Greg's Group
SpoilerNephrim reacts quite quickly, sending a well-aimed bullet towards the fleeing gnoll's legs. She isn't trying to kill him, merely slow him down. Or potentially her.
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Greg's Group
SpoilerNephrim reacts quite quickly, sending a well-aimed bullet towards the fleeing gnoll's legs. She isn't trying to kill him, merely slow him down. Or potentially her.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerIlpholin darts forward to get some distance between herself and the creature and not get in Becky's way for anything she wants to try.
It's then that she gets a glance at the next room. And what appears to be their competition. Deciding Becky can more than keep the thing distracted for a while hopefully, she goes to dart into the sarcophagus room and lash out with her whip to smack the gnoll hard in the back of the knees.
[Nadas Canvas]
"Honestly, I think you'd be an excellent chemist Dorota, and I know Cessie would be very useful in analyzing the magical properties, but I would never ask either of you to risk your lives like that. I'm sure I'll be able to make do for now, maybe come and consult if I find anything." Well that'd just be boring! Consulting! You'd hardly get any credit either. And Nadas will probably die horribly before he gets a chance to consult. Clearly he needs help.
"As for protection, few are willing."
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerThe creature doesn't actually emerge from the floor until it's exactly underneath Becky so either she need to blast her own feet as it emerges or blast the floor.
Ilpholin on the other hand will cause the gnoll to fall over with her whip. It snarls loudly in pain and turns to her, baring it's teeth. At this point the drow might notice just have large this gnoll really is, nearly twice as tall as the others, it shows clear signs of demonic corruption.
It's claws are much longer and looks unnaturally sharp and it's arms are leaner and longer with muscles playing underneath it's taunt skin. It's eyes glow a menacingly red as it slowly stand up again, apparently having recovered already.
Greg's Group
SpoilerConsidering the corridor is filled with waist deep water that freeze ray instead causes a ice floe which the gnoll runs into. It might be harder for Nephrim to hit the gnoll as it's lower part of the gnoll which is under water so she just manage to miss the little creature. Now it continues to attempt to push it's way past Zefir's ice floe to get as far away from the group as possible.
[Nadas Canvas]
"So why not start hiring people then Nadas? I would be willing to fund an expedition to the nexus even if I can't come in person. I would send an elemental though." Cessie says.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerBlast her own feet?
What makes you think Becky...wouldn't do such a thing?
She's read the Evil Overlord's Handbook.
She knows enough to be sure she's immune to her own powers.
KABLAMM!!!
"Ow! Ow ow ow!"
...of course, her boots might not be...
Greg's Group
SpoilerThe thing Zefir uses is no frost ray. after all he is no mage. He just has revived the Object to control the elements, but after all it should end the same way.He thought the water wasn't so deep and therefor didn't thought it out.
"Stop IT!" he shouts to the gnoll.
In the same moment he orders one of the floe (most like one with a spike) to get shoot after the gnoll aiming for his feet who are underwater.
[Nadas Canvas]
Dorota appears to be mulling it over then realization dawns on her face. If I were to come along, I could take Sizewell with me. He would provide adequate protection, don't you think?
[Nadas Canvas]
"Well the reasoning was financial and mortality issues." Nadas explains. Most people ask to get paid up front when dealing with the Weald. Can't imagine why. >>
"But I had not considered the use of golems and elementals as a potential labor source for these endeavors before." Probably because Nadas has been neglecting his magic studies. Of course... magic in the Weald is weird too.
"They should provide a strong amount of protection to a point." Even golems and elementals might want to stick to the outer parts.
[Ilpholin's Group]
Spoiler"You have one chance to submit now. I can guarantee it'll be pleasurable for you if you do." Ilpholin says, taking on an unusual defensive stance. As she talks, she unwittingly fades in and out of the demonic Theradun. A part of her is glad she brought that secret weapon with her. It looks like she'll need it.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerThe gnoll stares at her, it's bared teeth slowly turning into a wide grin as it hears the familiar demonic language. "Gathzy, attack!" It suddenly yells before running towards the tomb, moving more like an wolf then a humanoid at this point.
The next moment a large beetle like creature will swoop down from the ceiling against Ilpholin, attempting to bite her arm.
Meanwhile the guardian, being a creature made of stone, doesn't seem to take that much damage of Becky's blast of fire and ice. Of course, that can be hard to tell since it can't feel pain either.
But in either case the two-dimensional creature will suddenly jump out of the floor and attempt to grapple Becky by her waist with it's two claws and then attempt to crush her between them.
[Nadas Canvas]
"True enough, do you think it would be enough defense Dorota? I'm not even sure just how dangerous this place really is. I imagine we would find out though." Of course, she wouldn't even risk her life unlike the other two seeing she'd only possess one of her elements. <.<
[Nadas Canvas]
So long as we stick to the outer areas at first, I think Sizewell would do fine. Teeth, claws and poison would mean little to him, Dorota says.
Greg's Group
Spoiler"Stop. Come here, and don't attack. You will tell us why you where hiding in the coffin and what to expect in the areas ahead." Nephrim is using her mind-control on the gnoll, though it might not work as Nephrim can't speak Gnoll and is using Common instead. If that doesn't work, she'll try the language of demons from her home cosmology, then the language of devils from the same cosmology.
The mind control is not, however, solely language-based, though it always help if the target understands the language used to give orders.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerBecky, for her part, is having none of this.
And as the guardian tries to crush her with its claws, she attempts to teleport out from between them and to the other side of the room!
...possibly taking a chunk of the claws along with her...
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerIlpholin drops into a bit of a crouch, darting her whip forward to try and entangle the gnoll's feet, before turning razor sharp and retracting with a slicing intention. She doesn't particularly like him running for the tomb.
Unfortunately this leaves her a bit open to a bite from the creature, which takes a chunk out of her arm, even as she does do that ducking thing. She hisses in response.
[Nadas Canvas]
Cessie underestimates the magic of the Weald if she thinks she can't be hurt through her elementals. Normally that might be the case, but the Weald is anything but normal and far more dangerous.
"You would probably be all right so long as we don't delve too deep. It's the inner regions that really start destroying the laws of magic and nature. In the outer regions you'll probably be ok if you avoid touching anything." Nadas explains.
[Nadas Canvas]
That's a plan, then. But we need other specialists for a proper expedition, Dorota says. Unless we were to focus on the fields we've already got covered.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerBecky teleports away from the guardian who is now outside the murals and fully three-dimensional. It looks very much like a large black wolf golem with green-glowing scars covering it's entire body. It's eyes are two large red gems that are as large as plates and it's claws seem to be made of purple crystals sharped to spear points. Probably magical as Becky failed to take anything of them with her.
It's attention is soon diverted to the gnoll however who with a blood-chilling howl falls to the floor as Ilpholin retracts her whip. Seeing the tomb in danger it starts to dive into the floor again and go towards the sarcophagus.
Meanwhile the creature takes a bite out of Ilpholin and will also inject her with a slowly paralyzing poison unless she can resist it. Drow do know a thing or two about poisons after all.
Greg's Group
SpoilerThis particular gnoll doesn't seem to understand common and still presses on in panic as Nephrim attempts to order it around. Or perhaps it's just the fact it's mind is filled with fear for them at this point.
No matter the cause it seems like Zefir manage to hit some part of it at least as it suddenly collapses into the water, book and all.
[Nadas Canvas]
"It wouldn't be much of an expedition with only three people right? We need carriers and so on. Unless we are going go have the elementals carry everything." Cessie says.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerThe moment Becky sees the dimension-shifting wolf-golem's eyes, two darts of shadow lash out from her hands.
Intending to stab the critter in them before it can dive into the floor.
...if she can grab, yank, and remove said eye-gems, all the better.
[Nadas Canvas]
"Errr... maybe?" Nadas isn't actually a very good expedition leader. Those sort of details just kind of fly over his head. He brings enthusiasm and and a lot of blank paper! Who needs carriers when you can carry it yourself?
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerWell it's hard to tell if it'll work if it's slow acting. She lashes out with her whip seemingly at random before darting towards the sarcophagus as well. Everyone seems to want a piece of it. Must be important.
Greg's Group
SpoilerNephrim will try to help Zefir, though she might not be able to help very well as there's ice. She's stronger than she looks, and might be light enough not to fall through any sheets of ice (though they may start to sink).
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerThe crystals are actually made of diamond which is rather hard to break, make sense having such vulnerable spots as the eyes made of a strong material. I'm not sure if the tendrils can break through enchanted diamonds but the tendrils do manage to hit one of the eyes as the creature turns away from Becky before diving into the floor once again.
The large bug creature is bashed away by the drow who continues towards the tomb, it looks like the gnoll she just fell is quickly recovering from the wound she caused. That infamous demonic regeneration at work again.
[Greg's Group]
SpoilerThe gnoll screams loudly as Zefir picks it up and attempts to bit his hand off. It looks like it's been wounded pretty badly by the ice bolt and the freezing water is probably not making it any better which now is colored blood red.
The old book have probably taken some serious water damage at this point.
[Nadas Canvas]
"I can set up a poster at the wall with your approval, sometimes it's not really the people you want but at least it usually get some attention." Cessie suggests.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerBecky swears as the attack on the goggles, it does nothing, and rushes in the direction of the next room.
"Incoming!"
[Nadas Canvas]
Dorota takes off her glasses and cleans them thoughtfully.
Yes, that's true... I don't think relying on elementals is the best idea. If magic is as strange there as they say - and according to Nadas, it's even stranger than they say - reliance on it might be dangerous. Putting an advert on the wall would work, I suppose.
[Nadas Canvas]
"What wall?" :smallconfused:
That was extraordinarily vague! To him.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerIncoming, huh? Perhaps best to switch tactics suddenly, cartwheeling away from the sarcophagus and back towards the gnoll, slipping a very special knife out of her boots as she does so. In fact she intends to cartwheel all the way past the gnoll and leave the silver dagger she bought with Darcy some time ago buried in its back as she whirls by him. Whoopsie.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerThe gnoll which is slowly getting up by the time Ilpholin is back. It attempts to support itself on it's other leg and use the reach of it's long arms to grab the drow's arm before she stabs it.
The guardian continues towards the sarcophagus and once it reaches it starts to circle around it, making sure whatever is inside there isn't disturbed.
[Nadas Canvas]
"Oh, sorry, the wall I'm talking about is a place where you post advertisement and such things. It might be of use to us." Cessie explains.
[Greg's Group]
SpoilerZefir got bit in the hand and looses the grap on the gnoll for a moment, long enougth to set the gnoll free.
"Damn beast."
He will go try to grap him with his other hand. His anger rise so he don't cares if he hurts the gnoll. Also the flame bringin light in grows noticable.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerBecky starts circling as well...grinning broadly - and possibly somewhat disturbingly - at the guardian.
"OK, I bet you think you're so big and tough and scary - guard this, chump! EYES CLOSED!"
...and with a slight gesture of her hands and a gleam in her red eyes, as well as a shout to warn Ilpholin, the shadowdancer sends a small stream of sparkles up to the highest dead center of the room...
...which then explodes in a massive flash of light!
...and the shadows from the burst of light, surrounding the sarcophagus, rise up in ribbons, glinting with eyes amongst their lengths and snapping with mouths, with hands on the ends reaching to open up the guarded box!
Greg's Group
SpoilerNephrim will leave the gnoll to Zefir, not caring what he does with it especially. She'll pick up the book and flick through to determine its legibility, content and the language it was written in. Hopefully the ink hasn't run, and it's in a language she understands.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerWell if the gnoll reaches forward to make its grab, then it'll get her arm, but not stop her twirling backstab. It will prevent her from continuing the cartwheel though and cause her to fall to the ground on her back next to him.
If he reached up to get the stabbing knife arm, then he stops the stab, but the cartwheel manages to land. Ilpholin's feet hit the ground and she uses the momentum to try and pull the gnoll behind her and throw it bodily over her in a rather judo-like maneuver with the center of mass and momentum thing.
Either way, she'll have to close her eyes next.
[Greg's Group]
SpoilerIf the bite managed to break Zefir's skin, he might get infected by the sheer amount of bacteria this particular gnoll is carrying in it's mouth. As he tries to grapple it again the nasty creature will throw itself at him with it's last efforts and try to go for the arm he just tried to grab it with.
Nephrim will find the book to be in relatively good condition for a book this old. It have obviously been damaged by the water though, not to mention a lot of seems to have been eaten and **** on by rats. It's back is nearly gone, the pages barely hold together by bits of strings.
If she flips through it however she can note that several passages are complete and are written in a form of debased elvish. While this might be a challenge enough, the writing style is horrible and hard to decipher for those who aren't used to reading this type of style.
[Ilpholin's Group]
SpoilerThe gnoll of course attempts to grab the hand she's holding the knife in. It is rather heavy though due it's sheer size but depending on how strong Ilpholin is she might still be able to throw it over her.
It falls helplessly but still manages to hold a firm grip around her arm in either case, it's claws slowly starting to push into her skin. It looks pretty stunned though after that fall.
But the insect is still around and starts to fly towards Ilpholin but is blinded by the light. Ilpholin might start to feel the effects of it's poison now that she moved around so much though.
Becky on the other hand will find the arms being able to remove the lid off the coffin. The guardian immediately coming out from the floor and attempts to swipe at the shadowy arms with it's magically enchanted claws. It appears more concerned about protecting this tomb then anything else at the moment.
[Greg's Group]
SpoilerIt's a good thing Zefir wears is fighting gloves. They are very durable and should be able to save his skin, even if the bite still hurts.
Zefir didn't really thought this guy would act so hard. It's a shame that he never thought such animal like creatures befor.
The gnoll will manage to throw Zefir of landing in the water. And the fire will go out. Now Zefir is really angy. And assuming the gnoll stands over himhe tries to land a kick in his lower parts, while rolling to the side to get the gnoll under the water.
[Nadas Canvas]
That's the place, yes. It can be somewhat... erratic, but it's useful if one wants to send a message to many people, Dorota says with a nod.