After a complete scouring of the pillar, Jarrith finds nothing that would suggest a fake compartment or other hidden structure. The pillar is a hard rock, in contrast to the more clay-like soil that surrounds it.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Tessa watched intently as the others continued their investigation of the ritual area. She stayed outside the circle, keeping a careful eye on the area, trying to stay alert for any signs of disturbance in the aura that the circle seemed to generate, any sense that their studies had activated or altered the patterns- though she wasn't sure she would recognize such signs in time. From time to time, she darted a careful glance back towards the entry to the cavern- while it would be an unpleasant surprise if the circle "awakened', it might be far worse for them to be so intent on their search that something managed to sneak up on them...
Janis continues to stare and ponder the puzzle while she replies.
" I think something is inside the pillar. It's old, but it's not natural and...things....seem to connect the circle here and... it makes my head hurt. If the symbol is inside then it has to be valuable, we're talking about something old enough that it might be of giant or dragon construction. On the other hand - something made a pretty convincing effort to make this look like the rest of this cave complex. I don't detect any residual abjuration magics, but on the other hand I'm not particularly keen on waking up the sorts of things that also might be hidden away under this thing."
"We should grab all the dragonshards. They're probably worth a fortune."
Janis sighs and rubs her eyes.
" I'm not sure exactly how we're supposed to get inside it, in any case. It could be that damaging the circle could disrupt the magic, or it could be that it's time for me to fly back town and see if any of the villagers have any mining experience."
Janis looks upwards at the ceiling.
" I don't want to be down here unprepared if the pillar is holding up the ruins above us and we make it go away somehow..."
Jarrith shrugs. "Well the symbol has only been missing for a short period of time, all things considering. If this pillar and circle are that old, I don't see how or why the symbol would be brought here and then buried within the rock. Doesn't seem to make much sense... although I suppose anything is possible."
He stands up, and brushes off the dirt from his pants. "I do agree that removing the dragonshards is probably a smart move. Not so much for the financial aspect, but more just to hopefully prohibit whatever summoning this circle normally does. If you all are okay with it, we can start chiseling them out now."
OOC: The shards elements appears to be marbled w/in the pillar; one would essentially have to destroy one to get the other (likely damaging the other in the process). What tools would you attempt to use?
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Jarrith starts in on trying to remove the shards. However, while he was able to take out one easy enough with his improvised tools... most of the others are too well embedded. Without actually having a hammer, chisel or pick... taking all of them out is an impossibility.
"Huh. Well I'll be able to maybe take out a few... but if we wanted to clear this entire pillar... I'd either need go get some equipment or a dwarf down here."
He shakes his head. "I'm thinking we should just get out of here. The symbol isn't here. And I don't want to leave Daellin up there by himself for too long, even if he has the bear for company."
The Stalker walks back out of the circle through the slight force field.
Resolving to deal with the pillar latter, perhaps when they know where the missing Symbol of Ravenkind is, the group makes their way back to the ladder. The trapdoor is open, as as they come to the bottom of the shaft, they can hear the sounds of unearthly screams and moans in the night sky above! Realizing Daellin is in trouble, the party hustles up the ladder as quickly as they can.
Hearts pounding, they can do nothing as they hear the unnatural wails and Daellin's screams of anguish. Finally making it to the top, they can see a staggering Daellin wearily bring his bow to bear against a swirling mist of screaming faces! The tortured expression of the faces speak of undying torment and mind-numbing terror, and they seem to be directed entirely at the elf.
As they see the ghostly horror through the intervening ruins, Tessa pales and stutters, "A... c-caller in darkness! Foul undead of tortured souls! Beware their ghostly insubstantialbility!"
Jannis' bear seems to have been driven off by the unnatural aura of the creature.
Pale, and with her normal smile swept away by the terrifying realization of what was facing them, Tessa almost reflexively raised her wooden shield- but even the shelter of the sturdy wooden disc with its connection to her divine patrons brought her little comfort. She knew that horrid swirling form was a creature of horrible power- and she had already drawn heavily upon her divine favor that day.
Despite the strength of her faith, she felt a momentary pang of despair. And in that instant, she felt the rising of something else within her- the elemental power which suffused her soul surged forward, and she felt a rush of mad courage, even fury. While her divine energies might not be a match for such a being, she had other forces at her command- and while in most situations she was loathe to call upon those powers, her desperate fear of their enemy's might swayed her judgment for a critical moment, and the power of her dragonmark reached out as if with a mind of its own. She barely managed to raise her right hand, dropping her mace to the ground as she did so. Even as her outstretched fingers flicked towards their foe, a crackling lash of fire swirled down her arm and across the intervening distance. Even as the bolt left her hand, she felt the furious surge ebb, as if some of her own life energy had fueled the stroke, and the world seemed to waver momentarily...
OOC: Using her Lesser Aberrant Dragonmark power of Scorching Ray; ranged touch at +4, 4d6 fire damage (possible); she then needs to make a DC 10 Fort save to avoid being Dazed for a round- her Fort saves are at +7
Ashlyn, having been resting and somewhat quiet since combating the demon trees due to the fight having drained much of her reserves, suddenly springs into action at the sound of a companion in trouble.
Moving forward she draws her blade and closes with the creature.
[Double move up to creature]
[Note: Ashlyn used a sacred healing after the fight with the trees here, so she and Jarrith should be at full health, and Perriwimple should be at 50/55hp]
[Note: Ashlyn used a sacred healing after the fight with the trees here, so she and Jarrith should be at full health, and Perriwimple should be at 50/55hp][/size][/color]
I updated my in-house sheet, but not the online one. Sigh. No worries.
Update in the afternoon/tonight.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Staggering back away from the moaning miasma, Daellin mechanically fires away. All three zoom into the twisting faces, but two pass through harmlessly. Only the third tears a wisp away. [Incorporeal miss chance spoils 2 attacks; AC 22 hits for 7 damage]
Ashlyn, encumbered by her armor and slowed by the rubble, moves ever so slowly toward the unsettling faces. [Double move through difficult terrain]
Something fiery churning inside, Tessa channels forth a finger of flame at the twisting mass. By the rubble walls provide difficult to aim through, and her efforts are are in vain. She, however, manages to keep the bile down from her Khyber-born gifts. [scorching ray; AC 5 touch misses; Fort 13 succeeds vs daze]
Unconcerned with the others, the bulk of the faces writhe to face the elf, and a wordless scream fills the spaces between them. The ranger staggers a moment, but shakes his head to fight off the worse of it. [Ability damage]
Janis too struggles to find firm footing in the rubble as she strides forward. [Double move through rough terrain; still not close enough for storm bolt]
Confused and horrified by the sudden appearance of the ghoulish faces, Jarrith's mind is overwhelmed. He runs, babbling madly, as best he can through the rubble. [Fleeing for 1 round]
Perriwimple awkward crawls out of the hole around Tessa and looks with abject horror and confusion at the creature. He struggles forward like the others to do what he can.
Janis hops indelicately on one foot, having stubbed her toe on the strewn remnants of the tower then continues to make her way implacably to within range of the creature.
" That's it Daellin! Go grab the holy weapons at the campsite, Father Perriwimple will blast it with his divine powers!"
I hope that thing understands what I just said, because otherwise I feel like a complete ass."
OOC: What the hell, Action Point on the Bluff check. It's for Janis to show off her inherent feminine wiles and copious amounts of manipulative powah. Plus, it's only stupid if it doesn't work. Here's to not looking dumb.
For a moment, Tessa stood with her arm still extended, gazing at the last flicking wisps of flame on her fingertips with something much like fear. Then she reached down to recover her morningstar from where it had been dropped and slowly began to make her way through the rubble-strewn ground of the ruins...
OOC: Retrieve morningstar, then follow the others out of the confined area
As he scrabbles over the rocks and rubble, Jarrith's mind races with panic. However, one more quick glance over in the direction of the elf snaps him back into a more coherent place. What-- no-- pull-- yourself-- together... come on--
He shakes his head one time to regain focus, then realizes that he is needed here. Hoping that his footing is strong, he immediately moves forward while pulling free his wand, and taps himself with another Cat's Grace. (Move action towards creature, cast Cat's Grace on self)
Almost staggering, Daellin takes a final shot at the twisting faces, but they two arrows go wide. He then pulls back. [AC 12 misses; move to K-2]
Lady Ashlyn pushes through the rubble, determined. [Double move through difficult terrain] As she closes, and tendril of wailing faces whips at her, reaching through her armor as if it were mist. She feels something inside tearing as the howling mass renders her insides. [Incorporeal attack hits; 6hp]
Tessa retrieves her weapon and struggles to move forward. [Move through difficult terrain]
Ignoring the others, the menacing faces stream through the ruins after the elf, once again soundlessly screaming after him. Blood streaming from his ears, the elf falls, catatonic. [Ability damage; Daellin helpless]
[Paused for Janis to restate action; previous invalid in current context]
Enigmatically, Janis turns away from the churning mists and strides confidently towards the runic circle.
Shaking his head to clear his disorientation, Jarrith pulls himself together and heads into the fray, his wand providing added dexterity. [cat's grace]
Perriwimple follows close behind Jarrith, terror plain on his face.
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