DrK's Age of Worms IC pt3

[DrK]

As Lan races to the corner he scales the wall crouching in the shadows of a ridge of stone and the thick heavy fold of a tapestry to Kyuss's glory. The spawn hisses, sniffing around as it moves towards the door to the west, vanishing through it following the priest.

Bozal moves into the room, cursing as he allows the antilife shell to collapse as he strides past Merrick and Talsien's fallen bodies. He vanishes through the door, the heavy door to the west slamming shut after him, a puff of acrid chemical smell wafting in...

Spoiler: Bozal

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Double moves and vanishes through door to the west.

[DrK]

Zarina

Zarina looks up as Muddy stiffens in the narrow side corridor. Her eyes narrowed as she looks at the swirling mist, rain and storm. Reaching out mentally she looks at Mirriana and Goat. "Can you hear friend Tal?"

Focusing she reaches into the depths of her magical reserves summoning a pair of beams of fire. Tired she knows now she has exhausted her ability to summon fire for the day.

The ooze wall and unholy rain react badly,the black rain diluting the fire and refracting it to no more than a warm glow that has no effect on the thinned and damaged patch of wall that she had been targeting.

Spoiler: Zarina

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Scorch ray (no fire spells left so no fiery burst anymore)
(1d20+5)[6] to hit right square (4d6)[16] Fire!
(1d20+5)[6] to hit right square (4d6)[11] Fire!

Edit: well damn, that's unlucky!

[Felhammer]

Goat

The goliath pleads, "Hurry Zarina. We have no time to waste! Friend Tal needs us!" Goattracker then uses the wand to heal himself again.

Spoiler

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(1d8+1)[7]

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

I wait a moment whilst I assess the absence of Taliesn's thoughts. "You're right, something's wrong. I'm going in."

Sprinting across the stormy, misty room, I attempt to slash a hole in the damaged region of the ooze.

Spoiler

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Unholy Storm:
Mist: (9d8)[1][4][4][8][3][4][1][5][3](33)
Saves if necessary: (9d20)[6][2][8][5][2][5][9][1][5](43)(modifiers added later as appropriate)

Tactical Strike:
Attack (1d20+17)[20]
Damage: (1d8+8)[13](2d6)[5]

"Goat, go through!"

[Starbin]

Drinking the potion he had slipped out, Lan faded from sight ... although no one was in the room to notice. Immediately he climbed down and looked to his companions, trying to rouse them back while looking for signs of anything. He remember something Mir had taught him and he quickly sent a mental message to the woman. Mirriana, the mage and Tal are bleeding out. The priest and his spawn left, but his shell is down. Any advice on stopping the bleeding? Hurry!

Spoiler: OOC

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Heh, I get to use Weavespeak to send to a divine class of Mystra! Also, drinking an invisibility potion and trying to staunch the wounds of my friends. Hopefully I either see some potions (which this guy probably doesn't have any cure potions, but Lan will look) or get lucky on my heal check. Maybe Mir can aid me via the sending!

Spot - (1d20+13)[17], Heal 1 - (1d20+2)[6], Heal 2 - (1d20+2)[14]

Status
HPs: 27/56; AC: 22
F +11, R +17, W +8
Spells: living prints; embrace the wild
Spell-like abilities: Shield Other; Sanctuary
Effects: living prints (4hrs); mass conviction (+3 saves [morale] / 4min); bless (+1 Att/ save vs fear [morale], 4min); embrace the wild (+3 Spot/Listen; low-light vision/ blind sense 30' / 40 min); Darkvision 60' (1hr); spider climb (50 min?), Invisibility (30 min)

[redzimmer]

Muddy

The small man of dirt tosses its remaining vial, this of liquid fire, at the wall, as far from Master Merrick's associates as possible.

Spoiler: Hit or splash

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(1d20)[12] to hit
(3d6)[11]
(1d6)[3]

[DrK]

In the bedroom Lan drops down from the wall as the door slams shut. Magically reaching to the Priestess of Mystara he sends out the plea for help as he drops down beside the shifter and downed wizard. Hands trynig to stem the bleeding on Merrick or the strange frozen black patch of dead skin on the shifter. Back in the main room the small elemental hurls his fire with far better accuracy than Zarina's errant rays of fire. The liquid embers wash over the wall of devillish ooze leaving the patch of wall thin, a thin-ness that is shredded seconds later as Mirriana runs in braving the rain that hisses and burns her skin, her sword flashing out shearing through the burnt and sizzled wall of ooze leaving a gaping slime edged hole some 5ft in diamater. Through the hole the priestess can see maybe 30ft ahead the room where Lan crouches over their 2 fallen comrades in the flickering gloom of a single candle...

[Felhammer]

Goattracker

The Goliath runs forward as fast as possible through the ooze - wand in hand - to help his allies.

Spoiler: OOC

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What kind of saves do I need to make?

[redzimmer]

Muddy

Through the hole created, Muddy rushes to his Master.

[DrK]

Zarina

Zarina looks at Mirriana and Goat as they run off. She grimaces, holding an arm above her face before she sprints into the storm and the prismatic mist, ducking her head to get through the hole in the ooze.

Skidding into the next room she spies the destroyed spawn, her fallen friends and the tapestries of the worm apocalypse. Looking around she can see two bodies, and pulling out a lesser vigour potion she pauses unsure which to save.

Goat, where's Lan? I can only see Merrick and Tal. Who do I save first?"

Spoiler: actions

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Double move through the mist and storm
Draw vigour potion as she walks
- look confused as to who to save

Storm (2d6)[9]
Mist (1d8)[5]
Save (1d20)[11] dam as needed (1d8)[2] (1d6)[2] (1d4)[1]

Spoiler: in case of an 8

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Mist (1d8)[3]
Save (1d20)[18] dam as needed (1d8)[4] (1d6)[4] (1d4)[4]
Mist (1d8)[5]
Save (1d20)[8] dam as needed (1d8)[1] (1d6)[6] (1d4)[1]
Mist (1d8)[5]
Save (1d20)[17] dam as needed (1d8)[8] (1d6)[5] (1d4)[4]

- saved vs Slow

Spoiler: Zarina

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Hps 20/54
Saves +8/7/6 +2 VS EVIL +3
AC 27 ff 27 T 12 +2 vs EVIL

Dragonskin (red) +3 NA, fire 10; 57 mins
Bless (+1 hit, +1 morale vs fear) 7 mins
Conviction (+3 saves) 7 mins
Protec from Evil +2 deflect/Saves vs Evil 9 mins
Shield 12 mins
B.Strength 3 mins

Devotion +2

[Starbin]

A whisper from near the bodies whispers, "I'm here ... help Tal first."

Spoiler: OOC

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Guess we're waiting ...

[roll0], [roll1], [roll2]

Status
HPs: 27/56; AC: 22
F +11, R +17, W +8
Spells: living prints; embrace the wild
Spell-like abilities: Shield Other; Sanctuary
Effects: living prints (4hrs); mass conviction (+3 saves [morale] / 4min); bless (+1 Att/ save vs fear [morale], 4min); embrace the wild (+3 Spot/Listen; low-light vision/ blind sense 30' / 40 min); Darkvision 60' (1hr); spider climb (50 min?), Invisibility (30 min)

[Felhammer]

Goat

The Goliath gingerly cradles Tal in his arms and he gently taps him with the healing wand.

Spoiler

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CLW (1d8+1)[8]

[Stegyre]

Taliesn

Taliesn stirs, eyes opening, to see GoatTracker towering over him. Good, the others were here.

Did you smash him good for me? He looks around, trying to spot the remains of that cursed demon cleric.

[Felhammer]

Goat

The goliath looks away, ashamed, "We only rushed in once we knew you were close to death."

Spoiler

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Wand (1d8+1)[7]

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

The first rule of triage is that you have to make sure to take care of yourself first. I can tell I'm pretty beaten up, and that only divine fury and magic are keeping me going. I channel one of my remaining spells into a burst of healing energy that should keep me functioning even when the effects of adrenaline and enchantments wear off. I'll get to healing Merrick once I'm more stable on my own feat.

"I fear the consequences of our failure to stop that man. Even now his scroll is doing something nefarious, yet that room is too suffused with dangerous energies for us to reenter just yet."

Spoiler

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Move into the room
Cast Silence -> CMW (2d8+7)[18]

[Starbin]

Lan muttered from somewhere on the ceiling. "The hell you say. We're alive ... harder to stop him if we're all walking around as his meat puppets. Heal up and we can go find him if you like. Or drop the mist and go stop the spell ..."

Spoiler: OOC

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Yeah, it sucks to lose the fight, but it sucks worse to lose your character.

And Lan has some good sneakage left in him.

Status
HPs: 27/56; AC: 22
F +11, R +17, W +8
Spells: living prints; embrace the wild
Spell-like abilities: Shield Other; Sanctuary
Effects: living prints (4hrs); mass conviction (+3 saves [morale] / 4min); bless (+1 Att/ save vs fear [morale], 4min); embrace the wild (+3 Spot/Listen; low-light vision/ blind sense 30' / 40 min); Darkvision 60' (1hr); spider climb (50 min?), Invisibility (30 min)

[redzimmer]

Muddy

Reaching the rest of the crowd, the elemental frantically pantomimes Zarina to do something or other to Merrick's mouth.

Spoiler: Sense Motive or Speak Terran?

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Use your liquid not-kill and make master un-undead, Prime!

[DrK]

Zarina

Sprinting out of the burning rain Zarina slides down beside the diminutive rock creature and the downed wizard. Her hands shaking as she see's the burns and claw marks covering Merrick's body. She cradles his head and pours the potion into his mouth and waits to see what happens. Pausing she rises, both hands clamping onto her sword as she watches the far door and looks around the room with curiosity. Looking about she winces at her own wounds as she scans room. "What do we do now? the rain and mist will fade shortly and we can examine the scrolls...

Spoiler: For merrick

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Gets fed a lesser vigour potion.
11 hps. 1 hp per round

Dropping out of initiative unless you are chasing through the door?

[Stegyre]

Taliesn

We should get after him now. He will only be better prepared next time. If Lan can scout ahead quickly, invisibly, and let us know where he is, I can cover the distance and try to end him.

Spoiler

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Yes, Taliesn likes to live dangerously. Undead are a favored enemy, and here's a foe intent on making more of them. It's what needs to be done.

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

I sigh.

"Well we can't go back until until those storms disperse, and we may as well make use of our defensive enchantments. If we catch him we can still stop him! Lan, go first, make use of your invisibility - we have got to stop blundering into things! Goattracker, keep using that wand! We need to be as healthy as possible! I won't have any spells left after this either..."

I bend down to cast Cure Moderate Wounds on Merrick.

Spoiler

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Hold Person -> CMW (2d8+7)[13]

[redzimmer]

Merrick

As he recovers, the wizard gives his familiar a reassuring pat.

"If those wormy abominations are just the foot soldiers of this Age of Worms, then we MUST stop it at all costs. The cleric must die. Also, may I have my wand back?"

[RCgothic]

I hand back the wand of toothed tentacles. I'm going to be much more comfortable wielding my sword.

[Starbin]

Through Taliesn, Lan thought, Let's go, then. Time to hunt ... unless there are some spells to be had? He was ready to move out, hoping the others would open the door first.

Spoiler: OOC

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Recommend we burn the bull's strength for healing. How long does aid last again? Also, Enlarge person might work for the lady with the nasty sword.

Status
HPs: 8/56; AC: 22
F +11, R +17, W +8
Spells: living prints; embrace the wild
Spell-like abilities: Shield Other; Sanctuary
Effects: living prints (4hrs); mass conviction (+3 saves [morale] / 4min); bless (+1 Att/ save vs fear [morale], 4min); embrace the wild (+3 Spot/Listen; low-light vision/ blind sense 30' / 40 min); Darkvision 60' (1hr); spider climb (50 min?), Invisibility (30 min)

[redzimmer]

Merrick

Merrick holds out his resist energy potion for Lan to take, then rifles through his wands, selecting the benign transposition.

When we are ready, expect a trap on the door. Can we simply destroy it? I can burn it or inflict sonic energies at it.

[redzimmer]

Merrick

While plans are laid, Merrick quickly searches for anything which might aid them.

Spoiler: Search

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(1d20+3)[5]

[DrK]

The door Bazol fled through swings open, the cleric and his spawn minion moving fast had not stopped to lock it. The door opens down a 15ft passage before expanding into a bare looking rectangular room.

A Brazier burns in the North West corner, flickering green illuminating the bare black Stone wall. The Western wall has a solitary wooden door in it and the whole southern wall is concealed behind a curtain of heavy black silk.

Spoiler: spells

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For hps and spells how many rounds of you buff for?

[redzimmer]

Merrick

We must be swift. Each second we waste the hellspawn will grow stronger.

Merrick casts haste upon his allies.

Spoiler: Onward, Kavaki Soldiers!

Show

Hastened, seven rounds.
Protection From Evil 5 minutes? Maybe?
Mass Conviction??
Bless??

??-denotes uncertainty of duration.

[RCgothic]

The door Bazol fled through swings open, the cleric and his spawn minion moving fast had not stopped to lock it. The door opens down a 15ft passage before expanding into a bare looking rectangular room.

A Brazier burns in the North West corner, flickering green illuminating the bare black Stone wall. The Western wall has a solitary wooden door in it and the whole southern wall is concealed behind a curtain of heavy black silk.

Spoiler: spells

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For hps and spells how many rounds of you buff for?

Spoiler

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Looking like two rounds before we move on?

Mirriana

I channel some of my last healing into Taliesn. We can't afford for our heavy hitters to be low on health. Then I follow along after the others

Spoiler

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Hold Person -> CMW (2d8+7)[19]
Move up to 60ft (hasted).

[Felhammer]

Goat

The goliath casts his two spells, then follows Mir.

[Stegyre]

Taliesn

Spoiler: Spells

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It occurs to me that I do have spell effects to report on.

Protection from Evil and Magic Fangare both minutes/CL, but since they're just first-level potions (and I expect I should have paid a higher price for higher CL), ithey're probably only good for 10 rounds. Without going back and counting, I suspect we are at least half-way through that, if not more, though I don't think we've yet used the entire 10 rounds, have we?

Feeling much better than when he was at death's door, Taliesn prepares to follow Lan through the doorway.

Spoiler

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So, my understanding: Lan is going first, invisible and spider climbing along the ceiling. Taliesn plans to give him at least a 20' lead – keeping track of where Lan is via telepathy from Lan.

Can Lan check for tracks in the room, to discern which way our target may have gone? (How I yearn for mindsight at 9th level.