstalar Zantus
NPC, 12 posts
High Priest of Sandpoint
Disciple of Desna
Thu 29 May 2014
at 19:00
  • msg #439

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Father Zantus returned Cato’s embrace without any discomfort; it seemed as if spontaneous hugs were a hazard common to the healer’s art.  But the priest waved off the newly-restored wizard's thanks.  “Don’t thank me, my boy.”  He looked over at Liseth.  “Or praise me overmuch.  Thank Desna.”  He glanced skyward.  “Praise her.  It was her power that healed you, young Cato.  I was merely its vessel.  If she did not desire you to be healed?  Well, there’s very little I could have done about it.”

The prelate smiled at the scholar’s inchoate feelings of connection to the goddess.  “She has touched you, lad.  And her touch changes a person.”  He patted Cato on the shoulder as the wizard released him.  “Trust me, I know.  If you continue to pray, and seek her will, and develop that connection?  Well,” he winked, “I think you’ll find it very rewarding.”

The prelate turned his smile upon Liseth.  “Yes, all of the infection is gone.  Desna has blessed Cato with her grace.  Even demonic diseases are no match for it.”

The priest’s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing the news that the quasit demon’s body had not disappeared upon its death.  “Is that so?”  He said, his brows knitting together.  “Kerr, if you wouldn’t mind . . . .?”  He held his hand out to the dark-haired acolyte, who promptly delivered the quasit-containing bag to his superior.  Father Zantus opened it, looked inside, then closed it again, a grimace on his face.

“For the second time in the space of a few moments I am greatly disturbed.  This really should not be.  This creature was a released familiar, was it not?  There was nothing tethering it to this plane; its defeat should have banished its body back to whatever hellish place spawned it.”  He paused, thinking.  “Unless . . .”  His eyes widened in conjunction with a sudden intake of breath.  He looked around apologetically.  “I am sorry to leave you so suddenly, but I need to take this to see Voon.  Immediately.”

“Hello, Kellan.”  The priest nodded a greeting to the young guardsman as he entered the cathedral.  He turned back to the rest of the group.  “Hopefully I will not be long.  I should be back in time to confer with the Mayor and Lieutenant Barett.”  And with that, he opened the door, gave a surprised “Sir Jasper,” a muttered “yes, yes, I’ll be there,” and was gone.


This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Thu 29 May 2014.
Sir Jasper Korvaski
NPC, 1 post
Paladin of Administration
Thu 29 May 2014
at 19:01
  • msg #440

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The cathedral doors opened to reveal a somewhat-surprised Sir Jasper Korvaski, the retired paladin of Abadar who managed the day-to-day operations of the Sandpoint Mercantile League.  The handsome administrator looked over his shoulder at the departing chief prelate, then broke into a smile as he saw the small group gathered in the cathedral’s courtyard.  “Ah, there you are!”  He exclaimed.  “I’ve been looking for you!”

Everyone in the group, even Liseth, knew what a popular figure Sir Jasper was in Sandpoint. His nigh-incorruptible character made him an indispensable mediator of disputes, both among the founding families themselves and between those families and the less-privileged of Sandpoint’s citizens.  His widely-recognized lack of deference to the founding families’ influence when adjudicating such disputes endeared him to Sandpoint’s merchant class, just as his continual advocacy for justice and the rule of law ensured his popularity with the working class.  “Why don’t we take this to Sir Jasper?” is a common question posed by those who feel they are in the right of a contentious issue.

Somewhat ironically, at least in the founding families’ view, these qualities have also made Sir Jasper one of their most-effective emissaries when pursuing League business, something he was apparently doing right now.

“Mayor Deverin has heard of your return, and she is anxious to speak with you about what you found during your . . . expedition,” Sir Jasper began.  It was clear he knew everything there was to know about what the group had been up to.  “Unfortunately, at the moment she is tied up in a League meeting, so she sent me to let you know that she would like to meet with you, Father Zantus, and Lieutenant Barett in her offices at the fifth bell.  That gives you about an hour.”  He paused, taking in the group’s appearance.  “And it looks like you might be able to put that hour to good use.”  He looked down at a small parchment he was carrying, then back up.  “Any questions?”


This message was last edited by the player at 22:03, Thu 29 May 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 963 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 29 May 2014
at 20:30
  • msg #441

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The gnome seemed somewhat taken aback.  Had Father Zantus just eschew her question?  Had he done so accidentally?  He did seem somewhat flustered and upset-ish in a hurried, harried sort of way.  Or, had he done so deliberately?  Had he chosen not to answer her question by answering her question instead?  Hadn't he said that he was off to show Voon?  And would he rush off rather immediate-ish, mentioning the very person in Pisca's question if he didn't trust him?

"Very clever," the gnome nodded to herself.  "Very clever," she repeated, because it was extra clever of her to have picked up on the old human's meaning.

"Oh, you might want to take the vargouille with you as well, Father Zantus," Pisca added, catching the Prelate before he could make himself entirely gone.  "Two outer-worldly horrors for the price of one."

"Unless ... of course ... "  Pisca turned a curious and questioning eye to the representative of the Mercantile League.  "No," she shook her head.  "Never mind."  What would the Mercantile League want with a used Bat-winged Head anyway?

"Well, I'm for a bath," Pisca announced.  "I'll be down to the Rusty Dragon.  Anything you want me to tell Ameiko?"

"Hmmm, I wonder if they have any cold chicken and asparagus," the gnome mused as she wandered out the door.  "Maybe with a small pot of sweet mustard."

Knowledge Local check, please.  For information on Vorvashali Voon.

Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6
Spells: L1-2/3

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 572 posts
Former Red Shirt
Thu 29 May 2014
at 21:31
  • msg #442

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan touched Father Zantus's shoulder in passing then walked over and gave Cato very manly sort of hug, complete with a few strikes on the back for good measure.

"Do you feel better? You look better...by Erastil you had me worried" he let out a laugh and shook his head in relief "Well never let it be said that you cant hold your own. Between pressing on after what happened and wading in there with that stick of yours you've sure bucked the wizarding stereotype."

The guardsman was relieved, and it showed in his smile and posture. Putting his off hand on one hip he nodded approvingly to his friends as he looked them over. "I'm still kinda having trouble believing we actually did that...I advised Tiller that we should keep the guards there for now, until we talk to the mayor and all that. I..."

He trailed off as the doors opened and Sir Jasper came through. Almost everybody liked Sir Jasper, he was a Paladin after all, but Kellan could not help but smile whenever he saw him. Alergast and himself had once had a discussion about Paladins and other holy order types over a few beers, and what the older guardsman had said had stuck with him.

"Thing about Paladins" he had said, swirling his ale "Is they have to try and be everything. The can be diplomats, or judges, or administrators, or healers and experts on all sorts of terrible things like black magic and the unclean and the hosts of the hells and all that. And generally...they can do that stuff, but that doesant mean they can do all of it well." He had looked more serious then as he quoted one of his military tomes

"I dont fear the man who knows a thousand ways to kill me, I fear the man who knows one way and practices it to perfection"

It had changed the way that Kellan had seen the monotony of his daily drills

"Sir Jasper, it's good to see you, how have you been?" Kellan began, listening to the mayors summons "Well...guess I better get to then...The Rusty Dragon? He looked at Pisca "That does sound good, I should probably clean up before I go see Shayliss at any rate" He smiled wider as he realized that it looked like he would be able to follow through on dinner plans, following the gnome out.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 930 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Thu 29 May 2014
at 23:49
  • msg #443

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Liseth knew there was more to channeling the gods' power than Father Zantus was taking credit for.  It must have taken a lot of devotion and hard work for him to become a vessel that Desna could use to perform her miracles; something that she was becoming increasingly familiar with since arriving in Sandpoint.  As taxing as it was on her, both physically and spiritually, to exhaust her divine energy as often as she had in the last week, it returned the next day a little bit stronger than before.

But Father Zantus was also right in saying that he would be powerless if Desna did not agree with what he was asking for her to do in his prayers.  Liseth was sure, though, that Desna would never prevent Father Zantus from healing somebody.  The same as she was confident that, regardless of anything else, Sarenrae and the other gods of good must approve of what she was doing.  Otherwise, they could certainly prevent her from being able to use her divine abilities at all.

"Oh..."  The concern in Father Zantus about the Quasit's body was very evident.  Especially in the way that he immediately felt that it needed to be taken to Mr Voon so that the two of them could deal with whatever problem had him so distressed.  "Okay Father Zantus.  We'll see you at the meeting with the mayor."

"Hello Sir Jasper,"  Liseth was a bit surprised to find that Father Zantus' departure coincided with Kellan's, and Sir Jasper's, arrivals.  Liseth had never met a Paladin of Abadar before, and this was the first real time she had ever interacted with him.  She had been a little surprised at first to discover that he was in charge of administering the Sandpoint Mercantile League; but the acolyte decided that even Paladins had to retire at one point or another.  And being an administrator went right along with service to Abadar anyway.

"Thank you for coming all the way here to bring us word from the mayor."  The girl was relieved that they had an hour before rushing off to report to Mayor Deverin.  It was an hour she desperately needed; cleaning up was something that multiple people had commented on, even though Sir Jasper put it much more diplomatically than others.  "Is Mayor Deverin talking to the League about the goblins?"

"I think that I'll stay here in the Cathedral until the meeting," she said to the others.  Liseth looked down at her dirty quilted dress, "I have to change out of this heavy dress and take a bath."  She frowned as the thought of cleaning led into another thought, "This dress is going to be a nightmare to clean and dry..."  That might be something that required specialized care.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Thu 29 May 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 527 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Fri 30 May 2014
at 01:58
  • msg #444

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato blushed in response to Father Zantus.  "I can't believe that the goddess cares about me, but maybe it's time I start.  Certainly, what's happened these past few days has been beyond anything I've ever seen before.  I suppose it makes sense for Desna to intervene if Lamashtu is as well."  Cato smiled at the priest again.  "Well, even if Desna healed me, you still crafted an elegant prayer, and for that I'm thankful."

Cato watched as Zantus left, still not fully believing how good he felt now that the disturbing presence was eliminated from his body.

The wizard looked up as the paladin entered the room.  "Thanks for the message, Sir Jasper.  I could use some time getting clean before we talk with the mayor."  Cato looked over to Liseth.  "Ordinarily, I could help you with your clothing, Liseth."  He chuckled.  "Unfortunately, I seem to have prepared spells of a more offensive than utilitarian variety today.  If it could wait until tomorrow, I could try to clean it."

Cato returned Kellan's hug with gusto.  "Well, just don't let word of it get back to the other mages.  They dock our work card for things like that.  Have to keep up appearances, you know.  Can't let everyone believe that mages can stand toe-to-toe in combat, lest they expect it of us.  It's so much easier if everyone thinks we fall apart at the slightest exertion."  Cato laughed again.  He couldn't believe how much better he felt.  "Any more people offer to carry the heavy things that way!"

Waving goodbye to Liseth, Cato followed Kellan and Pisca out.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 977 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 30 May 2014
at 14:32
  • msg #445

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The air was a gnomish sort of air, and the light of the sun was a sunlight that seemed very much the thing for gnomes.  All in all, this day seemed quite favorable for gnomes.  Oddly enough, much different than the day had been before the five of them - she and her human friends (plus boyfriend) - had sought out the Ruins of Ancient Thassilonian Evil.  It was funny how days could change like that.  Just like that.  Blink, blink, change and it's a different day.  It was times like this in which one could truly believe that the world was a vast and wonderful place.  Full of surprise.  Full of mysteries to explore.  It was times like this when one could very much believe that the world was built just for gnomes.

Pisca Neep Freemish sauntered out into the square before Sandpoint's new cathedral drawn along by a future brightly blessed with gnomishness.  Awaiting, at the south end of town, was a bath and the possibility of cold chicken.  Possibly asparagus.  Maybe even strawberries, if a gnome was to be lucky enough.  However, it was the very blessed gnomishness that so lifted the spirits of Pisca Neep Freemish at this time, that poked and tugged and drew her in yet a direction different than the comforts of the Rusty Dragon.

Why would he rush off like that?

Because he trusts Vorvashali Voon.  And because he was carrying a dangerous and highly volatile demon body.

But why?  Isn't Father Zantus relatively new in Sandpoint?  Where would he and Vorvashali Voon have met for Father Zantus to trust him as much, as completely, as he did just now?

I don't know.  Maybe they've been pen friends for years.  Maybe they know each other's sisters.  There could be any number of reasons.  Perfectly reasonable reasons.  Any number.

Aren't you ... curious?

"Stop that!  You stop that right now!"  Wide-eyed, as though surprised at her own outburst, the gnome looked around to see whether anyone else might have heard and found that both Stomper and Cato had followed her out of the cathedral.

"Heh.  Not you.  I didn't mean you," Pisca said by way of something of an apology.  "But, now that you're here, is any of you interested in a little side trip?  I'm ... curious," said the gnome, turning from the two humans and looking off in the general direction in which she knew the Feathered Serpent to be.  "Vorvashali Voon is a person of extreme mystery and curiousness, and I'm quite interested in meeting him.  I think I'm going to wander over to his shop on the way to the Rusty Dragon and make sure that Father Zantus made it there alright with the body of Quasit Girl.  You're perfectly welcome to accompany me if you'd like," said the gnome, and strode off in the direction of the Feathered Serpent.  Over her shoulder she added, "I'm especially interested in finding out how he and Father Zantus know each other."

Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6
Spells: L1-2/3

The Raconteur
GM, 976 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 30 May 2014
at 18:34
  • msg #446

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Either because he had no concern for it or because he just hadn’t heard her, Father Zantus was gone before Pisca could hand him the vargouille.  The gnome was left standing there, nonplussed, holding a bag full of tentacled skull.

“It’s good to see you too, Kellan.”  Sir Jasper, blessedly ignorant of the bag’s contents, grinned back at the young guardsman.  “Me?  I can’t complain.  You know how it is; there’s always something.”  He looked over at the blonde-haired acolyte.  “Greetings, Liseth!  I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced.”  The man sketched a bow as he took her hand, placing a light kiss upon it.  “I am Sir Jasper Korvaski.  If there’s anything you need during your visit to Sandpoint, just let me know.”  He offered, before giving Kerr a lopsided grin.  “Including keeping this guy in line.  He’s a noted scoundrel, if you hadn’t heard.  Noted!”

Kerr rolled his eyes and grinned in response.

“It was my pleasure,” he said in response to Liseth and Cato’s thanks for bringing them news of their upcoming mayoral meeting.  “About the goblins?  Well, in a manner of speaking, I suppose.”  He shrugged, an unreadable look on his face.  “The League is concerned about what effect the goblin attacks will have on Sandpoint’s commerce, and how Sandpoint might best be able to minimize that effect.”  He grinned, then lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret.  “My vote was to defeat the goblins.”

He paused at Kellan’s mention of visiting Shayliss.  “How’s your dad doing?  I haven’t seen him in town for a while.  And there was a time, I’m given to understand,” the paladin’s eyes glinted merrily, “when fathers would lock up their daughters if they heard Kenneth Storval was visiting.”  He looked innocently down at his parchment, then back up at Kellan.  “I wonder if Ven is worried how far the apple has fallen from the tree?”  He clapped Kellan on the shoulder.  “She’s a beautiful woman, no question, but you’re a braver man than I, Guardsman Storval.”

“You three are headed to the Rusty Dragon?”  Sir Jasper said, looking at Cato, Kellan, and Pisca.  “I’m headed that way, if you don’t mind my company for a while.”  He held the door of the cathedral.  “Shall we?”

The group left the cathedral and headed through Northchurch Square towards High Street, taking a right at Festival Street and heading down to where the militia was drilling at Southmarket Square.  It was getting towards the end of the day; when they arrived at the square it was clear the levied men were tired but still determined to do as much as they could before the imminent goblin attack.  Sir Jasper bid the other three farewell and went off to find Alergast Barett, whose booming voice could be heard issuing from somewhere on the other side of the square.

The remaining three walked down Market Street towards The Rusty Dragon when Pisca mentioned that she wanted to visit The Feathered Serpent . . . .


Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 574 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 31 May 2014
at 00:11
  • msg #447

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan was fading fast, despite his robust constitution and solid work ethic the adrenaline had ebbed and he was left with an increasingly sore body and the desire to take a nap.

He walked with Sir Jasper out into the street and stifled a yawn, tasting the salt from his sweat and the dust from the tunnels on his lips.

"My dad?" Kellan began, the dirt mostly hiding the blush that came from discussing his fathers reputation before he settled down "He's doin alright. Shayliss and I rode out there for supper the other night and he seemed in good spirits..scared them to death what happened with the goblins, especially my mom, and when she found out I was in the thick of it...thought she was gonna keel over" he smirked.

"I do worry about them though, out there in the country." He sighed "Just rough times all over I guess..."

Kellan looked next to Pisca and shook his head "I'll pass...but let me know what you find? I think I'll walk over and see if Alergast needs anything before I go scrub myself down"

And with that the young guardsman followed Sir Jasper over, looking forward to showing off the ornate pole arm still lashed to his pack
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 529 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Sat 31 May 2014
at 01:09
  • msg #448

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato walked out into the town, able to relish the fresh air and salty tang on the air without worry. Or at least without immediate worry to himself. The larger threat facing the town was still looming, but more like a deep rumble of a storm over the horizon, rather than a rapidly approaching squall.
"I don't mind checking out Voon's shop, Pisca."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 978 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 1 Jun 2014
at 19:35
  • msg #449

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The gnome struggled along behind the two humans.  The Bat-Winged Head in the bag that she pulled along in the street behind her slowed her down even more than her usual Slower-Than-The-Biggun's pace.  "I think I read somewhere that the head is the heaviest part of a body," she said, switching hands, and pulling from her left side to take some of the ache off of her right.  "I imagine that would be even more true if all of your body was the head.  Don't you think?"

No ... I don't suppose you do.

Pisca waved as Stomper and the knight from the Mercantile League continued off in the direction of the Rusty Dragon.  That was unfortunate.  Humans were really quite good at carrying things.  They had a real talent as far as that went.  Pisca favored the dusty and now quite bedraggled bag with a gnomish frown of disapproval.  It was a real shame there wasn't a human around to ...

Eyes slid up to the face of the young wizard.

But, no.  Cato had already been so put upon by the very creature that sat heavy in this very bag.  Or, maybe it was the other one.  No, it didn't matter which one it was.  It was one of them, and he would wonder whether this was the one or not, and it would weight as heavy on his mind as it was now weighing on Pisca's arms and hands.  And now he was just recovered.  With the once-upon-a-time-unblemished sense of his self now defiled by the angry red scar tissue of the vargouille's vicious rape.  She couldn't do that to him.  She couldn't make him face that again.  The tongue.  Eeew.

So, instead, the gnome gave the wizard a big gnomish grin to let him know that she thought no less of him for being the poor and fragile recovering victim of a Batwinged-Head, (this, despite the fact that it would have been highly unlikely that he knew that she felt that way about him at all.) and she continued on her way down the street dragging the increasingly burdensome bag behind her.

"We're here!" announced the gnome as she entered the Feathered Serpent followed by the ever-so-uncooperative bag.  "It's Pisca Neep Freemish and Cato Crispin."

"Father Zantus?  Father Zantus?  You forgot something when you rushed off.  You forgot your head."
The Raconteur
GM, 983 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 23:27
  • msg #450

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca and Cato ended up following after Kellan and Sir Jasper for a little while before heading east down Market Street, past the training archers, to Rum Street.  Two gimlet-eyed guardsmen stood watch at the bridge next to a large brass bell that both Cato and Pisca were sure had not been there previously.  One of the guardsmen gave them a curt nod before returning his attention to the road and forest on the other side, keeping close watch for any incipient goblin assault.

Cato and Pisca took a right on Rum Street and arrived at The Feathered Serpent in short order.  The building was as mysterious as ever, with the carved feathered dragon, rocking slightly in the sea breeze, presiding over a windowless facade and the eldritch symbols carved therein.  Symbols that might have been (and most certainly were, if certain rumor were to be believed) far more than merely decorative.  The head-dragging gnome, undaunted, grasped the shop’s ornate doorknob, turned, and pushed.  But the door, with its softly glowing golden runes (was it the afternoon sunlight?  Or did they glow from within?) refused to budge.

Pisca stopped to listen.  Neither she or Cato could hear any sounds emanating from within.  Was Father Zantus even inside?  Had he met Voon and immediately traveled somewhere else?  Or were the two men closeted inside the shop, even now inspecting the curiously-unbanished corpse of the quasit demon?  The quiet, omnious front of the shop gave the pair absolutely no clue.


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 984 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 4 Jun 2014
at 01:49
  • msg #451

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The frown of gnomish disapproval makes its appearance once more.  Arms akimbo, Pisca wills the door open as though through the force of rights Jus Gnomicum.  Dropping the slack opening of the bag to flop to the ground (as cloth, being cloth, is wont to do) she waves her hands in a fair facsimile of magic passes.

"Bitta tolo vinctotis."

"Eenie meanie chili beanie."

"Bosoms!"

Disapproval gave way to vexation as nothing seemed to work.

"Well, Cato," Pisca said, her arms once again returning akimbo, "I think this is actually some real magic.  I wish I could have one of these," she added, poking a pink gnomish finger at the recalcitrant doorknob, running the tip of said finger over the ornate workings.  "This is most certainly an extremely interesting doorknob.  Don't you think, Cato?" the gnome said as she examined the doorknob and its surroundings with great care.

"Oh well.  This sort of determination usually means that the owner is quite serious about keeping people out, you know.  Vorvashali Voon might be in there right at this very moment with Father Zantus harvesting the important bits from the body of Quasit Girl.  Or they might be in the midst of a dangerous ritual to cleanse the body of radiant Evil.  Or, he might not be home at all, and simply frowns on having things go missing while he's out.  I suspect that under all of that outrageously fashionable dress is a very serious individual.  Don't ask me why.  Call it gnomish intuition."

"Maybe we should come back another time.  But I hate to have to drag this potentially dangerous Bat-winged Head around with us."

"Mister Voon!"  With her hands cupped about her mouth to magically direct the sound, Pisca shouted as loudly as she could, which, for someone of her stature, was considerable.  "Vorvashali Voo ... "

"Oop.  What if they're in the middle of something important?"

Finally, the gnome sighed.  Resigned, Pisca stooped to pick up the mouth of the bag once again.  "Lets go.  Maybe Ameiko has someplace safe that we can keep this until later."


Disable Device Taking 20 to simply assess the nature of the lock on the door.  I don't know that Pisca is necessarily going to do anything with the information right now.  But, she's curious.  As usual.  Heck, I'm curious.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:19, Wed 04 June 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 532 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Wed 4 Jun 2014
at 13:10
  • msg #452

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato stopped in front of the door, peering at it curiously.  "Strange that Voon would have that much defense on his shop.  I wonder what it is they're actually doing in there..."  Cato trailed off, watching Pisca's efforts to open the door.

"Before we leave, I just want to verify the nature of the magic at work here."  Cato quietly cast Detect Magic and examined the enchantments set into the door.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 985 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 4 Jun 2014
at 13:43
  • msg #453

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Um ... alright."  The gnome dropped the lip of the bag again.  Standing just behind the young mage she mimicked his gestures and the accompanying serious stare.  Then, from all appearances, not seeing the things that he must have been seeing, the gnome shrugged and seated herself unceremoniously on the ground nearby.

Some gnomes were born with a knack for chattering with small burrowing animals.  Pisca was not one of these.  She had, however, always had a way with languages.  Little Pisca would, at odd and inconvenient times, suddenly become able to understand conversations not meant for her.  Mysterious and indecipherable glyphs would quite surprisingly become meaningful.  The gnome called on that ability now, and set to reading the golden runes that adorned the Feathered Serpent.  She went on to the two scrolls in her pack, announcing to Cato what they said.  And, after that, flipped through several of the pages of the book that had been floating, very serene and un-book-like, in the mysterious Air Pool in the Thassilonian ruins.

Cast Comprehend Languages per Gnomish ability.  Read the glyphs on the Feathered Serpent.  Read the two scrolls found in the ruins.  Browse the book found in the ruins.

Active Effects:  Comprehend Languages 30m
The Raconteur
GM, 996 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 12 Jun 2014
at 06:49
  • msg #454

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


As the two Sandpoint Saviors stood ruminating over the front of the Feathered Serpent, considering what mystical technologies might keep it safe from intrusion, life continued on in Sandpoint.  A couple of passersby raised their eyebrows and put their heads together at the sight of Pisca's close inspection of the Serpent's front-door-lock mechanism; those eyebrows rose only marginally higher at the sight of Sage Quink's young helper waving his hands and muttering indecipherable words at the front of the building.

Of course, since Voon's shop was not widely visited by Sandpoint's populace, and Voon himself was not terribly popular with a good portion of that populace, nothing came of these events.  No guardsmen came running to investigate what Pisca and Cato might be doing.  It was just another strange happening in a week that had been full of them.  Hardly worth mentioning really.  And everyone had to get ready for the funeral up at the cathedral; that was what was really important!

The sun continued its imperceptible drop towards the horizon as the lazy ripples of the Turandarok River lapped gently against the shore mere yards away.  The Feathered Serpent's facade took on the golden glow reserved for this time of day, with the carved glyphs sparkling and twinkling in the fading afternoon light, looking for all the world as if they were emitting light they had stored during their time in the sun.

Other than that, the building stood, just as mysterious and quiet as ever, giving few answers to the mystery of what might be going on within.


Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 537 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Thu 12 Jun 2014
at 13:16
  • msg #455

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato looked to Pisca.  "Well, definitely some strong abjuration magic.  It makes you wonder what Voon has in that store that he needs such powerful wards.  And how he got them in the first place."  Cato chuckled.  "This little town certainly has more than its fair share of mysteries."

The mage stepped back from the door, looking at the bag containing the monstrous head, and shivered, for a second remembering the feel of the terrible kiss.

"Well, I suppose we should head back to the Rusty Dragon.  Maybe find someplace safe to store that until we can talk to Zantus or Voon again?  Anything else you need to do in town?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 996 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 12 Jun 2014
at 20:14
  • msg #456

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"No.  Nothing."  Pisca rose from her place on the ground before the Feathered Serpent and dusted off the very pert seat of her leathers.  She'd been quiet since her examination of the lock and door.  Yes, she'd spent the time reading.  But she'd also spent a nearly equal time looking up from the book and scrolls to favor the store with looks of questioning concern.

"These are magic, Cato," said the gnome.  After tucking the book under her arm, she handed the scrolls up to the young human mage and resumed her burden, taking up the lip of the bag with the Batwinged-head inside.  Then, after those few short and simple words, Pisca turned her feet in the direction of the Rusty Dragon, and lapsed into thoughtful silence.  There was a span of time filled with little but the burbling passage of water as it galumphed its way down the rolling Turandorok, the sound of human and gnomish footfalls, the steady hiss of the bag with the Batwinged-head as it was dragged along the street, then the gnome said, "That was a very serious lock, Cato.  That was a Magnamarian lock.  It was a Korvosan lock.  If it had been a lock on a door in Kaer Maga, it would have said, 'This door is owned by someone who is very determined and possibly dangerous as well.'"

"Yes.  A very serious lock.  Not something you'd expect to see in Sandpoint.  I can easily believe that all the stories of Vorvashali Voon are true from that lock alone.  Magic.  And very possibly other-worldly influences."

"Oh, and this is a Prayer Book of Lamashtu."  The gnome took the book out from under her arm and held it up to identify it.  Though, in truth, there was not another book in sight, and there was little doubt of which book she spoke.

"Brutish," she said.

"And nasty," she added.

"Not something for my library."

"Could be valuable, though.  There's never really any accounting for taste."  Pisca shrugged and tucked the book back under her arm.  Then dragged the Batwinged-head around to the back of the Rusty Dragon and poked her head in the kitchen door.

"Hullo?  Ameiko?," the gnome called out through the open door.  "Ameiko?  Are you there?  It's Pisca.  I need to ask you something, and I don't really want to bring this inside."

Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6
Spells: L1-2/3

This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Fri 13 June 2014.
Ameiko Kaijitsu
NPC, 10 posts
Rusty Dragon Proprietor
Daughter of Lonjiku
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 01:45
  • msg #457

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The smells that wafted out of The Rusty Dragon as Pisca opened the door hinted at the many culinary delights found therein.  It was a stark contrast with the sights, sounds, and smells that had taken up most of her day, one exemplar of which was currently lolling about in a bag at her feet.

As the gnome called into the public room, she was met with an echoing call of "Ameiko!" "Ameiko!" "Ameiko!" from the service staff who passed her request back to wherever Ameiko Kaijitsu was holding court this particular late afternoon.

After a couple of minutes Pisca could see the inn's proprietress approaching, wiping her hands on an apron.  Ameiko gave her a genuinely-happy-to-see-a-gnome sort of grin.

"Pisca!"  Ameiko said, leaning down to give the smaller woman a hug.  "I'm so glad to see that you're back safe!"  The Tianese woman looked up at Cato.  "And you too, scholar," see said, standing up and slugging him in the shoulder with a surprising amount of force.  "I was worried about you guys!  Are you coming in for dinner?  We're shutting down for the funeral, but that's not for more than an hour yet."  She looked around, a sudden look of worry creasing her face.  "What about Kellan?  Liseth?  Kerr?  Are they okay too?"


This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:45, Fri 13 June 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 997 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 12:57
  • msg #458

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

It was wonderfully nice to be hugged.  So much so that the gnome held onto it for much longer than she thought that she would.  Even after releasing the owner of the Rusty Dragon - the owner who had become so much more than that in the past few days - even after releasing her, the imprint of the hug seemed to linger.  It hung on as though to say, You want more.  Yes.  You know that you do.

"Stomper's fine," Pisca replied.  "Though I sort of expected him to be here before us.  We left him not far from here with Jasper Korvaski.  Though I think he might have said something about finding Alergast Barett, and that might have taken some time.  The finding part.  And maybe the other parts too."

"Lysa and boyfriend are alright too.  They decided to stay at the cathedral.  Bathe.  Change.  Maybe massage each others' parts.  Father Zantus saved Cato," said the gnome.  Then, feeling the natural segue, she circled around behind the rather limp and bedraggled bag.  By now, it was a rather tattered and unassuming bag.  But it was a bag that hid a dark and terrible secret.

"And, speaking of which.  We have a problem.  We have something in this bag that is potentially dangerous.  It's undoubtedly both foul and nasty.  And it's decidedly not something that should be spoken much of or otherwise rumored about.  You can take a look if you'd like, Ameiko.  But you'd probably best take care not to touch the lips.  That's the part that got Cato.  We'll tell you all about it later.  But, for now, we need someplace safe to put it.  Someplace where no one will accidentally stumble upon it.  Someplace where no one will be able to steal parts from it.  Parts that could possibly be used in dangerous necromantic rites.  Someplace where it won't shock dogs and small children.  We were going to leave it with Vorvashali Voon and Father Zantus.  But they seem to be out right now.  Maybe involved in a demonic cleansing ritual or something.  I hope."

"Then, after ... what's in the bag ... is safely tucked away, a bath and dinner would be so very much appreciated.  It's been such a long day."  Pisca nodded a solemn nod in agreement with herself.  "Very much a long day.  Though I'm dying less often.  That, at least, is something."

Archaeologist's Luck: 0/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -6
Spells: L1-2/3

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 539 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 16:03
  • msg #459

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato accepted the scrolls from the gnome, resolving to identify them later.  "Thanks, Pisca.  I don't think I have much interest in a prayer book to Lamashtu.  I'd hope no one in Sandpoint wanted to read such a thing, either.  But to the right person, well it might be valuable."  Cato chuckled.  "Or maybe we can just distract a Lamashtu worshipper by defacing the book at the right time."

Cato looked up as Ameiko greeted them, and let Pisca catch her up on the group.  "Good to see you Ameiko.  Now that Pisca mentioned it, I'm absolutely famished as well.  I'm sure Kellan, Liseth and Kerr will be on their way here shortly.  What's the Rusty Dragon have on for lunch today?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 999 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 16:39
  • msg #460

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Cold chicken."

"Celery."

"Strawberry preserves?" suggested the gnome in a hopeful sort of way.
Ameiko Kaijitsu
NPC, 11 posts
Rusty Dragon Proprietor
Daughter of Lonjiku
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 01:23
  • msg #461

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The smile Ameiko wore as she listened to Pisca chatter on slowly faded as the subject turned to the dark contents of the battered bag currently sitting at the gnome’s rather-dusty feet.  At Pisca’s request, she slowly knelt down to inspect the satchel’s contents, briefly opening the flap.  Her only visible reaction to seeing the bag’s (var)ghoulish contents was a widening of her eyes and a tightening of her mouth.

She quickly closed the flap before standing up, bag in hand.  “Yes, news of something like this should stay private, I quite agree,” she said, giving Pisca a meaningful look.  “And I have to say I am especially glad that Father Zantus cured Cato so quickly.  From what I’ve heard,” a brief merry glint returned to her eyes, “he could have easily lost his head.”  The corners of her mouth crooked upwards as she gently shook the bag.  “But yes, I have a place where this can be stored.  As long as I don’t have to keep it for,” she gave the bag a sour look, “too long.  I do serve food here, after all.”

“Well,” she said, turning to Cato as she attempted to recover her normal innkeeper’s bonhomie.  “It’s a little late for lunch, don’t you think?”  She looked up to the sky, as if the position of the sun might support her claim.   “It’s past fourth bell!  Although we are putting on an early supper, given the funeral and everything.”  She paused.  “Here’s an idea.  Why don’t you both head to your rooms to clean up and change.  I’ll put this away and continue getting things prepared.  By the time you finish, tonight’s meal should be ready.  Roast pheasant, fresh corn-on-the-cob, just-churned butter, scalloped seasoned potatoes, and,” she glanced around for Liseth before lowering her voice, “blueberries.”  She smiled.  “We’ll make sure that you’re fed like the heroes you are.  And perhaps your friends might even make it down to join you!”


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 1004 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 15:42
  • msg #462

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Pisca looked from the owner of the Rusty Dragon to the young human mage.  Then she looked from the young human mage back to the owner of the Rusty Dragon.

"Definitely not the time to lose one's *head*," she said.  She nodded her own in solemn agreement with herself.  "That's not the way to get a*head* in life."

"Sometimes it pays to be *head*strong."

"Keep it up, Cato, and you might become the *head* of a mage's guild."

The gnome looked again from the faces of one human to the other.  "Alright," she said.  "I'll stop."

"I want blueberries anyway.  And a bath.  A bath ... "  Pisca closed her eyes and a contented hummmm escaped her as her lips widened in a smile.

"Lets go!"  And the gnome was off like a shot.  She barreled through the kitchen and up the stairs to her room, leaving behind the Batwinged-head behind without another thought.  The real concern that weighed heavily on the gnome's mind at this time, one that followed her into the luxury of the warm (but not quite warm enough) bath, was ... what to wear to the funeral.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Tue 17 June 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 541 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 18:16
  • msg #463

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato chuckled with Ameiko and Pisca's jokes.  "Are you both quite done?  Do you want to go to the head of the joke class?  Ameiko, your suggestion sounds great.  I could certainly use a bath and a change of clothes.  And hopefully, when I return, you'll both be done going head to head with these awful jokes."  Cato stood up, gave a formal bow, and headed to his room.
The Raconteur
GM, 1005 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 18 Jun 2014
at 23:57
  • msg #464

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


After both Cato and Pisca had an opportunity to wash up and change, they came back down to a bustling public room.  Apparently many of Sandpoint's citizens had decided that dinner at the Rusty Dragon before the funeral was preferable to preparing something at their homes.  The wall of sound created by dozens of conversations should probably have overwhelmed most attempts to talk, but its effect was surprisingly muted.

Apparently Ameiko's inn had excellent acoustics.

The room was packed save for a small table in the raised section marked "Reserved."  When one of Ameiko's staff spied the two Saviors, he whispered something to the woman accompanying him before approaching them.  The woman headed off to the kitchen.

"Welcome!"  Said the man in a rich, deep voice with the barest hint of a Korvosan accent. His excellent manners, relaxed-yet-impeccable attire, close-cropped blonde beard, and short, well-coiffed hair indicated that he was probably some sort of maitre d'.  He had a vaguely Tianese cast to his features.  "I am Xin," he said, bowing.  "As you can see, we have a place reserved especially for you."  He led the pair to the empty table, sweeping away the "Reserved" sign with a flourish and pulling out a chair for the gnome.  Pisca noticed that the chair-steps she had used previously were right next to the chair after it was pulled out, as if the man had placed it there with just this situation in mind.

After the two were seated, Xin continued.  "I know you're in a hurry; your food should be out very shortly."  With that, and after a brief questioning glance to determine whether Pisca or Cato needed anything else, the man disappeared, most likely to bring his urbane brand of hospitality to guests elsewhere in the establishment.

As Xin departed, a well-dressed man approached the table.  His crimson jacket and cream-colored collared shirt were accented by pitch-black dress pants and expensive-looking boots polished to a mirror shine.  His dark hair was slicked back into the latest Magnimarian style, and his face was clean shaven.

"Excuse me, but I believe you two are friends of Kellan Storval?"  The man said.  He pointed with his free hand at a box held under his arm.  "Please pardon me for interrupting you, but I have a package for him.  Do you know if he will be joining you?  Or, failing that, where I might find him?"


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 1011 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 18:18
  • msg #465

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Pisca could not recall ever having her own set of stairs with which to mount the ungainly human-sized (And yes, it was ever so very likely the fault of the humans, as it only stood to reason) furniture.  Of course she'd used them the evening before at the dinner hosted by Aldern Foxglove, but she had not until now been struck by the sheer civility of the gesture.  This, to the gnome, elevated the Rusty Dragon to the pinnacle of a civilized hostelry.  It could only be surpassed by providing more amenity.  A parlor or a lounge designed just for Right-Sized folk.  That would be the very best.  It would be a master stroke.

She'd have to write to Aunt Hattie about it.  Maybe they could start a new trend in Kaer Maga.

The content and very much impressed gnome had just settled in and was sucking at the tips of her fingers to savor the purple stains from some very tart and tasty blueberries, when the Mysterious Stranger made his entrance.  At first, Pisca could do little but simply stare, the tip of her middle finger still stuck in her mouth.  It was less the very stylish dress of the man (curiously clean for someone who'd been searching about in an area of fair size for one Kellan Storval) than it was the sheer possibilities of the man's inadvertently open ended question.

"Yes, we're friends of Kellan Storval," replied the gnome.  "And no, we don't know where he is.  But yes, we do have a fairly good idea of where he might be.  Actually, we thought he was right behind us.  Or, rather, just ahead of us, as Cato and I took a detour as the three of us were on our way to the Rusty Dragon.  So we're pretty sure that he's not here, as we've not seen him.  Which would fall under the category of where he might *not be."

"I think he mentioned finding Alergast Barett, and if he did, then he and Alergast Barett might be at the Guard Post.  Or they might be at Alergast Barett's house."

"When Stomper ... That is, when Kellan left us he was in the company of Sir Jasper Korvaski.  So he, that is, Kellan, might be at City Hall at the Mercantile League meeting."

"He might also be at the General Store.  Stomper is pursuing Shayliss Vinder -or is it the other way around- and so he might be there calling on her."

"He might also be somewhere out there."  She waved her hand in the general direction of the inland farms.  "His parents have a place out there.  Somewhere.  Though, chances are he hasn't gone that way.  Or, even made it there by now if he has."

"Where else might he be by now, Cato?  There are probably a lot of places.  But, I think that one thing is fairly certain.  I'm pretty sure," said Pisca the Perhaps-Excessively-Helpful Gnome, "that Stomper will be at the funeral later.  At the very least, we're supposed to see him there.  Why don't you sit down and have a blueberry with us.  Corn on the cob?  Then, afterwards, we can all go down to the funeral, and you can see Kellan then?"

"I'm Pisca Neep Freemish, by the way.  And this is the Incomparable Fighting Mage Cato Crispin.  Might we get your name?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Thu 19 June 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 543 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 18:37
  • msg #466

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato returned to the main dining room of the Rusty Dragon, and was surprised to find Xin leading them to their table.  Cato didn't think he could recall ever seeing the man at the Rusty Dragon before.  Or seeing someone personally attended to in such a way.  The mage grinned.  He could get used to being a Hero of Sandpoint.  He just had to make sure it didn't go to his...Cato stopped the thought.  There was enough of that awful pun business before Pisca and he had went upstairs.

Cato was surprised to see someone approaching their table, and by the look of the person, a Magnimarian noble.  Cato's mind immediately flashed to his usual worries about the Hellknights, but soon relaxed when the man asked for Kellan.

"I'm afraid he's not with us right now.  As my companions said, he could be many places in town right now, though he'll certainly be at the funeral later.  Can we deliver the package for you?"
Rogors Craesby
NPC, 1 post
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 06:49
  • msg #467

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The well-dressed man’s face fell slightly, as if Pisca and Cato were his last hope of finding Kellan before the funeral began.  “Well,” he said, looking at Pisca tiredly, “that is certainly a lot of different places where he might be, isn’t it?”  He nodded as Pisca asked him to join them at the table.  “Thank you for your kind invitation.”

The man was too refined to slump into a chair, but the manner in which he took his seat made his exhaustion clear.  “I have been on the road for most of the day, and was hoping that I could find Guardsman Storval quickly.  I have taken lodgings here, and when I came down to the taproom after refreshing myself Ameiko informed me that you two had been his companions of late.”  He paused as Pisca went on.  “Unfortunately, I am not sure that a funeral is the most-appropriate venue for package delivery.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Neep Freemish, Mister Caelin.”  He nodded to each in turn as Pisca made her introductions.  “I am Rogors Craesby.”  He stood slightly and bowed before sinking back into his seat.  “I work for Lord Aldern Foxglove.  I believe you are acquainted with him?”  He glanced back and forth between Pisca and Cato.  “Yes, well, I am Lord Foxglove’s local representative.  If you define 'local' as 'everything north of Magnimar,' in any event.  I was supervising the upcoming renovation of Foxglove Manor when I received an urgent letter informing me that I should both attend the funeral in Lord Foxglove’s stead, since he is unavoidably detained on urgent business matters, and that I should deliver this package to one Kellan Storval.”  He tapped the package, his sleeve falling back to reveal the head and fangs of what looked like the beginning of a very-elaborate snake tattoo.  “But it seems as if the delivery may have to wait until after the ceremony.”

At this point the doors to the kitchen opened and the woman to whom Xin had spoken earlier emerged bearing a huge tray laden with the very comestibles about which Ameiko had previously informed them.  She placed the tray on a small stand set up next to the table for that very purpose before unloading the dishes onto the table.  One plate contained two entire roast pheasants.  Another was piled high with fresh corn-on-the-cob.  There was also a tub of fresh-looking butter, a dish of scalloped seasoned potatoes, and, last but not least, a huge bowl of blueberries next to a small pitcher of cream.

“Enjoy!”  Said the woman brightly before he took her leave.

Rogors Craesby eyed the dinner items somewhat hungrily.  “I did not have a great deal of time to eat on my way to Sandpoint.  Would you mind terribly if I partook?”


This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:49, Tue 24 June 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 544 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 18:29
  • msg #468

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato listened to Craesby's story, but was prevented from comment by the arrival of the food.  All was silent for a moment as the mage hungrily eyed the cooked bird, corn, and blueberries.  He waved vaguely in the direction of the food.  "No, there's more than enough here for everyone.  Help yourself to some of this."

Cato cut himself a piece of pheasant, grabbed an ear of corn, and filled a bowl with blueberries.  After a few minutes of contented eating, he leaned back, eyeing Craseby again.  "We haven't heard much from Aldern since the boar hunt.  How are things going for him?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 1017 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 22 Jun 2014
at 13:50
  • msg #469

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Excuse me?"  Pisca leaned back and out over the edge of her chair, a precarious place, hanging a treacherous few out and over empty air with the hard wood of the inn floor over two feet below.  With an outstretched arm she beckoned to a passing serving girl.  "Excuse me, may we have another plate here?  Thank you."

This Rogors Craesby had, so far, been something of a disappointment.  His introductions contained a distinct lack of hand kissing.  For an associate of Aldern Foxglove, that was.  Or, perhaps *associate* was giving him too much credit.  Minion might have been a better term.  And, quite possibly, the hand kissing was not a thing for minions.  'Oh, and kiss the Lady Gnome's hand for me will you, Craesby?' was not really something that was done.  Or so, Pisca supposed.

"Have some of the roast, Mister Craesby."  Pisca stood up on the seat of her chair and leaned way in and over the table to select one of the most choice pieces of meat and place it upon the man's plate.  Humans seemed to have a preference for meat.  "And the corn is always fresh here at the Rusty Dragon," she added, selecting an especially juicy section of cob for the man.

"That sounds like an awfully large area for one none man to cover, Mister Craesby.  You must be quite busy tending to Aldern's affairs in the north.  And yet, time enough is there?  To deliver a package to Stomper here in Sandpoint."  The last was a statement of fact.  Though, in truth, it might as well have been a question.  A question backed by all of the not so inconsiderable curiosity that a gnome could muster.

"Normally, you'd have green salad with a meal such as this," Pisca continued - as though the question was never asked.  As though it still did not hang heavy, pregnant, upon the air.  "But the blueberries are spectacular.  I've found that the sweet tang adds to the flavor of the roast."
Rogors Craesby
NPC, 1 post
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 06:48
  • msg #470

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“How are things going . . . for Lord Foxglove?” Rogors paused his plate-filling briefly as he considered how best to respond to Cato’s question.  “I’m sure I do not know.  It is rare for him to interact with me personally, more’s the pity.  Generally, as in this case, I receive a letter with instructions and I perform those instructions to the best of my ability.  He is a great man, though, isn’t he?  It is my privilege to serve him.”

He looked down to find that Pisca had already finished filling his plate for him.  “Thank you, milady.”  He said appreciatively.  “Actually my time is, currently, largely taken up with Foxglove Manor.  This assignment, unfortunate as its genesis may be, is actually something of vacation for me, to tell you the honest truth.  I greatly look forward to the time when the estate has been restored and its renovation is no longer my responsibility.”

He savored a bite of blueberry tinged pheasant roast.  “My word, Miss Freemish.”  He said, eyebrows raising in surprise.  “Your culinary criticism could challenge that of those paid for the task in Magnimar.  You could not be more correct about the blueberries.”


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 1021 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 13:07
  • msg #471

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

How disappointing.  Disappointing despite the pleasant compliment on her acumen gourmand.  "So, you don't actually spend much time with Aldern, then, is what you're saying.  More's the pity," the gnome sighed.  "I was looking forward to plying you with good food and wine in exchange for juicy gossip," Pisca said, and let loose the barest of a coy and mischievous grin.

"How are the renovations to the manor coming along?  Any idea when they'll be complete?  Oh ...  But then what will you do once that's oh ... ver?"

But, before the question could be answered, the gnome came up short.  A dawning wakened in her face, and then she continued with a new intensity.  "Did you just say that the reason for your visit to Sandpoint was some misfortune?"

"Waitwaitwaitwait.  Maybe you're talking about the goblin attack.  The first goblin attack," Pisca continued on, answering the question that she'd just asked before an answer from the person asked could even pass his lips.  "That would make sense.  Unless you're not talking about the first goblin attack, and something else unfortunate happened to make Aldern send a box to Stomper.  In any case, I don't think we can wait to find out which it is."

The strawberry blonde gnome stood up on the seat of her chair and leaned out over the tabletop.

"What's with the box, Rogors?" she asked.  "Now we have to know."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Tue 24 June 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 546 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 19:20
  • msg #472

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato frowned.  "I had thought Aldern implied that most of his time was spent at the manor, directing the repairs.  Perhaps I misunderstood.  I'm sure, though, that directing an undertaking of that magnitude can't be easy.  Not that I've seen the manor, but I've heard some stories about it during my stay in town here."

Cato tried to follow along with Pisca's rapid-fire train of thought, but eventually had to let the gnome plot her own solo course, and merely waited on Craesby's reply to her ultimate question.
Rogors Craesby
NPC, 2 posts
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 06:03
  • msg #473

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


“No, I don’t spend a lot of time with Lord Foxglove, but in a way that is what makes me valuable to him,” Rogors said, sitting back and foregoing the food for a moment in order to continue the conversation.  “He knows he can trust me to get things done, and that he need not look over my shoulder to ensure that I’m doing what he asks.  He also trusts my judgment, so I’m empowered to make decisions that would otherwise slow things down if he needed to be located and consulted on them.”

He shrugged slightly at Cato’s question.  “You must have misunderstood him, then.  While the manor renovations certainly take a deal of Lord Foxglove’s time and even more of his money, he is rarely present for them.”

“As far as the renovations to the manor are concerned, they could certainly be going more smoothly.”  A hint of irritation entered the man’s voice.  “The place has an . . . unfortunate reputation in the local community.”  He coughed.  “I’m sure the stories you’ve heard are along those lines, Mister Crispin.  Sadly, those stories mean that it is more difficult to find willing labor, and that the laborers who are willing to work cost more.  But I’m determined to see it through nonetheless.”

“Yes, the misfortune of the goblin attacks,” Craesby tried to keep up with Pisca’s subject change.  “Sheriff Hemlock apparently caught up with Lord Foxglove and told him about the attack at the Glassworks.  I’m here to raise Lord Foxglove’s standard, attend any memorial service, and offer help to the families should they need it.”  He paused.  “You’ll find that Lord Foxglove has a very large heart for children who have lost parents, seeing as he was orphaned at such a young age himself.”

He raised an eyebrow at Pisca’s demand that he disclose the box’s contents.  “I’m sure I don’t know what might be in the box, Miss Pisca,” he said with a slight tonal change that indicated he thought she was being both pushy and rude about the subject.  He began eating again, as if to buttress that particular point.  “It came to me wrapped, and unlike some others my curiosity regarding its contents has not superseded my sense of propriety.  It is addressed to Mister Storval, and Mister Storval will be the one to open it.”  He moved the box slightly away from the gnome.  If there was any chance he would have given the box to either Cato or Pisca for delivery, it had almost certainly vanished.


This message was last edited by the player at 06:04, Wed 25 June 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 1023 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 12:22
  • msg #474

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Oh."  The single syllable was accompanied by a breath of relief.  "Well, that's good, at least," said the gnome.  These were possibly words desultory, non sequitous, and completely at a tangent to the direction in which Rogors Craesby had been driving the conversation, had Pisca not followed with, "I thought something else *unfortunate* had happened somewhere without us."

"Lets eat up.  Wouldn't want to be late for the funeral.  Hopefully we'll find Stomper there."  In keeping with this sentiment, the gnome plucked a lone blueberry from her plate and popped it into her mouth.

"Mmm.  Good berries," she said around a mouthful of purple juice.

Sorry for holding things up here.  I thought I was onto something wholly new here for a moment.  I'm ready to move things long.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 548 posts
Now 100% Monster Free
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 14:53
  • msg #475

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato nodded at Pisca's sentiment and chewed his last bite of meat.  "I'm sure the others are waiting on us.  Maybe we can find Kellan, Mr. Craseby."
The Raconteur
GM, 1024 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 26 Jun 2014
at 05:36
  • msg #476

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


After noting the lateness of the hour, Pisca and Cato quickly finished their meals and bid their farewells to Rogors Craesby, assuring him that they would send Kellan to him as soon as they could.  With that, they quickly departed The Rusty Dragon, making their way through the late-afternoon sunlight to City Hall, eager both to share their news and to learn what intelligence, if any, others might have obtained about the goblin's imminent attack.

CONTINUED IN CHAPTER #7d:  A DESPERATE PLAN


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