Chapter 3: Beyond the Portal

[Silanon]

Both actions do indeed end less hostile than expected - in the paladin's case, that's mostly due to the agility of the harpy, paired with a decent parry by the minotaur who apparently does know how to wield his sword quite well. In Wren's case, the meddling of peaceful thoughts with her mind is still too much to handle - she nearly stabs the minotaur in its flank, only to pull back in the last second, knowing better than to cause harm to him.

Thus, Clockwork Syringe is up with Baird.

24 Keiyanna
21 Veskassdak (-18)
19 Harpy
18 Carinall
17 Renna (-9)
16 Wren
-> 15 Baird (-9)
5 Minotaur

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Seeing how the spell he cast prior did indeed hurt both, and remembering the smell of burning wings, Baird will cast Burning Arc with the harpy as the first target.

((15 damage to the harpy, for the first roll, 8 damage to the Minotaur for the second roll. Bloodline adds 1 point of damage per dice rolled.))

 

[Silanon]

Again, your magic finds its target - and if her sudden movement backwards is any indication, the stone harpy really does not like your arcane fire. There is no sign of weakness from her thus far, however - quite contrary to the minotaur, whose movements seem to become even slower. That does not stop him from raising his sword, aiming a brutal blow at Renna; the result is rather piteous, though, as the paladin easily evades the danger.

-> 24 Keiyanna
21 Veskassdak (-18)
19 Harpy
18 Carinall
17 Renna (-9)
16 Wren
15 Baird (-9)
5 Minotaur

Shnarf is up.

 

[Shnarf]

The sense of dread still clouded Keiyanna's thoughts and gave her the idea that fighting was wrong, so instead of attack, Keiyanna decided to focus on healing. Keiyanna rushed over to Veskassdak shouting out. "Hold still Veskassdak, this is going to sting a bit." And she placed her hands on Veskassdak and channeled the power of aether into him.

(Veskassdak takes 1 point of non-lethal per HD he has.)

 

[Silanon]

You manage to cure most of the harm caused by the harpy's magic - leaving the raging beast ready to turn against the two foes.

Dicer is up.

24 Keiyanna
-> 21 Veskassdak (-4, -4 non-lethal)
19 Harpy
18 Carinall
17 Renna (-9)
16 Wren
15 Baird (-9)
5 Minotaur

 

[Dicer]

Veskassdak felt one of his newest companion mammals (What was its name? Kayna? Mammals had such unusual names for themselves, but he had no time to dwell on it now.) touch him and the new strange healing energies flow into him. A small part of him noticed that the healing energy was far different from when he was healed in the past. It had no divine "scent" to it. It also left him a little woozy. Shrugging off the effect, he refocused himself, roared, and charged at full speed at the larger enemy (minotaur) to strike with a single claw, hopefully dealing as great a devastating blow as he possibly could.

Spoiler

Rage and charge adjustments: AC 13; HP 65 of 69 remaining, 4 nonlethal taken; DR 2/-; Fort save +9, Ref save +1, Will save +4; Speed 45 ft., Distance covered: up to 90 feet; Single Melee Attack bonus +14 claw damage 1d6+9; enlarge person duration remaining: 9 of 10 rounds; rage duration remaining: 12 of 13 rounds.

 

[Silanon]

Somewhere between stony armor and skin, your claw finds a gap - and something soft and vulnerable underneath. You tear through it, feel something warm on your hand; the scent of blood reaches your nostrils. Perhaps surprised by the powerful blow, the minotaur staggers just for a moment - before backing up from the powerful beast in front of him.

The harpy behind him once more beats her wings, getting slightly closer to the exit. Once more, electrical sparks can be seen, soon enough forming three spheres that seem to buzz from the energies within. They move towards the minotaur, encircling him, apparently waiting for you to make a mistake and get too close.

OOC: Whoever wants to attack the minotaur in close-combat, give me a reflex save.

Orikanyo is up.

24 Keiyanna
21 Veskassdak (-4, -4 non-lethal)
19 Harpy
-> 18 Carinall
17 Renna (-9)
16 Wren
15 Baird (-9)
5 Minotaur

 

[Orikanyo]

"A shield? An electrical shield, shock shield, zap shield, protective shroud of electrical charge... Don't touch it." Cairnall warned as he sized up the minotaur once more for an explosive.

Was it obvious to stay away from the sparky things? Sure, did he need to say anything? Probably not. But he never had to second guess bombs.

(Splash weapons do minimum damage in a 5 ft radius around explosive, as such 6 cold damage to enemies around bomb. Allies are exempt as per the choice of precise bombs radius removal.)

 

[Silanon]

Unfortunately, the throw proves to be just a little short - some squirts do manage to hit the foe, apparently not causing too much harm, but most of the fluid only hits the tunnel walls and covers them with frost.

Psychie is up.


24 Keiyanna
21 Veskassdak (-4, -4 non-lethal)
19 Harpy
-> 18 Carinall
17 Renna (-9)
16 Wren
15 Baird (-9)
5 Minotaur

 

[Psychie]

Renna moves herself about to be in a flanking position on the harpy with Wren, and levels off with a heavy swing of her sword.

Spoiler

Hit Points: 34 / 25
Lay on Hands: x8
Smite Evil: x2

Armor Class: 20 - Armor of Light Fortification
Melee Strike: +7
CMD 17
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +6
Will Save: +9
Perception: -2

 

[Silanon]

Even her high agility can't save the harpy from your strike - the shiny steel seems to cut through a mixture of stone and flesh, cracking the surface and spilling blood as it cuts deep. Not enough to bring the creature down, at least for now; but seeing how she hastily tries to back up, you'd guess that she won't be able too many hits of this kind anymore.

Sherwood is up.

24 Keiyanna
21 Veskassdak (-4, -4 non-lethal)
19 Harpy
18 Carinall
17 Renna (-9)
-> 16 Wren
15 Baird (-9)
5 Minotaur

 

[Sherwood]

From her position flanking the harpy, Wren once more tries to muster up the willpower to attack the creature with a dual blade strike.

Spoiler

I don't know if a 16 is enough to make my saving throw, but I'll go ahead and make a to-hit roll.

Hit Points: 32
Melee Strike: +4 (+8 with lightweight weapons)
Ranged Strike: +8
Initiative: +6

Armor Class: 20 +1 vs Trap Attacks
Fort Save: +3
Reflex Save: +9 +1 vs Traps
Will Save: +3
Perception: +13 (+15 to Locate Traps)
Stealth: +12

 

[Silanon]

As the fighting around her becomes more savage, the rogue finally manages to shake off the foreign desire for peace. The harpy, however, is still quick enough to avoid your well-aimed blows, though you get the feeling that she won't be able to keep up with your pace for much longer.


Clockwork Syringe is up.

24 Keiyanna
21 Veskassdak (-4, -4 non-lethal)
19 Harpy
18 Carinall
17 Renna (-9)
16 Wren
-> 15 Baird (-9)
5 Minotaur

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird will use his last level 2 spell slot to cast Burning Arc again
((19 damage against the harpy and 8 damage against the Minotaur))

 

[Silanon]

The magical fire hits its target, engulfing the harpy in glaring flames. You hear an inhuman, high-pitched screech, smell the stench of burning feathers; then your eyes see how her hasty movements suddenly end as she freezes in place, once more a statue rather than a foe, with her face contorted in pain. It is rare to see the results of your magic for longer than a split-second - given your good alignment, you'd probably prefer it to not be eternalized for how long it might take the thing to reactivate.

The magic does hit the minotaur as well, though only to a lesser extent - still, given the "death" of his companion, he seems to have enough. Grabbing a bugle from his belt, he produces a loud, thundering note before freezing in place just like the harpy. The noise is answered by a grinding sound of a heavy stone door near the exit, closing off the path ahead before any of you could even get close.

A look back to the chamber you arrived in shows still the four different doors, but no sign of the portal - it must have vanished at some point during the fight when you were busy focussing on the foes ahead.

 

[Psychie]

With a sigh of relief, Renna lowers her sword. "Well done, Baird! Well done! Ah, I see that our way back is gone. Let us hope that this is not a permanent issue to deal with." She then slides her blade back into its sheath and rubs her shoulder. "Ouch. I'm a bit scorched. Anyone else hurt? I can provide some healing to those that need it."

Spoiler

Hit Points: 34 / 25
Lay on Hands: x8
Smite Evil: x2

Armor Class: 20 - Armor of Light Fortification
Melee Strike: +7
CMD 17
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +6
Will Save: +9
Perception: -2

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the statues go back to unmoving stone, however his eyebrows were raised when he noticed the portal had disappeared. ~What the hell?~ In response to Renna's cheers, Baird simply flashed a smile and walked over. "I'm a little singed myself Renna," Baird then placed his hand on his right side rubbing it as well. "Could have been worse though, would have been better for me if it was fire huh?"
Psychie

 

[Psychie]

Renna can also see that Veskassdak is injured, even if he doesn't realize it yet with his berserker rage. "I can help out with the pain. Gather nearby." The paladin folds her hands together and briefly bows her head in prayer. Soon after, a wave of healing energies flow out to engulf everyone within thirty feet of her easing the pain and restoring all to health.

Spoiler

Using two of my Lay on Hands to Channel Positive Energy. Everyone in 30' of me gets to have the healing effect to return 11 hit points

Hit Points: 34
Lay on Hands: x6
Smite Evil: x2

Armor Class: 20 - Armor of Light Fortification
Melee Strike: +7
CMD 17
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +6
Will Save: +9
Perception: -2

 

[Sherwood]

Wren is not hurt, but it still feels good to have the positive energies touch her. Once that is done, she looks back at the four doors, and points to one. "I already checked that one for any signs of a trap, but I am unsure of the other three. Let us find out what is inside them, and perhaps there will be an answer to what happened to the portal. Not that I'm in a hurry to go back or anything; I'm quite content being here right now."

She heads back down the hall to the doors, then carefully approaches the second one to begin her examination.

Spoiler

Hit Points: 32
Melee Strike: +4 (+8 with lightweight weapons)
Ranged Strike: +8
Initiative: +6

Armor Class: 20 +1 vs Trap Attacks
Fort Save: +3
Reflex Save: +9 +1 vs Traps
Will Save: +3
Perception: +13 (+15 to Locate Traps)
Stealth: +12

 

[Silanon]

OOC: Other than the 4 pts of non-lethal damage on Veskassdak, all wounds are healed by the paladin's prayer.

Sherwood Taking a careful look at the door, you see no sign of any dangerous mechanism - as long as you don't somehow manage to impale yourself on the door handle. The same holds for the last two remaining doors - no sign of danger on this side of the doors.

 

[Orikanyo]

"Well.. that seems to be done..." The alchemist takes a moment to gain a look around the room to see if anything changed with their scuffle. Statues that come to life, how odd... he'd collect a sample if they were stone...

"Perhaps soemthing happened on the other end of the portal...? or.. perhaps Perhaps.... Hmmm...... Magical energies... the arcane is so very fickle and needy..."

 

[Dicer]

Upon seeing the enemy mammals? stopping moving, Veskassdak exhaled and felt what little damage he had taken. He released his rage and almost looked like he was deflating as he dismissed his increased size at the same time. After Renna's healing energies flow through him mending what physical damage he had remaining, "Ssstiff," was all he spoke as he felt the results of the strange healing he had received earlier from mammal Kayna.
He looked to where they had arrived in this strange cave when Renna pointed out that the portal they had traveled through had vanished.
"Think door ssshut by wizssardsss like wasss told before here come," he said. "We find back in placsse here not. Trussst find door sssecret in not here." Stretching out a little, he decided that a little annoying pain he still had was a worthwhile price to pay. It wasn't so bad that he wouldn't be able to ignore it, but he would see how it feels after a good rest when they would make camp later. For now though, he felt no need to speak of it. Complaining about such things is the way of mammals, not his people. Pain happens and then it goes away.

 

[Psychie]

Renna nods in satisfaction as the healing energies of her prayer go out and ease the pain of the injured. "Well, let us go and investigate what is in those doors once our expert gives them the all clear of dangerous traps that might go boom when we open them. The answer to the portal question may be in there. Wren, what is the good word? Is it safe to investigate?"

Spoiler

Hit Points: 34
Lay on Hands: x6
Smite Evil: x2

Armor Class: 20 - Armor of Light Fortification
Melee Strike: +7
CMD 17
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +6
Will Save: +9
Perception: -2

 

[Sherwood]

Wren leans back and brushes her hair from her face. "Its safe enough to check the doors now. I don't see any signs of nasty surprises." She points to the first door. "Shall we?"

Spoiler

Hit Points: 32
Melee Strike: +4 (+8 with lightweight weapons)
Ranged Strike: +8
Initiative: +6

Armor Class: 20 +1 vs Trap Attacks
Fort Save: +3
Reflex Save: +9 +1 vs Traps
Will Save: +3
Perception: +13 (+15 to Locate Traps)
Stealth: +12

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird nods at Renna's suggestion, "Indeed, the only way to go is forward I guess." Baird then shrugs and awaits Wren's all clear. When she does give the all clear, Baird gives the thumbs up and mentally prepares himself for what could be on the other side of the door.