A Curious Request, part 3

Log Info

• Title: A Curious Request, part 3
• Emitter: Whirlpool
• Characters: Ashes, Silmeria, Lysos, Zaxx, Edinaz
• Place: Dragonier
• Time: Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 10:07 PM
• Summary: Stuck on top of the Mine elevator, the party debates what to do as the multi-limbed wight monstrosity beneath them smashes through the roof. They all fall into the elevator car, where there is little space. The creature taking up the maximum occupancy all on its own. Battle Ensues, with Zaxx and Silmeria firing into it, Ashes and Lysos providing magical support, and Edinaz hitting it with his sword before it attempts to absorb him. A thunderstomp from Lysos helps him break free, but maks the creature harder to shoot. While it is accumulating injuries, it's still blobbing about. The battle continues...

-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face
Silmeria     5'8"     126 Lb     Human             Female    A sweet-looking blond human in a long black dress and breastplate.
Lysos        5'6"     105 Lb     Human/Tsuran      Female    Dark eyes, dark hair, olive skin, a jotun-sized chip on the shoulder.
Zaxx         5'2"     152 Lb     Shadow Elf        Male      Compactly built, bald man with dark skin and pointy ears.
Edinaz       6'10"    296 Lb     Half-Orc          Male      Grey-skinned half-oruch, extensive black ink.   
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=--=--=--=--=--=---=--=--
Whirlpool    5'0"                Otyugh                      I am stinky!          
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Ashes, wondering what is in the lift that is causing it to rise up, lays down. She carefully checks the wall to avoid decapitation, and peeks over the edge to determine what is coming up with them.

...there's a grossly obese wight sitting in the mining cart. It has multiple heads. And multiple arms. And seems to be manning the controls. It has no eyes.

Yet, it looks right towards Ashes. Right. Towards.

She KNOWS there's no way it should be able to see her. She *knew* how stealthy she was.

Ashes sees what she sees, and very quickly ducks her head back. She stands, her mouth a little open as the lift continues to rattle higher and higher. She speaks, once more in monotone, "Wight. Multiple heads, multiple arms. Blind and it saw me. We should get ready for this."

"Lovely," Silmeria says, voice grim. "We'll want to keep our distance then... One horror like that all fused together, it'd make mince of anyone who tried to gang up on it directly."

Loosing a sigh, she flicks her pistol's breech open, sliding in a fresh bullet. "Let's hope it isn't *too* terribly tenacious..."

Lysos hasn't picked herself up yet. Bruised, a bit shaken from the fall, on a rising platform... no, her history considered, it is perhaps best she remains off of her feet for the moment. When the creature inside is described, she starts shaking her head, slowly at first but then bordering on violently. "Nope. Nope. Don't want to imagine it. Nope. Stop trying to picture it."

Something hits the roof of the elevator. CRNK!

A fist-shaped bulge has just appeared in thee roof, even as the lift continues upwards.

If not yet readied, the dark man sees to the usability of his pair of crossbows. He moves to let loose at the unliving brute, hopefully without going through the roof they are on.

Lysos doesn't yell, exactly, as what's presumably the undead monster's fist gets aquainted with the dividing elevator roof. But she is rather suddenly not on her rump anymore. No, she's up and clinging to the cable supporting the elevtator and staring at the fist shaped bulge.

Ashes contemplates channeling the Feiu of the Tears power. She remembers it really only works when there isn't a barrier in the way. Despite the dent, what they're standing on seems solid enough to block that. She look up, in case a ceiling is approaching and getting off is the only option.

There's some clearance. They're not all about to be squished.

Edinaz draws out both of his swords. "I see it's eager." He exhales for a moment, then mutters. "I miss my bombs right now."

Thirty seconds to the top.

CRUNCH.

A second fist sized impact in the ceiling. A crunching, groaning sound.

"Well," says Silmeria, as the top of the shaft approaches, "I suppose we shall have to say hello to our host. If anyone would like some holy water, speak up. I've got *more* than plenty."

And with that, the Speaker prepares to dive back onto solid ground. At least this way, the trip back down won't end in nearly as much embarrassment.

"Suggestions?" Ashlee says in monotone, watching the lip of the shaft approaching, also readying to dive onto the solid ground.

Edinaz nods. "I'll take some holy water." He, too, gets ready to jump, lookiug up then looking down, then up again to time it. "Let's hold off and see if our friend will crash through in time to find the ceiling at speed."

Zaxx switches his right hand crossbow for a black, gleaming stabbing implement, "We jump at the last second or I give us a little opening for a head start on physical dysfunction before we leave."

"I think I'll just stay here," Lysos offers, not quite managing to make clinging to the lift's cable look dignified. "Wouldn't want to get in anyone's way."

GAME: Silmeria rolls reflex: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Zaxx rolls Reflex: (16)+9: 25
GAME: Lysos rolls reflex: (11)+5: 16
GAME: Edinaz rolls ref: (17)+6: 23
GAME: Ashes rolls reflex: (17)+2: 19

There's a great tearing sound. SCreeching metal. Seems that the abomination is tearing open the ceiling. With its bare hands. After having put handholds in it.

Looks like you're all about to go sliding into the lift.

Silmeria says, "....New plan! KILL THE HELL OUT OF IT."

The top of the shaft is approaching, but not as quickly as the floor is giving way. Ashlee grabs her weapons and falls in, landing on her feet.

Lysos immediately regrets the spicy food she ate prior to going to bed and having this nightmare.

GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (11)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 24
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (16)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 29
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (18)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 31
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (18)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 31
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3-5: (6)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3+-5: 14
GAME: Zaxx rolls 1d10+1+1+2+2+6: (7)+1+1+2+2+6: 19
GAME: Zaxx rolls 2d10+2+2+4+4+12: (8)+2+2+4+4+12: 32

Zaxx swaps out the blade during the seemingly endless last moments of the tearing ride. The roof gives and the mul hops to squarely land his iron boots on somewhat steady ground. He hisses lowly and begins to assail the big thing of a Thulian abomination with glowing bolts.

Only two hit, but they are solid?

GAME: Edinaz RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 16 temporary HP
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+14: (15)+14: 29
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+9: (13)+9: 22
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+11: (6)+11: 17
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d8+7: (7)+7: 14

Edinaz's tattoos glow silver, and Edinaz explodes into motion --probably born of proximity-based fear. His attacks are fast and sloppy, but one gashes an arm-tendril nonetheless

GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (3)+14: 17
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (17)+14: 31
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d8+10+1d6: (14)+10+(2): 26

First it raises one arm, slowly turning towards Silmeria. Then it raises the other. It punches towards her, slowly, looking like it's going to be an incredibly easy thing to get out of the way of...

... but that's when it's arm sprouts tendrils of its arm, tendrils that bear the screaming faces of wights absorbed in the past by this thing. They lash out at Silmeria, several of them whipping her and leaving her chilled to the bone.

It's not a great feeling.

GAME: Lysos casts Blur. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18

Lysos loses her grip on the cable and tumbles pot over tea kettle down into the lift, narrowly missing Silmeria a moment before she thumps onto the floor. She groans, unable to get up right away.. which spares her an initial direct look at the gross undead amalgamation. She does get to see the baby wight faces on tentacles flail over her, though, and as they lash out at Silmeria, Lysos frantically gathers power within herself, flutters her fingers, and shouts, "Ambigulax!" as she slaps the inquisitor on the back of her boot, releasing the magic into her.

<OOC> Silmeria says, "That's a Will save, DC 12"
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+6: (19)+6: 25
GAME: Ashes rolls 3d6: (11): 11

Ashes had glimpsed it before, so the sight of the wight is not a complete surprise. Still not pleasant. No where to back up. She watches as arms, then tentacles strike out at Silmeria.

"Feiu of the Tears, end this abomination." She touches the holy symbol on the front of her armour, and lets the power of her Goddess emmanate out. The skin of the thing sizzles, but not much. The Grey Lady must want more direct intervention.

<OOC> Silmeria says, "Bane Baldric gives me an effective 13 Inq for Bane, so +4d6 to damage."
GAME: Silmeria rolls ranged+1+2: (18)+8+1+2: 29
GAME: Silmeria rolls ranged+1+2-5: (6)+8+1+2+-5: 12
GAME: Silmeria rolls 1d6+1+4d6: (6)+1+(8): 15
GAME: Silmeria rolls 1d6+1+4d6: (3)+1+(12): 16

That was *not* a good feeling at all. In fact, the touch of the octo-wight manages to crack the Speaker's merry facade entirely, and as she tries to shake the nubness from her hand, one can see a fear and outrage on Silmeria's face. The slap of a hand on her boot, and the subsequent magic, prompts her eyes to dart toward Lysos... but the fear fades, and the sorceress gets a warm, reassuring smile. As Ashes' channeling washes over the creature, one can see the Speaker's back straighten yet further.

"Well!" she says finally, shaking a lock of hair away from her face. "*You're* quite the horrid miscreation, aren't you? Perhaps it's time for all you good children to go to sleep, yes? Listen to your Auntie Ashlee there, and put your heads down." Leveling her pistol, she breathes a quiet prayer to the Grey Lady, her gun gleaming with silver fire. *All* of them."

GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (5)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 18
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (3)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 16
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (1)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 14 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3-5: (17)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3+-5: 25
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3-5: (2)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3+-5: 10
GAME: Zaxx rolls 1d10+1+1+2+2+6: (2)+1+1+2+2+6: 14

Zaxx blinks a handful of times as he does micro twists and slight adjustments which are mostly reflexive by now -just enough to not present himself as a target to the big nasty. He blinks after every quarrel, though, which does not help the cursed syl's aim. The newly won focus is disconcerting.

GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+16: (10)+16: 26
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+11: (4)+11: 15
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d8+8+2: (4)+8+2: 14

Edinaz lets go his his shorter sword, and gets his hand on the pommel of his longsword. Switching his grip a little, he snaps off a pair of false-edged, close-range strikes -- one missing, and one hitting with a meaty *thwack* ... and then... that bappens.

GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (5)+14: 19
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (16)+14: 30
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (14)+20: 34
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d8+10+1d6: (11)+10+(6): 27

Here in the lift, there are controls. The horrible creature lashes out at the controls, smashing them with a screaming tentacle before it grabs hold of Edinaz and tries to ... absorb him. HE's being pressed into its front and is being .. pulled inside.

Hands. It has so many hands sprouting from its midsection, a belly full of screaming, hungry maws.

It reaches out for Silmeria next.

GAME: Lysos casts Thunderstomp. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+12: (19)+12: 31

"Edin!" yells Lysos, witnessing the horrific scene of the bloodrager being drawn into the undead monstrosity as she climbs to her feet. "Give him back!" she demands as once again she gathers power, the air seeming to tighten about as she raises her foot, then slams it down on the lift's floor with a shouted, "Fwoom!" A ripple shoots for the entangled pair, bucking the plating of the floor right underneath them.

<OOC> Ashes says, "I'll channel to heal the party this time."
GAME: Ashes rolls 3d6: (15): 15
GAME: Ashes damaged Ashes for -15 points. 56 HP remaining.

Ashes presses back against the wall of the elevator cage. She doesn't want to be close to the thing, and her previous efforts didn't seem to do much. She touches the scales on her breastplate, "Feiu of the Tears, it's not time yet."

A numbing sensation emanates from her, soothing wounds. Everyone feels a little better afterwards.

<OOC> Silmeria says, "Judgment of Healing and Destruction. Fast Healing 4, and +4 to damage, atop Bane, full attack."
GAME: Silmeria rolls ranged+1+2: (5)+8+1+2: 16
GAME: Silmeria rolls ranged+1+2-5: (7)+8+1+2+-5: 13
GAME: Silmeria rolls 1d6+1+4+4d6: (5)+1+4+(17): 27

"And thank you *very* much, Mourner," Silmeria says, as Ashlee's magic takes away a good deal of the pain she had been fighting to keep from affecting her. The numbing grey light seems to... settle onto the Speaker, as she levels her gun to fire off another pair of shots. Only one finds its mark, but, that one seems to bite deeply.

GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2: (12)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2: 28
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2: (20)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2: 36 (THREAT)
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2: (2)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2: 18
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2: (14)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2: 30
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-5: (19)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-5: 30
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2: (12)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2: 28
GAME: Zaxx rolls 1d10+1+1+2+2: (8)+1+1+2+2: 14
GAME: Zaxx rolls 1d10+1+1+2+2: (3)+1+1+2+2: 9

Zaxx's choice of targets is drastically reduced by the mountain of gnarly belly being between the crossbowsman and the more interesting heads, necks, eyes, maws. He experiments with slight jumps to get those juicy locations back in sight, but it does not quite work. Only two smacking bolts skit anywhere near a good spot.

GAME: Edinaz rolls cmb: (10)+13: 23

Edinaz does /not/ llike this! Not one big! He pulls, and kicks, and thrashes, and pries himself free! That's enough, handsy-man!

<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Ed, you'll get an AOO."
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+16: (14)+16: 30
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d8+8+2: (2)+8+2: 12
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (10)+14: 24
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "OKay!"
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d8+10+1d6: (4)+10+(4): 18

A lashed out tentacle as it gets to its feet, drawing a blow from Edinaz as it does, grabs towards Silmeria once more. This time, the Vardaman is ready for its extra mouths and gets out of the way.

This time.

<OOC> Ashes says, "okay, channel again then"
GAME: Ashes rolls 3d6: (9): 9
GAME: Ashes damaged Ashes for -9 points. 56 HP remaining.

"It's ok." Ashes says, maintaining her monotone and sounding unhurried. Again she touches her Holy Symbol and makes an appeal, "Feiu of the Tears, a little more healing."

The cold, clammy, earthy sensation fills the elevator cage again. The ache of wounds diminish, small ones close over, as the Mourner stands there and stares. It's oddly comforting.

GAME: Silmeria casts Flames of the Faithful. Caster Level: 9 DC: 14

"...All right then," the Speaker says, as the silver fire around her pistol diminishes, and the weapon is lowered. "We're doing well, but... We should probably end this quickly."

The barrel of the gun rises to her lips, and Silmeria whispers a soft, fervent prayer. The silver inlay around the barrel glows a bright, cherry-red, and the opening seems to catch fire. Her eyes rise back to the Wight, and a small, bitter smile tugs at her lips. "...Quickly it is, then."

GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (11)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 24
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (8)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 21
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (20)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 33 (THREAT)
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3: (10)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3: 23
GAME: Zaxx rolls ranged+2+1+1+1-2-2-3-5: (8)+15+2+1+1+1+-2+-2+-3+-5: 16
GAME: Zaxx rolls 1d10+1+1+2+2+6: (8)+1+1+2+2+6: 20

Zaxx wonders a bit why the Vardamite's gun only switched color and has more difficulty with the hitting business. Only one bolt does anything meaningful.

to be continued...

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 4 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
  >> 23   Zaxx             1   <<
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     21   Edinaz           1  Raging (4 rnds active)                       
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     21   Horrible Thing   1  
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     12   Lysos            1  
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     11   Ashes            1  
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     8    Silmeria         1  
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