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| Flesh eating beetles... Be glad this didn't happen to you... |
Tech: 15 points damage. Selvantis now has 14 hp, but gains 30 temporary hit points! He also gains an action point. Alas, if you take a short break, you will lose these temp hp. But still, a free action point is sweet!
Nevdor launches the third heart. With one more devoured, the dracolisk realizes its mortality and attempts to flee to the west. Trapped, the three-headed beast lets out a terrifying roar while a swarm of beetles emerges from the ziggurat and reduces it to a bloodied skeleton in seconds! Meanwhile, the lone guardian assassin screams as it combusts into flame in a cloud of burning locusts...
The beetles scurry away as the dracolisk skeleton falls heavy against the west wall, crushing the stone... and revealing a secret chamber beyond... The battle is over, and in this small chamber you see the fourth divine skull on a small clay altar. This one has the symbol of Kishar engraved on it, and once more you feel the presence of divinity.
 |
| Bhareg's fate, set in stone. |
But all is not roses and rainbows. As you look to each other in congratulations, you see that Bhareg has been turned to stone.
OOC: Selvantis resisted the petrify, but Bhareg did not. Anybody got anything for a saving throw re-roll?
In the meantime, congratulations crusaders! For those of you keeping track of your milestones, this would be a milestone if you have lived through one other trial. In other words, if you lived from the start, this is your fourth trial and you have earned a total of 2 action points thus far. I'll be honest, I've completely lost track of who's earned and spent action points.
I'm eager to see what you do next. -MilwaukeeJoe
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteAs the wash of vile, caustic fluid flows over his body, glorious heat burns deep within the bestial ranger's breast. The glory of Lyth courses through his veins and he shakes aside the chill of stone that had rooted him to the spot. He knows the vitality is fleeting, but does his best to contain the blessing.
Still dazed by the sudden and horrific death of the dracolisk, [and saddened by the loss of its thick defensive hide...] he turns to his compatriots and lets out a hoot of victory. His face falls as he spots Bhareg, stony flesh rigid in the fetid air of Kishar's challenge.
He walks towards his friend and claps a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. "Is there naught we can do?" He asks to his fellows, looking to Hanar for some divine assistance.
"We shall restore you, my brother, or avenge you in its stead. And I shall see your name sung through the generations as one of the bravest of all champions to face the Gods."
OOC: Oh man, that was aw(ful)esome! I haven't been that worried about a fight in a long damn time. I think Nevdor should take the skull as he dealt the final blow.
How long can he hold onto the extra HP if he uses an endurance check?
OOC: No rolls will help. You can hold onto it until you do a short rest. Once you do, temp hp goes away. And you can't spend surges at-will until you do a short rest.
DeleteOOC: Prior to petrifaction, Bhareg tossed the Krater of Might to Arden. Arden, you now have a Krater of Might.
ReplyDeleteNevdor, glad to no longer be turning into a statue himself, mourns for Bhareg who did not. After a moment of silence, he walks up to Hanar and asks "May borrow your warhammar? I have a sacrifice to make to Kishar..."
ReplyDeleteOOC: I take it the hut was not crushed? That sarcophagus beckons me...I plan to make a sacrifice to Kishar, then give it to you guys before I head in to tackle that trap. Polymorph be damned.
"May *I* Borrow your warhammer?"
ReplyDeleteOOC: Sorry, my spelling is shit today.
Hanar was shocked as the dracolisk's attempted flight was cut short by the swarm of hungry beetles. Holding very still to avoid being noticed, only his eyes watch the horror of the moment. Once the beetles withdraw, Hanar relaxes. He turns to Bhareg with a smile forming on his face only to have his mouth drop open in shock.
ReplyDelete"Bhareg..." he says.
Only barely hearing Nevdor, Hanar says a weak "Aye" before handing over the warhammer. Hanar places a hand on Bhareg's shoulder.
"He was a good friend. Alas, there is nothing I can do."
OOC: I plan on resting and using 2 healing surges to get to full hp.
Sadly, I don't think a Runepriest can do anything about petrification or helping another character make saving throws.
Nevdor, warhammer in hand, walks slowly over to the dracolisk skeleton, cautious that the some unholy magicks are still at work. If the bones to not move, he takes the time to sever the middle skull at the base of its neck with the hammer.
ReplyDeleteFollowing that, he moves over to the unveiled room, presents the skull on high, and shouts: "We claim the skull of this abomination in the name of Bhareg!"
OOC: I will wait to approach the skull itself for a few moments, then enter the room looking for trap plates or spear holes in the floor. Even a goddess of slaughter could still have a surprise for us...
With the end of the dracolisk Arden feels the remnants of the beast's stony gaze fade away. He stands up from his hiding place in the bushes and realizes disappointed that the slowness bestowed upon him by the bad roll of the dice has stayed with him. Seeing Bhareg sends a shiver down his spine, knowing just how close he came to meeting the same end.
ReplyDeleteArden limps his way over to the newly exposed passage and casts detect magic, holding his orb up before him to sense the Arcane energies in the new room.
Tech: Arcana +11
[Nevdor]
ReplyDeleteAfter Nevdor drags over the dracolisk skull and shows it off like a trophy, he receives a vision. The vision is of him, being incredible in battle. But not just one battle. He's in a dozen battles simultaneously, and not taking a scratch! Nevdor's never looked so awesome before. Battle is indeed glorious.
Then the image vanishes, leaving you with just the divine skull before you.
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteArden detects the magical wards on the skull, which fades right after Nevdor presents his battle trophy!
Nevdor will then grab the skull, witha big grin on his face. Those memories of battle will stay with him for etenerity. As long as touching the skull causes no ill effects, Nevdor passes the skull to Arden for safe keeping and heads over to the hut.
ReplyDeleteOOC: four skulls woot! You'll all have to forgive me, I don't like leaving possible treasure behind. Joe, seeing that I know the sarcophagus is cursed, any way I can try to disarm it? Perhaps one of you arcane folks can help me...
[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteAs you pass through the end of this trial, all of you sense a strong feeling of approval, excitement, and a strange bit of bittersweet completeness.
Somewhere in the background of it all, you hear the echo of a staff hitting the ground, as if making a point.
OOC: I'm very humbled by the sendoff you folks have been giving Bhareg. Here's hoping his successor Ashton can live up to the task.
The adventure continues here:
ReplyDeletehttp://grind4e.blogspot.com/2012/03/crucible-of-gods-treasures-and-new.html