Kellan paused and looked around. Four alcoves, four of them, plus Pisca...it could work.

"You know...this place would actually work really well for an ambush,...if they had any reason to come this way. I say we try it"

He worst case scenario was that Nualia refused to take the bait and had a few extra moments to prepare...of course then they would need to try and get past the trap in a hurry...but that could probably be negotiated some how.

Cato nods.  "I like the plan.  If we can get her to come to us, it would give me a chance to help Kellan before the fight starts, which would be easier.  For instance, I have a spell that can make you stronger, Kellan, but it's only going to last for a few minutes.  So I can use it if we know we're about to fight.  I also have that spell that makes you larger, but I'm not sure how useful that's going to be in these tight spaces."

Following warily into the cool, dark chamber, Liseth was very careful to not get in the way of any of her friends.  With unknown traps and horrible monsters somewhere ahead, the last thing that she wanted to do was trip someone up.  Or worse, stumble into anything herself; it wasn't as though she was particularly nimble!

The girl craned her neck to peer at the trap Pisca had pointed out to everyone.  She listened carefully as Pisca laid out her plan, and then Kellan and Cato both agreed that it was a good idea.  There was one thing, though, which Liseth thought was a problem.

"But if Nualia's dogs do set off the trap, the portcullis will seal us out.  Unless Nualia does have a mechanism to reset the trap and decides to use it."  The acolyte stepped back from the hall.  "That would give Nualia all the time she needed to empower herself using Lamashtu's blessings, or even strike at us with curses while we were unable to reach her."

"We don't know how powerful she is...with time to prepare, Nualia could have any number of bad surprises ready for us.  We can't underestimate her..."  Liseth looked back at the stairway they had used to reach this chamber, "And this isn't the only way for her to reach us.  Ripnugget's map included another stairs which led to Nualia; she might send her Hell Dogs up that way to attack us from behind."

"The best thing would be to bypass that trap as best, and quietly as we can.  There are too many risks involved in our trying to use it against someone who knows that its there and how it works."

"Maybe the way to turn it off is just past it in the hall?"  Liseth stepped closer to Pisca and touched the top of the gnome's head with an outstretched hand, "Desna guide you to the truth of this mechanism."

OOC:  Casting Guidance on Pisca

Active Effects
Light
Guidance on Pisca (10/10)

---

---

"Does she?"  Questioned Kerr quietly, looking up at the gates that seemed ready to drop from the ceiling at the slightest provocation.  "Have to deactivate the trap, I mean."  He paused, trying to formulate possible scenarios.

Kerr listened to Liseth's concerns, and nodded his agreement.  "I think your plan depends on her wanting to attack us, Pisca.  But we don't know that she would want to do that, rather than something else.  Let's say that your plan works and that one of these dogs activates the trap, and that those," he pointed to the portcullises, "fall from the ceiling.  The dog is trapped, and maybe damaged or killed," he shrugged, "depending on what it does."

"But where are we then?  Sure, we've trapped, damaged, or killed one of the dogs, but now there are two gates between us and Nualia, and at that point she knows we're here.  So we have no really easy way to get to her.  If she has some alternate method of leaving this level, she can use it, heading off to lead her goblin army against Sandpoint while we remain here, trying to deal with the trap."

"Alternatively, maybe she just stays behind the gates and finishes whatever ritual she's attempting to perform down here, and unleashes the power of that ritual against us, or Sandpoint."  Kerr rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at the floor, then looked back up at Pisca, a pained look on his face.  "I just don't know.  Seems risky.  But I guess there's a lot of risk whatever we do."

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 17:03, Mon 09 Mar 2015.

Kellan sighed "Well it looks like we do things the old fashioned way"

There was no use debating the matter, so the guardsmen abandoned the idea and readied himself to jump the plate and storm whatever was beyond the unstoppable trap.

"Wait."  The terse whisper from the gnome came with a hand held up for emphasis.  "Wait.  Just wait, please.  Before we all jump - most particularly before *you* jump - there are other things that I can try."

"First lets just sit quiet for a moment and listen.  I can't imagine that Noodle Girl is standing still.  Probably clanking about in her clanky armor.  Listening will not only tell us whether she's there or not, but it may also tell us how noisy we can be without being heard.  If we can't hear them, they probably can't hear us."

"Second, I haven't actually tried to disable this trap."  She felt the small amount of grace from Liseth's spell, and she held to it.  "I'm going to try."  Pisca pulled out the pouch of tools again and cradled them at her stomach, ready to apply to the task at hand.  But first, was the listening.  Pisca closed her eyes and tuned her ears forward.

1) Listen for movement from nearby.

2) Attempt to disarm the trap.  Add +1 for Guidance and +1 for Archaeologist's Luck and +2 for Masterwork Thief's Tools.


Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes.

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 3/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

The nod of her head came first.  Then the word.  "Nothing," she said.  "I don't hear anything.  But that's good and that's also bad."

Pisca then went to work on the trap.  The Center Tile Tsuto had said.  A pin in all four sides.  That would do the trick.  With sure, deft movements the gnome inserted her pins into the cracks on each of the four sides of the center tile.  Each pin went into the exact mid-point between each corner.

"Well, that's that," Pisca said as she rose from her work.  She tucked her kit back into her pouch and turned back to her friends.  "Only one thing left to do," she said.  And, without warning, she stepped into the trap.

Position: L8

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes.

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 3/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

---

---

Kerr watched Pisca as attempted to disarm the pressure plate.  He hoped it would work; the last thing they needed was to get caught with half the party on one side of the trap and half on the other when the portcullises fell.  That would be a sure recipe for disaster.

The young acolyte grinned as Pisca stepped back to admire her work.  "Do you think you've done it, Pisca?"  He asked, but a slow-dawning horror overtook him as he suddenly realized what she was about to do.  "One thing left . . . Pisca, no!"  He hissed, reaching out for the gnome to keep her from stepping on to the pressure plate.

He failed.

The entire party froze as Pisca moved into the trap area, waiting with various degrees of trepidation for the gates to fall.

They never did.  Pisca stood between the two glaive-wielding statues with nary a scratch, and the portcullises remained secreted in their hidden lairs.

Kerr gave Pisca a relieved smile.  "That was . . . that was a good job, Pisca."  He said, trying to remove his heart from his throat.  "But I'm not sure stepping into a trap is the best way to test if you've disarmed it.  In the future, I mean.  Going forward."  He felt what he thought would be a very inappropriate laugh bubbling up from inside him.  He hugged Liseth close--his heart was still pounding.  "What would have happened if you'd failed to disarm it?"

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 17:55, Tue 10 Mar 2015.

"Nothing good" Kellan chimed in "But I guess it's just one more risk out of the hundreds we've taken today...and it worked." he smiled to the gnome and gave her a nod of approval.

"Well, what's the consensus...with the trap diabled did we still want to try to suprise her in the observation room or try to draw her out here into an ambush?"

He liked both plans, but was fond of the idea of setting their own ambush for once. What was so interesting that she had consigned herself to one location all day, every day? She had to move around...get stir crazy, crave some fresh air or get hungry. Did she sleep down here? With only the rune dogs for company?

It was had to get inside the head of such a twisted individual.

Pisca stood blinking in surprise.  However, this was less so, apparently, at the fact that she stood in the trap unscathed, than at the question posed by Kerr Mollin.  Her eyes moved from one side to the other, chasing an answer as the wheels in her head churned for a reply.  But, finally, she simply pointed a finger at Stomper and nodded her head in agreement, only adding to the young human guardsman's reasoning by saying, "Better me than you."

"As to ambush or surprise," Pisca continued, dropping her voice back into her Whisper Magic, "the single main purpose of an ambush is surprise.  Fear and surprise.  No.  Wait.  The two main reasons ...  No.  Lets just say surprise.  So, barging in on Noodles in the Observation Room should be ambush enough, don't you think?  Plus, I'm dying to know what you observe in an Observation Room, aren't you?"  And with that, the gnome turned and continued down the hallway toward the two doors.

"I just wish there was a way to tell whether she was in the Observation Room or not.  That is to say, a way besides opening the door and possibly be seen at the same time we're seeing.  I just wish there was a way."

"At any rate," the gnome placed hands on hips as she reached the two doorways.  She eyed, not the northern door that lead into what Tsuto had called as the Observation Room, but the southern door that lead to Desna knew where.  "At any rate, there'll be no more of this running away nonsense."  Pisca once again pulled out her kit of tools.  She knelt and began work on the southern door.  "At least not through this door there won't."

Disable Southern Door

Position: N8

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes.

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 3/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

Kellan followed Pisca closely, and stepped lightly onto and over the plate as the diminutive mechanist set to work on the southern door. He did not want to risk her getting trapped on the other side of the porticulis should Nualia suddenly appear,  or gods forbid, see het hemmed in with the rune dogs.

"You really saved some magic for me Cato?" He suddenly asked using the whisper magic "After all this way?"


Position: M8

Gasp!  Liseth was not prepared for Pisca to so brazenly step out into the trap that the gnome had pointed out to everyone; as her way of testing her work to see if she had disabled it.  Luckily, whatever she had done to it seemed to have worked because Pisca remained unscathed.

"There has to be a better way to test uncertain traps than stepping into them..."  The blonde released her held breath as Kerr squeezed her.  He seemed just as anxious about Pisca's impulsiveness as she was, "But it's alright.  At least that's one less thing we have to worry about now."

She eyed the passage with no small amount of trepidation as Pisca and Kellan started into it.  Liseth kept picturing those statues swinging their spears at her as she tried to get by.  They looked like that's exactly what they wanted to do!  However, it didn't look as though she needed to crowd past them herself just yet.

"I have an idea," Liseth Whispered back to Pisca.  "Kerr," the girl squeezed her boyfriend's arm, "you can use your Paladin Sight to find Nualia.  I know you can; she has to be the most evil thing down here, unless she has already managed to summon Malnesh...that evil goblin demon."  Liseth pointed with her other arm down the hall, towards the pair of doors as Pisca worked to jam one closed.  "I'm sure that if you concentrated at the door, you would be able to see the aura of any evil thing that was through it."

Position: J 8

Active Effects
Light

---

---

"Okay," agreed Kerr, not without some guilt.  He still really wasn't comfortable with some of his newly-granted gifts, and didn't think about using them as often as he probably should.  Did that make him a poor steward of what the gods had given him?  Would they take those gifts away in frustration in order to bestow them on a more-worthy possessor?

Best not to dwell on those kinds of thoughts.

Divines, assist me in seeking out evil, he prayed as he reached out with his senses as he had done before.  He wasn't sure if he needed the short prayer but somehow it didn't feel right to use divinely-granted powers without acknowledging the gods who were their source.  He waited in anticipation, ready to identify the no-doubt plentiful evil auras in the area.

But no.  He sensed nothing helpful.

"I don't know," he said apologetically, feeling like he had somehow let the group down.  He shook his head.  "I can't feel anything."

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 23:10, Tue 10 Mar 2015.

Pisca turned from the southern door, having jammed it shut to her satisfaction.  She looked up at Kerr Mollin as he made his pronouncement of failure.  She too turned to the door, the northern door this time.  She set her face in a mask of concentration, mimicking the young paladin's look of only moments ago.  And when her face finally relaxed, she looked up again at Kerr Mollin, this time placing her small hand upon his arm.

"That's alright," Pisca said, "I can't feel anything either."

"But, why don't we burst in ready to kill anyway.  Seeing as we're all prepared for it, it would be a waste not to," she added.

"But let me take a peek first alright," said Pisca.  "It couldn't hurt.  And, at least we won't have to worry about anyone sneaking up from us from that door."  The gnome hooked a thumb over her shoulder to indicate just which door she was speaking of, though there really was no other door that it could possibly have been.  Then, carefully, carefully, she cracked the northern door and took a look in, observing the Observation Room.

Stealth and Perception checks, please.

Position: N8

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes.

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 3/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

Cato walked forward, wary of the trapped plate.  He chuckled a little at Kellan's question.  "What can I say?  This fight with Nualia's all I've been able to think about for the past..." Cato blows out a breath, trying to think.  "Well, I guess since we started to find out everything about her.  Maybe since we first read Tsuto's journal.  It didn't seem like we'd be able to stop someone who seemed so intent on turning herself into a monster, on worshipping Lamashtu, with anything short of deadly force.  And I have to carefully ration my arcane powers.  I didn't know how much we were going to have to fight down here....goblins, hell hounds, Nualia's guards.  But I knew I wanted to save something back for the fight."  Cato listened to Kerr's report.  "And it looks like I'll have to hold off for a little bit longer."

Position: K8
Active Effects:
Protection from Arrows (Kellan)
Mage Armor (Cato)

Combat Stats:
AC 16
BAB: +2, 1d6 damage

---

---

Pisca cracked the northern door open and peeked through the opening to get her first glimpse of the Observation Room.  Wide stone ledges of red marble lined the curving walls of the room, which was well lit by four burning skulls, one sitting in each corner.  The room contained three comfortable-looking chairs, and both stone ledges were covered with old books, scrolls, teeth, bones, scrimshaw artwork, jars of deformed creatures soaking in brine, taxidermied animals and limbs, and other strange objects.  To the north, a large, round fountain filled with frothy blue water filled the room with the gentle sound of bubbling.

A tall, silver-haired, almost impossibly-beautiful woman sat in one of the chairs near a ledge, reading one of the room's many tomes.  The only mars on her otherwise faultless physique were her left hand, which looked to be nothing less than a crimson-red demonic talon, and the unsightly scars carved into her abdomen.  A large bastard sword--is there any other kind?--was secured within a scabbard hanging from her hip.

Two large, hairless, emaciated-looking dog-like creatures lay on the floor near the silver-haired woman.  The one closest to the woman seemed almost asleep, but the other was alert, and only the fact that it was not looking at the door when Pisca opened it saved her from discovery.

   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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxx--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xllx  xllx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-x+--xxxx--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|  |FF|  |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xll|N |  |  |llx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|G |  |G |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |x |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--x--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+-xx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |R |L D C|  |K |P |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

F = Fountain    l = Ledge

N = Nualia

G = Dog

---

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 06:13, Wed 11 Mar 2015.

"She's here!"  It was often said of surprise that it made one's eyes as big as saucers.  And, while Pisca's eyes grew, in no way, as large as that, they were both very full of surprise.  "She's here!" she repeated before recovering herself and turning her mind to the necessities of the moment.

"Nooptidoo and two dogs."  And the gnome spent a few very precious moments describing the room and the positions of Nualia and her two attendant creatures to the others through her Whisper Magic.  "We don't have much time.  No time at all.  The one dog may spot me at any moment."

Hmmm, Pisca hmmm'ed to herself.  Her attention turned to the Hell Dog once again, wondering just what made a Hell Dog different than just any other dog.

"We might have time to prepare one thing.  Just one thing.  Then I'm going to throw open the door for you, Stomper.  Are you ready?  Be ready.  Are you ready?" repeated the excited gnome.

Knowledge Planes to Identify the dogs and their powers.

Position: N8

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes.

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 3/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

Kellan swallowed hard and tightened the grip on his weapon as he heard the news. This was it. It had all come down to these next few moments and Nualia, the one who had organized the raid on his home town, was but a few feet away from them.

The guardsmans was suprised in that he was far less afraid than he had anticipated. The waiting had been terrible, the uncertainty, but now that they had come to it things seemed very simple. They would go in there, they would fight their absolute hardest, and they would either win or die trying. Thoughts of his family, of Shayliss, of his dead comrades and neighbors flitted through his mind as he took a deep steadying breath.

Just a few more moments...

"One more moment...Cato? Could you please do the honors?" He asked as he glanced behind to the Mage. The fact that Cato had specifically saved magic just for him warmed his heart. Such friends were worth their weight in gold and then some, and while Kellan's mind had a very loose grasp of magic and how it supposedly worked, it seemed like an awful lot of trouble just for him.

"Looks like one of those biters," said the gnome, her eye still glued to the crack in the door.  "I heard stories.  Demon dogs.  Summoned to serve.  They have a special bite that's good against heroes.  They bite you and you're forced to confront your worst fears.  Only the toughest are able to shrug it off."

The Demon Dogs are poachers and they hide behind trees," she said, rather oddly.  Then even odder still added, "Hunt you to the ground they will."  And, "mannequins with kill appeal."

Position: N8

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes.

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 3/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

Pisca's pronouncement caused Liseth's heart to pound.  This really was it!  There was Nualia, just ahead.  The next few minutes would determine everything; they had to stop Nualia and Lamashtu's evil plans!

"This is it," Liseth squeezed Kerr's arm once more, "we're really about to do it!  Confront Nualia and defeat Lamashtu, right in the middle of their own dungeon.  I...can't believe it."

Her hand went to Sarenrae's holy symbol, "As soon as you give the signal, Kerr and I can call down the gods' blessings.  With Their help, we can't lose.  We won't lose."

She started to pray, her hand still clutching the divine focus, "Sarenrae, Desna, Iomedae, Erastil...Abadar.  Lend us your strength and your courage.  See us through the darkness, that we might set your bright light in its place..."

Readied Action: Cast Bless before everything starts; once the door is opened.  Or those inside notice us.

Position: J 8

Active Effects
Light

HP 30/30
AC 13
CMD 12

Potions
CMW
Remove Disease
Delay Poison

Wand of CLW (4)

Cato nodded, and reached into his spell pouch, fingers nimbly moving through the pockets and containers.  He extracted a few hairs from a bull in one hand, and placed the other on Kellan's shoulder.  "Here we go, Kellan."  Aloud, Cato muttered [Language unknown: "Ticlatugh Venver'oerted"], feeling the arcane power leave his fingers, travelling into the young guardsman's arms.
Position: K8
Active Effects:
Protection from Arrows (Kellan)
Bull's Strength (Kellan)
Mage Armor (Cato)

Combat Stats:
AC 16
BAB: +2, 1d6 damage

13:14, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Initiative.
(Edit to add initiative)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Thu 12 Mar 2015.

As he felt the magic perfused his body, Kellan felt...strong was insufficient...powerful perhaps, almost superhuman. He could feel the carefully turned haft of his weapon in his hands and felt like he could suddenly snap the stout piece of wood like a dry twig, and his chain mail felt no heavier than a tunic. It was amazing, and it happened just in time

Kellan turned the corner at the urging of his friends and put his boot to the open door with his newfound strength as he barged through. Even as he passed the threshold into the observation room he did not slow in his assault, but instead leveled his pole axe menacingly towards Nualia as he advanced, the blessings of the benevolent gods bolstering his resolve.

"For Sandpoint!" He cried, leaving no ambiguity about their purpose here or the identity of those who now intruded upon her refuge.

HP: 48/48
AC: 18
Move: To N6
Active Effects: Bless, Bulls Strength
05:48, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 13 using 1d20+3. Initiative

"Ready?  Ready?"  Liseth's excited voice combined with the bubbling beat within Pisca's breast.  I feel blessed, thought the gnome.  I feel blessed.

"Ready," she said aloud, answering her own question.  She shoved open the door to the curiously named Observation Room and stepped over the threshold.

"We're the Saviors of Sandpoint, Noodle Girl," she declared, "and you're *NOT*."

She had a pat of butter in her pouch for just such occasions, and she stuck a finger into it before turning her hand on her wrist and weaving those fingers in a complex pattern to the accompaniment a droning chant that she'd once heard from one of the higher level students at Theumanexus.

"You.  Stay," she said as she thrust her butter covered digit in the direction of the blade at Nualia's hip.

Open Door / 5ft step to N7 / Cast Grease on the Large Bastard

Position: N7

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes, Grease on the Large Bastard 4m (Reflex vs DC15), Bless 4m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 3/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

---

---

The silver-haired woman looks up in shock as first Pisca, then Kellan burst in through the door.  The dozing dog comes to full alert, and the head of the other swivels to focus directly on the human guardsman.  The woman's lovely face is suddenly consumed with a rictus of rage, and she begins to move, dodging Pisca's application of grease to her bastard sword.  It seems as if battle is about to commence, but the servants of Lamashtu are unable to react before the female members of the party can continue their assault into the Observation Room . . . .

   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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxx--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xllx  xllx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-x+--xxxx--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|  |FF|  |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xll|N |  |  |llx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|G |  |G |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |x |K |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--x--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+-xx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  xP x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |L D C|  |  |R |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

F = Fountain    l = Ledge

N = Nualia

G = Dog

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Surprise Round

Move - to N8

23:23, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 12 using 1d20+5. Initiative.

OPPONENT TURN

Nualia

23:56, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Nualia, rolled 19 using 1d20+3. Reflex Save to Avoid Greasing of Bastard Sword.

Result - Save Made

---

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:00, Fri 13 Mar 2015.

"Um ... or don't ... "  The gnome peered out from around Stomper's armored hip, watching as the grease from her spell melted from the hilt of the angry priestess' BAS.

"Watch out for the dogs, Stomper," the gnome whispered, even as she fished for the odd bundle in her pack that was one of Nisk Tanner's experimental Befuddlers.  "These seem pretty hit or miss," she said, hefting the proprietarily secret mix of alchemical substances.  "Let see if it can't hit this time or not."

Pisca looked out around Kellan's other hip, shifting to one side for better aim.  Then she flung the bag with deadly aim, nailing the otherworldly hound smack on the nose.

Draw Befuddler / Ranged Touch Attack on Dog in O5

05:33, Today: Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 26 using 1d20+8. Hit O5 AC (Ranged +6Base +1PointBlankShot +1Bless).

Position: N7

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes, Bless 4m, Guidance 1m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (0/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 3/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 1/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger +1Bless
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Fri 13 Mar 2015.