Iron Heroes: A Saga of Might

"The hag sent us to put a stop to this," Xoria counters, "Though she spoke more compassionately of the nautilus than its victims. But if the hag is to be believed, stopping the Black Conch will put a stop to all of this."

Olmar
Defense 13 (FF13), HP 35/35, F +5,R+4,W+4; Ini +2 ; Fury Pool 0/12; DR 1d4

"You sure changing men is part of Black Conch and not normal for Nautilus?" Olmar asks.

[sblock=OOC]


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Reserve Points: 13 / 34

Pick (gripped with both hand and Power attack 1):
1d20+4 - 1d6+6 - 20/x4

In berserker rage:
1d20+5 - 1d6+8 - 20/x4
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OOC: Is Xoria sure of that? I know the spells are necromantic, but does Xoria believe the nautilus might eat in this way if it were alive?

[sblock=Xoria]
She suspects that when the nautilus was alive, its fleshy body would have filled this shell. If it was just a giant version of its species, it wouldn't need to be fuelled in this manner but would eat normally. Although that diet might have included hapless sailors...

Destoari did mention that the Black Conch helped her sisters bring Phulsileerius, the nautilus, back to a semblance of life.
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"No living nautilus I've read of does anything like this," Xoria informs Olmar. "This chamber is infused with necromancy, and that is what is consuming these bodies."

Vela glares coldly at the 'pod' that she'd wrenched open, then looks up at Xoria.

"If we destroy the conch, will it destroy this thing?" she asks.

Olmar
Defense 13 (FF13), HP 35/35, F +5,R+4,W+4; Ini +2 ; Fury Pool 0/12; DR 1d4

"Consuming? It seems more it changes them to something else...
consuming... what consumes this thing naturally? Whales?
We should try to stop it altogether. Who knows the hag will keep it's word." Olmar says.

[sblock=OOC]


----

Reserve Points: 13 / 34

Pick (gripped with both hand and Power attack 1):
1d20+4 - 1d6+6 - 20/x4

In berserker rage:
1d20+5 - 1d6+8 - 20/x4
[/sblock]

Xoria hesitates in response to Vela's question, and Olmar's concerns. "We promised to protect the sisters of the hag, but not the nautilus. If it does not die on its own with the destruction of the Conch, we can slay it."

Vela is quiet for a moment, weighing the questions of honor and black magic. Finally she managed a stony nod. "Creatures that use such things as this...we must be alert for the witch to try to take us once we are of no more use to her."

"But very well. Lead onward. Let us face the other sister and be done with this place."

Thr group flies up into the topmost chamber of the nautilus shell. Here, the thick blue smoke obscures all detail, but through it you can just make out a geometric pattern on the wall, mde of sharks teeth. A giant dried starfish serves as some kind of nest, lined with sargasso, surrounded by some thick candles that burn with a sickly yellow light. A large iron cauldron simmers over a smouldering fire.

A whisper and a hiss alerts you to the third of the hag sisters, standing near the cauldron. Across the room, an enormous black conch shell moves. Shadowy black tentacles emerge from the mouth of the shell, and green double-pupilled eyes glare from within its depths.

Without a word, the conch jets across the room and grabs Olmar in its insubstantial-looking tentacles. The barbarian feels chill through his bones.

The hag utters a word of magic and the smoke closes around her, shielding her from sight.

[sblock=OOC]
Straight into initiative order:

Conch - tentacle attack on Olmar, hits for 10 damage (DR counts). Olmar is grappled.

Hag - casts... a spell (Spellcraft DC 12 to recognise)

Vela
Xoria
Olmar

For Combat Zones, etc., the cauldron could be tipped up or otherwise utilised, also the walls of the chamber are rough coral and shark's teeth. Slamming an opponent into the wall could cuase damage, or (as you are all still flying), a Strength check might dislodge some onto an opponent.
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