[LANAI] The Rod of Seven Parts: Into the Crucible

Arden moves closer to Wyleck and drops anything she was holding and grasps the stalactite creature impaled in her shoulder. Pulling with both hands, though awkward due to the angle, Arden grabs hold of the calcified creature and yanks it free from her shoulder. Blood freely flows down Arden's arm from a 2-inch gaping hole where the creature's point was embedded in the flesh of her shoulder. While in Arden's grasp, the stalactite wriggles its eyestalks, frantically trying to feel its way free.

Quick on his feet, Wyleck leaps to grab one of the two stalactites that are now stuck in the ground with his burning hand, hoping to scorch it before it can escape. The halfling sears one of the stalactites with his open flame, dealing the creature 6 points of damage. The thing's eyestalks straighten in pain at Wyleck's burning grasp and the acrid smell of burnt mineral soon fills the narrow cavern as the creature's outer shell cracks. Soon thereafter, the stalactite ceases moving altogether.

Yssal remains planted exactly where he was and quizically watches Wyleck burn the stalactite. The dog's shadow flickers on the rock and dirt wall of the cavern. Movement down the tunnel near where Arden had formerly been standing catches Yssal's attention and the dog barks once, unable to restrain himself.

Wyleck, Arden, Rowan, and Rhys look up at the wall of the southern tunnel gives a great groan and bits of rock shake loose from the ceiling. Yssal starts to furiously bark and look anxiously at Wyleck. Just then, a large creature that towers tall enough to necessitate stooping under the low ceiling height and squeezing through the narrow tunnel breaks free of the southern passageway and lumbers its way into the cavern. The first stalactite creature that had dropped on and missed Arden is handily squished beneath the hulking beast's foot. The creature has a thick, shaggy coat of fur punctuated here and there with patches of feathers. The thing's body is like a bear's but it has an avian head with pearlescent opaque white eyes and a hooked beak. When the creature spies fresh meat ahead, it fixes its blank eyes on Yssal and emits a piercing and raucus caw that shakes more detritus free from the ceiling. Wyleck and Arden catch the distinct whiff of carrion on the creature's breath.

Pause here (mid-initiative) for Rhun to restate Rowan's action, if desired. And also to give Phud and Rhys a bit more time to post their action for the round. The large creature looks wounded and its rear portion is still wedged in the narrow tunnel behind it, making it vulnerable this round. Rowan recognizes the large creature as an owlbear. Very unusual to see such a beast, and a magical one at that, outside of its preferred environment of temperate forests.

Phud : Male Half-Orc Sorcerer 1

Phud steps in behind the creature and swings his heavy mace at its flank. Meanwhile, Bird, seeing the large creature come through the opening, has flown off of his perch atop one of Phud's dropped backpacks and back away from the action.

Rowan lifts the butt end of his walking stick and uses it to pummel the wriggling stalactite held aloft by Arden. Landing a solid thwack on the creature's soft white underbelly, Rowan beats the stalactite for 4 points of damage. A red welt rises on the stalactite and viscous white ooze leaks from one of the creature's eyestalks as the calcified thing goes limp in Arden's hands.

Bird picks up and flies away to safety. Phud hoists his heavy mace and brings the spiked weapon to bear on the rear quarters of the lumbering beast still partially wedged in the southern tunnel. Everyone else in the main chamber hears the sound of ripping fur and flesh as Phud strikes the beast for 12 points of damage.

Eyeing the bleeding rent in Arden's shoulder, Rhys steps forward and, his hand on his metal disc, weaves magical healing from the thin air and sends the curative energy into Arden's shoulder. Muscle knits anew and skin regrows, all in an instant. Arden is healed for 8 points of damage, and soon all that is wrong with her is that her studded leather is torn where the stalactite had dropped on her from above.

The furred-and-feathered creature gives a shriek of pain then reacts, swinging a thick feathered forearm through the air at Yssal. Yssal suffers a bone-grinding blow and is dealt 5 points of damage. The creature's sharp beak snaps at thin air as it misses biting Yssal.

Arden spies three more stalactites moving on the ceiling, though this time the cluster is moving out of the cavern, away from the large feathered creature on the attack.

Initiative

Arden 22
Wyleck/Yssal 17
Big creature 17
Rowan 13
Phud 5
Rhys 4
Ceiling creatures 1

Phud : Male Half-Orc Sorcerer 1

Phud continues to press the attack and swings once more on the beast. Meanwhile, Bird watches from a safe distance.

Rowan dodges back out of range of the big creature. "It's an owlbear! We must kill it quickly or we are in trouble," yells the small wizard. Even as he moves away, he intones words of arcane power. Although the halfling knows he doesn't possess the power to hold his summoning for very long, perhaps a short time would make all the difference.

A silver and gold mist appears before the large beast, and wisps away to reveal a large beetle, the glands above its eyes glowing brightly. Its white carapace is lined with silver and gold, and reflects the light of the adventurers' lamp. It moves into the fray, biting at the large creature with its powerful mandibles.




OOC: 5' step back, cast Summon Monster I. Celestial Giant Fire Beetle.

Sorry CB, I missed that little bit at the bottom of post 221.

Celestial Giant Fire Beetle (Small Vermin Small Magical Beast (Extraplanar); Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp); Initiative: +0; Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares); Armor Class: 16 (+1 size, +5 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-4; Attack: Bite +1 melee (2d4);
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.; Special Attacks: Smite Evil; Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., vermin traits, resistance to acid 5,cold 5, and electricity 5, spell resistance 6; Saves: Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0; Abilities: Str 10, Dex 11, Con 11, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 7; Alignment: Always lawful good)

Wyleck falls back, flinging fire from his hand at the beast.
"Yssal, don't just stand there, attack!" He shouts, as he launches globs of fire at the monsters head.



Yssal will try to trip the monster if he can.

[sblock=Rowan]This text appeared at the bottom of post #221. I think maybe you missed it, possibly because of the font size and/or color? Sorry 'bout that.

Pause here (mid-initiative) for Rhun to restate Rowan's action, if desired. And also to give Phud and Rhys a bit more time to post their action for the round. The large creature looks wounded and its rear portion is still wedged in the narrow tunnel behind it, making it vulnerable this round. Rowan recognizes the large creature as an owlbear. Very unusual to see such a beast, and a magical one at that, outside of its preferred environment of temperate forests.

Incidentally, that was a Knowledge (arcana) check that allowed Rowan to thusly benefit. [/sblock]

Moving towards the beast, Rhys grips his spear in both hands and attempts to take up a position where he can strike at the creature from safety.

[sblock=ooc]Try and take up position behind the front lines, using his longspear
Attack +2
1d8+3 damage

Sorry I didn't post last round. I assume I get to choose which spell was dropped for Arden's healing. Dropped Magic Stone for CLW.[/sblock]

Arden looks down at the creature's shell in her hands, and grips it in both hands, tumbling in to flank the big creature and try to stab it with the former stalactite.

Arden tucks into a roll and tumbles past the large creature's grasp. The feathered creature tries to rake Arden with its claws but misses. Arden jabs the calcified stalactite creature at the large feathered beast but she misses.

Wyleck falls back and flings a glob of flame from his open hand at the large beast. The fire catches against the beast's fur and scorches through to skin, dealing 6 points of damage. At Wyleck's command, Yssal stops barking and eagerly lunges in to bite at the large beast. The dog's jaws clack tightly on the beast's lower leg. Yssal bites for 5 points of damage and starts to tug at the beast to trip it. Though Yssal growls through his shut jaw and tugs quite forcefully, he fails to bring the creature down.

The large feathered beast cries in pain as Yssal's jaw clamps shut on its leg. Two massive and long arms swipe down at the dog, the taloned claws at the end of each arm raking deep furrows through Yssal's fur along the dog's back. Yssal's backside is soon wet with both his blood and the blood of the creature as he suffers first 4 points, then another 4 points of damage. The dog yelps and, looking staggered, lets go of the creature but otherwise remains standing. The feathered creature wriggles all the way free of the narrow tunnel, its broad girth and massive height filling the cavern where it stands.

Rowan, who was already tucked into an alcove, finds that he's as far back as he can go at the moment. The halfling yells out, "It's an owlbear! We must kill it quickly or we are in trouble!" and begins intoning words of arcane power. The spell Rowan weaves is both long and complicated and the halfling is soon engrossed in his spellcraft. Wisps of silver and gold mist start to appear before the owlbear as Rowan shapes his magic and the summoning begins to take effect.

While there wasn't room for Rowan to move backward, he could move laterally. If you'd like him to move to the side, let me know what grid square you prefer and I'll be happy to place him there instead of having him stay put.

Phud swings his heavy mace and misses. Bird lets out a raucus "CAW!" from somewhere at the back of the cave ahead.

Rhys moves to stand to Yssal's right rear side. Even from ten feet away, Rhys's spear is long enough to penetrate through to the owlbear. Rhys jabs at the feathers and though he comes close to poking a hole in the owlbear, the creature's hide is too thick and Rhys fails to solidly connect.

Initiative

Arden 22
Wyleck/Yssal 17
Big creature 17
Rowan 13
Celestial Giant Fire Beetle 13
Phud 5
Rhys 4

[sblock=Status]
Yssal 0/13 HP
Rowan finishing summoning[/sblock]