A Dim Light in the Darkness IC

[AlanBruce]

@Allaste: The four aasimars nod at your ideas as Ramiel gets up and walks around.

"I can only prepare so many spells that can allow someone like Michael to sense them for at least sixty feet, however, if what the Exalted said is true, both you and Michael have the ability to sense evil at a similar range, an ability I myself possess. I will prepare a similar set up come morning. Now we know what awaits us down there and we must be quick to react."

Hadriel remains seated and rubs his chin.

"It will cost me a bunch of spells, but i can grant everyone flight, same as today."

Ramiel shakes her head.

"Give those without access to flight the ability to do so- Raquel and Michael. As a sorcerer, you can use the Holy Word a lot more than I can use Dictum. These beasts rely on acute hearing, being blind. They are powerful enough to be deafened and thus, rendered helpless, but stopping to bring them down will only delay us as reinforcements come swooping down. Our objective is Alexia's domain and on the road, take down that... Broodmother."

Raquel walks around the small chapel and places her hand on the simple altar to Pelor as she looks up at a glass painting of a red haired warrior woman with a golden sword aimed towards the Heavens.

"You know the Broodmother will most likely have a lot of those Novistadors with her, right? Maybe some big hideous bug that festers down there..."

Michael places his hand on Raquel's shoulder and smiles, perhaps for the first time since you met him.

"Do not doubt, Raquel- I have a spell that is built just to deal with big bloated bugs like that Broodmother. You stay by my side, flanking ideally. Allaste and I can take care of her. For now, those that need rest, do so. It's been a learning experience tonight. Come first light, we go down there again."

And so, the Aasimars crowd in the small chapel as you go to the temple proper, where the many acolytes are already snug and warm in their beds, blissfully unaware of what horrors fly and drone and spit and claw a few feet beneath them.

Day 228

Highfather Jace is attending regular mass, as is every morning as you prepare a few spells of your own.

The Half Celestial would be a great help to you and the others down there, but his position as Church leader calls for him to be up here now. If Connor were to notice that he isn't in this temple, you just might return to find The Cudgel has replaced the Solar Disc.

Back in the small chapel, the group finishes their prayers to the small shrine as Ramiel walks around and grants most of you several spells. With Raquel giving you a familiar one that helped you get out of a tight situation.

Benediction, Fortunate Fate & Freedom of Movement

Hadriel grants himself several arcane spells, as he places his hand on Michael and raquel's shoulder, granting them the ability to fly, as well as covering everyone with a holy radiance.

"Every bit helps, right?"

Michael kneels before Ramiel as she once more does the symbol of Domiel on his shield and covers everyone in a silver glow.

"Acid will not be a problem now. We are all able to fly, we can all see the unseen... or sense it. Hadriel?"

The Exalted Arcanist sighs and calls everyone together.

"I have seen the place only once... and it was quite blurry- what with all the clawing and blasting, but I should be able to get us there, yes... Oh, wait!"

The sorcerer casts a simple Light spell on your blade.

"Darkvision is better, but since they are blind and can sense us already, might as well give you an added advantage."


Ramiel smiles at the nervous aasimar.

"Just remember- blind them. Blind them as much as you can. Bharrai I am sure will grant you such an ability."

And so, the small chapel begins to shudder as Hadriel grits his teeth and the small chapel, with its wooden altar and stained glass windows unmakes itself as the fetid green waters of the sewers systems far from Halmathan and well into the Mercy surround you.

The waters are still. The cold stones that make this old tunnel system covered in slime.

The dead Novistadors have been carried away, leaving a claw or piece of cracked shell.

Hadriel is visibly shaken as he gulps and floats a few feet off the ground.

"Ok, then... what do we do now?"

Map- Sewers (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=150656)

[Still_I_Rise]

Before teleporting, Allaste adds a few spells of his own to his defenses.

Shield (extended)
Fly (extended via rod)
Alter Self (troglodyte)
See Invisibility
Greater Mage Armor
Heart of Earth

"Raquel, you said you could figure this contraption out if given enough time. They don't know we're here yet, so hopefully you can do it now.

Everyone else, stand watch. Quietly."

[AlanBruce]

@Allaste: Raquel looks around and digs into her tool kit as Hadriel looks around, hovering a few feet off the air.

Ramiel grips her spear as her Deva Wings spread and close, ready to take flight.

Michael closes his eyes and reopens them, focusing on a point in space as he holds on to his bastard sword.

"No sign of them yet. Get to it, Raquel."

The aasimar fidgets around for almost a minute with one of the skull faces, as she wipes the sweat off her brow and places several odd tools on the stone steps, a few broken as she looks at you and the group with a smile.

"I think I got it! It's a complex mechanism, for sure. Somebody did not want people going deeper into these sewers. Wonder why... now all I need is to work on the other skull and..."

That's when the shrieks of the Novistadors echo through the dark sewers, causing Hadriel to gulp as Michael and Ramiel hold on to their weapons.

"How many?"

"Too many... Raquel! How much longer?"

Raquel starts packing her tools and looks at the other stone skull.

"One minute. Can you buy me one minute?"

However, you don't even have to see them to know that there may be well over fifty swarming through the fetid tunnels.

What to do?

Map- Sewers (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=150757)

Roll initiative

[AlanBruce]

Round 1

@The Party: Ross was not kidding when he said that these things were numerous and vicious!

Who knows if you can take on all of them this time... they are exceedingly fast!

And before you have a chance to act, a group of five of these hideous Novistadors pops into existence around you as the slaughter begins...

@Ramiel: You manage your best to avoid the worst as one of the ghastly creatures claws at your left arm, attempting to hold on tight.

8 damage plus imp. grab DC 17

Another one manifests next to you and claws at your right arm, attempting to rip it apart!

10 damage plus imp. grab DC 24

@Allaste: Falchion in hand, you watch Ramiel being used as a grim tug - o war by the insects and before you can go help her, one of them pops next to you and claws at your back.

10 damage

Hadriel ducks and weaves as one of the hideous beasts appears right between him and Raquel, who barely has time to reach for her trusted kukris.

That's when another group of mutants appear in the midsts of the group and prepare to butcher you with their chitinous claws.

@Raquel: Two of the beasts appear in a flanking position and show no mercy as they tear at your flesh and hold on tight.

6 damage

6 damage plus imp. grab DC 23

The other one misses a swipe, but holds on to your wrist, trying to rip it apart.

7 damage plus imp. grab DC 16

@Michael & Allaste: Your sypuerior training helps you avoid the carnage, as Falchion, bastard and shield bash away the incoming clawsd and mandibles.

@Hadriel: It's a single claw swipe that has you gritting your teeth as the bugger holds on tight.

8 damage plus imp. grab DC 22

@Allaste: They aren't stopping!

Another group lands ferociously as one of them claws at your cheek.

13 damage

@Ramiel: As if being tugged by two demons wasn't bad enough...

Another one appears right next to you and digs his claw into your shoulder.

8 damage plus imp. grab DC 19

Despite being horribly grappled, you manage to dodge another claw, but just as fast, a second one comes in.

7 damage plus imp. grab DC 23

@Michael: There are way too many of them! They are attacking en masse!

Yet before you can react, one of them pops up beside you and digs both claws in.

10 damage

14 damage plus imp. grab DC 29

@The Party: Amidst the screeching and shrieking of these horrid creatures, that woman's laughter echoes through the sewers.

A homo sapiens risking its only life twice at such a predictable display of intellect comes as no surprise- he is only human... but aasimars following the same pattern? Has the genetic trait that gives them supposed Divine Intelligence been so diluted over generations of cross breeding? This does require further analysis...

Map- Sewers (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=150761)

Novistador 1-5
Novistador 6-10
Novistador 11-15
Novistador 16-20
Novistador 21-25
Novistador 26-30
Michael
Raquel
Novistador 31-35
Ramiel
Novistador 36-40
Allaste
Hadriel

[Niwrad]

Not expecting to have been surrounded by bugs so quickly, Ramiel decides it was time for a quick change in plans.

Allaste! Change of plans. Use your spell to get us away from this door and towards the one on the other end of this sewer space.

everyone will delay until Allaste acts

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Most of you are able to either punch these beasts in the face and drive them off.

Others are able to wriggle out of their claws.

But Michael and Hadriel are still kept held tight by the Novistadors as a swarm of five more fly towards the group, but not all of them are attacking...

A few glow with a purple energy and take those that were unable to hold on to their prey through Dimension Door as far away as possible as several replace them in their stead.

@Ramiel: Two more replace those taken as their claws dig deep, attempting to hold you tight.

10 damage plus imp. grab DC 24

10 damage plus imp. grab DC 12

@Raquel: Another swarm flies in and takes a few of the Novistadors with you as a new pair lands flanking you as they claw again.

They are aware of what Ramiel and Hadriel can do, so they seem to be resorting to new tactics.

One barely scratches you.

6 damage plus imp. grab DC 31

The other one nearly rips your torso out!

20 damage plus imp. grab DC 23

If they keep pulling these strategies- coming in and out... you might not be able to withstand all of them with such coordinated attacks!

Map- Sewers (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151193)

Novistador 1-5
Novistador 6-10
Novistador 11-15
Novistador 16-20
Novistador 21-25
Novistador 26-30
Michael
Raquel
Novistador 31-35
Ramiel
Novistador 36-40
Allaste
Hadriel

[Still_I_Rise]

Will do, Allaste responds.

He takes hold of his allies and uses one of his more powerful spells, transporting them instantly down the sewer to the other door. Perhaps they'd have better luck holding this one.

Dimension Door to the door to the south that we haven't visited yet.

[AlanBruce]

@Allaste: If these creatures continue their onslaught, there won't be a chance to reach Archaidous and the others.

You and your new allies will surely die here or have to resort to teleporting back to the City, making this a null mission.

Holding to as many as you can, you set your eyes on that one door south of your position and as your body sheds a white aura, the entire steps and the horrid Novistadors shake and rumble as you and the aasimars disappear and reappear down a set of stone steps.

The Novistadors are still in sight, but you cannot move- using this powerful spell is deadly accurate, but a mortal frame can only take so much arcane energy.

It's a medium sized metal door, grey and rusted with a metal plaque covered in grime and rust in front.


Power Room & Cistern Control

Authorized Personnel Only

Michael turns the knob as the door remains stuck and cursing in celestial, shunts his entire frame against it as clumps of rust fall off the hinges and the door opens wide.

"Everybody, get in!!!"

Ramiel carries you as dead weight as Hadriel inspects a round metal dais with a grated fence around it and a simple mechanical panel and two buttons, which he clicks desperately.

"Not working, what do we do?!"

Raquel kicks the door you came in as it slams on the face of a Novistador and looks around.

"Hole in the ground- it's the plunge or waiting to get devoured out there."

One by one, the aasimars drop into the hole as ramiel drags you above her, in case you can still not move as her Deva wings lessen the fall and you drop probably a hundred feet as the smell of sewage down here is even worse.

It's noxious- even more so than in the above area.

This place doesn't seem too big- the ceiling is ten feet tall, not much maneuverability here and, unlike the Novistador den, no slime, but there are macabre stone statues depicting mighty men working on giant gears. These statues are actually reliefs carved into the wall. Between them, the outline of a city, most likely Halmathan.

The walls have been clawed, with old chunks of stone littering the ground as the disgusting scent of the sewers threatens to dissolve your nostrils.

There is an identical circular lift down here, which likely connects to the one above. Like the one above, it isn't working.

Michael walks a few steps ahead and you can hear a group of people breathing heavily as the light of a single torch casts eerie shadows against the clawed stone walls.

Three shapes can be discerned a few feet away. If they are talking, you cannot tell.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151280)

[Niwrad]

The Aasimars are quick to dive down the hatch before the swarm can reach them.

Once they land at the bottom, they take a few moments to catch their breath and recover. As they do so, the two clerics each cast a simple spell to heal some of their injuries while the other two examine the reliefs along the walls and notice the creatures ahead.

Ramiel burns cloak of bravery
heals [roll0] hit points to herself

Raguel burns fell greatest foe
heals [roll1] hit points to herself

Then, Ramiel also casts a spell to improve the group's conviction in the coming battles.

+4 to all saves

Let us press on. Time to see what other monstrosities Alexia has awaiting us down here.

The group then moves forwards towards the figures, with Michael and Allaste taking the lead.

[AlanBruce]

@Ramiel & Raquel: Intoning a few prayers in Celestial, you seal most of your wounds, giving up some of your most powerful spells.

@Allaste: Ramiel looks up at the low ceiling and then checks her white feathered wings.

"Flight will not be so convenient in this place, and that stench bodes ill. Best be prepared. Gather around, everyone."

And so, calling on a tremendous golden light, the inquisitor bathes all in a luminescent shield with the symbol of Domiel, which embeds into your chest, granting you Divine Protection beyond anything Oerth can muster.

Michael takes the lead, blade in hand, shield held to his chest as he walks ahead.

"Hey!"

Raquel, Hadriel and Ramiel look at the paladin in disbelief as the three figures turn to look at all of you:


http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091124181934/residentevil/es/images/thumb/d/d0/Crimson_head.jpg/500px-Crimson_head.jpg

What in Pelor's good graces are these things? They look human...ish. Their heads expelling fumes and boiling red. their eyes about to pop out of their sockets. Their clothes tattered and wet.

Their jaws dripping with unearthly hunger.

Michael smiles as he swings his blade.

"What could have been living here with a door shut up above?"

Know. Religion & initiative

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151529)

[Niwrad]

The Aasimars look at the horrid creatures in disgust, then grip their weapons with further resolve and prepare for another fight.

Ramiel knowledge religion [roll0]

Hadriel (nerveskitter) [roll1]
Michael [roll2]
Ramiel [roll3]
Raguel [roll4]

[AlanBruce]

@Ramiel: You grip your spear as the three creatures growl and salivate as their red claws scratch the cold stone floor.

Back in the Free City, you were briefed about a mad wizard, a transmuter by the name of Dr. Cutter. A menace to the City of Power decades ago, Cutter was exiled by the powers that be, but it was rumored that his mad experiments were left behind, not all put to the sword.

One such 'accident' was the Crimson Head, a variant of the ghast, the Crimson Head attacks mainly using its mouth, which can deliver a terrible disease if not treated quickly.

These creatures like to latch on to their prey. Hold on fast. Their rotten bodies belie tremendous strength, comparable to that of a giant.

Extraordinary speed, senses of perception beyond a regular ghast and a craving for living flesh make these undead monstrosities very dangerous for the unprepared, especially if none carry bladed weapons.

Thankfully, that isn't the case here.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151530)

Raquel
Crimson Heads x3
Allaste
Hadriel
Michael
Ramiel

[AlanBruce]

Round 1

@Raquel: You take a look at your kukris, which killed many Novistadors the night prior...

Your training can help you deal with these undead, but for that, you need the right spell, which you have thankfully prayed for, however, to waste it now would be futile.

They are only three.

Best to hold and let Michael and the others deal with them... who knows what else roams this area.

@Michael: With blade and shield ready, you adopt a defensive stance as the Crimson Heads growl, their unearthly roars echoing through the room as they get nearly on all fours and sprint towards you, jaws drooling, blank eyes fixed on you.

Two of them leap each clenches their rotten teeth on your neck as they claw and scrape at your armor, attempting to rip it apart.

Their bites hurt... and would most likely be infectious to anybody else, but your paladin training has paid off.

11 damage

17 damage

The other Crimson Head does not rush in, but instead runs back and you can hear it wrecking something.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151578)

Raquel
Crimson Heads x3
Allaste
Hadriel
Michael
Ramiel

[Niwrad]

@Hadriel: Pointing a finger at one of the zombies, the sorcerer fires off three rays of flame, empowered thanks to his amulet.

factoring -4 for lack of precise shot

ranged touch attack1
damage [roll1] fire

ranged touch attack2 [roll2]
damage [roll3] fire

ranged touch attack3 [roll4]
damage [roll5] fire

@Michael: The mighty paladin grimaces as the undead horrors sink their teeth into him. He might be resistant to whatever diseases they could spread, but that did not stop the pain.

But then with several mighty swings of his bastard sword, the aasimar responds in divine fury.

power attack for -5/+10; using a turn attempt to power divine might

attack1 [roll6]
damage [roll7] and [roll8] holy

attack2 [roll9]
damage [roll]1d10+ 29 and holy
Rerolling Michael's damage roll
(1d20+29)[37]

attack3 [roll11]
damage [roll]1d10+ 29 and [roll12] holy

[AlanBruce]

@Hadriel: So it would seem Alexia has not only overgrown insects, but undead as well...

Ghouls are easy to deal with- like any other undead, they burn just as easily.

The shard around your neck glows bright orange as you intone the words in draconic as your hand ignites with arcane flame and the stone hallway lights up in fire as the shadows of your comrades and the Crimson heads become as giants as three massive rays of concentrated Sun strike the undead man eater as its chest and head are brutally burnt.

As the intense glow recedes around the hallway, you open your eyes and watch the Crimson Head, barely standing and growling and smoking from the three precise wounds.

Resistant undead.

@Michael: These bites hurt, but you are not going to fall to undead abominations!

Calling on Barachiel's Might, your blade ignites with Holy Power and you begin to punish the two undead as the one scorched by Hadriel's spell is cut down, spilling his rotten entrails on the ground with noxious alchemical blood.

Then, you cut the other one, as it growls in pain- they don't like your sword, that for sure.

However, at the last moment, the beast grips your blade with his crimson claw and pushes it away, avoiding a clean slash.

They go down easy. Hopefully there aren't more around.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151630)

Raquel
Crimson Heads x3
Allaste
Hadriel
Michael
Ramiel

[Niwrad]

Ramiel moves up to the undead horror and stabs at it with her powerful spear.

attack [roll0]
damage [roll1] and [roll2] holy and [roll3] fire damage

[AlanBruce]

@Ramiel: Rarely do you have a chance to wade into battle- Gabriela, Yamjang, Raquel and Michael usually mop up the whole area before you have a chance to actually get close and personal.

And so, with Domiel's Blessing, you grip your sacred pear and thrust it into the Crimson Head's chest, as holy fire ignites the beast and you raise him off his feet through sheer strength as the ghastly monster claws inches away from your face and with a loud grunt, you impale him to the ceiling, releasing your spear from his rotten flesh as his charred alchemical remains drop at your feet.

Michael nods at you and hears the growls of the other beast several feet away.

"Clean up isn't over."

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151759)

Raquel
Crimson Head
Allaste
Hadriel
Michael
Ramiel

[Still_I_Rise]

Allaste nods in response, hovering just above the ground as he moves in front of the others. Not quite able to reach the creature, he instead pulls power from his spellshard, firing three fiery beams at it.

Move: to q32

Standard: fire an empowered scorching ray.

[roll0] touch
[roll1] fire damage

[roll2] touch
[roll3] fire damage

[roll4] touch
[roll5] fire damage

If the creature stays up, swift cast another scorching ray via my circlet, this one not empowered:

[roll6] touch
[roll7] fire damage

[roll8] touch
[roll9] fire damage

[roll10] touch
[roll11] fire damage

[AlanBruce]

@Allaste: It may be a low ceiling, but you have enough room to maneuver above Michael, Hadriel and Ramiel as the shard around your neck begins to glow and, like Hadriel before, you aim your hand at the last ghast, which growls at you as the entire area heats up in arcane fire as six massive bolts of flame pierce the creature, incinerating its rotten physique as it slumps against a massive, rusted cog and fills the room with a nauseating smell, its charred carcass smelling of sewage.

It took a lot out of you to bring it down. They may not be very strong, but they are hardy, that is a fact. Thankfully, they don't seem resistant to fire.

@The Party: Michael keeps his blade gripped as he walks ahead and stays in the general area, examining the last Crimson head that was taken down by you and the massive metal gear.

"It tried doing something with this. This place seems abandoned. Those Novistadors above could have followed us..."

Ramiel shakes her head.

"Something lies buried here that those fiends above would not come after us, Michael. Something very wrong was done here a long time ago. Unnatural."

The Inquisitor kneels next to one and examines its rotten features.

"A mad wizard by the name of Cutter made these. Whether intentionally or not, they seem to prowl this area. We are dealing with undead now, so keep that in mind. Don't let them bite you. They carry diseases with them."

Raquel walks up to a wooden desk. This one has been stained with caked blood and claw marks, which can be seen against the stone walls behind it as well.

"Undead are a problem, but I have a spell that can let me deal with them. They are fast, but so are we. The question is... where to next?"

Hadriel treads around the charred corpse of a Crimson Head and looks further down the hall.

"We have a door, and then there's that hallway. Who knows if we may run up to more of these. Also..."

The group looks at Hadriel as he shakes a little.

"There's something here, in this room. I feel strange. Like my magic is trying to pull away from my body. Do you feel it too?"

Oddly enough, you cannot feel anything of the sort, as the others shake their heads.

"No. There might be some arcane residue here, much like above, but no, none of that. Better stay close, Hadriel. Don't wander too far. Now, where do we go?"

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151801)

[Niwrad]

@Raquel: Seeing that the crimson head had been so intent on wrecking the rusted cog it had fallen against, Raquel walks up to the thing and begins to examine it, attempting to ascertain if there was something special about this one that had caused the undead creature to attack it so.

search [roll0]

Upon finishing that, she moves over to examine the blood-stained desk, trying to see if there was anything of interest hidden within.

search [roll1]

@Ramiel: As Raquel searches, the inquisitor looks at the two hallways and picks one to head down.

1: the group heads up; 2: the group heads right

they go [roll2]

[AlanBruce]

@Raquel: As the group convenes and decides what to do, you go check on the massive rusted cog that the Crimson head was messing with...

This is part of a mechanism, a big one too, most likely interconnected within the walls. How it operates? You have no idea, but there is a handle attached behind the cog which connects to an axis beneath the great rusted wheel.

It seems old and heavy, but it might be usable.

Then, you check the old blood stained desk and inspect it.

There's a savage claw mark across the table and a loose hinged drawer, which you open with ease, revealing a small compartment beneath it.

Inside, you find a few items, some valuable.

Amber tablet x2
Azurite
Chrysoprase

You also find a sealed pouch with sixty seven platinum pieces. The pouch has been tied with waxen chord, so as to keep it as safe as possible, but the pouch is old, and the wax has all but fallen off its stopper.

There is a diary here. It has been ripped, leaving several pages missing. A name- Stan Grossman, appears etched on the old leather cover.


http://img09.deviantart.net/2db7/i/2011/069/1/0/sewer_concept_2_by_devil_glonk-d3bbfy2.jpg

January 2nd

Hello, new job! With Hope's Caress abuzz now, I went from a drifter to management sifter! Sure, some would say the job stinks (no pun intended there), but the paycheck sure is good and all I have to do is keep these valves working.

And a good thing too: I still can't figure out the entire sewer complex. It's a freaking maze down here! As long as I stay put and check these valves, I'm golden. Sure, one would say there are rats and the thousands of people above flush their waste down here and...

Ok, not the best job, but you know what? It's easy money. And why look down at a good thing?

October 2nd

The sewer system here is faulty again! Nobody upstairs is doing anything about this! I have filed probably twenty complaints with City Sanitation! None of my letters have been addressed. So much for Hope's Caress and good clean plumbing!

At least I have a full staff down here, twenty four seven. The money is good, but I sure do miss walking up above. Tending to these machines all day and no play sure makes me dull....

October 15th

Another day, another problem! Some pipe burst and half the entire room is under raw sewage! There is no way I am swimming down there to check on the valves. Hell, if any of my team were still here, maybe, but as of late, they have been called in by that egg head. Since when is Runestone managing the Sanitation Department? I got a message from some guy in a white lab coat saying that from now on a Dr. Cutter will be handling this whole area, that I need not ask the City for my paycheck and that I keep watching over this room, since they will be bringing in more staff.

Well, a clean up crew would sure be nice.


There is another file. The ink on this one is far more recent.


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e6/2a/16/e62a16f56a0f13f2731a708089ee299a.jpg

Subjects 43-C , codenamed "Alpha" are to be transferred to the main facility, along with the lesser specimens. Procure only those that show less stages of mental decay. The Queen does not require flawed specimens.

Subjects are to be taken to Weapon Storage and placed in stasis immediately.



You inform the rest of your findings and then decide to head down the corridor.

The door to this place is sealed shut, locked from the inside, but you can read a plaque covered in rust on the door.


Sewage Manager Office

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=151975)

[Niwrad]

Coming upon a locked door, Raquel smiles. This was something she could change.

Kneeling in front of the lock, she first does a quick search for anything dangerous, then rogue pulls out a few simple tools and begins to fiddle with the lock. If any of them could open the door, then she could.

I wonder what's in the office...

search check first [roll0]

open lock [roll1]

[AlanBruce]

@Raquel: You smile, confident in your training as a rogue and a shadowbane stalker and get to work on the lock at the door.

A difficult lock indeed. Not as complex and lengthy as the one above with the Novistadors, but someone wanted this room shut. And if they wanted it shut, it must've been for a good reason.

The door lock has a magical rune set on it, visible only by you, given your training, but you disregard it as a simple alarm- even if the room called reinforcements, you and Michael would be able to sense them several feet away and the whole team could dispatch them accordingly...

The door was indeed locked.

The lock was indeed attempted to be picked.

But the trap was not an alarm. That sigil was for something else. Arcane, yes, but not a simple abjuration...

This place must've been ran by some powerful mage at some point, since the entire door goes black as the sigil expands upon it and then centers back on the door knob, firing a single coruscating black ray at your chest, weakening you tremendously.

6 levels drained

And so, the door remains shut, as the sigil resets the lock.

Ramiel walks up to you and places her hand on your shoulder as a golden radiance flows through the hallway and you recover much of the color on your cheeks.

Restoration

"Be careful, Raquel. That was my only one. If you don't think you can open this door, we can use the other passage."

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=152437)

[Niwrad]

"Not just yet. If this is guarded by such a powerful spell, then there must be something important within.

Hadriel, there is a magical rune on the door, can you try to temporarily dispel it?"

Raquel attempts to point out the location of the sigil on the door for the sorcerer.

If she can, the other aasimar will then target the magic on the door with a powerful abjuration.

dispel [roll0] (+2 if the spell is an abjuration)

[Niwrad]

Raquel scrutinizes the door in front of her. Without the trap, she might have a chance at unlocking it. But with the trap, and especially given the powerful magic behind it, chances were slim that she would be able to find, disable, or evade it. They had a long way to go in here and they could not afford another energy drain spell.

In the end, the rogue shakes her head and turns back to the others.

"Too risky. As tempting as whatever inside is, it might be better to return to the other room."

As they turn back and pass the cog, Raquel pauses to give it a closer look. She even gives a few tugs on the handle to see if anything would happen.

she'll stop if she finds anything dangerous [roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Raquel: You might have a chance to disarm the trap.

You did prepare a very useful spell and, if Hadriel is willing to be quick about it, counter the trap's spell with one of his own...

But you aren't here to disarm traps. That's not what you do.

You're here to cut monsters down.

A trap isn't a monster... silly door. It gets a pass now.

Ramiel raises an eyebrow as you shrug and walk past the mighty Elite Shadowbane Order. She must have a lot more Restorations prepared if you find something along the way. She is, after all, the most powerful cleric in your group- she must have at least ten spells like that ready.

You then approach the large rusted cog wheel and kneel as you squint your eyes and carefully tap around the base, examining the protruding lateral poles.

It's an expert observation. Flawless. No wheel left unturned in your investigation.

There are no traps whatsoever in that wheel. It is a device and it can be used by pulling or pushing the lower levers beneath the cog clockwise OR counter clockwise, but not both at the same time.

You grunt as you nearly scrape the leather off your gloves as you attempt to move the damn cog by using the lever beneath it, but your strength isn't good enough here.

Thankfully, you have no shortage of strong men and a woman.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=152860)

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Raquel blows at her gloved hands as she rubs the pieces of rust away.

"It can be moved, but it will take someone with a little more oomph at the handle."

Michael sheathes his blade and places shield by his feet as he rubs his hands together and grips the handle with both hands and turns the massive cog clock wise...

The sound of grinding wheels beyond the stone walls can be heard grinding after who knows how many years as the sound of an impossibly heavy metal door ahead rises as Michael keeps his hands on the handle.

A short corridor, with a ten foot ceiling opens to all of you, blocked on the sides, as the sound of fetid sewage can be heard a few feet beneath the stone walk way. A flight of stairs ascending can be seen at the end.

Hadriel watches the massive door rise, revealing a sizable amount of dust in its wake as he smiles to the group.

"Good job, Michael! Come join us- we should be able to explore this area now."

Michael releases his grip on the wheel and immediately the massive metal door comes down with lightning speed as the cog reverts back to his position, causing Raquel to pull the sorcerer back.

"Don't be so hasty! This old cistern operates through valves, and most are broken. The main cog may have been able to open this door and the other one simultaneously, but now it will require one of us staying behind to hold the door open while the others explore, unless anyone has a better idea? If there are more of those Crimson heads prowling the rest of this place, a group of three should be able to dispatch them, while Michael keeps the door open with someone keeping watch over him."

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=152863)

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Michael once more pulls the heavy rusted lever clock wise as the massive metal door rises and keeps holding as Ramiel stands vigilant by his side.

"Go! I can keep this winch in place as long as needed, but be quick about it."

Leaving the paladin and the inquisitor behind, you brave through the rancid stone passage, the sound of the cistern eerily bubbling a few feet below you as you reach a flight of stone stairs, caked in dried blood and more of those claw marks.

The ceiling here is a lot shorter- going down to seven feet, give or take. The passage is ten feet wide, but not much room to fly and maneuver.

That's when Raquel raises her hand and stops in front of an old cell.

The bars are old and some show bite marks on the metal. The door is slightly unhinged- broken from the inside.

A filthy dirty cot has been placed inside, as well as piles of refuse, old clothes and a cobweb covered latrine pan.

A small valve has been affixed to the stone wall, covered in similar webbing.

Getting inside should be easy and there are no enemies inside.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=152984)

[Still_I_Rise]

Allaste looks over the documents found by the others in silence. So. They were in an abandoned sewer facility. One still infested by the experiments of another infernal magician, twisting the natural order like Alexia.

The security in this place wasn't too shabby either, he notes, wincing as Raquel is blasted by the trapped door.

Eventually, he finds himself looking inside an abandoned chamber.

"No chance this one is trapped, is there?" he asks Raquel, looking at the broken door. Not likely, but given past experiences, couldn't be too careful.

[AlanBruce]

@Allaste: Raquel checks the hinges on the old rusted cell and shakes her head.

"No, this room does not seem to be trapped, what troubles me is that someone was kept in here and..."

The aasimar points to a shattered padlock, now covered in grime and rust on the ground.

"It broke out. I still can sense anything within thirty feet, but I'm not getting anything. The file from that sewer worker, Stan- it mentioned valves. We could check that one in the cell, it doesn't seem as big or as heavy as the one Michael is wrestling with."

[Niwrad]

Raquel carefully moves into the room and searches both the room itself and the strange old valve.

searching the room [roll0]

searching the valve [roll1]

[AlanBruce]

@Raquel: You ask Allaste and hadriel to stay outside the rusted barred cell as you explore the dirty old room.

A quick two minute search yields nothing, as you walk around and upturn the dirty cot, casually brush through the heaps of refuse and kick the latrine slightly.

A bunch of old webbing and stone floor and ceiling and rusted metal bars...

But nothing of value.

Then, you walk up to the valve attached to the wall and take a look at it.

It's not as big as the gear Michael is keeping in check several feet below. In fact, you could turn it clockwise with ease.

What effects it would have though, nobody knows. At least it does not look trapped.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=153324)

[Niwrad]

Well... Why not?

Raquel reaches out and tries to turn this valve as well.

[AlanBruce]

@Raquel: This cell room seems to be completely empty, except for the valve.

Tht diary portion mentioned valves to regulate the entire Cistern Area, so might as well.

Like the giant cog Michael is holding, this valve is rusted as well, but it doesn't take that much strength to turn it around as chunks of old rusted iron fall on the ground and it finally turns completely, the squeaking sounds echoing through the cramped stone hallway and cells you, Hadriel and Allaste are in...

It's a distant metal click sound down the stone hallway that answers to the valve turning. Whatever you have done, it must've had an effect on some other area here.

But where to go now?

[Niwrad]

Curious to see the results of her action, Raquel returns to the stone hall with the others and begins to continue down the remainder of the halls.

Perhaps it had opened something?

[AlanBruce]

@Raquel: Seeing as there is nothing else to check in this room, you signal Allaste and Hadriel to follow down the hallway. Maybe the valve unlocked something.

It's not a very long walk through the cramped and dark corridors. Lit only because if Allaste's blade having a Light spell on it. Otherwise, to those without darkvision, this place would be a Blind Pit.

It's another cell that you walk by, with the lights cast by you and Allaste's blade flickering against the walls.

The bars here have been opened as well, and three bodies lie on the ground, completely dead...

But the fact that something is clawing out of an iron maiden a few feet away is what keeps Raquel on her toes as she go gets her kukris.

@Ramiel: You pace around the area where Raquel, Allaste and Hadriel left as Michael keeps both hands on the lever.

It's been over a minute and no sign of them... but I cannot leave Michael here alone. Who knows what may crawl from the walls of this unholy place.

Your train of thought is interrupted as Michael points behind you and his eyes widen.

"We aren't alone! Ramiel, can you handle them?"

Thanks to your Divination, you can tell four Novistadors have flown in through the same hole you did. There isn't much maneuvering space here and you could probably take them one on one.

Of course, if Michael were to join, both could chop them up easily, but that would mean the other three elsewhere would have no conventional way out.

@Allaste: Raquel readies her kukris as a monstrous crimson claw shreds the iron maiden a few feet away and blood washes down the old cracked stone floor, causing Hadriel to grimace.

"What did they keep in there?"

"There was a file about some 'Alpha' specimen to be taken back to see a Queen. Either we got to it first, or there are more. Allaste, if we are having trouble with it, take us to Ramiel and Michael. us three should be able to handle it, though."

That's when a horrific growl echoes through the stone hallways as a beast leaps out of the iron maiden:


http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/residentevil/images/1/1e/Bloodshot.png/revision/latest?cb=20140925201921

It drips blood and the only distinguishable feature is a metallic jawbone sewed to it's face. It lacks eyes, but instead, hollow sockets from which blood pours like a fountain. It's as tall as any of you, maybe a few inches taller. Bone sinew looks rotten, yet it pulsates as if it were alive.

The creature looks at the three of you and its entire body squirms and shakes with excitement...

It has been freed and allowed to feed.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=153787)

Roll Initiative

[AlanBruce]

Round 1

@Raquel: You have fought many undead before, but this one is different. Even stronger than those Michael and Allaste took down a few minutes earlier.

No wonder this one has been left here alone. Who knows how long it had been chain and locked up in that Iron Maiden...

And before you have chance to react, it leaps at you and bits into your arm, as its teeth, sharp as bone daggers, tear into your flesh and your blood intermingles with his own as the walls are awash with your aasimar life source as the beast nearly rips your arm out with his jaws alone.

26 damage plus Imp. Grab DC 37. If grapple check fails, Wrench for an extra 5 damage


@Raquel & Allaste: This monster must've been locked down here in the sewers for who knows how long. The stench of his very being is foul. Offensive to the senses and as it leaps and bites Raquel's arm with cannibalistic ferocity, you and her can feel your stomachs churn as the fetid wretch that is his natural musk erodes your nostrils and intestines.

Fortitude save or be sickened, suffering a -2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks for 5 minutes.

@Raquel: That isn't the worst part, however. The creatures Allaste and Michael fought earlier may have been derived from ghasts, but Michael has trained enough as a paladin to become immune to their special attacks.

You did not train as a paladin.

Whatever the creature carries with its bite, it is attempting to infect you with it.

Your body feels numb and heavy. Unresponsive. If you cannot shake this off, this creature might devour you in less than a minute!

Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 6 minutes

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=153796)

Crimson Head Alpha
Raquel
Novistadors x4
Allaste
Micahel
Hadriel
Ramiel

[Niwrad]

Not quite able to do a anything just yet, Raquel decides to give her allies a little more room and wait for a better opportunity to use her anti-undead spell. But first she had to escape this creature's bite.

With a flash of shadowy magic, the rogue activates her cloak and reappears some ten feet away. There she waits for the zombie to either move closer to Allaste or to move towards.

"Allaste, I need your help to strike this creature in it's weak points. We need this thing to either move towards you or move towards me."

MAP (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=153879)

[AlanBruce]

@Raquel: The creature bites deeper into your arm as you grit your teeth and transform into a mass of shadows as you transpose yourself ten feet away.

Its hollow sockets gush blood down its rotten muscle tissue, which pulsates as its entire body quivers and you see a worm like tongue lick its razor teeth as it stretches out a claw towards you.

If he is interested in having you for lunch, he will have to fight for his meal. Hopefully, you can withstand another one of those bites.

@Michael: With both hands holding the gear in place, you barely have a chance to react and sheathe your blade before two of these creatures rush towards you in a flanking position.

With your shield at your feet, you cannot use it to benefit from Ramiel's spell. With Hadriel so far away, his Circle Spell does not apply, either.

Two claw slashes, both attempting to hold you tight.

11 damage plus improved grab DC 31

6 damage plus improved grab DC 18

@Ramiel: Both of the creatures land beside you and both strike menacingly...

Yet Domiel watches over you even in this place of Evil and Filth, as their claws barely scrape the outermost layer of your Hallowed Flesh.

Michael may be struggling with the other two, however. If he cannot wrest himself off their grasp, he might lose control of the Cog and then the doors will trap Allaste, Raquel and Hadriel inside.

@Allaste: As you face a new monstrosity in these gods forsaken sewers, a voice reaches into your mind:

This is Archadious Mithmironel. I am with Gabriela and Jamyang. We are in Alexia's facility, a bedroom, near a gallery. Where are you?

The group mentioned Archaidous, the mage from Runestone. So they have made it to Alexia's facility.

You need to ante up the pace.



Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=153908)

Crimson Head Alpha
Raquel
Novistadors x4
Allaste
Michael
Hadriel
Ramiel

[Still_I_Rise]

Allaste blanches at the smell of the creature before him. Truly disgusting, he thinks, readying his sword and eyeing a spot nearby the undead. Time to take it down. He quickly turns and moves back up the hall, just enough to build momentum for a jump.

Just before he leaps, he receives the sending from Mithmironel. They were already in her facilities? They had to move faster, he thinks, replying even as he begins his jump. "We've been sidetracked into an abandoned part of the sewer, filled with Cutter's old work. Hiding from Novistadors, lots of them."

And then he is bringing his sword down upon the head of Cutter's old abomination.

Swift cast quickened true strike. Leap Attack for -10/+32 to Q6.

[roll0]
[roll1] + [roll2] acid

(attack + 20 true strike - 10 leap attack -2 sickness
damage + 32 leap attack - 2 sickness)

[AlanBruce]

@Allaste: You grip your Falchion with both hands as Raquel becomes a shadow and rounds the corner, egging the creature to come and get her.

That's when an unfamiliar voice rings in your mind and you are quick to respond as you run towards the blood drenched monstrosity and activate various sigils and runes of tremendous arcane power as you leap and bring your blade with Righteous Fury over the undead...

Impossible!

The creature stops looking at Raquel as his blood soaked claw holds to your Falchion and holds your entire body suspended a few feet off the ground as it turns to look at you and his hollow skull washes down torrents of viscous crimson blood before pushing you back a foot and turning to fix his gaze on you.

Even with your mightiest spells... you haven't even dented it!

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=153985)

Crimson Head Alpha
Raquel
Novistadors x4
Allaste
Michael
Hadriel
Ramiel

[Niwrad]

Swarmed by several Novistadors once more, Ramiel shouts to Michael.

"Help me with this Michael. We can finish these faster together. You can pull open the valve again once these are gone."

Then together the two hack and slash their way through the bugs.

targeting any Novistador that Michael fails to kill

attack1 [roll0]
damage [roll1] and [roll2] holy and [roll3] magebane and [roll4] axiomatic and [roll5] fire

attack2 [roll6]
damage [roll7] and [roll8] holy and [roll9] magebane and [roll10] axiomatic and [roll11] fire

attack3 [roll12]
damage [roll13] and [roll14] holy and [roll15] magebane and [roll16] axiomatic and [roll17] fire

Unfortunately, grappled, Michael is unable to attack.

[Niwrad]

Judging that this alpha zombie was a significant threat, Hadirel opens up with a powerful blast of arcane fire.

The crystal shard around his neck glows for a moment as the sorcerer points a finger at the thing and fires several rays of flame.

ranged touch attack1 [roll0]
damage [roll1] fire damage

ranged touch attack2 [roll2]
damage [roll3] fire damage

ranged touch attack3 [roll4]
damage [roll5] fire damage

[AlanBruce]

@Michael: You try to break off the Novistador's hold but their chitinous claws hold on tight as the massive cog turns back to its original location as the massive metal slab falls down a few feet ahead, trapping the others further inside.

@Ramiel: Michael will have to wait- you have two of these beasts right in front of you.

Calling on Domiel's power, you thrust your spear at the insects, whose shrieks echo through the Cistern as one is punctured twice with so many divine properties that it falls on the ground, very much dead.

A second one is scraped badly by your holy spear, but still lives, as its black blood swells down its bloated wound.

@Hadriel: Allaste, who so far had demonstrated impeccable martial and arcane skills, has not even been able to hurt this beast!

What manner of monsters have been created beneath the City... and for how long?

As the shard burns against your neck, you rise less than a foot off the ground and your eyes blaze with Arcane Fire as three direct shots of flame strike the beast head on!

Blood splatters the tight stone walkway as the shard on your neck reduces its glow and the smoke clears...

The creature still stands!

Round 2

@Allaste: The blood soaked abomination fixes its hollow sockets on you as his ceramic jawbone, affixed to his ungainly face licks its jagged red teeth with a worm like tongue as it reaches out and bites hard on your neck.

Unlike Raquel, he is unable to hold on fast, but that doesn't mean it cannot hurt.


26 damage plus Fortitude save or paralysis for 6 minutes. Sickened condition applies to the saves, if any present.

With his red skull chomping on your shoulder, it claws at your chest, seeking to break your rib cage clean off!

This monster does not carry this infection through bite alone- his whole body is a carrier!

12 damage plus Fortitude save or paralysis for 5 minutes. Sickened Conditions apply as above.

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=154125)

Crimson Head Alpha
Raquel
Novistadors x3
Allaste
Michael
Hadriel
Ramiel

[Still_I_Rise]

Raquel rushes up to the crimson monstrosity, swiping at it with one of her daggers. She can't hope to do much with it, but at least it might distract it from Allaste - and help Hadriel get them out of this.

Move to O6

[roll0]
[roll1]

[AlanBruce]

@Raquel: You watch Allaste bit severely and his entire body stiffen as the blood soaked creature readies to feast on him...

Rushing towards the abomination that lay locked for who knows how long, you strike your dagger at it with as much finesse and precision as you can, but watch in horror as your kukris can't even scratch the surface of this monstrosity. Whatever Cutter did years ago has paid off- this enemy's skin is extremely tough. he didn't even bother to dodge your attack as his hollow eye sockets keep dripping blood as that stone lower jaw, racked with sharp teeth gets ready to feast upon Jace's chosen.

@Michael: The Novistador keeps tugging at your arm, ready to pry it off. Your blade is sheathed and your shield on the ground, your defenses lowered tremendously, the creature digs his claw into your shoulder, severing a tendon and keeps his grip on you.

8 damage plus imp. grab DC 29

@Ramiel: The other two monstrous insects jump on you.

One manages to claw at you twice, holding you down.

7 damage

the other claw makes sure you are unable to help your brother at arms.

9 damage plus imp. grab DC 28

The other Novistador scrapes at your breast plate, but barely manages to even dent the surface.

It is his second claw that latches at your left arm.

5 damage plus imp. grab DC 20

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=155610)

Crimson Head Alpha
Raquel
Novistadors x3
Allaste
Michael
Hadriel
Ramiel

[Niwrad]

@Michael: Taken by surprise by these four Novistadors was bad enough, but being trapped in the claws of one of them was even worse. In order to reach his sword and cleave this abomination in two, he had to grab his sword. And in order to do that, he had to get out of this grapple.

Reaching for some surge of strength, Michael attempts to use his mighty divine strength to break free of this creature's cruel grasp.

using his standard action to break free

grapple check vs DC 29 [roll0]

if successful, he will draw his sword

@Ramiel: Also grappled by the Novistadors, Ramiel attempts to shrug off the grapple attempts and respond in kind with several deadly attacks of her own.

First she attempts to avoid the creature's claws.

grapple vs DC 20 [roll1]
grapple vs DC 28 [roll2]

And if successful, she attacks.

attack1 [roll3]
damage [roll4] and [roll5] holy and [roll6] magebane and [roll7] axiomatic and [roll8] fire

attack2 [roll9]
damage [roll10] and [roll11] holy and [roll12] magebane and [roll13] axiomatic and [roll14] fire

attack3 [roll15]
damage [roll16] and [roll17] holy and [roll18] magebane and [roll19] axiomatic and [roll20] fire

[AlanBruce]

@Michael: The appearance of these insects is no coincidence. They may not be very strong, but they are taking your time away from helping Raquel and the others further inside this sewer.

Calling on the Divine's strength, you wrestle yourself out of the monster's grasp and draw your blade.

Picking up your shield right now might be risky, but even without it, you can deal with these creatures unprotected.

@Ramiel: It's a grunt of strength that manages to elbow both Novistadors in the face as you escape their grasp.

It's a series of spear thrusts that impale one and skewer the other insect as both carcasses lie on the ground.

As expected, these were sent here to delay... but why?

Map- Cistern (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=155839)

Crimson Head Alpha
Raquel
Novistador
Allaste
Michael
Hadriel
Ramiel