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Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
The tiefling tears at the webbing in frustration, cursing in an odd language that soon crescendoes into a mighty roar of frustration, and a wave of fire washes over all those gathered around him. "Yes!" cries the pale devil, moving closer to the fray. "Yes, my minion. Kill them all!" It lobs a bolt of arcane energy at Oliver's summoned warrior, but doesn't even bother aiming. The spider lances Keelie with a leg, right over oliver's dying, convulsing body.

- The tiefling takes 5 ongoing damage, and explodes! Keelie, Stalt, and Kaiser are hit for 22 damage! Oliver is missed. The spiders and wraith are hit too! The tiefling saves against restrained, but not against the ongoing.
- The stalking spider takes 5 ongoing, and attacks Keelie for 15 damage! It doesn't save against either condition.
- The manifestation moves to G14, and attacks the Fire Warrior, but misses.




pre:
Name             Init  Pos    HP      AC  Fort  Ref  Will  Pass.Perc.

Leaping Spider 1 28    M16   25/58    20  17    19   17    21
	       2       P14   53/58    20  17    19   17    21
  	       3       J20   58/58    20  17    19   17    21 
Summoned Wraith  27    O14   73/89    24  20    22   21    16
Keelie		 23    N14   02/71    23  21    19   21
Tiefling         22    M14   29/100   23  21    24   18    16
Stalking Spider  22    O16   53/80    21  20    20   18    20 
Manifestation    22    G14   11/80    21  19    19   21    16
Palivir          21    G20   53/53    21  14    20   18
Oliver           18    O15   -3/50    24  18    22   17
Fire Warrior           I19   03/25    27  21    23   18
Stalt	         14    M15   23/53    25  20    18   19
Giant Spider	 10    H17   67/82    21  20    19   19    21
Miren		  6    ???   46/61    21  21    22   20 

Sesha             0    F20   ??/?? 

Conditions:
Leaping Spider 1: Restrained (Save ends), ongoing 5 (save ends)
Leaping Spider 2; +5 to all defenses
Leaping Spider 3: Grants CA
Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie, grants CA, ongoing 5 (save ends)
Keelie: +2 to Fort. No forced movement, bloodied, Regen 5.
Tiefling: Cursed, marked by Keelie, bloodied, ongoing 5 (save ends), burning aura.
Stalking Spider: Cursed, Restrained (save ends) ongoing 5 (save ends)
Manifestation: Grants CA, bloodied.
Palivir: Concealment
Oliver: Dying, Prone, +2 to Will, +2 AC/Ref, restrained (save ends), grants CA and ongoing 5 necro (save ends), marked by Wraith
Stalt: Restrained (save ends)
Giant Spider: Grants CA
Miren: [Removed from play]

Resists:
Summmoned Wraith; Insubstantial, Immune to Disease and Poison, resist 10 necrotic
Manifestation: Resist 10 Fire


Palivir, Oliver, Stalt are up!


Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment
Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed.
Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn.
Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end.
White stuff is webs which are difficult terrain.

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Generic Octopus
Mar 27, 2010

Palivir

Shaking loose the web the spider used to fling him across the river, Palivir took at last look at his mark.

"Enough, fiend! I tire of this nonsense!"

Palivir took a great wing-assisted leap toward the demon, and plunged his blade where he thought a heart should be.

"Begone!"

Move: Fly to F-15.

Standard: Sly Flourish vs Manifestation: 36, Crit!; 31 damage (29 + 2 crit damage).


pre:
Palivir   						 
HP: 52/53 (THP: )        AC:   21    Passive Insight: 13
Surges: 5/6 (V: 13)      For:  14    Passive Perception: 22
Initiative: +9   	 Ref:  20    Action Points: 0
Speed: 6, Fly 6   	 Will: 18    Vision: Normal
Languages: Common, Draconic

At Will			Encounter			     Daily
Sly Flourish		[x] Assassin's Strike		     [x] Spinning Blade Leap		
Poisoned Dagger		[] Smoke Bomb			     [] Carrion Crawler Brain Juice
Garrote Strangle	[x] Low Slash			     [] Acidic Revenge
			[x] Shrouding Gloom
			[] Spiteful Glamor
			[x] Toxic Saliva
			[] Skulking Spy
			[x][x] Assassin's Shroud	
                    
Item Powers
N/A

Conditionals/Resists:
Cloak of Distortion: +1 to defenses vs Ranged attacks from >5 squares.

Ghost Strike Ki Focus: Melee attacks ignore Insubstantial if target grants CA.

Murderous Eye: Gain CA against slowed, immobilized, or weakened enemies.

Shadow Walk: During your turn, if you move 3 or more squares away from where you started your turn, 
you gain partial concealment until the end of your next turn.

Ki Focus Expertise: +1 damage vs Bloodied targets.

Alertness: Cannot be surprised.

Sneak Attack: +2d6 damage with Rogue powers vs enemies granting CA.

Attack Finesse: +1d8 damage with basic attacks and Assassin powers.

Active Effects:
Concealment

ArkInBlack
Mar 22, 2013

Oliver Arderne

Save against Death: 1d20 13
Second verse, same as the first. Wake me up when we hit a rest stop guys.


pre:
Oliver Arderne   						 
HP: -3/50 (THP: )        AC:   24    Passive Insight: 13
Surges: 7/9 (V: 12)      For:  18    Passive Perception: 13
Initiative: +5   	Ref:  22    Action Points: 0
Speed: 6     	        Will: 17    Vision: Low-Light
Languages: Common, Goblin, Dwarven, Elven

At Will			            Encounter			              Daily
Winged Horde                        [ ] Hobgoblin Discipline                  [-] Summon Fire Warrior
Storm Pillar                        [-] Charm of Misplaced Wrath               [+] Watery Sphere
Familiar: Tome Caddy                [-] Use Vulnerability                     [-] Summon Magma Beast    
Mage Hand                           [ ] Pinioning Vortex                       [+] Bigby's Icy Grasp
Light                               [ ] Tomebound Ooze                         [+] Feather Fall
Mystical Debris                     [ ] Suggestion                            [ ] Conjure Fortification
                                    [ ] Chameleon's Mask
                                     [+] Dispel Magic
                                    [-] Tome of Binding

Item Powers
Currently none

Conditionals/Resists:
Echo Tome: +1 to attacks against Reflex
Indomitable Resolve Armor: +2 to Will while Bloodied
Phalanx Soldier: +1 to AC while adjacent to ally using shield while using shield
Cloak of Distortion: +1 all Def against attacks from more than 5 squares away
Tome Expert: Enemies adjacent to my conjurations/summons grant CA
Tome Caddy: While active I can wield tomes without using hands and summons adjacent to the Caddy get +2 damage
Magma Symbiosis: While Magma Beast is out, can shift 2 squares as a move action 
and enemies hit with my At-Will spells cannot shift until EoNT.

Summon Stats
Fire Warrior
HP: 25/25 Def: 27/21/23/18 Speed: Fly 6 (Hover)
Attack: Melee 1 targets one creature, Int vs Ref; 1d8+Int fire damage, can be used to OA

Tome Caddy
HP: 1 Def:24/18/22/17 Speed: 6
Can't be more then 20 squares from me. Can't Flank. Is Tiny. Adjacent Summons (just mine) get +2 to damage rolls

E:Incorrect HP/Surges whoops.

ArkInBlack fucked around with this message at 15:15 on Apr 24, 2014

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
"No!" The pale form blurs and distorts. "No! Not again!" Behind Palivir, Sesha lets out a mocking laugh.

"Better luck next time! Au revoir, mon cher!"

"This isn't the end, Sesha. I will have your blood, even if it takes me an age!" With a final, blood-curdling shriek, the manifestation of the devil disappears into a fading whisper of smoke. Within the cluster of webbing, the Wraith lets out a mournful cry and disappears, too, freed suddenly from the agonizing grip of its former master. The spiders stop their angry chittering, and one by one vanish in the woods - leaving the tiefling all alone.

"As for you..." The tangled-up woman turns her head and glares at the tiefling. "You should really have considered a different career." Her eyes light up with a pale green glow, and for a moment, nothing happens. Then, with a cry of pain, the tiefling falls to his knees, clutching his head - but only for a moment, as he falls over quite dead soon after with a gurgle. "Well! That's that, then. Thank you for your assitance, brave heroes." Smiling broadly, she faces Palivir. "Could you cut me loose, please? This darned web is quite a hinder."

Palivir turns around to face her, but something catches his eye. There in the stream, something shines bright. Picking it up, it seems like a gem, cloudy white, and he can feel the magic within him almost immediately making him more aggressive.

Palivir gets a Rain of Hammers Ki Focus! Oliver, once he gets up, gets a Belt of Vim. Short rest for now, but you can take an extended rest if everybody agrees.

Generic Octopus
Mar 27, 2010

Palivir

"I'm sure there's a fine story behind all this, and I am keen to hear it..." said Palivir, slipping into the speech of his kind as he set to work cutting through Sesha's bonds while the others gathered themselves. "But at the moment I'm more interested to know if you've seen signs of either a young draconian girl, or- careful of your hand, there- or if you know anything about an orc raiding party in the area."

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
She regards Palivir curiously, tilting her head a little. "I haven't seen your spawn. My apologies." Shaking the last strands of web off of her, she steps out of the pile. "But the orcs I have seen, yes. I could not pursue them, as I was avoiding my pursuer - thank you kindly once again for dispatching of him, by the way - but they were headed to their city in the mountains," she says, speaking in accented Common once again. "Did they come for your home? Curious."

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK

Miren

Miren reappears behind Stalt and approaches Sesha, knife still gripped firmly in hand. "Sesha. Why does that thing want your blood so badly?"

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
"Why does a devil want anything?" Sesha replies, quite calmly. "Think, spirit-touched. Things are quite apparent if you look at them properly." She smoothes out some wrinkles in her black dress, observing the lot of you with a pensive hum. "What I'd like to know is what you five are planning. You seem a little under-prepared for taking on an orc city in retribution. Have you a plan?"

ArkInBlack
Mar 22, 2013

Oliver Arderne

After being cut free and healed, Oliver approaches the strange woman, catching her response to Miren. "When a devil wants something, it means it will be useful to him. If he has maintained pursuit, you are no simple woman, and are almost as suspect as he was." Oliver's eyes narrow as he stares at Sesha, "I don't suppose you'd actually answer the questions I have? Who are you and what power you have that a greater devil would take such interest in you?" as he said this he mentally ran through things that might explain Sesha's persistent devil pursuer.

Arcana to sense Sesha's nonsense: 1d20+15 32
Religion to recall some religious text that might help: 1d20+13 33

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
"Ahhh, the wizard sees it clearly!" Sesha looks delighted. "Very well, then, I'll answer you clearly; or as clearly as I can. I am Sesha, and Sesha is me; it is not my true name, but it serves, and so you may call me by it. As for what power I hold, well; power greater than all five of you combined, and power greater still than the orc warband that raided your town." With that, she stretches out, and her hair seemingly comes to life. It lengthens, twists, and turns, and for a moment, it seems as if you're staring at a whole new creature, hidden in the strands of her hair.



Then all is normal again, and with a broad smile and conspiratorial wink, Sesha walks past the lot of you towards the cart. "May I ride with you for a while? I could use the rest, and you can tell me what you plan to achieve in the city of orcs. Perhaps we could aid one another, mm?"

Knowledge; Oliver knows that some older, more powerful dragons will sometimes take human shape and walk among them. Most dragons consider themselves above this, but not the rarer and more cunning Mercury or Steel dragons. Given Sesha's riddles and oblique answers, she's probably a Mercury dragon.

Wahad fucked around with this message at 16:33 on Apr 27, 2014

Generic Octopus
Mar 27, 2010

Palivir

"With all that power, one would think a bit a web wouldn't have been such an imposition..." said Palivir as he sheathed his dagger and climbed into the cart.

"...but as suspect as the circumstances are, I'm not about to refuse an offer of aid if it means getting Jaela home safe. But should we be worried about that fiend turning up again? Seemed you two had a history."

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
Sesha waves dismissively as she nimbly hops onto the cart, casting some errant strands of spidersilk aside. "Oh, I don't think so. He's a persistent scoundrel, I'll grant you, but cross-plane manifestation is hardly an effortless feat." She smiles. "Though you have raised his ire, so I suppose if he has nothing better to do, he might look for you in a few years or so again to exact horrible vengeance. You know how devils do." She reclines amidst Oliver's possession. "Well then, shall we be onwards? I believe we have much to learn from one another."

Arivia
Mar 17, 2011
Keelie

Keelie nods at Sesha. "Nice to meet you. Let's get going - slowly. I think we could all use a rest along the way. And yes, we seek out the orcs to get some sort of an accounting for their sudden attack on our homes."

(Voting for an extended rest.)

Phrosphor
Feb 25, 2007

Urbanisation

Stalt

"Pleased to meet you Sesha, though these woods have proven less than friendly to travellers recently it seems. I think a rest is in order, it has been a long day, but if anyone has a good argument for moving on I won't have anyone saying that the halfling slowed you down!"

That is a rest vote from me as well

ArkInBlack
Mar 22, 2013

Oliver Arderne

Rolling his eyes as Sesha gets on the cart, Oliver gets back into the wagon and snaps the reins, stirring Khan into motion. "If I'm correct in my thinking, you likely have a love of riddles. You might have heard this one before if I'm correct. How is it a mighty dragon cannot handle a devil's manifestation and half-bred pawn?" Oliver asks in a perfectly flat voice, hardly bothering to turn to face Sesha with his question.


Yeah I would dig having summons for the next fight, I'm tossing down the extended rest vote too.

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
The woman laughs for a long, long while. "Oh, I do so enjoy a mortal wizard..." she says, after finally composing herself with a last chuckle, "the answer, of course, is another question. Whyever would such a mighty dragon dispose of such trifles with a dazzling display of phenomenal power when there are other, more humiliating ways of doing the same?" More laughter, then, joyful and just the slightest bit vindictive. "Poor Valac. If he wasn't a devil, I'd pity him for having such grand dreams unfulfilled every time he manages to manifest." She turns on the cart to face Palivir. "But la, let us not speak of those unpleasantries, and rather your own. Tell me of this daughter of yours, young spawn. Perhaps I might give you insight into the riddle of her disappearance."


Extended rest is happening as you travel; next encounter will have all your dailies etc. recharged. For now, feel free to talk with Sesha, amongst yourselves, or if nobody's interested I'll skip ahead after a while.

Generic Octopus
Mar 27, 2010

Palivir

"Eh, it's not much of a riddle. To me, at least. Last I saw she went runnin' off to find some friend of hers (Violet, I think; human girl, sweet kid) while the orcs were attackin'. Told her to get in the basement but...eh, guess I can't fault her much, I did much the same going after her. She's a tough little things, and awful headstrong, so there's a chance she decided to follow the war-band on her own. Stupid, really, not like her to be that thoughtless, but I guess that's kids for ya.

The other obvious answer is that she got herself caught and hauled off...suppose the only way to know is to go and see. If she's not with the orcs and we don't find her along the way...then I'm short of ideas of where she coulda gone."

ArkInBlack
Mar 22, 2013

Oliver Arderne

Sighing deeply at the response he had honestly expected from the dragon, Oliver started another line of questioning with a snap of the reins. "I'm not surprised you are aware of the orc raid on Daybreak, but I believe I know how our attempt for answers will go. We shall approach, with a few attempting to get into ambush positions, either to prepare a trap for when attempts at diplomacy inevitably fail, or find the waiting ambush for when the inevitably tire of stringing us along, then we shall engage in a bloody fight that we'll either win, gaining a measure of respect from them, more then words could win I might add, and potentially answers of Palivir's daughter from whomever is the least battered, battering said individual until we are certain they lack the knowledge desired or until he gives it." Looking around at the odd stares from his allies, Oliver shrugs "It's only pessimistic if I'm incorrect."

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
The woman remains quiet for a while Oliver lays out his plan, observing each of you with a glitter in her eyes. "Hmmm..." Then, she shrugs lightly with a smile. "Slaughtering the orcs seems a little bloodthirsty. But la, you do as you must. I know well the motivational power of vengeance." Gesturing to Palivir, she continues: "But if they have taken the young one, it might be wise to retrieve her before you spring your ambush, no? Far be it from me to lecture you, of course, but...well."

You pass the time on the road without disturbance. Now that the adrenaline of the fight has worn off, a grim silence hangs among you, as you can't help but think of the task ahead. Sesha is content to remain quiet, sometimes watching you, sometimes reading one of Oliver's books. Kaiser eventually comes out as well, which delights her, and she spends a while conversing with him.

The sun is creeping down towards the horizon, throwing dark shadows around the forest, when you come upon a steep hill, at the outliers of the mountain range where the orcs make their home. Into the hill is carved an old, grand statue of sorts, on top of a wall. It depicts a heavy-set face. But the years have taken its toll on it, and all sorts of foliage cover the surrounding area.



A small distance away from the face, water trickles down from out the hill, collecting in a few stagnant pools. Observing the wall closer, it has some faded Orcish writing carved into it, though none of you can read it. The road ends here; Keelie knows that you could make it to the mountains by going around, but the terrain is difficult and overgrown, so you'd be forced to go on foot. Sesha, meanwhile, has hopped off the cart and approached the statue and wall, humming pensively as she inspects it.

Consider the Extended Rest complete for now.

Arivia
Mar 17, 2011
Keelie

Keelie follows Sesha to the wall. "A pretty ruin, although not as beautiful as nature itself. Why does it fascinate you, Sesha?"

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
She sniffs disdainfully. "There's old magics on this place. Orcish, probably. It stinks." Shivering a little, Sesha waves a hand dismissively. "It might be a passage of some sort, but I have no interest in going below the earth."

Generic Octopus
Mar 27, 2010

Palivir

"The orcs have never been so hostile to us in the past, Oliver; something else is at work here, as I'm sure you've also considered. I don't have high hopes for a direct negotiation, but maybe if we can find out why they attacked, we'll be able to resolve this with a little less bloodshed."

As the sky grew dark, Palivir studied the orcish totem. He hadn't found any secret passages the times he'd ventured to scout outside of Daybreak, but then, that is the point of them.

"If the orcs took a hidden passage, then they likely made much better time than we will if we go through the mountains. We're already two days behind them...it might be worth a look around if it means keeping pace. Or making up time, if they went through the mountains."

Arivia
Mar 17, 2011
Keelie

"Agreed." Keelie begins to examine the carving, looking for any triggers or latches to open the passageway.

Perception: 1d20+11 27

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
Between Palivir and Keelie, you find some things quickly enough. The dragonborn, tearing some of the overgrowth out of the way, reveals more carved Orcish script, and a few slots that seem like they could hold keys or the like. Finding out how to open it will require some more studying. Keelie, however, sees that there is not just a mechanical lock. Placing her hand on the stone face, she feels a warmth coursing through the stone, indicating the presence of primal magic. You'll have to work together to open this; and without anybody to read the Orcish, you'll have to study the locks themselves.

Skill Challenge - Opening the Orcish Passage!

To open the passage, everybody make a skill check at DC 20! I'm not making this quite a standard skill challenge, but I do want y'all to work together, so feel free to use whatever skill you think applies best. Anybody who rolls a natural twenty automatically opens the passage; a natural 1 will require at least three successes to offset it, or the passage locks down. If you all roll failures, the passage doesn't open, but two or more successes will open the passage without the presence of a 20 or 1.

Arivia
Mar 17, 2011
Keelie

Keelie begins studying the rock face, tapping it here and there. She backs off a pace, and points at several points in the wall. "These are the thinnest parts, where the magic is weakest and the passage is closest. Focus your efforts on the locks there."

Nature: 1d20+13 30

ArkInBlack
Mar 22, 2013

Oliver Arderne

Looking up at the passage's stone face, Oliver grabs one of his many tomes and begins thumbing through the pages, looking for historical knowledge that might be of some assistance at this juncture.

History: 1d20+15 28

Generic Octopus
Mar 27, 2010

Palivir

"Alright, let's have a look now..." Palivir knelt down to examine the slots, the seemingly mechanical element of the passage gate.

"Hrm...yes...mhm...okay..." he muttered to himself as he began fiddling with the mechanism using his toolkit, applying various techniques until he heard what sounded like a click.

Thievery: 33

"Okay, anyone see if that did anything?"

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK

Miren

Her head still ringing from yesterday, Miren opts not to bother the spirits at this time. She tries to concentrate on the orcish magic, looking for a way to make it yield.

Arcana: 18

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
Through your combined efforts, the passage starts to grind open with a horrible noise of stone on stone. The wall falls away into the ground, revealing a large, wide passage into darkness. There's no torches inside, but from your own lights, you can see that on either side, there's small canals, and on the ceiling you can see a bull's head with twisting, curving horns.



"Well, if you insist..." Sesha sighs dramatically. "I suppose this is where we part ways. Good luck with your orcs! And...perhaps we'll meet again, mm?" With a curtsey and a knowing smile, she turns around and walks away into the underbrush. A few moments later, you hear the beating of powerful wings - and then nothing. There's only a few moments of daylight left, now; and with no other options, you head into the passage below.

It takes some work to get in there, clearing away some of the other undergrowth so that Khan and the cart can come in without problems, but you manage well enough. The passage stretches on without light on the end, but if it carries you far enough, you know from the lay of the land that it should carry you well into the mountains.

Just as you're about to set off you hear the beating of hooves, and somebody calling out.

Hashtag Yoloswag
Mar 24, 2013

...I'm sorry. I can't seem to remember any of the rest.

Rhonwen Yates

"Hellooooo?" A young, horned woman, adorned in intricate but functional red-and-white robes rides into view on a palomino mare. She catches sight of the other denizens of Daybreak and waves, riding over. "There you are!"

She dismounts and walks up to the others, wearing a soft smile. "I come with wonderful news, Mister Sombra! Jaela returned with one of the search parties last night, safe and sound if a little shaken. She said she'd hid in a hollow log until the danger passed!"

She clears her throat and gets serious: "I am also to join your party, on orders from Lady Atropa. The rebuilding effort is going well and the militia has gotten new volunteers, so she agreed that you could use another fighter - especially one that could speak Orcish." She winks.

ArkInBlack
Mar 22, 2013

Oliver Arderne

After Rhonwen announced herself with 'There you are', Oliver could not suppress the look of shock on his face. "W-well! I had thought the mayor would put a thing such as taxes on hold until after our return to the town at least! I have the gold here on me, I hope for their sake the militia hasn't tried to force their way into my basement..."

Hand hovering over his gold pouch when Rhonwen finishes, Oliver clears his throat a few times quietly while Kaiser howls with uncontrolled laughter. "Hush you damnable imp, hush I say!"

Generic Octopus
Mar 27, 2010

Palivir

"She's safe, then? Good...heh, very good. Should've figured she'd be too smart for some orc rabble to get the better of her. That's a relief; thank you, Rhonwen. This makes the confrontation to come a great deal simpler."

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
"Indeed, it's excellent news! One less thing to worry about," Stalt agrees, prodding his llama with his heels to make it move forward, "although it is awful dark in here. I wonder how the orcs make it through without torches?" Even those of you who are accustomed to seeing things in the long shadows of dawn and dusk have trouble seeing far ahead; and as the passage closes with that same horrible grinding noise, you're all left in absolute darkness - and absolute silence.

ArkInBlack
Mar 22, 2013

Oliver Arderne

With a wave of a hand, Keelie's shield sheds bright light though it does not penetrate much of the darkness. "Ah, now that I can see..." Reaching back into the cart Oliver pulls up a lantern and lights it with a muttered word, before letting go of it. The lantern hangs above his shoulder, shedding bright light far into the forbidding darkness. Snapping the reins on Khan once more the cart begins to roll forward "Mere normal, non-magical darkness cannot hold back a prepared adventurer, let alone a prepared wizard!"

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
"Ahhh, thank you, Oliver. This'll do nicely!" Stalt says brightly, taking the lead. He moves onward on his llama, cautious but nonetheless relieved to have found the passage. As the lot of you proceed, the passage remains more of the same; polished stone floor, arcs to support the ceilings, and the canals on the side, with no light anywhere but the kind spread by the floating lantern. As you walk on, Palivir and Keelie notice that the bull's head carvings on each arc have their horns twist in increasingly convoluted ways; and after you pass the eighth of those arcs, you suddenly hear a heavy hum that seems to come from all sides. It presses on your ears and chest, heavy and uncomfortable, but seemingly harmless. Then, after a few moments, a thunderous voice booms through the passage.

Rhonwen; The voice is in Orcish, and although it takes you a moment to adjust to the volume and dialect, you can more or less make out what it says. <"Apu Sacha sees your souls and knows you do not belong. Turn back or be guided to his realm, trespassers.">

Miren; When the voice comes on, you suddenly lose all contact with the spirits for a moment; no voices, no movements, nothing.

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK

Miren

"Silent again." Miren whispers. "Who is it that bars your passage, O spirits?"

Insight: 18

Hashtag Yoloswag
Mar 24, 2013

...I'm sorry. I can't seem to remember any of the rest.

Rhonwen Yates

Rhonwen swallows, then turns to the others. "He speaks of the Lord of the Mountain, their god of the underworld, and warns us to turn away lest we enter his realm. The arches we've passed represent his domain - the mountain ranges that twist and turn across the land." She clears her throat and shouts back in Orcish, <"We seek audience with your leaders so that we may negotiate peace between our people. Would do not wish to linger; will He offer his blessing to us that we may cross his domain?">

Diplomacy: 1d20+15 32

ArkInBlack
Mar 22, 2013

Oliver Arderne

Arching his brow, Oliver chuckles at the mention of the Orcish god. "Oh, the Lord of Mountains probably demands something of us along the lines of leaving I assume from the inhospitable tone carried. Perhaps we should all have a refresher on him so we might properly appreciate what awaits us, we'll start with what Elven Conquistadors bothered to write down when they first arrived..." with that Oliver rails into a long winded lecture on everything he knows of the Lord of Mountains.

Recall details of the Mountain Lord: 1d20+13 27

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
The voice does not respond to Rhonwen, and her words are but met with that same heavy hum for a few more moments, before you are left in silence again. Miren finds the spirits returning to her once more when the moment has passed; it seems that it was but a temporary warding. Though after it has passed, she notices the spirits are...lethargic, dulled, like something is keeping them from unleashing their true potential.

Oliver knows well enough that orcs invoke gods for almost every significant location or performed action. So too does it make sense that they would invoke the god of the underworld, or literally "the place under mountains", in an underground passage. Apu Sacha is a god of order and protection, his warding extends to both the honored dead and those who live, so that the latter may join the former when their time is done. Places that invoke the Lord of Mountains are usually hidden, and well-warded with defenses so that they may stay that way.

"Gee," Stalt says after a while, "d'you think they'd keep the underworld so close to the surface?"

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Arivia
Mar 17, 2011
Keelie

Keelie pays little attention to Rhonwen's approach, waving to the new ally and then walking deeper into the tunnel. When Oliver lights up her shield, she nods in gratitude before leading the party on. "Between the protections and the veneration, I think we must be careful here. The mountains move like anything else: slower, deeper, but even more powerful in their sloth." Keelie continues to lead the group on, shining the light of her shield into every nook and cranny, looking for dangers or hidden enemies. She also makes a point of looking at each bull head as they pass, watching them get more and more monstrous.

Perception: 1d20+11 20

Arivia fucked around with this message at 05:15 on May 13, 2014

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