Bartke Campaign

[Destiny reached]

As the adventurers explore the rest of the room, they see, depicted on the outer walls, an image of a green dragon defeating a bronze dragon, and a scene of a knight defeating a black dragon. They also find two other statues -- one of a sagacious wizard with an incredibly long beard, the other of a peasant woman with a strong, stout build and proud face. When they search the varag bodies, they find the following:

Varag Zombie
masterwork studded leather armor; masterwork scimitar

Female Varag
2 potions of cure light wounds; masterwork studded leather armor; masterwork scimitar; shortbow with 12 arrows; 15 gp

Male Varag
potion of cure moderate wounds; +1 studded leather armor; masterwork scimitar; masterwork short sword; masterwork composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) with 14 arrows; 42 gp

The group also notices two fur pallets, a barrel of water, and a closed chest. To the west, next to the statue of the peasant woman, are two stone doors, much like the ones seen so far.

[Destiny reached]

The three adventurers are currently fighting a strange looking man with ratlike features. Thalmis, prepared for battle with mace in hand, is standing to the right of his assailant, just below a narrow staircase. Brannon, ready to give any necessary aid to his allies, is standing south of and adjacent to the opponent. Forsythe, preferring combat at a distance, is standing on the staircase above Thalmis. His ranged attacks are not as effective as usual; the wall in between him and his target proves a match for his aim.

OOC
Initiative order: Forsythe, Brannon, the ratman, Thalmis. Brannon's move, I believe.

[Destiny reached]

Brannon lurches forward, another rush of adrenaline consuming him as he aims his spear at the ratman's body.

OOC
attack: [roll0] damage (if any): [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

The ratman dodges, with ease, out of the spear's range. He laughs a dirty, sniveling laugh, obviously mocking the cleric's attempt to harm him. Turning back to Thalmis, he bluntly states, "You friend seems to lack any expertise. Why don't you--" He interrupts his own sentence with a slash towards the part-dragon's chest.

Bluff check against your Sense Motive check: [roll0]

[Dragodar]

OOCSense Motive: [roll0]

[Destiny reached]

OOC
attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

The rapier's swoop goes awry, widely missing Thalmis' form.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis easily sidesteps the rat man's swing and nimbly hops backward, avoiding the blade.
In one smooth motion, he changes direction and leaps forward in a lightning fast attack, a glint of fury in his eyes, and swings his large mace over his head in a powerful two-handed overhead blow.

Avenging Strike: Attack: [roll0]
Damage: (1d8+9)[15]

[Dragodar]

Avenging Strike Critical Rolls:
Attack: (1d20+8)[20]
Damage: (1d8+9)[12]

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis swings his weapon and connects with his victim's gut. The lycanthrope lets out a cry of pain for the first time since the adventurers engaged him in combat. His eyes give away a bit more than a bit of fear.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsythe slashes his scimitar at the ratman

[SaetiusCaeus]

rollsattack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

[SaetiusCaeus]

critconfirm roll [roll0]
damage [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

Forsythe eases into the action, making do with his unideal position tactfully. He takes hold of his scimitar, weaves it around the wall blocking part of his view, and makes a clean cut in the ratman's side. The wretch shrinks back, stumbling as he realizes that the group is more than one composed of mere adventurers. Brannon seizes the opportunity and attempts to jab the man again.

OOC
attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

The three daring adventurers last left off battling a hobgoblin cleric and his skeletal minotaur minion.

OOC
Initiative order: the cleric and his minion, Forsythe, Thalmis, Brannon. Brannon's move. Thalmis is frightened for 3 more rounds.

Brannon quickly turns to the fleeing Thalmis, who is now up the ladder and past Forsythe, and casts Remove Fear. Thalmis suddenly stops, rid of the spell that had gripped his heart.

[Destiny reached]

The minotaur seems ready to charge, but the hobgoblin shouts, "Stop!" He beckons the skeleton to follow him, then walks to the right, out of sight of the group. The sound of his armor clinking with each pace is still audible.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsythe pushes past his companions and heads to the other ladder

[Dragodar]

Thalmis nods at Forsythe, understanding what is to be done. As Forsythe makes his way around the hall to the other ladder, Thalmis creeps down the ladder they were originally at, and slowly moves forward down the hall, toward the corner around which turned the Minotaur and his master. Thalmis stalks quietly toward the corner, and then hides just out of sight, waiting for Forsythe and getting ready to employ an effective pincer attack, surrounding the enemy and approaching from both sides.

[Dragodar]

Move Silently Check:
[roll0]

[Destiny reached]

Listen check: [roll0]

[Destiny reached]

Brannon, keeping in mind that his spells are running low, follows Forsythe to the ladder. The clicking of bones has ceased. The clinking of armor continues for a few seconds, then stops, as well. The cleric mutters something in what sounds like Goblin.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsythe goes down the ladder, and looks for the skeleton while heading down the coridor

[Destiny reached]

Forsythe and Brannon only:
When the two reach the bottom of the ladder, they are met with a 10 foot-wide hall. To the right, each several feet apart from one another, are four statues of four grim men in black armor, each holding a shield in front of his legs and feet. In the far northeast corner is a statue of a minotaur holding a longspear, the haft resting on the ground and the tip affixed to the ceiling. Vault doors behind each of the statues hang ajar. On the opposite wall, engravings depict a battle between humanoid armies. The passage seems to continue to the west around a corner.

For Thalmis only:
Thalmis, able to pay closer attention now while away from the heat of combat, spots the large scene of battle on the wall west of him.

[Dragodar]

For DM Only:
Thalmis, while still maintaining a wary vigilance and listening carefully for action on the other side of the wall, peers at the scene depicted on the wall beside him and absently gazes at it, soaking in the details.

OOC:
(If he hasn't already, he uses this turn to move into position just behind the wall at the corner on the end of the hallway.)

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis only:
The picture depicts a battle between an army of humans, elves, and dwarves, and an army of goblins and orcs. It seems to be a historical carving more than anything else.
When Thalmis steps up to the last section of the wall, he feel a foreboding, nonphysical essence about him.

Forsythe only:
Brannon follows closely behind Forsythe.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Dm
Forsythe rounds the corner with the crossbow at the ready

[Destiny reached]

Forsythe only:
Forsythe walks past a 15-foot, diagonal edge in the wall to his left. He sees that a large section of the north wall has been completely broken in, and that it leads down into some sort of cavern. The wall south of and adjacent to him continues westward, then stops. The sword-wielder perceives that the gap is the same that first led him to cleric.

[Dragodar]

DM only:
Spellcraft Check on the foreboding nonphysical essence:
[roll0]

Knowledge (religion) Check on the foreboding nonphysical essence:
[roll1]

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis only:
Thalmis searches his mind for a clue as to what the emanation is, but he finds almost nothing. He can, however, tell that it is definitely of evil nature.

Thalmis hears the padding of armored footsteps approaching quietly from the east.

[SaetiusCaeus]

possibly all if Dm allows
Forsythe realizes Thalmis is not with them and shouts "Thalmis, hurry up he went through this door!"

[Dragodar]

DM only:
Thalmis turns the corner, holding his mace high. He rushes forward and attacks the first thing in sight with a powerful sidearm blow.

[Destiny reached]

Who would have thought the adventurers would meet death so often? As they stand over and scavenge the hobgoblin's body, they pant and sweat out of sheer exhaustion. The group, as a whole, is thirsty and hungry.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis doffs his fairly new powerful studded leather armor and tosses it on the ground, gesturing toward it at Forsythe.

Standing there, exhausted, he raises his eyes to his companions and mutters, "I need my shield. Be back in a bit. Wait here."

He roughly strips the body of the spellcaster and dons the dark breastplate. Then he slowly ambles back in the direction of the fountain room.

[Destiny reached]

Brannon puts his hand on Thalmis' shoulder. "I don't feel that splitting up is a wise idea. Wherever one of us goes, we should all go." He looks intently into his companion's eyes.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis gruffly says, "Suit yourself," before turning and continuing down the hall, not waiting for his companions.

[Destiny reached]

Brannon sighs as he turns to Forsythe. "Hurry, friend." The cleric then follows Thalmis down the hall, moving slowly to give the swashbuckler some time.

[SaetiusCaeus]

"I dropped some things along the way, I'll pick them up as we go back" Forsythe does just that as they head back. He also dons Thalmis' armor that was readly cast aside.

[Destiny reached]

The party makes their way down the hall. The four statues they encountered earlier appear no less morose; perhaps even more so. A weary eye is cast towards the door to the west, but no more attention is paid to the room. The northern door is wide open, and the statues it stands besides share equally grim looks.
When the group passes through the doorway, it spots the parchment that was, earlier, dropped by the hobgoblin.
Eventually, after a climb down the ladder and a shudder as the defeated skeletons are passed, the troupe finds itself back in the room in which the majority of the battle was fought. Thalmis spots his shield on the ground, and Forsythe spies his crossbow nearby. All three adventurers notice, primarily, the shattered minotaur skeleton and skull, as well as the dragon fountain dominating the area. Again, the same foreboding, dark essence seems to haunt the location, but the resulting anxiety the explorers feel is almost entirely muted by the sight of what seems to be perfectly fresh water in the fountain.

[SaetiusCaeus]

"We should camp and eat in the room we encountered the wererat."

[Dragodar]

"I agree," Thalmis replies grimly. "I don't like this place. Also, we should return whatever we have gotten from the tombs. While I have always been one to value the needs of the living over the rights of the dead, the good townspeople may not appreciate our taking things from their sacred graves."
Thalmis tries to remember if any of the items which have recently come into their possession were gained from the tomb.
He picks up his shield and slings it over his back.
"Come on," he says abruptly. "We should linger here no longer than necessary."

Thalmis turns to leave, but his eye catches the water, and he hesitates.
Turning toward the fountain, he approaches with a few strides and bends over it, cupping some of the water in his hand. He squints at it and sniffs it, inspecting it appraisingly.

Knowledge (nature) Score: 13
Spellcraft Score: 11

After examining its contents, Thalmis turns his attention to he pool itself, peering into its depths for any sign of danger.

Search Check: 1d20+3
Spot Check: 1d20+3

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis only:
Thalmis inspects the fountain to the best of his ability. Almost as soon as he cups and sniffs the water, he deans it completely chaste, void of any impurities. In fact, his hand, before blistered and cracked from its grip on his weapon, now appears smooth and clean. He gazes inside the clear pool, and sees nothing but more water.

Forsythe and Brannon watch as Thalmis approaches the fountain and dips his hand into the clear water. He pulls it back out and seems to gaze at it in awe.

[SaetiusCaeus]

"We took nothing from the town's graves, these are much older, but I do fear that water creature"Forsythe says as Thalmis inspects the water.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis slowly and deliberately strips down to his birthday suit, and then hops gracefully into the pool. As he sits elegantly in the cool water, he swallows several large mouthfuls of it.

After about a minute of soaking, he stands up, exits the water, and shakes himself with what appears to be some strange, exotic dance until he is relatively dry.

Then he stands in awkward silence, facing Forsythe and Brannon, presenting a majestic view of his chiseled body to the swashbuckler and the cleric, and amusing himself by watching the expressions that grace their features.

[SaetiusCaeus]

"What possessed you to do that?" Forsythe asks calmly, unfazed because of his experiences at sea.

[Dragodar]

"It's good water..." Thalmis mutters, his eyes downcast. He stands still for a moment longer, and then begins to shake again.

After displaying his manhood prominently to his companions for a few moments, Thalmis stops, and with an awkward glance at them begins to don his armor once again.

[Destiny reached]

Forsythe and Brannon gaze in both awe and disgust as Thalmis acts. As soon as the part-dragon takes his first gulp of the water, his companions notice a subtle, physical change about him, as if he had just had a good night's rest.

Thalmis only:
Thalmis immediately feels renewed to a better self when he takes the first swig of water. A rush of alertness comes over him, as if he had gotten out of bed only a half an hour ago.
OOC
Thalmis recovers hit points and abilities as if he had slept a full 8 hours (so, 3 hp, Avenging Strike, and whatever else follows).

[Dragodar]

"Doeth as I have doneth, my children," Thalmis says, extending his hands to his companions, and gesturing at the pool of water.

[SaetiusCaeus]

"Your wounds; Is it magic water?" Forsythe now looks in awe at the remarkable yet subtle changes in his friend.

[Destiny reached]

"Thank the gods," Brannon states while rushing to the fountain. He dunks his head into the water. He quickly resurfaces, looking fresh and restored.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis laughs heartily and says to Brannon, "I peed in it, fool!"
Then, turning to Forsythe, he responds, "And yes, it was magical."

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsythe follows suit, much slower and more cautious, first dipping his hand in then nearly falling in to get more of the water.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis' expression of mirth changes to one of horror and bemusement as he watches Forsythe intentionally drink from the water he just claimed to have peed in. He watches in disgust and confusion as Forsythe slurps at the noxious substance.

Coming out of his reverie as Forsythe finishes his drink, Thalmis mutters apprehensively, "Bu-- but... But dragon piss is toxic. Why-- what--" Thalmis sputters to a stop and stares at Forsythe in wonder and awe.

[SaetiusCaeus]

"I learned about practical jokes from this joker, and if you did it probably would have been cleaned by the water."

[Destiny reached]

Forsythe acknowledges the fact that he tasted only water. The fountain seemed to have drained or dissipated any corruption that anyone might have left behind.

Forsythe only:
Forsythe immediately feels refreshed and renewed when he takes the first swig of water. A rush of alertness comes over him, as if he had gotten out of bed only a half an hour ago.

OOC
Forsythe recovers hit points and abilities as if he had slept a full 8 hours (so, 3 hp, etc.)

[Dragodar]

Thalmis, now fully dressed, shakes his head slightly as he gathers up his belongings, a frown of confusion still etched on his features.

"Alright boys, all jokes aside, it's time to move along now," Thalmis says gruffly. He turns, and heads toward the broken wall.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsythe follows, trusting that Thalmis knows where he's going.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis draws his shield from his back and grips it tightly, simultaneously pulling his mace from his waist and holding out in front of him, combat ready. He smokes slowly through the busted wall, being cautious and observing his surroundings before rushing into anything.

OOC:
what do I see? I move slowly through the wall, looking carefully around.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis sits on the cold stone for a few seconds, gasping for air after the encounter with the strange tentacled creature.

He looks up at Brannon and Forsythe, shaking his head.
"This place is just full of surprises, isn't it?" he mutters petulantly, gently massaging his flushed neck.

He takes a moment to compose himself. "We'd best be off now, lads," he adds, as he stands and walks past them toward the rope at the other end of the ledge.

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis realizes that this rope is not knotted. As his gaze follows its direction, he sees that it leads about ten feet across and twenty feet down to another rock platform. Sixty feet below, the water continues its flow northward.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis follows Forsythe through the cramped tunnel into the wider chamber ahead. Taking a moment to observe his surroundings, he notices the strange writing on the wall.

"Brannon," he says slowly, not taking his eyes off the writing in the stone. He walks up to the wall and traces his fingers along the lines of the unfamiliar runes etched there. "See if you can reveal any magical properties on this wall. I do not recognize these letters."

OOC: Thalmis tells Brannon to cast "Detect Magic" on the wall of ancient runes.

[Destiny reached]

Brannon climbs out of the narrow tunnel and heeds Thalmis' advice. He faces one of the carvings, raises his right hand, closes his eyes, and mutters a few short words. After about twenty seconds, he turns back to his companions and says, with a look of confusion, "A strong, magical aura radiates, not only from the rune, but also from the entire vicinity I inspected. I can't tell what kind of magic it is, but it seems that there are--" His sentence is cut short by a loud humming sound. A purple shimmer of light suddenly appears in the center of the room, half-blinding the adventurers, and a large form begins to take shape. When the light fades, the group stares, in horror, at a monstrous scorpion, longer than the part-dragon is tall. It, almost undoubtedly, poses as an immediate threat to the party.

[Destiny reached]

Initiative
Scorpion: [roll0] ; Forsythe: [roll1] ; Thalmis: [roll2] ; Brannon: [roll3]

[Destiny reached]

Brannon reacts quickly, prepared for the assault by the runes' hints. "Behind me!" he shouts while drawing his spear. He lets out a battle cry as he plunges the weapon towards the predator's back.

OOC
attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

The attack misses widely as the cleric finds himself unable to brave such a monstrosity's threat.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis, mace in his right hand and shield on his left, takes action. Leaping forward, he delivers a vicious strike at the ugly head of the monstrous arachnid.

OOC:
If it is not active already, Thalmis activates his Energy Shield.
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis' mace streaks down, with brute force, towards the scorpion's head. A crunch is sounded as the weapon strikes, but the dragon shaman can tell that the creature's armored skin deflected much of the blow's damage.

[Dragodar]

OOC:
Oh, lovely. More Damage Reduction.

[Destiny reached]

Brannon lurches forward, determined to keep his friend alive for as long as possible. A burst of light streams from his hands to the dragon shaman's body as he places his hands upon his ally's neck.

OOC
Cure Light Wounds : [roll0]

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis' eyes flutter open as the wave of positive energy sweeps over his body.

OOC
Thalmis is at 1 hp

[Dragodar]

Thalmis stands over the carcass of the massive spider in triumph. After several moments, he strides over to the lantern he left hovering in the center of the room. Breathing heavily, he grasps it by the handle and wordlessly walks through the tunnel toward which its light shines.

[Destiny reached]

The group, now recovered by Thalmis' aura, establishes its position. Leera looks at the human body near the smashed table and says, "Teryl didn't deserve this." Thalmis, newly recovered, sees that the drill-creature has been disabled, but he does not spot the iron dog. Brannon, with a weary expression, approaches Forsythe and asks, "Are you injured? The spider's venom appears to be taking its toll on your strength." He draws his healing kit, and prepares to aid the swashbuckler.

[SaetiusCaeus]

It is, I appreciate the help.

[SaetiusCaeus]

fort save
[roll] 1d20+6 [roll]
it don't work

[Destiny reached]

OOC:
Brannon's heal check: [roll0]

[Destiny reached]

OOC:
Forsythe's fortitude save: [roll0] something else... [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

A searing pain courses through Forsythe's body. He cringes as realizes that, even with Brannon's aid, the spider's venom remains in his system.

OOC
2 points of damage to Forsythe's strength score

[Destiny reached]

The hole in the wall to the north gapes ominously at the adventurers. Leera tells the party, "When Xeron realized he couldn't solve the puzzle on the table, he ordered us to break the doors. He said that a waterfall lies just ahead."

[Destiny reached]

OOC
Read above. You see what I explained, because you went unconscious for a bit.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis makes for the tunnel across the room, but pauses and turns around, looking at Forsythe. "Are you okay? You look weak... Tired. Do you need anything?"

Thalmis looks Forsythe up and down, concerned. He hesitates, not wanting to push Forsythe past his limits.

[SaetiusCaeus]

I'm not at my best, but i can still move on. Iam worried about it getting worse though. Forsythe replies, touched by his friend's concern.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis frowns at the ground, an undecided expression on his face.

"Just don't hesitate to let me know if you need us to stop. I don't want you to keep it to yourself and try to push through it.
Forsythe, don't worry about slowing us down, just make sure you're capable of going on."

Thalmis looks Forsythe in the eye, nods grimly, and turns toward the tunnel. He heads through the ominous opening, not looking back.

[Destiny reached]

When the adventurers reach the gap in the wall, they find themselves on top of another flight of stairs, sloping about 15 feet downwards. At the bottom appears to be a blockade of sorts, though the four can't discern what it is made out from their position. The sound of rushing water reaches their ears from below.
Brannon addresses Thalmis and Forsythe. "Gentlemen. If any event that results in your harm occurs in these treacherous caverns, I swear, by my father's grave, that I will do whatever I can to protect and defend you."

[Dragodar]

Thalmis pauses and turns back once more to heed Beannon's speech.

"Noble words indeed," he says, with a solemn nod in Brannon's direction. "Now let us away."

Thalmis turns and heads down the stairs.

[Destiny reached]

When the party nears the bottom of the stairs, its members see that stone slabs have been piled inside the entrance of another chamber. The pile isn't high enough to prevent entry altogether, but pushing it out of the way, jumping over it, or climbing across it seem to be to be the only options available, if the group chooses to go any further. The air becomes slightly damp and misty, and the roaring sound of water grows.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis approaches the pile of rocks cautiously, and gingerly attempts to lift one of them.

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis' ginger attempt to lift the rock, which he estimates to be at least 60 pounds, fails, but his firmer heave raises it from its perch. The sounds of his grunt and of stone against stone resound as he places the slab on the ground. He and the other explorers look towards the pile and determine that about ten more of these objects must be moved in order for any progress to me made.

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis opens the door and steps into the next chamber.

Thalmis only, unless Forsythe enters, too:
Dust chokes the air in this large, open room. Webs cover the walls, but the adventurer sees the gleam of their glasslike surfaces in a few clear patches. The webs also blanket the walls to the south and cover a large statue in the center of the room. The dragon shaman can barely make out the sculpture's features, but they appear to compose a man sitting on a throne. Humanoid tracks are apparent, leading from the door deeper into the chamber.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis, still ready for anything and anticipating a surprise attack, tentatively follows the tracks.

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis sees that the tracks lead up to a balcony to the right, but, before he can go any further, a swarm of bright red, fist-sized spiders boils out of the webs, rushing towards him. The creatures bite, furiously, as they scramble up his legs.

OOC:
broodswarm attack roll: [roll0] damage: [roll1] something else... [roll2]
That was the surprise round.

[Destiny reached]

Initiative:
Thalmis: [roll0] Forsythe: [roll1] Brannon: [roll2] Leera: [roll3] spider swarm: [roll4] something else... [roll5]

[Destiny reached]

The red spiders continue to race up Thalmis' lower body, attempting to pierce his body with their venomous bites.

OOC:
attack: [roll0]

[Destiny reached]

The shaman feels several sharp waves of pain race up his body. The arachnids have hit their marks.

OOC:
damage: [roll0] something else... [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

OOC:
[roll0]

[Destiny reached]

The tomb spider reacts to Leera's attack immediately. It lunges towards the half-elf, fangs set to strike.

OOC:
attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1] fortitude save: [roll2]

[Destiny reached]

OOC:
[roll0]

[Destiny reached]

The creature's digits sink deep into Leera's side. The half-elf cries in pain as she falls to the ground, her sword clattering loudly beside her. The arachnid then retreats back up its web, to the balcony.

[Destiny reached]

Brannon quickly thrusts his hand towards Leera's forehead and mutters a short phrase. A burst of white light flashes from his hand, and Leera gasps. Brannon looks at the half-elf in shock. It seems as though the spell did not heal her; rather, it harmed her. The cleric stumbles back, then, seemingly remembering his duty, rushes towards Forsythe,
The tomb spider lurches, fangs beared, towards Thalmis, who is set on the top half of the staircase.

OOC:
attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1]

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis swings at the monstorsity and misses. Brannon aids and stabilizes Forsythe. Leera still appears to be dying. The spider attacks Thalmis, once again.

OOC:
attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1]

[Dragodar]

Thalmis tosses his shield onto the ground and raises his weapon above his head, a ferocious glint in his eye. He jumps forward and swings at the spider with vivacious fury.

Avenging Strike: Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

OOC: Accidentally did a 1d20 for damage last time so I came back to change it to 1d8 but it didn't work for some reason so I rolled it myself; here's the result: (1d8+9)[15]

[Dragodar]

Critical Roll:
Attack:[roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

OOC: same problem here; rolled my own again: (1d8+6)[11]

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis' weapon strikes hard. The morningstar reels towards of the spider and collides with its face. The entire left half bursts, spewing yellow-red liquid onto the shaman's arm and chest. Four of the creature's eight eyes are now severed from its profile, and one of its fangs dangles off its bloody maw. Yet, somehow, the fiend manages to stay standing.
Brannon lets loose an arrow at the beast as he rushes back towards Leera's body.

OOC:
attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1]

[Dragodar]

Knowing the risk, but feeling confident, Thalmis shouts to the cleric, "Brannon!" He hesitates for the smallest moment, but continues, "Use an Inflict spell on her, not a Heal!" Turning back to the spider, Thalmis clenches his eyes shut for a split second, hoping that his hunch is right.

[Destiny reached]

The bolt narrowly misses, and the spider takes the opportunity to launch a final counter towards the shaman. It lurches forward, using what natural weapons it has left.

OOC:
attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1]

It then clambers from its position, climbs down its web from the balcony, and races towards the waterfall room.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis follows it, leaping off the balcony and rolling as he hits the ground. He chases after it as fast as he can, determined to catch it.

Jump check to avoid nonlethal damage: [1d20+4][15]

[Dragodar]

Thalmis charges at the spider from behind, and with a roar of mighty anger, expends his final powerful attack of the day.

Avenging Strike + Charge: Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

OOC:same problem as before, as you can see above. I was tired last night, lol sorry. Here you go: (1d8+9)[17]

[Destiny reached]

A wrenching screech of pain resounds throughout the room as Thalmis' weapon collides with the beast. The spider is smashed to the ground, and more yellow-red blood explodes from its body. Its legs writhe with nerves for a few seconds, then lie completely still. Thalmis looks over his victim in triumph. He realizes, however, that his companions are critically wounded. He sees Sigur's figure retreat into the waterfall. Brannon pants heavily as he puts his hands to Leera's side.

OOC:
heal check: [roll0] stability check: [roll1] [roll2]

[Destiny reached]

Leera appears to have stopped bleeding.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis catches his breath, closes his eyes, and releases his healing power.
He feels the waves of regenerative energy flow from his body into those of his friends.

Mechanics:Activate Aura of Vigor

[Dragodar]

As he waits for his friends to awaken, Thalmis calls out in a loud voice, "Sigur!"

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis only:
No reply comes from the waterfall.
Thalmis' aura seems to wrap the room in a invisible blanket, and the shaman feels his own health returning. He looks towards Leera and Forsythe, anticipating the sight of their physical improvement. They do, in fact, appear to be healing quickly. Brannon gives a small sigh of relief.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis turns to Brannon calmly.

"Remember what I said," Thalmis mutters, his eyes shut and a serene look on his face. "Do not use your Cure spells on them. They seem to be reacting poorly to those. Let me work on them with my aura, then perhaps you can attempt an Inflict spell to aid their recovery."

OOC: Thalmis waits by his friends until his aura no longer appears to have any more effect on them. (Basically, until they're all at half health.)

[Destiny reached]

"I'm afraid my mind is currently void of any spell of negative energy type," Brannon tells Thalmis. "I will do whatever I can to help with what I have." He turns back towards Forsythe and Leera.
After about ten seconds, Forsythe's eyes flutter open. Leera's, after another of the same amount of time, do the same. The two adventurers' faces look pale, however.

[Dragodar]

When Thalmis' healing work is done, he strides back into the waterfall room, bristling with indignation. His frustration at Sigur's uselessness is apparent on his scowling features.

"Sigur!" He shouts again, louder this time. "Where were you when we needed you? You told us you would help!"

The dragon shaman stands just inside the waterfall room, not quite on the ledge.

[Destiny reached]

OOC:
[roll0] [roll1] [roll2]

[Destiny reached]

Before Thalmis leaves, he notices Leera wince in pain, as if a headache of some kind is effecting her. The half-elf seems to ward off the apparent pain, however, and follows the shaman into the room. Brannon succeeds her steps.

The shaman feels a surge of pain sweep through his body. He realizes that the spider venom is still in his system.
Sigur's takes shape inside the waterfall. He steps out of his abode, and approaches the group, smiling. "My apologies, friends, for failing to aid you. It appears that my limits can only be pushed so far. I can heal you now, if you desire. Come." He leads the party to the cascade.

[Dragodar]

"Leera, what ails you?"

[Destiny reached]

OOC:
That was odd. [roll0]

[Destiny reached]

"Nothing, I'm fine," Leera says to the shaman distastefully.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis gives Leera a concerned look, before turning to Sigur. "Yes, thank you. I am sorry I got frustrated. Most of our party seem to have been poisoned by that scum-sucking hell-spawn. Please help us."

[Destiny reached]

"No worries." The man steps into the waterfall, and his form disappears. Just as the adventurers begin to feel that they have been abandoned, a fierce, yet soothing, surge of water rushes over them. They're wounds begin to heal.

OOC:
+12 hit points, each.

After the wave is dispersed, the party hears Sigur's voice. "Thank you!" it says. Indeed, the group has destroyed the beast that so haunted the guardian's dreams, but the three still have a ways to go before their adventure is complete. "Three?" you might ask, and rightfully so. When the final echoes of the voice had left their ears, the companions glanced around themselves and realized that Leera, the half-elf, was gone.

[Dragodar]

"Damn!" Thalmis shouts. "We have to find her. Hurry!"

He steps over to the ledge and peers into the pit, then turns and runs back into the spider room.

[Destiny reached]

Thalmis sees nothing but the pool into which the water falls. He races back to the web room, but does not spot the bard. Brannon follows him, but finds no sign of the woman, either.

[Dragodar]

"Leera!" Thalmis shouts, at the top of his lungs.

He listens to the echoes of his cry and waits intently for a response, straining his ears for any sign of their short-lived companion.

[Destiny reached]

After the reverberation fades, no sound is heard, other than the rushing of water.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis turns to Forsythe, bewildered.

"Where could she have gone?" he mutters to his friend, bemused. "The only way she could have gone was through the waterfall, but that could have killed her..." Thalmis pauses, considering the unsavory possibility.

He shakes his head and continues, "She wouldn't have jumped! Something must have happened. We have to save her," Thalmis concludes.

Setting his jaw firmly, he rushes over to the edge of the waterfall and shouts once more, "Leera, can you hear me? Are you ok?"

The dragon shaman peers into the rushing cascade of water and clenches his eyes shut, hoping for some kind of answer.

[Destiny reached]

No answer returns.

[Destiny reached]

Forsythe opens the door, and the rest of the party follows his lead into the next chamber. Instantly, the room illuminates, and the trio has time to discern a winding staircase to the southeast before the walls seem to paint themselves with rich images. A magical painting depicts a spring day on a high, green hill, making it seem as if the sun reaches the room as well as the green slope. The group can nearly smell the apple blossoms and awakening flowers. People in fine clothes stand around the hill, and it seems almost as if Forsythe, Thalmis, and Brannon are among them. In the central part of the scene is a tall, raven-haired man dressed in shining plate armor, kneeling before a blond man and a red-haired woman, both of whom are wearing golden crowns.
The image soon fades. The light diminishes, but doesn't go out.

[Dragodar]

"Well," says Thalmis, looking around unappreciatively. "This tomb certainly does seem to hold a lot of surprises for a small town graveyard.
I wonder what its story is, or if the townspeople know about it."

He looks around at the scene surrounding them, seemingly annoyed by the fact that the tomb seems to be constantly outdoing itself in surprise and wonder.
He appears unimpressed by the barrage of sensory overload that the underground microcosm seems to be hurling at them.

[Destiny reached]

The staircase to the southeast appears to be the only way, besides the door through which the group just came, out of this chamber.

[Dragodar]

"May as well press on," Thalmis grumbles, as he shuffles toward the staircase.

[Destiny reached]

The party travels down the wide, winding staircase, which descends about 20 feet, and reaches the bottom in a few seconds.
To the northeast and southwest are gleaming stone doors, each engraved with a grinning, fiery skull. In the southeast corner of the room, another staircase descends. But, before the characters have time to act, the chamber fills with the image of the hill they saw before. The formerly green mound, however, is now covered in brown grass, flames leaping into the sky off in the distance. The dark-haired man in shining armor wields two curved swords, battling howling goblinoids and baying wolves. Beside him fights the blonde king wielding a black longsword. Light sparkles on the blade and on the king's crowned helmet. The red-haired woman holds her ground behind and between the two, her staff held aloft as lightning strikes her foes. The explorers' hair stands on end, and their skin tingles, as if electricity were really in the air.
As the image fades, the three take note, again, of the doors and stairs in the magic half-light of the room.

[SaetiusCaeus]

"Idon't like the magic, it seems like somethings going to pop out of magic runes again."

[Dragodar]

Thalmis walks toward the southwest door, and enters.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsythe heads off to the northeast door, but when he sees Thalmis going the other way he hesitates and says "We should not split up, let's go through this door."

[Dragodar]

Thalmis has already walked through his door.

[Destiny reached]

Forsythe follows Thalmis to the egress. The door opens surprisingly easily, and the three adventurers enter the room, in which a musty putrescence pervades the air. A flight of steep stairs leads down to the chamber.

Forsythe only:
Forsythe's head reels as he feels his strength suddenly dwindle. It seems that the potion's effects have worn off.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis takes the rubies.

[Dragodar]

"What now, Forsythe? Brannon?" Thalmis says, looking back and forth from one companion to another, waiting for suggestions.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis jumps and throws his fist high in the air, ecstatic to be adventuring once again. Although their brief rest may have been only a few minutes in reality it felt like at least 7 months to Thalmis.

"Onward, my fellows!" Thalmis cries, with renewed vigor. "I am eager indeed to delve to the bottom of this mystery!"

[Destiny reached]

The adventurers proceed to the bottom of the stairway, taking note of the path's sharp incline.
A musty putrescence pervades the air here. Two warrior statues in this room look stern, even angry, as they brandish their spears southward. The trio sees four standing sarcophagi along the southern wall, two sealed ones flanking two others that are open, their lids lying smashed on the ground before them. Both remaining lids have the graven image of a person screaming in pain in what seems to be a prison. These persons' wide eyes are set with rubies.
The sound of steel being unsheathed is the first sign the group has of danger, as a skeletal figure in ornate full plate leaps from the eastern open coffin with a hiss, its eyes burning under its helm. "Blood and vengeance," it whispers.
With great deliberation, a bloated, rotting figure raises its arms and shambles forward from the other open coffin. A gurgling moan escapes its flabby lips.

OOC
Initiative rolls: [roll0] [roll1]
I can't remember your characters' initiative checks... Can you roll them yourselves and send me your sheets?

[Dragodar]

Initiative[roll0]

Ignoring the disgusting, bloated creature, Thalmis glares intently into the eyes of the skeleton, and raises his morningstar slowly and deliberately. "I'm getting rather tired of all these undead." He gives his morningstar a single practice swing and prepares for combat.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsyth groans in annoyance at this new batch of undead and draws a short sword and a throwing axe.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsyth's initiative
[roll0]

[Destiny reached]

OOC:
Brannon's initiative: [roll0]

Forsythe, not one to be beaten in terms of speed, is first to act.

[SaetiusCaeus]

Forsyth lunges at the nearest undead stabbing and tearing at the ribs with the short sword, and hacking the head off with the axe. "There will be no vengeance for you!"

Short sword
[roll0][roll1]
Axe
[roll2][roll3]

[Dragodar]

"Nor blood," Thalmis adds, springing forward. "Unless it be your own, dried and long-dead!"

[Destiny reached]

Both of Forsythe's attacks miss, as the plague walker, though apparently clumsy, swings out of their ways.
Brannon reacts next.

[ParkCityUtah]

Brannon then holds the symbol around his neck and calls out, "Flee from us in fear....or die! Hahaha!"

[Dragodar]

Thalmis grumbles, "Wow, these zombies are taking a really focking long time to react. It's weird that I'm just standing here waiting for them when I could be doing something right now."

He looks rather put out, and takes a seat on the floor, laying his morningstar across his lap as he waits for his turn to attack.

[Destiny reached]

The false king's body slumps against Forsythe, then slides to the ground, completely void of life. His guards's dusty remnants lie still on the hard floor, and the room, but for the sound of the adventurers' deep breathing, is deathly silent. The three companions now stand alone to soak in their surroundings. When they do so, they notice two small coffers against the east wall.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis wastes no time in opening the coffers and relieving them of their contents.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis unzips his fly and releases his scaly dragon weiner. He pees on the floor.

[Dragodar]

Thalmis has been urinating in the same spot for nearly three years, but still his stream shows no sign of slowing.

[Destiny reached]

Each of the coffer lids, with slight resistance, swings open when Dragodar pulls. Though the coffers themselves are layered with dust and cobwebs, their contents are clean and shiny, gleaming from the mystical light that illuminates the room. Gold coins, which the adventurers can estimate to be 500 in number, nearly fill both chests. Ten platinum pieces sit atop one of the piles, while a gold and diamond necklace rests on the other.

Though no entry points besides the one the adventurers walked through earlier appear to be in this room, the magical light almost beckons the group to further search its domain.

[Destiny reached]

Also, Dragodar's urine begins to move in different directions; though the floor is fairly flat, the liquid trickles as though it is on a slope. When it touches the east and west walls, it seeps into the material, and the stream soon completely disappears.

Urine, you're out.