JollyDoc's Shackled City: FINAL POST [Updated 11/2!!]
JollyDoc
Explorer
BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK
Tilly, Rusty, Kiko and Grimm gathered around their fallen companions. Though Caine was not dead, he looked very near it. His face was pale and his breathing erratic. Rusty shook his head in guilt. “I can’t save’em all,” he said. “Caine, I can heal, but I can only bring back one o’ the others.”
“What’s there to think about?” Tilly snapped. “Wathros has been with us through Hell and back…literally! We don’t even know this sorcerer, and a fat lot of good he was to us anyway!”
“Watch yer tone with me, runt!” Rusty barked back. The battles and the strain of losing or almost losing several of his friends were wearing on him, and his patience was growing thin. “Dalthon said the deva sent him, and I believe him. And it just so happens that me and Wathros had us a talk not so long ago. He told me he’d had a dream, only he thought it was a vision. He said that in it he saw his death comin’, and he knew it weren’t too far off. He also said he knew he wasn’t comin’ back this time. He thought his passin’ had a deeper meaning…that it was meant to be to serve some higher purpose. Anyways, he made me swear that if he died, I wouldn’t bring’im back, and not let anybody else do it neither. I gave me word, so it’s settled.” Tilly simply glared at Rusty’s back as the dwarf kneeled down to begin his prayers over the dead and wounded.
A short time later Caine and Dalthon again stood by their companions as Rusty spoke a final eulogy for the druid Wathros. The group then quickly carried the body into the chamber of the forge, which seemed to be capable of spawning its stone guardians ad infinitum. Hurrying, before yet another golem could be spewed forth, they placed Wathros into the fiery oven, where his corpse was instantaneously cremated. It had to be this way. If they merely buried the druid, or left his body in state, it would rise on the next night as a bodak, part of the curse of their kind. That the Bright Axes could not allow.
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Cautiously, the companions continued down the large central corridor of the fane. Beyond the corpse of the hydra, they reached a four-way intersection. To the left and right, hallways stretched away into shadow, archways and doors opening off at regular intervals. Straight ahead, a large arch opened into what appeared to be another perpendicular hall with a large set of double doors directly across it.
While the group debated the best path to take, Kiko’s sharp ears heard the faint sounds of ringing metal and muffled shouts. The sounds seemed to come from the left-hand hall. Alerting the others, he began moving quickly in that direction. Pausing outside a closed, iron door, he listened again, and distinctly heard the sounds of combat coming from the other side. Grimm came up behind him, and nodded his agreement as the monk put his hand on the door handle. Kiko threw the portal open, looking briefly inside to ascertain the situation. The room beyond was long and narrow. Unlike the other chambers they had seen thus far, the floor of this area was made of hard-packed black soil. Skulls and other humanoid bones were partially buried in the dirt, but the most prominent feature of the room was a large, black tree, some twenty feet in height. Thick, slimy roots, like a mass of snakes, protruded from the soil around its base. The tree was leafless, but a number of plump, foul-smelling black fruits dangled from its limbs. At the moment, the tree seemed to be animate, and was locked in mortal combat with a green-scaled woman who bore both draconic and drow features. Near the two combatants lay the husks of two black-skinned humanoids, their scaly faces emaciated and withered. A foul smelling mist blanketed the floor of the room, tainting the air like rotting flowers.
Kiko wasn’t sure who was predator and prey in the melee, but he frankly didn’t care. Every half-dragon they’d met so far had tried to kill them, and anything native to this evil place deserved to be destroyed as well. The monk rushed into the chamber, moving to flank to black tree, simply because it happened to be closest to him.
Still standing in the hallway, Grimm was easily able to snap his spiked chain into the thick of the combat, flaying large pieces of fleshy bark from the rampaging tree. In response, the tree began slapping about in all directions with its long branches, striking both Kiko and the half-dragon as well. It then whirled around and swatted Tilly, who was attempting to sneak into another flanking spot, knocking the little halfling into a far wall.
Gallara did not know who these heretics were, nor did she particularly care. They all deserved death, along with this abomination she had unwittingly stumbled across while reconnoitering for Ravus and Synder. If they chose to help her, so much the better. She would use that to her advantage, and strike them when they least expected it. She surreptitiously drew a black wand from her robes, uttering a short word to activate its life-draining magic.
Kiko ducked and tumbled among the tree’s flailing branches, punching and kicking wherever he saw an opportunity. Many of his strikes seemed to simply bounce off the tough hide of the creature, but some managed to knock loose strips of bark, revealing a flesh-like skin beneath that oozed black ichor.
Grimm entered the chamber, positioning himself for best effect, i.e. where he could strike his opponent, but could not be struck in turn. Taking up the half-ogre’s former position in the doorway, Dalthon called upon his magic to generate a volley of glowing magic missiles that flew unerringly from his fingers to strike the poison tree.
Four of the heretics had now entered the room, Gallara saw, and they were all on the opposite side of the tree from her. Perfect, she thought. Quickly speaking the words to a spell, she conjured a powerful, localized hail and ice storm to encompass all of the infidels, as well as the tree. The fist-sized chunks of hail pummeled her opponents, and the blinding sleet made the ground beneath them treacherous, and greatly reduced their ability to see and react.
Dalthon watched the effects of the enemy sorcerer’s spell, and smiled grimly to himself. What better way to counter ice than with fire? Reacting instantly, he hurled a pea-sized ball of flame into the corner where the half-dragon stood. In a flash, it erupted into a massive fireball, engulfing Gallara and the tree. However, when the flames died, Gallara stood unscathed, but smoke billowed from the charred tree, which nevertheless continued its rampage. Ripping its roots from the ground it began shuffling rapidly across the room, in a direct, trampling charge towards Grimm. The half-ogre braced himself for the impact, but at the last instant, he whipped out his chain, slashing it deep into the hide of the charging tree. The creature gave a great shudder, and then toppled like a fallen log to the ground at Grimm’s feet.
Now that the path was clear to the half-dragon, Tilly and Kiko both ran straight for her, closely followed by Rusty. Gallara swatted the halfling aside with one wicked claw, but Kiko ducked beneath the glowing wand she wielded in the other hand, and jabbed his fingers into the side of her neck. As she reeled, Rusty’s axe cut a large gash across her scaly midsection. Gallara backed away, clutching her bleeding abdomen, and then again called an ice storm down, catching her foes, but leaving her outside its perimeter. Undeterred, Tilly leaped thru the sleet and hail to bury his shortsword into the half-dragon’s leg. As she collapsed to one knee, Kiko leveled a double-fisted blow to the back of her neck, cracking it with a sharp snap.
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“Bah!” Synder growled in anger. “I say we just smash the infernal thing and take whatever’s inside it!” Ravus shook his head, his braids swinging from side to side, with a long-suffering smile on his face. He and his friend had been here for hours, studying from a distance the inky black egg that floated in the center of the room. “You know better than that,” the ranger replied. “Already, we’ve sent over a dozen of the black orcs to try and secure it, and look what happened to them! No, there has to be another way. We just haven’t found it yet. Perhaps Gallara or Grenaug will uncover something useful in their explorations.”
“They are worse than useless!” Synder barked. “They haven’t even been able to deal with that accursed hydra yet, much less the never-ending supply of golems!” “Synder,” Ravus sighed, “we’ve been through this a hundred times. Our benefactor told us of the immense power of this artifact. You know that with it we can unleash a horde of abyss-spawned wyrms upon the weak lesser races of this world. Think of the power that our kind will wield! What is this brief delay compared to the ultimate reward?”
Synder opened his mouth to complain further, but at that moment the doors at the far side of the chamber burst open. “Well, it’s about time!” Synder snarled, expecting to see their cohorts returning with news. Instead, an odd assortment of humanoids stood in the doorway, including a dwarf, a halfling, three humans, and, if he wasn’t mistaken, a half-breed ogre! What in the name of the nine hells was this? Ravus tried to put a restraining hand on the half-dragon/half-troll’s shoulder, but Synder had already hefted his axe and spread his wings.
Beyond the massive, iron doors that Grimm had just thrown open, lay an enormous chamber with a ceiling at least fifty feet in height. The majority of the room was occupied by a shallow pool of boiling, black liquid. Four extremely short iron planks protruded from doorways in the four cardinal directions of the chamber. In the center of the pool, a large, black egg of ebon scales floated serenely about five feet above the roiling surface. Strange as this sight was, what immediately caught the attention of the Bright axes were the two figures on the far side of the room. One was slender, with blue scales for skin. He was dressed in well-made studded leather armor and held two swords, one long, the other short, in his hands. He wore the golden torque about his neck that the group had seen before on other half-dragons, the symbol of Tiamat. The second figure was much larger, with mottled red skin and huge wings. At the moment, he was growing larger as he rapidly closed the distance across the room, his wings beating furiously, and an immense great axe raised above his head.
Dalthon, seeking to delay their assailant, instantly began invoking a spell, calling up an ice storm (since he’d recently seen it used so effectively) to envelop the far side of the room. However, it appeared a fraction of a second too late. The blue-skinned half-dragon was caught, but the other one flew rapidly out of its area of effect. Synder bellowed an ear-splitting howl as he reached the companions, bringing down his axe in a devastating chop that sank six inches into Rusty’s chest. A spray of frothy blood erupted from the dwarf’s mouth as he went rigid. Synder placed one massive boot on Rusty’s shoulder, kicking him off the axe and preparing for his next victim. Kiko stepped up to catch the falling priest and tried to drag him to safety, but even his cat-like reflexes were too slow, and the axe fell again, leaving the monk to limp slowly back down the corridor, trailing his friend and a growing pool of blood behind him.
Grimm couldn’t believe it! In one move, the half-dragon had crippled a third of their party! Shouldering Dalthon aside, the planar champion stepped up to face Synder toe-to-toe. Twirling his chain, he lashed out three times, viciously wounding the half-dragon, but to his dismay, the wounds immediately began to heal. Damn! Grimm thought he smelled troll. As he prepared to strike again, a small form buzzed past him. Caine, under the effects of the fly spell that he had also cast on Grimm and Tilly, moved directly in front of Synder, and calmly placed his hand on the brute’s forehead. Synder’s eyes went wide in stunned disbelief. Was this fool insane? He dared to lay hands upon his person and expect to live? Synder prepared to cure the human’s insanity permanently, but found that his anger had left him. Though he knew these infidels to be enemies, he could not bring himself to do harm upon them. These feelings confused the half-dragon, and so he did what he always did whenever he wasn’t sure of an answer…he went to Ravus.
Grimm watched as the troll half-dragon retreated, and then saw the other one begin healing the brute’s wounds. “What are you doing?” he growled, turning to Caine. “Buying us some time, and possibly saving your life,” the sorcerer calmly replied. “I don’t think even you could have stood against that beast for very long.” Suddenly, a bright flash of light in the center of the room, near the egg, caught everyone’s attention. As the light faded, a man could be seen hovering in the air above the artifact. It was none other than Tobias! In his hand he held a short, iron rod, one end of which was carved to resemble a dragon’s claw. “Finally!” he cackled with insane laughter. “The Black Egg is returned to my family! Death take you all!”
With infinite satisfaction, he began lowering the clawed end of the rod to touch the egg, but in a flash, Grimm was there, having closed the distance between them in an eye blink, thanks to Caine’s spell of haste. In one deft strike, the half-ogre wrapped the end of his chain around the iron rod, and ripped it out of Tobias’ hand. It fell into the black pool below. “Noooooo!” Tobias wailed. “What have you done? Blasphemy!”
Meanwhile, Caine called to Jules, and commanded the little archon to go to the aid of Rusty and Kiko. Jules appeared beside them, and began doing what he could for the pair. Rusty’s eyes fluttered open, and then went wide. “Behind you!” he whispered to Kiko and Jules. The monk turned, and hovering in the air behind him was Locke, the sorceress they had allowed to go free. “Fools!” she laughed. “I told you I would have my revenge. It begins now!” She flicked her hand towards Rusty, and a volley of glowing missiles struck the barely conscious priest, rendering him comatose once more.
Tilly and Caine did not witness Locke’s arrival. They were already on their way across the room to aid Grimm. Tilly somersaulted to a position behind Tobias, slashing deeply into his arm as he went. Caine continued past the melee, coming to a stop directly behind Ravus, who was still tending to Synder’s injuries. Without a word, the apostle again reached out, touching Ravus and removing any hint of a desire for combat. A second later, Caine rendered himself invisible.
Still cursing in rage, Tobias attempted to break left around Grimm, heading for the door. Grimm flailed at him as he passed, but still the mercenary managed to make it to the exit. The half-ogre was hot on his heels, but as Grimm returned to the hallway, he was caught by a second blast of Locke’s magic missiles. During the distraction, Tobias managed to slip down the corridor. “Not so fast,” Dalthon shouted. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re not going anywhere!” The sorcerer fired off his own burst of missiles, striking Tobias and causing him to reel against one wall. Tilly took the moment to close the distance, but at the last moment before he struck, Tobias reversed himself and charged the halfling, sinking his rapier deep into the rogue’s shoulder. Tilly wrenched himself free of the blade, and then pounced on Tobias like a cat, slashing with both of his blades in a whirlwind of fury. In less than an instant, Tobias was unconscious, sinking slowly to the floor.
Grimm struck at Locke once, twice, but though wounds showed on her unprotected skin, they were shallow, superficial. Some magic guarded the woman, making her resistant to physical injury. She then spoke the words to another spell, and multiple mirror images of her sprang into existence, dancing and moving all about her so that it was impossible to tell who the real target was. Dalthon had seen this trick before, and knew how to get around it. Once more summoning his magic missiles, he sent them to individually strike the flickering images, and each time one was hit, it winked away. Soon, Locke would be alone again.
Jules again touched Rusty’s chest, infusing the dwarf with what little healing power he could offer. Again, Rusty awoke, seeing battle raging around him. The priest heaved himself to his feet, and began lurching down the hallway, away from the melee. “Thank you little friend,” he called back over his shoulder to Jules. “I’ll be back after I’ve had a chance to heal meself proper.”
Synder, his wounds healed, stared questioningly at Ravus. “I know not what sorcery is upon us, my friend,” the ranger said, “but I know what I saw. That human had something in his possession that would activate the egg. He dropped it…there! Find it! Touch the egg…quickly!” Synder grinned in agreement, then flew to egg. He landed in the boiling liquid, knowing it would not harm dragon-kind, and then plunged his hands beneath the surface, groping for the hidden rod.
Caine’s mind raced as he overheard the plans of the half-dragons. He wasn’t sure what exactly the rod would do if touched to the egg, but he knew he didn’t want to find out. Sacrificing his invisibility, he attempted to weave a confining sphere of force about Ravus to trap him. However, the aggressive intent of the spell freed the ranger from his pacification, and he leaped to one side just as the sphere appeared, narrowly avoiding entrapment. Caine quickly turned towards the door and began shouting, “Grimm! The rod! They mustn’t retrieve it!”
Grimm heard Caine’s warning and immediately disengaged from his struggle with Locke. He took flight back into the chamber, but Dalthon was one step ahead of him. The sorcerer conjured a bolt of lightning and sent it streaking at Synder, striking the troll/dragon full in the chest. Shaking himself free of Caine’s pacification effect, Synder’s rage overrode his need to find the rod, and he launched himself at Grimm. “Synder, no!” Ravus cried, wading through the water towards his friend. As he closed the distance, he opened his mouth wide, and breathed a blast of electricity at Grimm, trying to keep him away from Synder. Just then, Caine streaked over the heads of both Ravus and Synder, coming to hover directly above Grimm. Chanting a spell, he rendered the half-ogre invisible, but in a way that would not reveal the planar champion, even if he attacked. As Synder looked all direction for his vanished foe, Grimm smashed his chain down upon the troll-dragon’s skull. Synder collapsed like a stone, sinking beneath the surface of the boiling liquid.
Locke turned her attention back to Kiko once Grimm had left, but the monk was ready for her. He leaped for her, trying to grapple her from the air, but only succeeded in passing through one of her remaining images. Locke laughed at the foolish man, but then from the corner of her eye, she saw Tilly standing over the fallen form of Tobias. She began a spell of charming, and when it was complete, she saw that the halfling was completely under her thrall. “Hello my little friend,” she said purringly. “Don’t you remember me? Don’t bother yourself with Tobias. He’s not going anywhere. However, I think your companions mean to do me injury. You wouldn’t let that happen, would you?” Tilly’s eyes glazed over as Locke’s voice hypnotized him. No indeed, he would not let any harm befall her. As Kiko regained his feet, the little rogue lunged for him, swinging his swords in a deadly pattern. Kiko dodged the blows easily, but found himself being forced away from Locke. Locke’s attention was fully upon the two combatants, and so she failed to see Rusty step from an archway behind her. The priest had managed to heal the worst of his wounds, and now he wove a dispelling field about the sorceress. Instantly, her mirror images vanished, and her spell of flying ended. She sank slowly towards the corridor floor…easy prey.
Grimm saw that Ravus was still coming. Though he had no doubt he could deal with the elven half-dragon, Grimm also knew that Synder’s troll blood was even now healing his injuries. If he awoke, he might find himself resting right next to the rod. Grimm knew he had to find it first. Steeling himself for the pain he was sure to suffer, he plunged his hands into the black liquid. Instantly, he felt excruciating agony, and waves of nausea and weakness washed over him. He could literally feel his body’s vitality being sucked away. Just as he thought that he could endure no more, his hand closed over a thin piece of metal. Roaring in triumph and pain, he surged back into the air, just as a fireball from Dalthon exploded around the approaching Ravus. The ranger cried out, and then suddenly dove under the surface of the pool.
As Locke was distracted by Rusty’s unexpected attack, Kiko managed to dodge deftly around Tilly and grab the sorceress from behind, wrapping his arm’s around her in a bear-hug. However, the monk’s sense of triumph was short lived as Locke’s body began to twist and morph in his grasp. He suddenly found himself holding a tiger-headed creature that was very familiar to him…a rakshasa! As the demonic outsider struggled to break free, Kiko heaved her to the ground, pinning her to the floor. Just then, the monk’s head began to swim, and he abruptly found that his body had grown to twice its normal size. Caine stood above him smiling. The sorcerer had enlarged the monk, increasing his strength in proportion. Locke’s chances of escape dropped severely. As Locke struggled against the superior strength of Kiko, Caine stood over her, glaring and sinister with his smoking, red eye. “You broke your word to me!” he hissed, “Though I am a pacifist by nature, you have now sealed your own fate! I cannot help you any longer!” “Tilly!” Locke screamed, “Save me!” Suddenly, Caine was knocked to the side as the rogue leaped onto Kiko’s back, locking his hands around the monk’s neck and trying to wrench him off his mistress. For a moment, Kiko lost his hold, and he could feel Locke working her way free. Caine quickly recovered himself, and then began chanting his own spell of enthrallment. Now Tilly found himself torn between two masters.
“Tilly,” Caine said gently, but urgently, “Let Kiko go. You know we are your friends. Trust me.” Tilly, blinking in confusion, relaxed his grip on Kiko, and the monk quickly regained control over the rakshasa, slapping one large hand over her mouth to prevent her from issuing any new commands to the rogue.
“Sorry to break this up gentleman, but we’ve still got a situation here!” Dalthon called over his shoulder, as he saw that Ravus had emerged from the water and was rapidly making his way towards the door. The sorcerer hurled a fireball at the draconic ranger, but the wily creature threw himself to the side at the last minute, avoiding the blast. Dalthon prepared to attack again, but at that moment, Synder erupted from the dark liquid, many of his wounds healed, and the others closing rapidly. Dalthon quickly fired a magic missile volley at the troll-dragon, but the giant seemed to shrug them off. Grabbing Ravus under the arms, he lifted them both into the air with his mighty wings, and began closing rapidly.
Kiko instinctively looked around at Dalthon’s warning, and Locke used the opportunity to bring the heel of her hand up solidly under his jaw. The monk rocked backwards, and Locke began scrambling to her feet, but at that moment, she was struck twice by an unseen bludgeon that hit with the force of a hammer blow. She collapsed in a lifeless heap, and Grimm snorted in satisfaction, and then turned his invisible form towards the next threat.
Caine rushed to Dalthon’s side, and cast a spell of slowness, enveloping the approaching half-dragons, and severely curtailing their momentum. Dalthon took the opportunity to lob another set of magic missiles at Ravus, and then Kiko flashed by him, flying above the black liquid to engage the ranger. The monk’s fists were lightning fast, and he delivered blow after devastating blow to the impaired half-dragon. Then Kiko felt a large presence behind him, and knew that Grimm had arrived. A huge gash opened up in Ravus' armor, and the ranger reeled in semi-consciousness. Two more punch/kick combinations from Kiko ended his struggle for good.
Synder roared in anger as he saw his friend fall into the liquid below. He could not see Grimm, but his keen ears knew exactly where the half-ogre was. Opening his mouth, he blew out a breath of scorching flames, engulfing the planar champion. But suddenly, a blast of raw, holy power literally blew the troll-dragon out of the air, as Rusty finished him off. “There!” the dwarf said, dusting off his hands, “That’s what ye get fer hittin’ a fella when his back was turned!” Synder fell once more into the black fluid, and Grimm hovered over the spot, flailing again and again with his chain until the liquid was tinged red. He knew the creature could still regenerate, but he was going to make sure that would take a very long time.
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Caine knelt beside the unconscious form of Tobias, and chanted one last spell of charming. When he was sure the man was under his sway, he began healing and tending his wounds. He had carefully instructed the others to keep their distance, so as not to alarm Tobias when he awoke. As his eyes fluttered open, Tobias gazed around in confusion. “What happened?” he asked. “Where is the Egg? Is it safe?”
“Do not worry, my friend,” Caine said calmly. “All is well. The Egg is secure, but I think I could better help you to keep it safe if you told me what it does.”
Tobias laughed insanely, “You have no idea of the power it possesses, Caine. I used the Blood Claw to absorb the souls of all the half-dragons you and your friends killed for me. With those draconic souls, I can feed the Egg’s hunger, and summon to me an army of dragons spawned in the very bowels of the Abyss!”
“I see,” Caine said. “But how did you know of this power? Where did the Egg come from?”
“My father was a mighty wizard,” Tobias answered. “His name was Zebedaster. He acquired the Egg while adventuring with a group of companions. He saw the potential of its power, but his companions did too. He knew they would try to take it from him, so he wisely killed them all, and their families as well. He was wrongfully imprisoned for this ‘crime’ but before his capture, he managed to create the Fane of Scales and place the Egg within it. He then set the Fane adrift in the heavens, beyond the reach of his enemies. Unfortunately, the Cult of the Dragon found out about the Fane, and sought to find a way to breach it. This information came to me, and I managed to pose as a benefactor to the Cult, giving them the means to negate some of the Fane’s magic, and bring it to earth. My hope was that they would enter the Fane and deal with the traps and guardians that my father had set there, or die trying. Then, any who died, I would harvest their souls and awaken the power of the Egg. Is it not a glorious plan Caine? Will you not join me?”
“Perhaps, my friend,” Caine said, “but first, tell me something. In order to properly protect an artifact as powerful as the Black Egg, I must know…is there any way to destroy it? I must know this, you see, so that I can insure that we take the proper precautions.”
“Of course,” Tobias nodded, “There is wisdom in your words. The Egg can be destroyed thru physical damage, but care should be taken not to actually touch it with bare flesh. Its influence can be…overwhelming. Also, if it should be destroyed, the Fane will crumble with it in a matter of minutes. Now, where shall we begin our reign of terror?”
“All in due time, my friend. For now, we need to tend your wounds and ours as well. We will retreat from here for the nonce.”
As Caine motioned to the others to leave, and began guiding Tobias towards the exit, he spoke to Grimm in the language of the Abyss, “You heard and understand?”
“Leave it to me,” Grimm smiled…grimly.
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Grimm hovered above the ebony Egg, and began twirling his chain. Then, over and over again, he hammered at the evil thing, slashing great rents into its iron hide, revealing a glowing red, hellish light within. Finally, with one more, mighty blow, the Egg fractured entirely, falling into a thousand pieces. Immediately, the Fane around Grimm began to shudder. Flying at full speed, he rocketed through the corridors and out the main doors, arrowing for the distant rendezvous site his companions had agreed upon. Behind him, the Fane of Scales exploded in an awesome blast, raining fire and debris upon the earth in a half-mile radius. It had caused much destruction and pain, but its evil was finally ended.
Tilly, Rusty, Kiko and Grimm gathered around their fallen companions. Though Caine was not dead, he looked very near it. His face was pale and his breathing erratic. Rusty shook his head in guilt. “I can’t save’em all,” he said. “Caine, I can heal, but I can only bring back one o’ the others.”
“What’s there to think about?” Tilly snapped. “Wathros has been with us through Hell and back…literally! We don’t even know this sorcerer, and a fat lot of good he was to us anyway!”
“Watch yer tone with me, runt!” Rusty barked back. The battles and the strain of losing or almost losing several of his friends were wearing on him, and his patience was growing thin. “Dalthon said the deva sent him, and I believe him. And it just so happens that me and Wathros had us a talk not so long ago. He told me he’d had a dream, only he thought it was a vision. He said that in it he saw his death comin’, and he knew it weren’t too far off. He also said he knew he wasn’t comin’ back this time. He thought his passin’ had a deeper meaning…that it was meant to be to serve some higher purpose. Anyways, he made me swear that if he died, I wouldn’t bring’im back, and not let anybody else do it neither. I gave me word, so it’s settled.” Tilly simply glared at Rusty’s back as the dwarf kneeled down to begin his prayers over the dead and wounded.
A short time later Caine and Dalthon again stood by their companions as Rusty spoke a final eulogy for the druid Wathros. The group then quickly carried the body into the chamber of the forge, which seemed to be capable of spawning its stone guardians ad infinitum. Hurrying, before yet another golem could be spewed forth, they placed Wathros into the fiery oven, where his corpse was instantaneously cremated. It had to be this way. If they merely buried the druid, or left his body in state, it would rise on the next night as a bodak, part of the curse of their kind. That the Bright Axes could not allow.
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Cautiously, the companions continued down the large central corridor of the fane. Beyond the corpse of the hydra, they reached a four-way intersection. To the left and right, hallways stretched away into shadow, archways and doors opening off at regular intervals. Straight ahead, a large arch opened into what appeared to be another perpendicular hall with a large set of double doors directly across it.
While the group debated the best path to take, Kiko’s sharp ears heard the faint sounds of ringing metal and muffled shouts. The sounds seemed to come from the left-hand hall. Alerting the others, he began moving quickly in that direction. Pausing outside a closed, iron door, he listened again, and distinctly heard the sounds of combat coming from the other side. Grimm came up behind him, and nodded his agreement as the monk put his hand on the door handle. Kiko threw the portal open, looking briefly inside to ascertain the situation. The room beyond was long and narrow. Unlike the other chambers they had seen thus far, the floor of this area was made of hard-packed black soil. Skulls and other humanoid bones were partially buried in the dirt, but the most prominent feature of the room was a large, black tree, some twenty feet in height. Thick, slimy roots, like a mass of snakes, protruded from the soil around its base. The tree was leafless, but a number of plump, foul-smelling black fruits dangled from its limbs. At the moment, the tree seemed to be animate, and was locked in mortal combat with a green-scaled woman who bore both draconic and drow features. Near the two combatants lay the husks of two black-skinned humanoids, their scaly faces emaciated and withered. A foul smelling mist blanketed the floor of the room, tainting the air like rotting flowers.
Kiko wasn’t sure who was predator and prey in the melee, but he frankly didn’t care. Every half-dragon they’d met so far had tried to kill them, and anything native to this evil place deserved to be destroyed as well. The monk rushed into the chamber, moving to flank to black tree, simply because it happened to be closest to him.
Still standing in the hallway, Grimm was easily able to snap his spiked chain into the thick of the combat, flaying large pieces of fleshy bark from the rampaging tree. In response, the tree began slapping about in all directions with its long branches, striking both Kiko and the half-dragon as well. It then whirled around and swatted Tilly, who was attempting to sneak into another flanking spot, knocking the little halfling into a far wall.
Gallara did not know who these heretics were, nor did she particularly care. They all deserved death, along with this abomination she had unwittingly stumbled across while reconnoitering for Ravus and Synder. If they chose to help her, so much the better. She would use that to her advantage, and strike them when they least expected it. She surreptitiously drew a black wand from her robes, uttering a short word to activate its life-draining magic.
Kiko ducked and tumbled among the tree’s flailing branches, punching and kicking wherever he saw an opportunity. Many of his strikes seemed to simply bounce off the tough hide of the creature, but some managed to knock loose strips of bark, revealing a flesh-like skin beneath that oozed black ichor.
Grimm entered the chamber, positioning himself for best effect, i.e. where he could strike his opponent, but could not be struck in turn. Taking up the half-ogre’s former position in the doorway, Dalthon called upon his magic to generate a volley of glowing magic missiles that flew unerringly from his fingers to strike the poison tree.
Four of the heretics had now entered the room, Gallara saw, and they were all on the opposite side of the tree from her. Perfect, she thought. Quickly speaking the words to a spell, she conjured a powerful, localized hail and ice storm to encompass all of the infidels, as well as the tree. The fist-sized chunks of hail pummeled her opponents, and the blinding sleet made the ground beneath them treacherous, and greatly reduced their ability to see and react.
Dalthon watched the effects of the enemy sorcerer’s spell, and smiled grimly to himself. What better way to counter ice than with fire? Reacting instantly, he hurled a pea-sized ball of flame into the corner where the half-dragon stood. In a flash, it erupted into a massive fireball, engulfing Gallara and the tree. However, when the flames died, Gallara stood unscathed, but smoke billowed from the charred tree, which nevertheless continued its rampage. Ripping its roots from the ground it began shuffling rapidly across the room, in a direct, trampling charge towards Grimm. The half-ogre braced himself for the impact, but at the last instant, he whipped out his chain, slashing it deep into the hide of the charging tree. The creature gave a great shudder, and then toppled like a fallen log to the ground at Grimm’s feet.
Now that the path was clear to the half-dragon, Tilly and Kiko both ran straight for her, closely followed by Rusty. Gallara swatted the halfling aside with one wicked claw, but Kiko ducked beneath the glowing wand she wielded in the other hand, and jabbed his fingers into the side of her neck. As she reeled, Rusty’s axe cut a large gash across her scaly midsection. Gallara backed away, clutching her bleeding abdomen, and then again called an ice storm down, catching her foes, but leaving her outside its perimeter. Undeterred, Tilly leaped thru the sleet and hail to bury his shortsword into the half-dragon’s leg. As she collapsed to one knee, Kiko leveled a double-fisted blow to the back of her neck, cracking it with a sharp snap.
____________________________________________________________
“Bah!” Synder growled in anger. “I say we just smash the infernal thing and take whatever’s inside it!” Ravus shook his head, his braids swinging from side to side, with a long-suffering smile on his face. He and his friend had been here for hours, studying from a distance the inky black egg that floated in the center of the room. “You know better than that,” the ranger replied. “Already, we’ve sent over a dozen of the black orcs to try and secure it, and look what happened to them! No, there has to be another way. We just haven’t found it yet. Perhaps Gallara or Grenaug will uncover something useful in their explorations.”
“They are worse than useless!” Synder barked. “They haven’t even been able to deal with that accursed hydra yet, much less the never-ending supply of golems!” “Synder,” Ravus sighed, “we’ve been through this a hundred times. Our benefactor told us of the immense power of this artifact. You know that with it we can unleash a horde of abyss-spawned wyrms upon the weak lesser races of this world. Think of the power that our kind will wield! What is this brief delay compared to the ultimate reward?”
Synder opened his mouth to complain further, but at that moment the doors at the far side of the chamber burst open. “Well, it’s about time!” Synder snarled, expecting to see their cohorts returning with news. Instead, an odd assortment of humanoids stood in the doorway, including a dwarf, a halfling, three humans, and, if he wasn’t mistaken, a half-breed ogre! What in the name of the nine hells was this? Ravus tried to put a restraining hand on the half-dragon/half-troll’s shoulder, but Synder had already hefted his axe and spread his wings.
Beyond the massive, iron doors that Grimm had just thrown open, lay an enormous chamber with a ceiling at least fifty feet in height. The majority of the room was occupied by a shallow pool of boiling, black liquid. Four extremely short iron planks protruded from doorways in the four cardinal directions of the chamber. In the center of the pool, a large, black egg of ebon scales floated serenely about five feet above the roiling surface. Strange as this sight was, what immediately caught the attention of the Bright axes were the two figures on the far side of the room. One was slender, with blue scales for skin. He was dressed in well-made studded leather armor and held two swords, one long, the other short, in his hands. He wore the golden torque about his neck that the group had seen before on other half-dragons, the symbol of Tiamat. The second figure was much larger, with mottled red skin and huge wings. At the moment, he was growing larger as he rapidly closed the distance across the room, his wings beating furiously, and an immense great axe raised above his head.
Dalthon, seeking to delay their assailant, instantly began invoking a spell, calling up an ice storm (since he’d recently seen it used so effectively) to envelop the far side of the room. However, it appeared a fraction of a second too late. The blue-skinned half-dragon was caught, but the other one flew rapidly out of its area of effect. Synder bellowed an ear-splitting howl as he reached the companions, bringing down his axe in a devastating chop that sank six inches into Rusty’s chest. A spray of frothy blood erupted from the dwarf’s mouth as he went rigid. Synder placed one massive boot on Rusty’s shoulder, kicking him off the axe and preparing for his next victim. Kiko stepped up to catch the falling priest and tried to drag him to safety, but even his cat-like reflexes were too slow, and the axe fell again, leaving the monk to limp slowly back down the corridor, trailing his friend and a growing pool of blood behind him.
Grimm couldn’t believe it! In one move, the half-dragon had crippled a third of their party! Shouldering Dalthon aside, the planar champion stepped up to face Synder toe-to-toe. Twirling his chain, he lashed out three times, viciously wounding the half-dragon, but to his dismay, the wounds immediately began to heal. Damn! Grimm thought he smelled troll. As he prepared to strike again, a small form buzzed past him. Caine, under the effects of the fly spell that he had also cast on Grimm and Tilly, moved directly in front of Synder, and calmly placed his hand on the brute’s forehead. Synder’s eyes went wide in stunned disbelief. Was this fool insane? He dared to lay hands upon his person and expect to live? Synder prepared to cure the human’s insanity permanently, but found that his anger had left him. Though he knew these infidels to be enemies, he could not bring himself to do harm upon them. These feelings confused the half-dragon, and so he did what he always did whenever he wasn’t sure of an answer…he went to Ravus.
Grimm watched as the troll half-dragon retreated, and then saw the other one begin healing the brute’s wounds. “What are you doing?” he growled, turning to Caine. “Buying us some time, and possibly saving your life,” the sorcerer calmly replied. “I don’t think even you could have stood against that beast for very long.” Suddenly, a bright flash of light in the center of the room, near the egg, caught everyone’s attention. As the light faded, a man could be seen hovering in the air above the artifact. It was none other than Tobias! In his hand he held a short, iron rod, one end of which was carved to resemble a dragon’s claw. “Finally!” he cackled with insane laughter. “The Black Egg is returned to my family! Death take you all!”
With infinite satisfaction, he began lowering the clawed end of the rod to touch the egg, but in a flash, Grimm was there, having closed the distance between them in an eye blink, thanks to Caine’s spell of haste. In one deft strike, the half-ogre wrapped the end of his chain around the iron rod, and ripped it out of Tobias’ hand. It fell into the black pool below. “Noooooo!” Tobias wailed. “What have you done? Blasphemy!”
Meanwhile, Caine called to Jules, and commanded the little archon to go to the aid of Rusty and Kiko. Jules appeared beside them, and began doing what he could for the pair. Rusty’s eyes fluttered open, and then went wide. “Behind you!” he whispered to Kiko and Jules. The monk turned, and hovering in the air behind him was Locke, the sorceress they had allowed to go free. “Fools!” she laughed. “I told you I would have my revenge. It begins now!” She flicked her hand towards Rusty, and a volley of glowing missiles struck the barely conscious priest, rendering him comatose once more.
Tilly and Caine did not witness Locke’s arrival. They were already on their way across the room to aid Grimm. Tilly somersaulted to a position behind Tobias, slashing deeply into his arm as he went. Caine continued past the melee, coming to a stop directly behind Ravus, who was still tending to Synder’s injuries. Without a word, the apostle again reached out, touching Ravus and removing any hint of a desire for combat. A second later, Caine rendered himself invisible.
Still cursing in rage, Tobias attempted to break left around Grimm, heading for the door. Grimm flailed at him as he passed, but still the mercenary managed to make it to the exit. The half-ogre was hot on his heels, but as Grimm returned to the hallway, he was caught by a second blast of Locke’s magic missiles. During the distraction, Tobias managed to slip down the corridor. “Not so fast,” Dalthon shouted. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re not going anywhere!” The sorcerer fired off his own burst of missiles, striking Tobias and causing him to reel against one wall. Tilly took the moment to close the distance, but at the last moment before he struck, Tobias reversed himself and charged the halfling, sinking his rapier deep into the rogue’s shoulder. Tilly wrenched himself free of the blade, and then pounced on Tobias like a cat, slashing with both of his blades in a whirlwind of fury. In less than an instant, Tobias was unconscious, sinking slowly to the floor.
Grimm struck at Locke once, twice, but though wounds showed on her unprotected skin, they were shallow, superficial. Some magic guarded the woman, making her resistant to physical injury. She then spoke the words to another spell, and multiple mirror images of her sprang into existence, dancing and moving all about her so that it was impossible to tell who the real target was. Dalthon had seen this trick before, and knew how to get around it. Once more summoning his magic missiles, he sent them to individually strike the flickering images, and each time one was hit, it winked away. Soon, Locke would be alone again.
Jules again touched Rusty’s chest, infusing the dwarf with what little healing power he could offer. Again, Rusty awoke, seeing battle raging around him. The priest heaved himself to his feet, and began lurching down the hallway, away from the melee. “Thank you little friend,” he called back over his shoulder to Jules. “I’ll be back after I’ve had a chance to heal meself proper.”
Synder, his wounds healed, stared questioningly at Ravus. “I know not what sorcery is upon us, my friend,” the ranger said, “but I know what I saw. That human had something in his possession that would activate the egg. He dropped it…there! Find it! Touch the egg…quickly!” Synder grinned in agreement, then flew to egg. He landed in the boiling liquid, knowing it would not harm dragon-kind, and then plunged his hands beneath the surface, groping for the hidden rod.
Caine’s mind raced as he overheard the plans of the half-dragons. He wasn’t sure what exactly the rod would do if touched to the egg, but he knew he didn’t want to find out. Sacrificing his invisibility, he attempted to weave a confining sphere of force about Ravus to trap him. However, the aggressive intent of the spell freed the ranger from his pacification, and he leaped to one side just as the sphere appeared, narrowly avoiding entrapment. Caine quickly turned towards the door and began shouting, “Grimm! The rod! They mustn’t retrieve it!”
Grimm heard Caine’s warning and immediately disengaged from his struggle with Locke. He took flight back into the chamber, but Dalthon was one step ahead of him. The sorcerer conjured a bolt of lightning and sent it streaking at Synder, striking the troll/dragon full in the chest. Shaking himself free of Caine’s pacification effect, Synder’s rage overrode his need to find the rod, and he launched himself at Grimm. “Synder, no!” Ravus cried, wading through the water towards his friend. As he closed the distance, he opened his mouth wide, and breathed a blast of electricity at Grimm, trying to keep him away from Synder. Just then, Caine streaked over the heads of both Ravus and Synder, coming to hover directly above Grimm. Chanting a spell, he rendered the half-ogre invisible, but in a way that would not reveal the planar champion, even if he attacked. As Synder looked all direction for his vanished foe, Grimm smashed his chain down upon the troll-dragon’s skull. Synder collapsed like a stone, sinking beneath the surface of the boiling liquid.
Locke turned her attention back to Kiko once Grimm had left, but the monk was ready for her. He leaped for her, trying to grapple her from the air, but only succeeded in passing through one of her remaining images. Locke laughed at the foolish man, but then from the corner of her eye, she saw Tilly standing over the fallen form of Tobias. She began a spell of charming, and when it was complete, she saw that the halfling was completely under her thrall. “Hello my little friend,” she said purringly. “Don’t you remember me? Don’t bother yourself with Tobias. He’s not going anywhere. However, I think your companions mean to do me injury. You wouldn’t let that happen, would you?” Tilly’s eyes glazed over as Locke’s voice hypnotized him. No indeed, he would not let any harm befall her. As Kiko regained his feet, the little rogue lunged for him, swinging his swords in a deadly pattern. Kiko dodged the blows easily, but found himself being forced away from Locke. Locke’s attention was fully upon the two combatants, and so she failed to see Rusty step from an archway behind her. The priest had managed to heal the worst of his wounds, and now he wove a dispelling field about the sorceress. Instantly, her mirror images vanished, and her spell of flying ended. She sank slowly towards the corridor floor…easy prey.
Grimm saw that Ravus was still coming. Though he had no doubt he could deal with the elven half-dragon, Grimm also knew that Synder’s troll blood was even now healing his injuries. If he awoke, he might find himself resting right next to the rod. Grimm knew he had to find it first. Steeling himself for the pain he was sure to suffer, he plunged his hands into the black liquid. Instantly, he felt excruciating agony, and waves of nausea and weakness washed over him. He could literally feel his body’s vitality being sucked away. Just as he thought that he could endure no more, his hand closed over a thin piece of metal. Roaring in triumph and pain, he surged back into the air, just as a fireball from Dalthon exploded around the approaching Ravus. The ranger cried out, and then suddenly dove under the surface of the pool.
As Locke was distracted by Rusty’s unexpected attack, Kiko managed to dodge deftly around Tilly and grab the sorceress from behind, wrapping his arm’s around her in a bear-hug. However, the monk’s sense of triumph was short lived as Locke’s body began to twist and morph in his grasp. He suddenly found himself holding a tiger-headed creature that was very familiar to him…a rakshasa! As the demonic outsider struggled to break free, Kiko heaved her to the ground, pinning her to the floor. Just then, the monk’s head began to swim, and he abruptly found that his body had grown to twice its normal size. Caine stood above him smiling. The sorcerer had enlarged the monk, increasing his strength in proportion. Locke’s chances of escape dropped severely. As Locke struggled against the superior strength of Kiko, Caine stood over her, glaring and sinister with his smoking, red eye. “You broke your word to me!” he hissed, “Though I am a pacifist by nature, you have now sealed your own fate! I cannot help you any longer!” “Tilly!” Locke screamed, “Save me!” Suddenly, Caine was knocked to the side as the rogue leaped onto Kiko’s back, locking his hands around the monk’s neck and trying to wrench him off his mistress. For a moment, Kiko lost his hold, and he could feel Locke working her way free. Caine quickly recovered himself, and then began chanting his own spell of enthrallment. Now Tilly found himself torn between two masters.
“Tilly,” Caine said gently, but urgently, “Let Kiko go. You know we are your friends. Trust me.” Tilly, blinking in confusion, relaxed his grip on Kiko, and the monk quickly regained control over the rakshasa, slapping one large hand over her mouth to prevent her from issuing any new commands to the rogue.
“Sorry to break this up gentleman, but we’ve still got a situation here!” Dalthon called over his shoulder, as he saw that Ravus had emerged from the water and was rapidly making his way towards the door. The sorcerer hurled a fireball at the draconic ranger, but the wily creature threw himself to the side at the last minute, avoiding the blast. Dalthon prepared to attack again, but at that moment, Synder erupted from the dark liquid, many of his wounds healed, and the others closing rapidly. Dalthon quickly fired a magic missile volley at the troll-dragon, but the giant seemed to shrug them off. Grabbing Ravus under the arms, he lifted them both into the air with his mighty wings, and began closing rapidly.
Kiko instinctively looked around at Dalthon’s warning, and Locke used the opportunity to bring the heel of her hand up solidly under his jaw. The monk rocked backwards, and Locke began scrambling to her feet, but at that moment, she was struck twice by an unseen bludgeon that hit with the force of a hammer blow. She collapsed in a lifeless heap, and Grimm snorted in satisfaction, and then turned his invisible form towards the next threat.
Caine rushed to Dalthon’s side, and cast a spell of slowness, enveloping the approaching half-dragons, and severely curtailing their momentum. Dalthon took the opportunity to lob another set of magic missiles at Ravus, and then Kiko flashed by him, flying above the black liquid to engage the ranger. The monk’s fists were lightning fast, and he delivered blow after devastating blow to the impaired half-dragon. Then Kiko felt a large presence behind him, and knew that Grimm had arrived. A huge gash opened up in Ravus' armor, and the ranger reeled in semi-consciousness. Two more punch/kick combinations from Kiko ended his struggle for good.
Synder roared in anger as he saw his friend fall into the liquid below. He could not see Grimm, but his keen ears knew exactly where the half-ogre was. Opening his mouth, he blew out a breath of scorching flames, engulfing the planar champion. But suddenly, a blast of raw, holy power literally blew the troll-dragon out of the air, as Rusty finished him off. “There!” the dwarf said, dusting off his hands, “That’s what ye get fer hittin’ a fella when his back was turned!” Synder fell once more into the black fluid, and Grimm hovered over the spot, flailing again and again with his chain until the liquid was tinged red. He knew the creature could still regenerate, but he was going to make sure that would take a very long time.
____________________________________________________________
Caine knelt beside the unconscious form of Tobias, and chanted one last spell of charming. When he was sure the man was under his sway, he began healing and tending his wounds. He had carefully instructed the others to keep their distance, so as not to alarm Tobias when he awoke. As his eyes fluttered open, Tobias gazed around in confusion. “What happened?” he asked. “Where is the Egg? Is it safe?”
“Do not worry, my friend,” Caine said calmly. “All is well. The Egg is secure, but I think I could better help you to keep it safe if you told me what it does.”
Tobias laughed insanely, “You have no idea of the power it possesses, Caine. I used the Blood Claw to absorb the souls of all the half-dragons you and your friends killed for me. With those draconic souls, I can feed the Egg’s hunger, and summon to me an army of dragons spawned in the very bowels of the Abyss!”
“I see,” Caine said. “But how did you know of this power? Where did the Egg come from?”
“My father was a mighty wizard,” Tobias answered. “His name was Zebedaster. He acquired the Egg while adventuring with a group of companions. He saw the potential of its power, but his companions did too. He knew they would try to take it from him, so he wisely killed them all, and their families as well. He was wrongfully imprisoned for this ‘crime’ but before his capture, he managed to create the Fane of Scales and place the Egg within it. He then set the Fane adrift in the heavens, beyond the reach of his enemies. Unfortunately, the Cult of the Dragon found out about the Fane, and sought to find a way to breach it. This information came to me, and I managed to pose as a benefactor to the Cult, giving them the means to negate some of the Fane’s magic, and bring it to earth. My hope was that they would enter the Fane and deal with the traps and guardians that my father had set there, or die trying. Then, any who died, I would harvest their souls and awaken the power of the Egg. Is it not a glorious plan Caine? Will you not join me?”
“Perhaps, my friend,” Caine said, “but first, tell me something. In order to properly protect an artifact as powerful as the Black Egg, I must know…is there any way to destroy it? I must know this, you see, so that I can insure that we take the proper precautions.”
“Of course,” Tobias nodded, “There is wisdom in your words. The Egg can be destroyed thru physical damage, but care should be taken not to actually touch it with bare flesh. Its influence can be…overwhelming. Also, if it should be destroyed, the Fane will crumble with it in a matter of minutes. Now, where shall we begin our reign of terror?”
“All in due time, my friend. For now, we need to tend your wounds and ours as well. We will retreat from here for the nonce.”
As Caine motioned to the others to leave, and began guiding Tobias towards the exit, he spoke to Grimm in the language of the Abyss, “You heard and understand?”
“Leave it to me,” Grimm smiled…grimly.
___________________________________________________________
Grimm hovered above the ebony Egg, and began twirling his chain. Then, over and over again, he hammered at the evil thing, slashing great rents into its iron hide, revealing a glowing red, hellish light within. Finally, with one more, mighty blow, the Egg fractured entirely, falling into a thousand pieces. Immediately, the Fane around Grimm began to shudder. Flying at full speed, he rocketed through the corridors and out the main doors, arrowing for the distant rendezvous site his companions had agreed upon. Behind him, the Fane of Scales exploded in an awesome blast, raining fire and debris upon the earth in a half-mile radius. It had caused much destruction and pain, but its evil was finally ended.
Joachim
First Post
Here are some numbers from that fight:
Dragon/Troll round one single hit on Rusty (crit with greataxe, with Power Attack 5): 97 damage
Grimm round one series of hits against Dragon/Troll (3 hits, with Power Attack 5): 78 damage
Grimm round four series of hits against Dragon/Troll (4 hits, 1 crit, with Power Attack 5): 137 damage
EDIT: BTW, Nice job there, JD, capturing the many facets of that encounter.
Dragon/Troll round one single hit on Rusty (crit with greataxe, with Power Attack 5): 97 damage
Grimm round one series of hits against Dragon/Troll (3 hits, with Power Attack 5): 78 damage
Grimm round four series of hits against Dragon/Troll (4 hits, 1 crit, with Power Attack 5): 137 damage
EDIT: BTW, Nice job there, JD, capturing the many facets of that encounter.
Last edited:
Joachim
First Post
Grimm leveled this week!
Grimm Grakka (Fighter 6/Exotic Weapon Master 2/Planar Champion 3)
Dervish of the Planes
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Large Giant [Half-Ogre, Oerthian]
Hit Dice: 11d10+44 (109 hps)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 27 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural, +10 armor, +2 deflection), touch 12, flat-footed 26
Base Attack/Grapple: +11/+22
Attack: +2 Adamantine Spiked Chain +20 melee (2d6+14)
Full Attack: +2 Adamantine Spiked Chain +20/+15/+10 melee (2d6+14) or Flurry of Strikes +18/+18/+13/+8 (2d6+14)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./20 ft.(with Spiked Chain)
Special Attacks: Flurry of Strikes, Attack Ethereal, Exotic Reach
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., Favored Plane (The Abyss), See Invisibility at will
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +9, Will +9
Abilities: Str 25, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills: Knowledge (The Planes) +4, Listen +13, Craft (Weaponsmith) +3
Feats: Blindfighting, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Spiked Chain), Iron Will, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Spiked Chain), Weapon Specialization (Spiked Chain)
Environment: The Pomarj (previously), Vilhon Reach (currently)
Organization: Solitary, Murder (6-7)
Challenge Rating: 12 (Exp: 68k, +/- as of 05/02/04 Session)
Treasure: Items
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +1
This massively muscled humanoid before you stands just over eight feet tall, has drab olive skin covered in strange tatoos, and brandishes a massive spiked chain in his hands. Obviously of giant-ish stock, he observes you cautiously, a spark of cunning in his eyes.
Grimm Grakka was born the product of a rampaging ogre warrior and the poor victim of the ogre's lust. Grimm's mother died during childbirth, and he was raised by her husband, a common blacksmith from the Pomarj area of Oerth. Grimm was recruited by Barret Tremean, a Paladin of Heironeous, to join the Swords of Light. The Swords of Light were a band of good adventurers sworn to fighting all fiend-kind.
Having received his indoctrination into the Swords of Light, the half-ogre is now a warrior of the planes, seeking to beat down evil outsiders wherever they may reside!
Grimm stands just over 8 feet tall and weighs 425 pounds. He speaks Common (Oerthian), Common (Faerunian), Celestial, Draconic, Giant (Oerthian), Infernal, and Abyssal.
Combat
Grimm attacks using his spiked chain. He prefers to attack from the full extent of his reach with the long weapon, using his flurry of strikes ability and attacks of opportunity to decimate his foes.
Flurry of Strikes [Spiked Chain]: When wielding a spiked chain in both hands, Grimm may elect to use a full attack action to make a flurry of strikes. When doing so, he may make one extra attack in the round at his highest attack bonus, but this attack takes a -2 penalty, as do all other attacks made in that round and until Grimm's next turn.
Favored Plane (The Abyss): Grimm has studied the natives of the Abyss extensively. Grimm gains a +1 bonus of Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against an Abyssal native. Likewise, Grimm gains the same bonus on weapon damage rolls against Abyssal natives. In addition, Grimm gains a +1 on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks when interacting with Abyssal natives (yeah, that's gonna happen).
See Invisibility (Su): Grimm has the ability to see invisibility, as per the spell cast by a 5th level sorceror. This ability allows Grimm to see ethereal creatures.
Attack Ethereal (Su): Grimm can transform his spiked chain into a material force effect at will, enabling him to attack creatures on the Ethereal Plane. If Grimm is wielding a magical spiked chain, this ability eliminates the 50% miss chance when attacking an incorporeal foe. This ability begins and ends as a free action.
Exotic Reach [Spiked Chain]: Grimm threatens opponents with cover (except total cover) and may attempt attacks of opportunity against targets with cover.
Magic Items of Note(as of May 01, 2004, Session)
+2 Cloak of Resistance, +2 Belt of Strength, +2 Bracers of Health, +2 Adamantine Spiked Chain, +2 Full Plate, +2 Ring of Protection, Ring of Evasion, +1 Amulet of Natural Armor, Boots of Striding and Springing, Deep Red Ioun Stone (+2 Dex)
Other Items(as of May 01, 2004, Session)
2 Potions of Cure Light Wounds, 6 Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds, 6 Potions of Cure Serious Wounds, 9 Potions of Bless Weapon, 3 Potions of Fly, 1 Potion of Invisibility (10th level), 1 Potion of Bull's Strength, +2 Spiked Chain (backup), Locked Gauntlet, Portable Ram
Grimm Grakka (Fighter 6/Exotic Weapon Master 2/Planar Champion 3)
Dervish of the Planes
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Large Giant [Half-Ogre, Oerthian]
Hit Dice: 11d10+44 (109 hps)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 27 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural, +10 armor, +2 deflection), touch 12, flat-footed 26
Base Attack/Grapple: +11/+22
Attack: +2 Adamantine Spiked Chain +20 melee (2d6+14)
Full Attack: +2 Adamantine Spiked Chain +20/+15/+10 melee (2d6+14) or Flurry of Strikes +18/+18/+13/+8 (2d6+14)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./20 ft.(with Spiked Chain)
Special Attacks: Flurry of Strikes, Attack Ethereal, Exotic Reach
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., Favored Plane (The Abyss), See Invisibility at will
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +9, Will +9
Abilities: Str 25, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills: Knowledge (The Planes) +4, Listen +13, Craft (Weaponsmith) +3
Feats: Blindfighting, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Spiked Chain), Iron Will, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Spiked Chain), Weapon Specialization (Spiked Chain)
Environment: The Pomarj (previously), Vilhon Reach (currently)
Organization: Solitary, Murder (6-7)
Challenge Rating: 12 (Exp: 68k, +/- as of 05/02/04 Session)
Treasure: Items
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +1
This massively muscled humanoid before you stands just over eight feet tall, has drab olive skin covered in strange tatoos, and brandishes a massive spiked chain in his hands. Obviously of giant-ish stock, he observes you cautiously, a spark of cunning in his eyes.
Grimm Grakka was born the product of a rampaging ogre warrior and the poor victim of the ogre's lust. Grimm's mother died during childbirth, and he was raised by her husband, a common blacksmith from the Pomarj area of Oerth. Grimm was recruited by Barret Tremean, a Paladin of Heironeous, to join the Swords of Light. The Swords of Light were a band of good adventurers sworn to fighting all fiend-kind.
Having received his indoctrination into the Swords of Light, the half-ogre is now a warrior of the planes, seeking to beat down evil outsiders wherever they may reside!
Grimm stands just over 8 feet tall and weighs 425 pounds. He speaks Common (Oerthian), Common (Faerunian), Celestial, Draconic, Giant (Oerthian), Infernal, and Abyssal.
Combat
Grimm attacks using his spiked chain. He prefers to attack from the full extent of his reach with the long weapon, using his flurry of strikes ability and attacks of opportunity to decimate his foes.
Flurry of Strikes [Spiked Chain]: When wielding a spiked chain in both hands, Grimm may elect to use a full attack action to make a flurry of strikes. When doing so, he may make one extra attack in the round at his highest attack bonus, but this attack takes a -2 penalty, as do all other attacks made in that round and until Grimm's next turn.
Favored Plane (The Abyss): Grimm has studied the natives of the Abyss extensively. Grimm gains a +1 bonus of Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against an Abyssal native. Likewise, Grimm gains the same bonus on weapon damage rolls against Abyssal natives. In addition, Grimm gains a +1 on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks when interacting with Abyssal natives (yeah, that's gonna happen).
See Invisibility (Su): Grimm has the ability to see invisibility, as per the spell cast by a 5th level sorceror. This ability allows Grimm to see ethereal creatures.
Attack Ethereal (Su): Grimm can transform his spiked chain into a material force effect at will, enabling him to attack creatures on the Ethereal Plane. If Grimm is wielding a magical spiked chain, this ability eliminates the 50% miss chance when attacking an incorporeal foe. This ability begins and ends as a free action.
Exotic Reach [Spiked Chain]: Grimm threatens opponents with cover (except total cover) and may attempt attacks of opportunity against targets with cover.
Magic Items of Note(as of May 01, 2004, Session)
+2 Cloak of Resistance, +2 Belt of Strength, +2 Bracers of Health, +2 Adamantine Spiked Chain, +2 Full Plate, +2 Ring of Protection, Ring of Evasion, +1 Amulet of Natural Armor, Boots of Striding and Springing, Deep Red Ioun Stone (+2 Dex)
Other Items(as of May 01, 2004, Session)
2 Potions of Cure Light Wounds, 6 Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds, 6 Potions of Cure Serious Wounds, 9 Potions of Bless Weapon, 3 Potions of Fly, 1 Potion of Invisibility (10th level), 1 Potion of Bull's Strength, +2 Spiked Chain (backup), Locked Gauntlet, Portable Ram
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LordVyreth
First Post
Wow, good update, and a nice minimum of deaths during the later half of the adventure. I read the original adventure, and you don't know how lucky you are that the Black Egg never got used. Things could have gotten brutal. But if Grimm is only 11th level, was the party as a whole ready for the next Shattered City module?
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
Yeah, quick thinking of Caine, too. Touching that artifact might have spelled the end of some PCs...LordVyreth said:
Add +1 for the half-ogre raceLordVyreth said:
Aw, come on fellas! Just 'cause I'm not playing doesn't mean this thread can't get a friendly *BUMP!*
I notice that this thread tends to sink into oblivion while we are waiting for Joachim's update
. Rich, don't forget to recount Tobias' "re-education" in Celestia.
For the curious, our levels going into "Soul Pillars" were as follows:
1. Caine (Level 11, ECL 12)
2. Grimm (Level 10, ECL 11)
3. Rusty (Level 12)
4. Tilly (Level 10)
5. Kiko (Level 11)
6. Dathon (Level 9, ECL 10)
For those of you who have the module, JollyDoc mistakenly swapped the Bone Devil allied with I.I. with an Ice Devil. Hilarity ensued.
I notice that this thread tends to sink into oblivion while we are waiting for Joachim's update
. Rich, don't forget to recount Tobias' "re-education" in Celestia.For the curious, our levels going into "Soul Pillars" were as follows:
1. Caine (Level 11, ECL 12)
2. Grimm (Level 10, ECL 11)
3. Rusty (Level 12)
4. Tilly (Level 10)
5. Kiko (Level 11)
6. Dathon (Level 9, ECL 10)
For those of you who have the module, JollyDoc mistakenly swapped the Bone Devil allied with I.I. with an Ice Devil. Hilarity ensued.
Mathew_Freeman
First Post
Sorry to hear of your departure, gfunk. I've enjoyed your SH's immensely over the past year or so.
Still, the level of carnage and death continues to entertain, and this Englishman is keen for it all to continue!
Still, the level of carnage and death continues to entertain, and this Englishman is keen for it all to continue!
Nightingale 7
First Post
And how about Wathros's new PC Gfunk?Are you purposefully omitting him as not to spoil the surprise,or did Wathros also decided to leave?
The Bone Devil for a Gelugon?Gods,that thing is nasty!I'm having Erinyes flashbacks over here!BAD DM!BAD DM!
While reading Grimm's stats I thought that since his Favored Plane ability is very similar to the ranger's Fav.Enemy,perhaps you should double it's bonuses too?As far as I know Planar Champion hasn't gotten a 3.5 makeover yet,but it seems reasonable.
The Bone Devil for a Gelugon?Gods,that thing is nasty!I'm having Erinyes flashbacks over here!BAD DM!BAD DM!
While reading Grimm's stats I thought that since his Favored Plane ability is very similar to the ranger's Fav.Enemy,perhaps you should double it's bonuses too?As far as I know Planar Champion hasn't gotten a 3.5 makeover yet,but it seems reasonable.
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