Artifact Hunters

[androgial]

anduran

anduran drops his bow and bullrushes sonny(dont think he will resist even if he could) (its a double move) and reaches into sonny's sack for the shaft of their fallen preist of thor's hammer.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven stoops to retrieve his fallen blade and as he does so, he throws out his other hand in a violent motion toward the undead thing. A pair of fiery rays issue forth from his open palm.

Spoiler

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Retrieve blade as move-equivalent action
Cast scorching ray

touch atk - (1d20+7)[13]
dmg - (4d6)[18]
touch atk - (1d20+7)[25]
dmg - (4d6)[15]

CL Check vs SR - (1d20+9)[27]

[Toliudar]

Ramona

The big half-orc's blood pounds in her veins, as she wills herself to watch the appearance of the grey-skinned squid-thing. In her mind, she reached back for her axe, lunged forward and plunged it into the creature's skull. Desperately, again and again, she willed the signals to get through to her body, but she was barely able to keep hold of the mace, and stood, shambling and idle, watching.

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

Sharon reverts to her tried-and-true lightning globe, sending one winging at the monstrosity revealed, now that the darkness has cleared.

(Lesser Electric Orb, Ranged touch attack +7; 4d8 damage. No spell resistance.)

[amanodel]

Sonny

In his blasted state of mind, he can barely understand what's going on. But it seems the situation is turning really bad. He tries to gather his strenght to break from the agomizing pain that blocks his moves, but he senses the mirror has been broken.

All's lost. I've failed. - he can only think before falling back into the inner darkness. He would beűarely feel Anduran knocking him away if he does so.

[BlueWizard]

{OOC- I am almost 100% sure Tevrier would do this...}
Tevrier draws his masterwork bola. With a swift motion to his belt near the fallen pink dragon he quick draws and twirls the balls toward the undead illithid's legs. He is aware even through his stunned confusion that this beast is no longer an aberration, but an undead, and best left for priests! He could still make it fall! {14+11 hit 19+11 TRIP SUCCESS!} Tevrier tangles the beast's legs, and tumbles the monster to the ground! The creature lands on its ass. Tevrier still nearby can safely pick up his scythe, and arm himself.

"Leave my temple or die!" It roars telepathically in your heads, but it is the voice of a mad creature! Tevrier notices in its ragged robes, a black orb on a golden chain, within the orb was a moving red, glowing iris. Hanging next to it was a silver emblem of Cthulhu on a silver chain. Cthulhu resembling the illithid almost exactly.
Tevrier has tripped the illithid. He will also notice that he tripped it from the wall, for it had been scaling it with its claws.

Raven finds the monster a wiley creature, and he misses his first scorching ray. The second hits with exact success causing full damage, overcoming the Spell resistance! The monster squeals and looks angrily at the duskblade. {The monster is distracted from Sonny!} Raven's sword deftly finds its way into its master's hand.

Providence is frightened of the beast, but with it threatening her beloved she charges, and makes weak attacks upon it that fail. It is quite hard to hit, and even Tevrier had to be quick to nail the monster in the legs!

Sharon once again never gets a chance to hurt the undead illithid, for her spell fizzles again! The illithid is currently more concerned with the glowing goddess and surrounding opponents.

Anduran retrieves the hammer after rummaging in Sonny's sack. He is close by the doorway with Sonny now, but behind the illithid's as far as focus of attention.

Mira peers around the stairway column in the and is surprised to see Anduran right there. "I've got you at least old friend." she says in his head. She remains quiet for now and is holding. She's your emergency ticket outta here! And she knows it!

Arha is too far away and can't see anything, due to the oddly patterned huge columns that support the ceiling in this chamber. The diameter of these columns is 20 feet! This room is massive, and even lit, you cannot see beyond the golden glow a 200 feet away. Arha can still hear the activity going on behind her. She is probably VERY confused, and is holding here.

Illanee is relieved to see Raven up, and says to him in Dwarf, their hidden language when even draconic or giant couldn't be trusted. "We have aid. The planar ranger, has a friend here somewhere, she can teleport us out of here!" At this time, Raven and Illanee will begin to notice the large black and red eye on the golden chain hanging about the neck of the illithid. It seems to be looking at all of you, and moving about its black globe.

The beast looks at Raven and Providence; Illanee is behind them.
all fail:
Raven 3+6+2
Providence
Illanee


They all are engulfed in the illithid's mind blast. It also tried to include Freya in the blast, but the avatar only grimmaced, and put her hands angrily on her hips. She makes the room glow even brighter, causing the illithid to shake in fear of her, it also refreshes the stunned again:
Success:
Raven 19+6
Ramona 18+2+2
Illanee

failed:
Providence
Sonny 4+4+2
Raven snaps out of it again only to find that he has dropped his weapon again and the monster has retreated back up the ceiling and at the corner in the wall. At least you can see the ugly gray monster.

Ramona finally comes out of it, still seething in full rage, and sees the monster above her. She also has dropped her mace, but still has the great axe on her back!

End Round 4------------------------------->
{OOC- Now the undead is frightened, and back on the ceiling.}


Initiatives:
Arha hp 28/35
Tevrier
Raven hp 20/49
Sharon 19+3
Anduran 18+3
Mira
Illanee
Ramona 7+2 hp 77/84
Vampiric Illithid
Freya's 'limited' holographic avatar

Sonny 18+7 hp 26/38 {-2 levels}
Providence
Those in red are stunned!

[androgial]

anduran

" mira if you have fly memorized i could use it"


anduran delays slightly to see if mira has fly available to be cast if she doesnt he attempts to throw the hammer at the undead illithid.(+10 ranged attack plus hammer bonus as it was earlier stated to be magical) if she does have fly he will instead make a flying charge(+10 plus hammer bonus and includes charge bonus) shouting " I claim this temple in the name of ASGARD"

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Still enlarged Raven is momentarily stunned but then refreshed and refocused by the presence of Freya. Seeing her reminds him of his last fight against an undead horror deep in the underdark. Leaping nearly straight into the air, Raven strikes out with a dagger, his arcane energy channelling through him and into the blade.

Spoiler

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move action leap, draw dagger as part of move
jump - (1d20+36)[38]

Atk - (1d20+13)[27]
Dmg - (1d6+28)[33]
Plus Shocking Grasp Elec. Dmg - (5d6)[14] using duskblade's arcane channelling. (CL vs. SR - (1d20+9)[13])

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

Sharon, hearing Anduran's request, flies down to the ranger and casts the requested spell upon him. (casting Fly on Anduran)

[Severedevil]

Spoiler

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You've called Tevrier's move precisely - apologies for not posting it myself.

Tevrier

Empowered once more by the norse goddess's appearance, Tevrier throws off the stun with a feral snarl. His hand flicks instinctively to his side, flinging his bolas vengefully through the air.

Tevrier blinks, finding his hands unpleasantly empty, and recollects the familar scythe that slipped from his formerly nerveless hands. Unable to reach the fleeing creature, he shifts the scythe to his left and casts his second pair of bolas awkwardly with his right.

If the ranger is successful in flooring the creature once more, he will step over it with his scythe ready to disembowl it should it try to stand. If Tevrier fails to drop it from the wall, he instead moves to collect whichever pair of bolas he can find on the floor.

Spoiler

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Attack 1d20+8=13, Strength check to trip 1d20+10=15. Looks like a miss, so he'll likely move to collect the fallen bolas to use in the next round.

[wxdruid]

Arha doesn't know which way to move, but in the end moves back towards Sharon and the party.

[BlueWizard]

Arha moves to the safest place she knows, the source of Sharon's voice. She is surrounded in glorious golden light, and sees red and green images on the columns. She can see that it is merely a powerful illusion, but the writing was prolific, and written in celestial.

Tevrier hurls his other bola at the crawling beast! The beast is quick, and leaps out of the way!

Raven's leap is amazing and he clears the doorway with a single bound! With his big frame and long arms, his dagger swipes the monster's leg, and rips it open! The monster hiss in pain as its decayed muscles are exposed! Raven lands neatly nearby, away from anyone else.

Sharon moves down to Anduran by the door, casting Fly on him; much to Mira's relief.

Anduran charges, flying up with the hammer, as Thor might... but a little different. He slams into the undead illithid, and glances off its tough flesh! {11+10}

Mira holds, but peers out so that Sharon can finally see her in the back of the Landing room. She says politely as a telepath can, with a little fear, "I am Mira. A friend of Anduran's. You can trust me. I can help escape, but it'll still be a risk with all this wild magic about."

Illanee gives Raven a nod and takes her bow, sprinting out away at an angle in the columns where she can still see the illithid 80 feet away. Illanee will take this round to ready herself, and keep a safe distance.

In her rage Ramona will try a miraculous leap to hit the beast on the ceiling, and will just miss! {11+12} She did get 5 and a half feet off the ground! She lands away from Raven, and out in the direction Arha disappeared to.

With Anduran in his face, all the illithid has to do is look through him at Raven, when it blasts with its mind!

Will Saves:
success:
Raven 12+6

failed:
Anduran 4+6


Raven resists the effect, but Anduran doesn't. He begins to drift slowly toward the ground toward the holographic Freya.`Anduran will drop the hammer.
The monster than makes a move away from you. It moves fast on the ceiling, and stays in the corner by the wall, going to the right if you were leaving the Landing. It is still visible and only 40 feet away. This would also be the way that Raven had landed, but he is still 30 feet away on the ground now.

Freya's Refresher:
Saves:
Anduran 17+6
Providence

failed:
Sonny 7+6

Anduran snaps to it, only a few feet in the air from when he began falling. Providence is back too, butSonny still seems dazed.

End Round 5------------------------------>

The monster has regenerative properties, and is healing some of the wounds that it has sustained.

Initiatives:
Mira
Arha hp 28/35
Tevrier
Raven hp 20/49
Sharon 19+3
Anduran 18+3
Illanee
Providence
Ramona 7+2 hp 77/84
Vampiric Illithid
Freya's 'limited' holographic avatar

Sonny 18+7 hp 26/38 {-2 levels}
Those in red are stunned!

[androgial]

anduran

Anduran fly right back into its face drawing both his swords on the way( i looked it up in the srd to be sure i could).

"oi! ugly ! stop doing that!"

attack - (1d20+10)[21]
if threatened - (1d20+10)[23]

normal damage - (1d8+3)[10]
crit damage - (2d8+3)[13]

Anduran swings away at the creature.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven smiles as Illanee heads to a sniping position. Hopefully out of the path of this abomination.

As he tumbles to a standing position, dagger still in hand, he is hit again by that mind-rattling blast from the undead-thing. Somehow his mind stays steady and his own. He seems about to launch himself again at the beast but instead he quickly downs a potion before again firing a pair of fiery rays from his palm.

Spoiler

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CSW - (3d8+5)[19]

Scorching Ray
Atk - (1d20+13)[28]
Dmg - (4d6)[8]
Atk - (1d20+13)[27]
Dmg - (4d6)[16]
CL vs SR - (1d20+9)[18]

[amanodel]

Sonny

Sonny still focuses hard on the spot he last saw the illithid, altough the undead beast if far away already, he just didn't notice it.

[BlueWizard]

Mira holds back in the Landing room, but stays peering out now that she knows the monster is retreating. "Let us go." she whispers to Sharon.

Arha runs back into sight, and can see the Landing, as well as the retreating form of the vampiric illithid. The avatar of Freya smiles at Arha as she stands floating in the chamber.

Tevrier gathers up his masterwork bola, nearby where the monster slipped out of them. He then charges after the monster on the ground, as far as he can. {DM action}

Raven's scorching rays fizzle on the illithid, and it gives him an angry long glare.

Sharon sees Arha run up, and sends a magic missle for good measure after the beast. The missiles fizzle like most of the other magic, but Sharon can see her friend now. Arha looks quite confused as she runs back to this golden scene with the goddess. {DM action}

Anduran flies off after the retreating illithid and harmlessly bats it a couple times. It only hisses with it's long extractor tongue. Too close to Anduran's face for his liking.

Illanee fires a couple shots and moves five feet, but she doesn't seem too interested in following the mind blaster. She looks to Freya, and whispers softly to Raven, "She would be like the human version of Eilistraee."

Freya smiles, and says in a calming voice, "I am... sort of... I mean.... I do know her quite well. Beautiful dancer."
Illanee smiles in response, and bows her head respectfully, though Illanee is some distance away.

Providence stops, and looks to Sonny. She stays by him, hoping he snaps out of it.

Ramona also gives chase staying under the illithid, with her big axe. She leaps again this time clearing 6 feet, but it is still not enough! {DM action}

The illithid ignores Anduran in its face and makes a full retreat down the wall near the ceiling. About 30 feet away Anduran spies a small crawl hole. It would be hidden in the utter darkness before, but in Freya's golden light he could see it. The illithid disappears into the dark passageway. {OOC- This is about 70 feet to the right, outside of the Landing doorway.}

Freya refreshes AGAIN!
Sonny finally snaps back to consciousness, but the monster is gone! He feels a chill of horror come over him... {critical will save to avoid insanity}, the tough thug shakes it off as merely another Guildian mental torture. The image of Freya relaxes him, as does the pretty red head in pink armor that swoons off his right shoulder. "Come on you big lunk. Let's get out this place. I'll take ya some where really nice." She bats her pretty eyes at him.
Sonny is alive, but he feels weak. He does need some rest, but other than that he feels like he can still adventure if needed. {minus the two levels of course } The mirror is shatter glass in along his side, and torn sack.

END ROUND 6-------------------------------------->
No-one is currently stunned, and the illithid is escaping.


Initiatives:
Sonny 18+7 hp 26/38 {-2 levels}
Mira
Arha hp 28/35
Tevrier
Raven hp 20/49
Sharon 19+3
Anduran 18+3
Illanee
Providence
Ramona 7+2 hp 77/84
Vampiric Illithid
Freya's 'limited' holographic avatar

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven watches the illithid's escape warily but backs away toward Illanee and retrieves his fallen, blood-coated blade once more. He shares a relieved smile with Illanee and accounts for each of his companions before coming to look directly at the golden image of Freya.

[androgial]

anduran

Anduran points towards the bolt hole.

"someone please fireball or lightning bolt that bolt hole"

he then sheathes his swords as he flys down to retrieve the hammer and his bow

[BlueWizard]

Freya speaks as Anduran backs down from the pursuit to gather his items. "Magic will do little to harm this beast, my planar-walking friend." Her words are soothing and relaxing.

Combat is over unless pursuit is made through the small passage on the ceiling.--------------------------------->

Everyone can now catch their breath if they want. Illanee comes to Raven's side only briefly to peck his cheek with a kiss, and then peers out into the chamber to keep watch.

Freya speaks, "My time here is short. The magic of the artifact is fading. Ask what you may of me, for my essence can no longer travel with you." She is kind, but there is urgency in her words.

OOC- XP will be coming! You'll need it to continue!

[wxdruid]

Arha watches and listens, her eyes occasionally darting to look into the darkness.

[BlueWizard]

Providence steps forward and bows her head submissively, "Milady, bless my soul. For I have sinned. If ever I can undo the evil I have wrought may it be so. This loving man showed me your light and I will never be able to repay him. I will even through down this foul armor!" She touches the pink dragon-scales about her, and glances to Sonny.

Freya smiles upon Providence, "My dear, it was only hidden in your heart. I was always there. Your family has taught you bad things."

"I know..." Providence collapses weeping in a heap.

"Valhalla may have a home for you yet, Providence. You know the error in your ways, so I offer you this. Begin training as a priestess of mine. Continue to wear your armor, it is your past, and let it be your lesson."

Providence can only weep. A golden Falcon on a gold chain appears before the pink dragon-rider. It is a holy symbol of Freya. Freya looks over the rest of you.

[amanodel]

Sonny

Sonny returns from his shock, and he can barely resist to throw up. For a moment, he falls to his knees, but he gets up soon. He looks towards the fleeing illithid with rage in his eyes. The thing have beat him and destroyed the artifact he was supposed to guard. "It was my fault." -he mutters, and he raises his fist, and hits one of the nearby colums so hard you can hear his bones cracking in his hand. A way to release anger.

"Cease your whining, girl!" - he frowns at Providence, and glancing over the corspe of the dragon, he continues - "And keep your armor. Were it not of such a gay color, I would take some scales to craft an armor for myself. But I have a reputation to uphold."

He pulls out the broken mirror of Freya, and looks at it. "Can't be mended, I guess." - he dares not to look upon Freya, fearing punishment for he wasted her artifact.

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

Sharon obviously doesn't know how to react to the presence of the goddess and her offer. "Some advice on how to stop the creepy tentacle people would be nice," she says of noone in particular.

[Toliudar]

Ramona

As the blood-rage fades, Ramona is as woozy and sluggish as ever. Staring at the hole the illithid fled down, she eventually turns and shrugs at Tevrier.

I guess we're used to the squids getting away.

Stooping to pick up her axe, and the silver mace, she turns around to her companions, noticing the goddess's avatar for the first time.

Wow, guess I got focused. How'd I miss her?

Still ignoring the weeping Providence, Ramona bows respectfully to Freya.

Thanks fer the help, Lady. Reckon you know better n me why we're here, and what kinda help we need.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Something had stirred with in Raven as he had battled the illithid. It felt like a good thing, an important thing, that he stop whatever the illithid was up to. It was hard to think about that corner of his mind or that thing in the darkness, especially in the glow of the godess. But Raven was sure this was an important part of his journey somehow.

Raven finally brings his full attention to Freya and he sees immediately the sense of Illanee's comment about Eilistraee. What could he ask? He thought Ramona had the right of it, Freya would know better than they what aid and information was needed.

[BlueWizard]

Freya stands in the godly golden light, she smiles kindly at Sonny, though it is a serious look, "The artifact is permanently safe from evil now. It was merely an ancient gift, that has been misused over the centuries. I can actually thank you Sonny. The mirror will not be able to be mended, it is as it should be. Sonny, you are a savior."

When Sharon speaks Freya turns serious, "This race of beings has become a scourge across the multiverse, their greater elder brain tries to put itself on the level of gods... They are all tough to stop, this undead one cannot move through dimensions. A green dimensional anchor spell, can be used stop the other illithids from escaping, if one of you were to learn this in the future. Your solution to their mind blast is to drink the ichor of their birth-pools. This ichor, though foul, will make one immune to the effects of their mind blasts and even other psionic attacks. It is rare on your world, though some magic shops have been known to carry this expensive elixir. Silver and Magic must be combined to properly harm this beast with weapons. Beware of the eye of Hel. Better to let it be destroyed, than let it be used longer by this beast. I will deal with Hel if she comes to get revenge upon you. That is one promise Odin has allowed me to keep!"

Freya really smiles at Ramona, "You would do your both sides of your parentage proud if they knew what you've become. Your rage will benefit you when they try to mind blast you. Bravery will be needed in the future. You would be welcome among my Valkyrie's in Valhalla someday."

Freya looks at all of you in a hurry. Her form is beginning to fade, "The artifacts were youthful gifts. We thought they would help man-kind. If they must be destroyed do so. Odin and I will watch over you. The planar-ranger, Anduran's friend, Mira can be trusted. It might be best to go some distance away to recover if needed. Otherwise, go after the beast now! There are other cave entrances above. Including the dragon's loft. It will hunt you."

Providence nods to Sonny eagerly, not caring about his abuse. "I can show you. It will be a long walk without the dragon."

Mira steps out at this time and reveals her presence to the rest. She is the third red headed arcanist in the group. "I have orders to report back to base camp on the Astral in the Gamma quadrant- Delta 99-7. We can rest up there if you like maybe my supervisor can help us? There's a planar shop there too, its got all sorts of stuff!"

Freya's avatar is fading, but is still here. Freya nods in agreement with Mira's idea.

[androgial]

Anduran

"Right everyone gather round mira. we need the right tools to slay this beast. and the planar shop is just the place to get them. then we can rest and reassault this place properly armed. and hopefully with additional preistly back up."

[amanodel]

Sonny

"Wait girl, you have a hideout in this rat-dug tunnel?" - he asks Providence, and for the first time he seems to be interesed about the girl.

"Just one more question, if I may, mirror: Why me?" - steps forward, and secretly points at the mirror and then Providence. "Why did you select me to guard the mirror, and why did you made Providence to be attracted to me?" - would be the full question, but he don't want to waste time, and the avatar could understand even this way. The others may not, but he doesn't really care. The second part of the question couldn't even be said out loud, since Providence is right there.

[BlueWizard]

Illanee begins to do as Anduran says, but Freya continues in answer to Sonny, "I have hope in all creation. I have hope in you. Providence merely saw a world she'd rather live in, and you helped in that."

Providence nods in agreement, "Yes. I looked upon her... how could I go back to that evil serpent! Please accept my repentance. Sonny, I have a lair, and even a dragon's treasure. I can show you the way from many diections if you'd like."

Freya is only a faint ghostly image now.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven appears to all the word his stoic self, but inside he is near panic despite what his calm emerald eyes suggest. As Freya fades, he senses an opportunity being lost. Unfortunately, for the master of spell and steel, he doesn't yet have the question to ask.

How do I stop it? How do I become?

These are the closest the duskblade can come to forming questions and they make no sense to him anyway. They remain unspoken.