The Necromancer's Pact IX: City of Weeping Ghosts

[Dr._Bob]

The door to the left of the "ticking" door opens quietly when Fizahn pulls on its handle. A hallway runs 20 feet before opening up into a large dark chamber. All is quiet within.

Anika sneaks forward, then quickly reports back. The chamber ahead is empty. Marks in the dust suggest a large number of creatures were here, but they seem to have left ...

A quick check of the other "quiet" door shows that there are no creatures behind it at this time either.

A faint hint of decay and residual swirls of dust in the air suggest that the rooms were only recently abandoned.

[namo]

Adalmar

"One door left only. Can somebody check it for traps ?" Adalmar still appears more nervous than usual. Too quiet.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Things are going... too well. Either we messed something up or Valentine's just toying with us. Tiriel nervously fingers the pommel of her sword, unsure of what to do next.

[barawn]

Damian

Damian turns to Adalmar as he asks regarding the last door. Ticking sounds usually set off my danger alarm, too. "I can. Fizahn might be more capable than me. I'll help, though - or if he doesn't want to, I'll do it."

Spoiler

Show

Assuming Fizahn does actually search the door, this is an Aid Another (+2) check vs DC 10. Otherwise it's a Search check on the ticking door.

Search - (1d20+7)[17]

[blackfox]

Anika

Anika also appears nervous. If those ghouls just disappeared... then where did they go? They could be coming around to flank us or something... She frowns, trying to break her morbid train of thought. "I can help too, if you need it..."

[Koji]

Khazrael

"Grynde's right," he says, "None of these doors are going to have swarms of attention-starved beautiful women behind them. Let's just get moving."

Khazrael walks to the first door Fizahn opened and waggles his knife at it lazily.

[barawn]

Damian

Damian nods to Anika's offer to help. "It can't hurt. Three pairs of eyes are better than two." A grin crosses his face. "So you've needed to get around some dangerous devices too, hm?"

[Matticus]

Grynde

Now is not the time for fantasies, Khazrael. Nor small talk, Damian. Let's hurry this along a bit.

[Dr._Bob]

Frustrated, you poke around the two empty chambers (behind the two "once moaning but now silent" doors) for a minute or two. Each chamber could easily have held a hundred zombies or ghouls. Both of the chambers have a single gently curved wall. Any fenestrations or arrow slits along those curved walls have been sealed with stone and mortar. Hallways lead away from the chambers, perhaps leading to exits?

Adalmar judges that these two chambers lie along one of the tower's outer walls. Stepping back into the stairwell chamber, he estimates that the dead end hallway leads toward the center of the tower.

The last remaining unopened door (the "ticking" door) also likely leads toward the interior of the tower.

Anika, Damian and Fizahn look over the "ticking" door but find no traps. Indeed, the door is not even locked. Like the "dead end" door, an unusual metal grate has been placed above the lintel.

Impatient, Grynde grabs the handle of the door and pulls it open. It swings wide and crashes into the adjacent stone wall with a loud BANG!

...

On the other side of the doorway is a small landing that juts out into an enormous vertical shaft running through the heart of the tower. The shaft is roughly 50 or 60 feet in diameter. A narrow set of stairs spirals upward and downward from the landing along its walls. The stairs are a mere 5 feet wide, with no railings.

The top of the shaft must be sealed, because no light penetrates from above. The shaft descends downward farther than your torchlight can penetrate.

Huge chains dangle from above, down the center of the shaft. The chains are moving slowly, creating the clicking noise. Some chains are moving upward, others moving downward. The arrangement reminds you of a gigantic clockwork.

Standing on the landing, inside the shaft, you can make out the sound of grinding gears echoing from above.

Your eyes follow the spiraling staircase upward. The smooth curved inner walls of the shaft are perforated at irregular intervals by landings and doorways, similar to the one you have just opened.

The closest ledge and doorway is about 15 feet above you and one quarter of the way around the circumference of the tower ...

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Tiriel grimaces when the door slams open, expecting the worst. But when nothing comes pounding through the doorway, she joins the others in examining the shaft with the moving chains. After viewing the narrow staircase, Tiriel jumps off the landing, opening her wings once she's away from the landing. She then examines the stairs, up and down, as far as she can make out, making sure to stay well away from the moving chains.

spot - (1d20+4)[11]
ooc: she has dark vision.

[barawn]

Damian

Damian flinches when the door slams open, and rolls his eyes when the door opens to the giant clockwork contraption. "This place just gets more and more complicated."

He glances around at the others, and walks through the door onto the landing, peering around. "Can they really have been careful enough to block all the light coming into this place? There's got to be an opening somewhere, or a way to break through. Well, that's assuming it's still daylight outside."

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

Fizahn eyes the moving chains with distrust. "I have no clue what they're used for. I would probably rather get to our destination some other way. Some way with guard rails preferably, but if this way is devoid of creatures, it might be the way to go." Fizahn steps up and looks down nervously into the pit. His is nervously fidgeting with one of his rings. I don't like this place.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

"Loud...of all the times to possibly be loud...they choose now...though it might not hurt since she seems to already be listening in or knows where...we....are.." The cause for the sudden end of his griping was the entry into the wide cylindrical room that went up and down and had the moving chains hanging down in the middle of it. Large chambers he had seen, it was almost a given when being tutored by a self-centered pompous wizard, but the clockwork chains and such were a complete oddity to him.

"Call me nuts...but I think we're on the right path but do we keep going up or down?"

[Matticus]

Grynde

And that, folks, it's how it's done. He stares around the room, surprised to find chains at the heart of the mystery. Damian, vampires live here. They'll have done everything within their power to block out the sun. ...Anyone ever seen something like this before? ((OOC: Is this some kind of giant elevator?))

[Naleh]

Retay

"No," says the barbarian, in response to Grynde. Is it the first time he's acknowleded the half-elf? "Never.

"But whatever this place is, it's probably where we need to be. Let's head up," he decides. And so, he begins to climb.

[namo]

Adalmar

"Up" echoes Adalmar. Filling his quiver, he replaces the mundane arrows he's used by silver-tipped ones.
I never imagined anything like this... But it doesn't matter : time is running out.

[Dr._Bob]

Zeodoras shrugs as the party surveys the shaft and chains. "The war engine," is all he says.

As you watch, an enormous block of stone comes into view from the bottom of the shaft. The block is slowly raised up from the darkness on a chain supported platform, click by click. More grinding and clicking emanate from above. Suddenly a muffled gutteral voice shouts out in abyssal. Khazrael recognizes the words for "elevation" and "deflection" as well as a series of numbers. More clicking follows.

A muffled crash is audible. A shower of small pebbles falls from above. After a short delay, the voice calls out again, and the grinding begins anew.

...

Tiriel launches herself into the air, avoiding the large chains, circling around the perimeter of the shaft. She disappears into the darkness.

...

Retay and Adalmar lead the way up the narrow staircase. They hug the curved wall of the shaft, weapons ready. Adalmar has shifted to silver arrows. Retay's axe still glistens wetly from the application of the silversheen.

...

Tiriel rises upward, flapping her wings carefully, so as to avoid the large chains rattling in the center of the shaft. She surveys the spiral stair and doorways with her darkvision but spots nothing alarming.

Looking down, she watches Retay and Adalmar begin to climb the stairs, alarmingly visible in the torchlight.

She is just about to glide back down to the party when she hears some giggling from the darkness above.

Three dark shapes hurtle down upon her, like missiles. Reflexively, she cries out, "IXEN!!!"

...

Unexpectedly, the shaft is flooded with light from above. Tiriel drops like a stone, wreathed in white flame. In a fraction of a second she has fallen past your ledge, illuminating the shaft on her way down. Three dark winged figures grapple with her as she falls.

Toward the bottom of the shaft, the three winged creatures snap their wings open and they veer sharply to the side, taking Tiriel with them. They tumble through an archway and disappear from view, plunging the shaft back into darkness.

All of this happens so quickly that hardly anyone has any time to react ...




OOC: I need initiative from Tiriel. She takes 10 damage (after DR) from the (controlled) fall.

[blackfox]

Anika

Anika sighs when the door slams open. This is just what we need... letting them know where we are--

Her thoughts trail off as she sees the enormous, intricate machine in the center shaft. She stares at it in a combination of wonder, confusion, and horror.
[hr]
As Tiriel falls past the landing, shrouded in flame, Anika's view is jerked away. "TIRIEL! NO!"

[namo]

Adalmar

"MAKE WAY !"
They have never heard Adalmar shout like that. He leaves them a split second to react to his call, then starts on a mad dash down the stairs, all caution thrown to the wind. Kir, dislodged by the sudden movement, attempts to follow his master after letting a surprised squawk out.

Adalmar can't seem to form a single rational thought.

Spoiler

Show

I just discovered Adalmar may have a "thing" for Tiriel. Not really love, no, a thing.
That's a surprise even for me.

[Matticus]

Grynde

I suppose we're all going to go charging down there. Wonderful. Resigning himself to the worst, he'll go with the majority.

[Dr._Bob]

Subterranean tunnel ...

Tiriel skids to a stop, rising to one knee. She shakes her head to reorient herself. She finds herself in a rough hewn stone tunnel 10 feet wide. Three large bird-demons block the way back toward the vertical shaft. They hunch their shoulders and fold their wings, cramped by the tight quarters.

A voice enters her mind. To her surprise the words are formed in broken celestial ... Time you die!

The demons are forced to fight single file. The first one closes in, crouching in the low tunnel, and rakes its claws across Tiriel's arm, drawing blood ...


OOC: Tiriel takes 12 - 5 (total 7) damage.

...

Second story ledge ...

Adalmar sprints down the stairs, moving at inhuman speed. He hugs the wall, reaching the lower archway in a matter of seconds.

Before any one else can move, a large winged demon lands on the stairs below your party, preventing anyone else from descending. Khazrael recognizes the creature instantly. "Vrock," he mutters to no one in particular.

Another thump on the stairs above the party signals a fifth demon, cutting off any movement any higher.

[King_of_GRiffins]

Elthan

Elthan unconsciously (though not unwillingly) transposes himself to the middle of the group. While his first thought was to fly down and help Tiriel in whatever predicament she was in, as there was no sense in letting one of their best fighters meet an untimely and unproductive end, the line of Vrocks made him think otherwise. He turns around to the demon that handed landed on the stairs up above, and wastes no time before casting.

"Back to the hells with you," he begins, before drowning off into a blur of draconic.

Spoiler

Show

Casting Ray of Enfeeblement
Ranged Touch Attack - (1d20+3)[17]
Strength Damage - (1d6+3)[6]
Lasts 7 minutes

[barawn]

Damian

When Tiriel screams out, Damian quickly mutters in draconic, activating the dragonfly ring. The sudden appearance of the demon startles him slightly, but Khazrael's comment drags him back alert. Demons. Not undead. These, I can hurt. "Khazrael! What can they do? Turn invisible? Control people? Resist fire, cold?"

[namo]

Adalmar

Reaching the ledge, he gets a look behind him... What he sees cools down his head somewhat. They'll have to deal with their own problems - Tiriel is in more danger.

[OOC: assuming the corridor ahead is dark...]

Staring at the darkness ahead, he curses himself for leaving his torch behind. His right hand on the wall - his left still grips the bow - he strains his ears to get a sense of how close the fliers may be, and trudges ahead as fast as possible. He does not dare call out to her.

[OOC: ...he'd move at half-speed (60'/round).]

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

With no other choices presenting themselves, Tiriel steps forward to engage the bird-demon in front of her, flaming sword arcing down on the creature.

attack/dmg/fire: (1d20+11=26, 1d8+7=15, 1d6=5)

(ooc: the Vrock that attacked last round needs to make a fort-save against the holy arua or be blinded)

hp: 36/58
AC: 21+4 = 25
spell resist: 25 vs evil

[Naleh]

Retay

Without hesitation - indeed, with a bark of eager laughter - Retay continues up the stairs and barrels into the challenger.

Charge - (1d20+12)[27]
Damage - (1d12+4)[7]
HP 60/65
AC 16-2=14
DR 15/adam. or 1/-

[blackfox]

Anika

Anika growls and draws her sword, and slips into the shadows to emerge behind the upstairs vrock, flanking it with Retay.

(OOC: Hide Check (1d20+26=45) Heh.
Attack Roll (1d20+8=9)
And I would roll a 1 right after a 19...)

[Koji]

Khazrael

With a muttered curse, Khazrael throws himself onto the wall, sticking like glue and scrambling in a spiral pattern to get first above the vrock, then behind it.

((1d20 3=22 Knowledge (the planes) or (religion), whichever pertains to demons. Khazrael will try to move to flank the Vrock after casting spider climb.))

[Dr._Bob]

Adalmar slows slightly as he ducks into the archway. Guided by Tiriel's glow, he hustles into the rough tunnel unnoticed by the combatants inside.

The silhouettes of the three bird-demons are cast in sharp relief by the white radiance of her holy aura. Each demon is at least 8 feet tall, forcing them to hunch their shoulders to keep from bumping their heads on the low ceiling. The two closer to Adalmar flap their wings in agitation, unable to squeeze by the lead demon to get to their prey.

The lead demon slashes away at Tiriel, who fights back with her sword aflame. Her slashes have less effect on the demon than she expected, but she is able to parry almost all of its attacks with ease. The demon eventually manages to wound Tiriel again, but as it does so, it winces as her aura flares up in response.


OOC: Combat notes ...

vrock #1
save 14
attack 13 (hit), damage 12, save 17
attack 8 (miss)
attack 2 (miss)
attack 7 (miss)
attack 8 (miss)

Tiriel takes 7 damage. Vrock #1 takes 5 damage. Adalmar is 30 feet behind the vrocks who are unaware of his presence.

...

Elthan leans out over the edge of the landing and strikes the upper vrock with a ray of enfeeblement. It is not clear whether the ray has any effect on the demon or not.

Khazrael leaps to the wall, scurrying up and over the vrock to a higher vantage point. As he does so, he shouts out for all to hear, "These are vrocks! Fire, ice, electricity, acid, poison ... all have little to no effect on them!"

Damian digests this information and, activating the dragonfly ring, steps off the edge of the ledge, hovering in place.

Retay charges up the stairs, taking two at a time. His axe glances off the demon's shoulder, sending feathers flying. The vrock counterattacks viciously with a flurry of claws, beak and talons. The demon opens up a small cut over Retay's left eye, but otherwise leaves the barbarian unscathed. The vrock's eyes open wide in surprise.

Retay smiles, barely noticing Anika appearing out of the shadows behind the vrock. The demon snaps its head from side to side, distracted by the sudden appearance of the shadowdancer.

Below the ledge, the lower vrock climbs toward the party menacingly. Only Gala and Grynde stand in its way. It swipes at Gala, but its claws glance off of her spiked armor. The demon spreads its wings wide in a display of menace.


OOC: Combat notes ...

vrock #5
3 (hit), damage 15
9 (hit), damage 18
14 (hit), damage 5
5 (hit), damage 4
1 (miss)

vrock #4
3 (miss)

Retay takes 3 points of damage. Vrock #5 takes no damage. Anika misses, but provides flanking. Elthan needs to overcome spell resistance 17 to affect vrock #5.

Vrock #4 misses Gala.

[Diarmuid]

Tryntha

The healer can see the demons clearly with her magical vision, and their appearance revulses her. She begins chanting and when she is finished, a floating spear of light appears above the demon blocking their path forward.

Spell Resistance - (1d20+7)[10] (if necessary)
Attack - (1d20+9)[27]
Damage - (1d8+3)[8]

Urging her companions on, she knows Tiriel will not last long with those beasts by herself,

"Quickly, we must push forward!"