In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 350):

OCC:I guess grabbing the Scythe makes the most sense in that situation.

Ayeesha grabs the weapon and runs for the door before the temple collapses on her.

"Desna, protect us!"

Suddenly very aware of the fact that they are underground, Keira sees the wisdom in Ayeesha's action and follows right after her, pausing only to spur on the rest of the party. "Come on!"

Running it is.

Kraw grabs the dead priestess and uses her as a meat shield as he flees the room behind Ayesha.

Ayeesha snatches up the scythe and sprints towards the exit, with Kyra hot on her heels. However, Kraw rushes over to the fallen priestess, determined to retrieve her body. As he lays his hands on her corpse, a strange force seems to seize him, as if an invisible weight has locked his wrists in place. The body remains stubbornly rooted to the ground, refusing to budge, and Kraw realizes with horror that he is trapped.

As the room begins to shake and crumble around him, Kraw struggles in vain to free himself from the dead priestess's grasp.

Kraw, make a DC 20 Strength check to break free.

With a sudden crack a large stone piece falls from the ceiling smashing near Kraw and showering him with stone fragments.

Also, Kraw make a DC 16 Reflex save or take 22 pts of damage from the debris.

Kraw's health: 49/49

Kraw does his best to use Evasion techniques to avoid fragment damage. He tries Escape Artistry to break the death grip.



13:50, Today: Kraw rolled 30 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 20.  Reflex save, Evasion.

13:49, Today: Kraw rolled 9 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 1.  Escape artist .

In reply to Kraw (msg # 355):

Ayeesha looks over her shoulder as she is running out and yells. "Kraw, let her go it not worth it!"

Kraw yells "not my choice anymore! Some sort of trap magic!"

Beril sprints between the debris, using his airborne mobility to avoid danger.

He takes pause for a moment, looking around for clues — the goddess of death, maladies, decay… not destruction and collapse… was all of this even real?

The fox man looks for signs that maybe this is all an illusion designed to make them flee while the priestess recovers…

Still he does what he can to help. In the fable the fox fools the crow out of a cheese, maybe this one was about to make things even. Using his powerful wings for extra strength and speed, he grabs Kraw under the shoulders and pushes away from the priestess, carefully avoiding to touch the fresh corpse himself.

Beril rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13.  Strength check.
Beril rolled 25 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 17.  Disbelief.

Beril runs forward and starts tugging on Kraw. The slender fox man isn't strong enough to get Kraw free but it does seem to budge him a little bit...

Anyone else want to assist?

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 359):

Ayeesha drops the Scythe and runs back with a prayer to Desna for protection and guidance to grab Kraw and attempt to free him.

"Desna, if it is our destiny to survive, bless us with your help and luck!"

16:46, Today: Ayeesha rolled 20 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 17.  Strength check.

Kyra likewise throws caution to the wind and runs to help, grabbing Ayeesha to add to her pull what little weight she can.

Kyra is not going to be doing a DC 20 check any time soon, but maybe she can help this way.
12:57, Today: Kyra rolled 11 using 1d20 with rolls of 11.  Aid Another (Strenght).

And if that doesn't help, maybe we can still cut off something to get Kraw free. Kraw, you don't really need hands, do you?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Just kidding.

---

Before the party has to do anything drastic Ayeesha and Kyra come and tug on Kraw as well. He is stretched so far he feels like his arms are going to pull out of their sockets but as the rest of the heroes haul with all their might Kraw feels the magical invisible grip slipping. Inch by inch his hands come free and then suddenly with a sudden burst he slips free and the party tumbles away from the priestesses body.

Giant stone blocks continue to rain down and now it looks like the body of the priestess is starting to expand in front of their eyes. As if bloating from gas it looks like the arms and legs and torso and face are all starting to swell up with some kind of gas or fluid right in front of their eyes.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 362):

Ayeesha continues to move assisting Kraw as much as he needs to clear the falling debris before taking stock of the Priestess morphing body.

If it appears to be emitting a gas of some type Ayeesha will continue to flee to evade the death trap.

"What foul magic is this!" Ayeesha rhetorically asks.

"Let's figure that out somewhere else!" Kyra tries dragging Ayeesha out of the temple before they get buried alive.

OOC: Kyra makes a run for it if the rest of the party does, otherwise she will stay with the party.

“Dunno, but I ain’t finishing like your drow mate!” Beril yelps as he leads the way out, balancing on his five fire wings.

Double move out !

The party flees the room as stones continue to rain down around them. Behind them they glance back to see the body of the priestess explode, puffing out foul gas and pus as her body unfolds like some kind of putrid flower. From the center of the visceral mass a large clawed hands thrusts up. The hand is covered in pale white muscle and sinew but no skin is visible.

The hands is followed by an arm, likewise devoid of skin that lead to a shoulder and so on. The priestess head can be seen, emerging from the exploded remains of her body before a giant stone drops down sealing the passageway to the temple.

Even outside of the inner chamber the temple continues to collapse. Stones drop down and shatter the giant glass vials that used to hold demons of disease spilling putrid liquids across the ground.

It will require either an Athletics check DC 16 to leap from safe spot to safe spot across the room OR a DC 16 fortitude check to resist whatever the hell liquid you're going to be exposed to crossing the room to safety.

Fortunately, Nimble is something Kraw does well as he evades the stones falling while hustling out with his companions.



22:50, Today: Kraw rolled 23 using 1d20+14 with rolls of 9.  Acrobatics, +5 for jumping.

In reply to Kraw (msg # 367):

Ayeesha gets slimed then fails her fortitude save.

04:25, Today: Ayeesha rolled 14 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 4.  Fort Save +10.

04:20, Today: Ayeesha rolled 14 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 9.  Acrobatics +5.

Since she is flying, would she still get slimed?

I think Ayeesha can pick up Kyra and Kraw while flying away; especially if Beril assists.

Can currently carry.
STR     Light   Medium  Heavy
16 0-76 77–153 154–230 +3  Carries heavy objects with one arm
This message was last edited by the player at 10:49, Tue 23 May 2023.

 Beril is flying out of the danger range of falling debris. He pretends not to see or comprehend the horror that is behind them - was the Priestess coming back to life? As some sort of monstrous undead creature?

 He tries to grab Ayeesha and fly her over the horrible liquid pooling in the room. If she's too heavy, what with all those muscles and armour and weapons, maybe Kira could give them a hand.

  I just love the image of a Raven tumbling through the debris, a Kitsune and a Witch flying through as well, carrying the mighty barbarian... sadly it looks like Alpha the wolf won't make it...

Looking at the mess in front of them, Kyra decides not to test her nonexistent athletic skill by trying to leap over it, at least not just yet. "A bit of help?"

In reply to Kyra (msg # 370):

Kraw diverts to grab Kyra and help her past the dangers in the room.



22:37, Today: Kraw rolled 19 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 13.  CMB.

22:36, Today: Kraw rolled 23 using 1d20+14 with rolls of 9.  Acrobatics .


This message was last edited by the player at 06:37, Tue 23 May 2023.

Harnessing their magical abilities and relying on their nimble athleticism, the group swiftly maneuvers across the treacherous foul liquid, deftly evading its deadly embrace. They push through the chaos, sprinting through the crumbling corridors of the collapsing temple with unwavering determination.

As giant stones rain down from above, their thunderous impact reverberates through the air, sending shockwaves of fear and urgency through the party. Each step becomes a race against time as they navigate the maze of debris and collapsing structures.

Their hearts pound in their chests, adrenaline fueling their every move. They can feel the heat of danger at their backs, motivating them to push forward, to reach the safety of the secret elevator that awaits them.

With each leap, each dodge, and each agile twist, they inch closer to their escape. The once impressive temple now crumbles around them, a testament to the power of their victory and the imminent threat of their demise.

Finally, as the last stone crashes to the ground behind them, the group reaches the secret elevator. They pile inside, squeezing in next to the other survivors they saved who were already waiting for them and ready to go. Another crash and the elevator shakes from a nearby impact. With a flick of a switch, the elevator ascends, carrying them away from the crumbling ruins and towards the promise of safety above.

The elevator climbs  and climbs and the rumble of falling rock grows distant. As they crest the threshold of the first floor they hear screams and cries of concern from the staff and patients as the "House of Healing" shakes and shudders.

Kyra jumps out of the elevator almost before it comes to a halt. "Let's get the hell out of here!" Being buried in a collapsing building would be a bit of an anticlimax after what they just survived.

OOC: Oh, yeah, and we should get others out as well, I guess. Btw, did we manages to save Alpha in all this mess?

In reply to Kyra (msg # 373):

Ayeesha will head for the door and help anyone in need of assistance on the way to safety.

"Everyone; get out before the building collapses!" Ayeesha shouts

Amidst the chaos and rumbling, the party rushes out of the collapsing temple, leading the injured and rescued prisoners to safety. The ground trembles beneath their feet as they emerge into the open air, a cacophony of cries and shouts filling their ears.

On the surface, the "hospital" is a scene of turmoil. Patients wail in pain, attendants and nurses scramble to aid the injured, and the building itself seems to groan under the pressure of the upheaval. Shouts of alarm echo forth and the injured are evacuated even as the structure cracks and groans. The main floor is only halfway emptied when the upper story shakes and collapses but thankfully it only crushes the back areas already emptied. With the last patient carried out, the building finally succumbs to the forces tearing it apart, collapsing into a colossal sinkhole that devours everything in its path.

---

Davaulus and Lady Andaisin, the architects of the blood veil's creation and spread, lie defeated. Their malevolent plans have crumbled with the temple, dealt a mortal blow by the party's unwavering resolve. The unnatural plague's rapid and erratic expansion comes to a sudden halt. While the disease still lingers, the Korvosan Guard and city priests rally to bring the situation under control, containing its spread and treating the afflicted.

Recovered research notes and a well-placed "interrogation" of Dr. Davaulus lead to a breakthrough discovery: a cure! Mixing the blood of native Varisians with potent healing potions proves to be a powerful antidote, even for those in advanced stages of the disease. The city's healers work tirelessly to create this tonic, bringing hope to those who had been ravaged by the blood veil.

Ruan Mirukova, the brother of the woman who approached for help is reunited with his sister after being healed up by the city watch. She professes her thanks and he promises to sing praises to the Korvosan Watch, and the eclectic group of "specialists" that came to his rescue.

Despite the feeling of relief, still many have died in the plague although likely not nearly as many as if nothing had been done to stop the secret cult and their actions. Field Marshall personally thanks the adventurers and awards them a medal of service for their duty to the city.

The final death toll over the past week comes to around 3,000 citizens and as the city recovers anger and accusations appear on the lips of the citizens. A shadow of suspicion hovers over the Queen's involvement. The connection between the Queen and the plague cannot be brushed aside. The Queen offers a tale of deception, claiming that Dr. Davaulus, the very doctor she had personally introduced into the city, had manipulated her. The Grey Maidens stationed at the hospice house profess ignorance, asserting that they were merely instruments of order. Dr. Davaulus faces swift retribution, dragged from his cell and executed without delay.

In the end, Korvosa is saved from the brink of disaster, thanks to the party's courage and determination. They have triumphed over darkness, unmasked the plotters, and brought hope back to the city. Yet, the memory of this harrowing adventure lingers, a testament to the fragile balance between chaos and order in a world teetering on the edge.