Wastes of Shello - Group 2

[Jack Mann]

"Ah, the... elder gods. All-the petulence of the-youn...ger, and none of the-joy," Taraliel said, flicking his hair back. He rode his bull onward a bit. As it flew over the ground, he fingered the halfskull idly, looking around with suspicious eye. He then mutters briefly to himself, and the eye of the skull flickers briefly. Something behind Taraliel's mask flashes blue, and his face takes on a more relaxed look, almost as though he were meditating, touching on some higher truth.

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Casting Lore of the Gods for +5 to all knowledge checks.

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

For many hours you travel through the thick mist and on flat, dry land. The guide stays ahead, floating only a few feet to a few inches off the ground on his phantom mare, Stella. The mist grows dark as the sun above it slowly sinks and night falls on Shello.

"Alright," He slides off his mount and after stroking her neck she disappears. "let's set up camp."

[Adumbration]

"Ah, yes. Just give me a second. There's a spell I've been dying to cast..." Gale reaches into a pouch in his belt, producing a tiny bell and some silver wire. "Stand back, it takes some space."

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Gale casts Leomund's Hidden Lodge, basically a well-concealed and camouflaged version of the Leomund's Secure Shelter. See page 114 in CArc.

[Jack Mann]

"That's... very nice," said Taraliel, watching the spell be cast. "Hidden Lodge, I-see. Hard to... see. But not-very comf...ortable. I believe... I shall sleep in-my mansion. You are-welcome to... join me. There will be... pheasant. And wine. You-like wine, don't... you? And if-I-set up my... portable hole within-your lodge, then we-shall-have the best... of both worlds. Hidden and... well furnished." He pulled his backpack from his shoulders, and removed the piece of cloth that he used to access his laboratory.

[TheMeanDM]

Nestarion looks at the strange magician. "Wine and pheasant?" he says, stroking his chin. He looks to Gale, smirking playfully.

"Well, unless you've got wine, pheasant, and dancing girls on top of that..." he jerks his thumb over toward where Taraliel stood. "I'm with him."

[Robert Frost]

Sylph looked at both of the other spellcasters and wondered which would provide a more likely abode for him this evening. In the end he decided it didn't matter, he was far too lazy to provide himself with somewhere to stay.

"So whose going to let me stay in their place to sleep? I can stay up all night but I shouldn't."

[Jack Mann]

"There is no... reason-to decide between-them. My... mansion will keep-us comfortable, while-Gale's lodge will-keep us hidden, something my mansion... cannot do." He paused, while the lodge was set up. "If you have... a bag of-holding, then please... do not bring-it-within. A portable hole-does-not mix well with... a bag of holding. Leave it-in the lodge. Or I-shall be very... cross with you."

[Robert Frost]

Out of simplicity, and without asking, Sylph heads into Gale's lodge.

[Regord_Silentflame]

To be polite, Derham follows as well.

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

Ardin rests his staff to his shoulder an watches as some of the group heads into Gale's shelter and speaks, "Well, uh, I'll come 'n stay in your mansion if you like Mr. Du Shorning." He smiles. "Ol' Mordenkainen has always been a great idol for me."

Everyone settles in the darkness around them, a small fire barely crackles, as if trying to dear life to maintain heat and light through the short distance of visibility of the fog. Silence covers the area, not but the sound of the dying fire is heard.

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I need to know if anyone's taking shifts in keeping watch.

[Adumbration]

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Gale will sleep for two hours in the mansion, and then return to the hidden lodge to keep watch, just in case. The alarm spells are set to mental.

[Regord_Silentflame]

Derham would gladly take the first watch, unless someone else takes it.

[Robert Frost]

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Sylph will take last watch for himself, getting his requisite 8 hours of sleep for spells.

[Vaynor]

Astrus heads into Gale's lodge, happy for a comfortable place to stay the night.

[Jack Mann]

Taraliel enters the lodge, then spreads out his cloth on the floor. Again, the tapestry gains another dimension, showing a room six feet across and ten feet deep. He climbs a ladder down, and finds a place on the wall. He pulls on something invisible, and a door opens in air. A room appears on the other side, looking like the foyer of a very expensive house. A translucent elf dusted the shelves, while another motioned for them to give it their coats. They looked rather like Taraliel, down to the half-masks they wore.

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

There is a terrible rumble... a low, deep one that seems to flow through everything. Soon the rumblings become louder and physically shake the land... there is a sound of sick growling. Two huge black shapes walk through the darkened mist surrounding the area.
They don't seem to notice Derham as he sits by the fire, taking watch...

[Regord_Silentflame]

Derham watches the shadows for a moment, then calmly walks to the other sleeping members, and attempts to silently wake them, warning them of the large creatures outside.

[Jack Mann]

Taraliel sighs. He leaves the safety of his mansion and climbs out of the hole, looking at the creatures beyond.

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Arcana - (1d20+31)[36]
Dungeoneering - (1d10+28)[29]
Religion - (1d20+30)[48]
Planes - (1d20+28)[40]

[Jack Mann]

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Since I didn't think to add it to the last post...
Nature - (1d20+12)[23]

[Jack Mann]

"Int...eresting," Taraliel whispered, peering out into the gloom. "They're dinosaurs. Tyrannosaurus-rex, to be... precise. Warped, necromantically, into-their-present forms. One does-not normallly see this kind of undead made of... animals. Smarter than-normal, surely. Hungrier, too. We could let them... pass. But-I-think... we can take them." He carefully mounted the bullish creature, which still stood nearby, ready to take to the air. "They likely lack defenses from-the-air, if you... have flight. They can swallow-a-man whole, if you think to... close with them. And they can par...alyze you-first. Close combat would... be a bad-idea, I think. Of course, before we-attack, we must... consider if they have allies. Masters. Scavengers. That bird... That strange, terrible omen on the wing... What shall we-do, friends?"

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

The massive beasts approach the fire, watching it with curious, glowing red eyes and notice the open door of Taraliel's extraplanar mansion and one lurches down to sniff it, it's decayed snout poking it's tip in and breathing in and out weakly to get a scent... It's massive yellow teeth protrude over it's lower jaw and some have even grown out from above the lip, tearing it some. As it smells around and searches the smell of death invades almost the entirety of the mansion.
The second beast mis-steps and slams it's foot onto the fire, putting it out and coating the world again in darkness...

[Adumbration]

Gale, peering through the shutters of the lodge, mutters. "Let there be light..." After whispered words and subtle weavings of magic, four small dots of light appear on his palm. At his gentle breath, the dots of light take off like little darts, shooting through the cracks of the shutter and illuminating the scene.

He then evokes the magic still lingering in his limbs, and floats outside as quietly and as high as possible.

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First cast Dancing Lights and then leave the lodge, using Overland flight - there should still be duration on that. Go as high as possible, trying not to arouse their attentions.

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

They both watch the lights as they suddenly zoom into view and make a grotesque roar simultaneously. They then both hesitate and turn their heads toward Gale as he floats in the air, one of which steps forward and attempts to latch his jaws around him.
Right before he can fly out of it's reach, it manages to close it's jaws around your waist, it's teeth like knives inside you.((22 Damage.)) The jaws are so tight you find yourself unable to move from it's grasp. The smell of incredible decay emanates from the mouth of the creature.

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You are an unlucky PC.

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

Initiative.

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Nestarion - 26
Derham**** - 20
Taraliel - 19
Rex 1* - 16
Ardin - 15
Vega** - 12
Astrus** - 9
Gale*** - 8
Rex 2 - 6
Sylph - 3

*Currently biting Gale.
**If they can't post by the time their turn comes I'll NPC them.
***Currently being bitten by a dinosaur.
****About to show them why they should have stayed extinct! YEAH!!

[TheMeanDM]

Rolling away from the fire, Nestarion stands and hurries over to assist Gale.

He leaps up into the air, and lashes out with his clawed hands, grasping onto the lower jaw of the great beast.

He attempts to use his great strength to pry the jaws apart...or at the very least..give the beast something else to focus on.

"Hey! Bone bag! Bite something that tastes good!" he taunts the creature.

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Since I didn't get a chance to re-arrange, yet, because we didn't rest much and because I just haven't done it...

Maneuvers for the day:
Emerald Razor
Ruby Nightmare Blade
Mountain Hammer
Ironheart Surge

Flashing Sun
Soaring Raptor Strike
Moment of Perfect Mind
Shadow Blade Technique

Jump Check (1d20+24=36) (allows for 8' vertical leap)

Melee Touch Attack (grapple) (1d20+19=38)

Opposed Str Check (1d20+9=22)

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

The undead creature gazes down on the half-devil with it's gleaming red eye as Nestarion latches onto his jaw. The beast shakes his head some and grunts angrily. The piece of lip that Nestarion was grasping onto seems to rip and he almost slips off. Nestarion crawls up and attempts to pry the jaws of the monster open, having to force his hands onto the teeth of the monster.((6 Damage, DR not included))
He tries as he might, and even almost manages to rip the mouth open to free Gale, but the creature is simply too much to have a contest of strength with... The monster shakes it's head and a piece of tooth and flesh simultaneously fall from the undead dinosaur's dead, Nestarion loses his grip and falls to the ground below.((14 Damage, DR not included))

[Regord_Silentflame]

"You should look to the righteous fury of the Gods, not the brutish force of fiends" Derham says to Nestarion, and lets out a warcry, bursting into glowing flames
"Release him you undead beast!" he shouts, and charges at the one chewing on Gale.

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Activates Nimbus of Light (1d4 damage to undead in 20ft)
Charges, smites, uses strike of divine power.
Evil creatures make a Fort save 14 or take 1d6 dex, then 2d6 dex
(1d20+31)[40] (Charging, Smiting)
(3d6+7)[16] Fists (+3 weapons)
[ROLL]15[/ROLL] Smite
(18d6+7)[47] Divine Fire (half fire, half holy damage)

[Jack Mann]

The strange elf studied the creatures for a moment, looking for weaknesses. Finally, he said, "Attack the... front of their-heads. Their ol...factory bulbs are so-large that there is-no room for... skull." Taraliel raised the half-skull up, and chanted in an ancient human language. A bolt of holy energy shot forth from his outstretched hand, arcing to the monster holding Gale.

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Dark Knowledge Tactics - (1d20+30)[46]
Casting Bolt of Glory. Attack - (1d20+13)[28] Damage - (15d12)[107]

EDIT: Actually 31 ranged touch. +3 from the dark knowledge.

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

Derham vaults himself through the air and his fist connects hard with the body of the beast. The bright green fire surges through the body of the creature, splitting and cracking it's undead flesh from beneath and almost burns Gale's feet. A terrible ripping sound is heard as it's torso splits open and boiling black ichor spills onto the ground below it.

The white-gold energy fires from Taraliel's hand and hits the undead tyrannosaur like a holy bolt of lightning and there's a crackling noise as the body begins to burn. The flesh of the beast looks like it very quickly cindering, blackening and falling off, leaving ripped up and blackened muscles stretched tight on yellow bones. It can only manage a terrible, unnatural grunt as it's jaw opens, releasing Gale and it falls over, motionless.

Ardin quickly runs out of the shack when he hears the commotion, holding his staff in hand and quickly straitening his top-hat. "By the gods!" He quickly loses his shock, trying to stay strong in the face of danger and notices the dinosaur as it falls over dead, and looks at the other one. "You'll not be devouring anymore of MY companions!" He begins speaking in a strange Celestial dialect, almost similar to Draconic and moving his fingers quickly, there before him stands a massive beetle with gold-bronze plates and blue-green eyes. It grunts oddly and Ardin runs up and gets on it's back and holds his staff forward, "Assist my allies, Poleus!" The creature makes a half-assed attempt at rearing back and charges the rex and opens it's complex mandibles, and again closes them around the undead dinosaur's leg, ripping flesh and spilling blood.

Vega runs into the doorway of the shack just as Ardin mounts the giant beetle. She immediately takes flight and begins casting a spell while airborne, her voice no more than a whisper as she speaks in a dark tongue, and like Ardin's speech, with some dialect similar to Draconic, but she seems less adept a conjurer than Ardin and seems to take longer...

Astrus charges right out of the shack as Vega takes flight, zeal on his face and in his heart. He heads directly toward the unliving rex and swings his two-handed blade, white fire burning on it but not harming him. It slashes deep into the opposite leg that the celestial stag beetle bit into, but ichor spills out all the same.




"...Good boy, Poleus."
"snrk"

[Adumbration]

Gale, standing up and dusting his clothes, finding them coated with blood and ichor, spits in disgust upon the destroyed corpse. "You really shouldn't have done that." Then, turning his attention to the other, still standing example of mindless undead.

Reaching into a pouch in his belt, bringing up a pinch of dust and a lodestone, he mutters arcane words. His fingers begin to glow sickly green, as they weave a cat's cradle in the air. Finally, the fingers connect with a slam, and a green ray springs from them.

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Casting Sudden Maximized Disintegrate on the remaining t-rex.

Ranged touch attack: (1d20+9)[25]

Fort save DC 24, if fails the save, 192 damage, if it makes it, 30 damage.