Roar of the Rakshasa
Before Doc or the dreaded rakshasa could react, blistering words of a spell bubbled in the air. Anyone looking at Drexel would have seen the tiefling was absorbed in concentration, and may have thought he had gone mad. As the spidery magic words poured faster and faster from his tongue, he motioned methodically until a great burst of power erupted outward towards the rakshasa.
Momentarily stunned by the Spellfire attack, the tiger-beast regained his footing, and called out in a growl,
“You DO come from the bloodline of Bane!”
Drexel, vigor pumping through his veins after such an enormous spell, attempted to bluff.
“Surrender now, or suffer my second attack!”
The rakshasa made a low, guttural noise.
“I can’t imagine you have more in you, tiefling.”
“Are you willing to take that chance?” said Drexel, raising an eyebrow.
The rakshasa hesitated a moment and eyed Drexel suspiciously. The creature’s hesitation was taken advantage of by Dent, who knocked his bow and fired his three bolts blindly in the direction he heard the enemy. The first two bolts barely missed the rakshasa, but the third connected with the beast’s shoulder. Dent knew his bolt found purchase when he heard the angry monster roar.
“Scramge will not endure your meager attacks any longer,” bellowed the rakshasa.
Ziona, calling upon her divine gifts, cast Searing Light into Scramge. However, just as quickly as the beam of energy shot forth from her half-drow hands, the rakshasa deflected the attack, sending splinters of light about the room.
Rossal, who had circled around Scramge when he was stunned, attempted to sting him with his poisonous tail. However, Rossal missed the rakshasa, who was busy with his own attacks against the companions. The pseudodragon decided to fly up and hover above their enemy, where he cast True Strike on himself.
Meanwhile, Scramge ran past Doc and Rossal and tried to prey on his blind enemies. Venus, with his scimitar at the ready, struck the tiger-beast in the thigh, but Scramge did not seem to notice. Instead, he began to lash out at Dent, when Doc suddenly appeared in front of him!
Unbeknownst to the rakshasa, Drexel had teleported Doc Midnight directly to him, giving Doc a clean shot. His rapier slashed across the fuzzy hide of the rakshasa, causing it to roar loudly.
At the same time, Ziona cast Flame Strike, which created a column of divine fire aimed at Scramge’s back. Again, the cleric’s attack fizzled against her foe.
“Continue attacking if it pleases you,” hissed Scramge. “You’re only buying yourself an extra moment or two in this life.”
At that moment, Rossal came diving down at the rakshasa, and sunk his barbed tail into the creature’s neck. The poison quickly overtook Scramge, and he fell to the ground asleep.
Doc reached over and took Dent’s axe, and cleaved the head cleanly off the rakshasa’s shoulders.
“It was a well spent moment,” said Doc triumphantly.
“I wish I could see what you just did,” said Lox excitedly. “It sure sounded interesting!”
“How many of us are blinded?” asked Venus.
“Three of you,” said Drexel.
“Worry not, friends,” said Ziona. “I can cure your ailments tomorrow. For the moment, I suggest we make camp and take some rest.”
“Rest? It can’t be so late already,” protested Venus.
“There is not much else that can be done when half of us has been blinded,” said Dent holding on to Haley as he sat down.
“But I want to see what treasures the tiger monster has,” whined Lox.
“I’ll help you search tomorrow, Lox,” communicated Rossal.
“Ooookaaaayyyy,” said Lox disappointedly.
Doc, Drexel, and Ziona each took a watch while Dent, Venus and Lox slept. Rossal and Haley took turns accompanying their companions on watches. By morning, Ziona had prayed to Eilistraee and was ready to cure her allies. One by one she restored their vision, placing her hands over their eyes while chanted softly.
“That’s better,” said Lox. “Thank you Miss Ziona.”
“Thank Eilistraee,” she said with a smile.
“Ready to search, Rossal?”
The halfling and pseudodragon were off, looking around the room for hidden treasures and interesting objects. They found an interesting ring on the rakshasa’s headless corpse, as well as a strange looking green gem.
“Ooh, this is pretty,” said Lox. “Miss Ziona! You should take this glowy gem for giving me back my eyes. It’s pretty like you.”
“Why thank you, Lox,” said Ziona. She reached down and took the gem from the halfling’s hands. Inspecting it more closely, she found it was in fact glowing.
“Drexel,” she called. “You may want to have a look at this.”
“It seems as though something is imprisoned within the stone,” said Drexel. “Perhaps another small dragon.”
“Did you hear that, Rossal? Another dragon,” cried Lox with excitement.
“A dragon? Is it true, Ziona?”
Rossal flew up and sat on Ziona’s shoulder to have a closer look at the glowing gem. After inspecting it for long moments, Rossal communicated to them all that it looked like a faerie dragon.
“It should be freed,” said Rossal sadly.
Ziona patted his head comfortingly and assured him they would have the faerie dragon freed.
“Look! A treasure chest,” said Lox. He picked the lock, and as he did, a noxious green mist puffed from the opening. Lox began choking, and felt suddenly ill.
“Are you okay, Lox?” asked Dent.
“I dunno…I feel really weak…it’s awful,” he murmured. “I need to sit down.”
“It seems you have been poisoned,” said Drexel.
Ziona put the glowing gem in her belt pouch and walked over to Lox.
“Let’s have a look at you,” she said with concern. “I believe I can help you, Lox, but I require a component that I do not have with me.”
“What is it? What do you need,” asked Drexel.
“Diamond dust,” she said. “I can get some back in town, but I fear what will happen if we leave the dungeon.”
“It’s a chance we’ll have to take,” said Dent. “Is the poison detrimental to his health?”
“He will remain weakened and feeling ill until he is taken care of,” Ziona said.
“Very well,” said Drexel.
“I don’t suppose some of us could stay,” said Venus, eager for action.
“Try to remember last time we were here,” said Dent gravely. “We’re not losing anyone else.”
Venus nodded his head, remembering the horrible demise of their friend Nuttin.
“Town it is,” said Venus.
The heroes finished searching the rooms and took what items they found with them to Waterdeep. Among the items was a large shield, a leather bound book, and several pieces of jewelry.
“Sparkly jewelry? That’s mine,” cried Lox weakly.
The Adventure Continues…
