NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 2196087" data-attributes="member: 1210">The first sign that things are bad comes when Brickneck fumbles and breaks the keg of ale he carts around on his back.  Foamy liquid immediately starts spraying out, much to his dismay, soaking him in ale and beginning the formation of a slick of beer on the floor of the torture chamber.  There’s a moment of general confusion as the combatants shake themselves out, get their weapons ready and move into position; then, with a magic missile from Beau, things get serious.  Jawbreaker swings his magic sword at the husk of skin that dangles in the air in front of him.  He hits it, slashing a great gash in it, and a palpable malevolence oozes from it.  He grunts as it lashes down, attempting to wrap itself around him and sucking at his skin!  He hacks viciously at it again, slicing it in two, and it collapses inertly on the floor.  Ezeekiel, meanwhile, attempts to turn the undead, to no effect, and then is immediately beset by the shadow.  He desperately swings and stabs his sword at the monster, hurting it, but its merest touch weakens and drains him.  Finally, Zeke channels again and this time he turns it; the shadow flees.  The cloud of blood swirls onto Naomi, sucking her blood out through her skin!   She cries out in terrible pain, then staggers as the ghost-like figure slashes a claw across her head, tearing one of her ears off!*  She tumbles away, trying to avoid having her soul claimed by these unfortunate undead, and shakes her head to clear it.  She nearly lost it entirely!  The side of her head throbs redly, and there is a small ocean of blood soaking her shirt and cloak. While Jawbreaker and Ezeekiel rush in to strike at the blood cloud, Beau keeps blasting it with scorching rays.  Brickneck finally manages to stop staggering around and get a good blow or two in on the bad guys, and in another few seconds the battle is done.  Our heroes are wounded, drained and weakened; there is no question but that it is time to rest.  They exit the dungeon and most of them rest in the fort above.  While their companions are doing so, however, Hortense, with the aid of Sandy and Federico, consecrates the torture chamber in an attempt to lay to rest the restless spirits of its victims.***8/11/369 O.L.G., Noon, the torture chamberWithin one of the iron maidens is a secret door.  Warily, our heroes follow the narrow passage beyond it, and before long, it joins a natural cave that extends farther than they can see.  The group descends for nearly an hour before the cave opens wide before them.  The sound of water dripping from the ceiling and falling into some kind of pool is audible from the back part of the cave, beyond their ability to see.  Suddenly a spotlight, blindingly bright, shoots out of the darkness at our heroes.  Then another, and another... and half the party can’t see!“Ahhh!  Jawbreaker blind again!” the Chief cries.Little feet pitter forward, and suddenly more than half a dozen monsters are upon the party, biting and trying to overcome them.  Beams of intense light still come from some of the monsters’ eyes.  Whatever the bizarre little things are, they seem quite dangerous!Dangerous, but with a metaphorical glass jaw; for most of them cannot withstand more than one or two blows from Jawbreaker or Ezeekiel.  Soon the menace is ended, and though several of our heroes have their vision dazzled for a few moments, it passes quickly.  Our heroes continue their descent.  “I wonder if this was just an escape passage for the Strogassians, or what?” Zeke muses.  Hortense stares at him adoringly.  “Maybe there are more prisoners down here somewhere,” he continues obliviously.“If there are, we should rescue them,” Federico remarks.  The group murmurs assent.  They march for several more hours before a rasping sound greets them from further down the passage.  They recognize the sound from a previous encounter beneath the pit of the healing springs: it’s a giant slug!  Quickly, the party readies themselves, and despite a short cliff that presents a little logistical problem they manage to engage and destroy it; and then it’s dire escargot for dinner, as Federico says.Next Time: Watch out for what might be construed as politically incorrect, insensitive npcs in the Underdark!*Again, I don’t recall which, but I do recall that it is on the same side as her missing eye.  It isn’t pretty, folk!</blockquote>

Verification