Session 19 – 3/10/12
The animated runic statue began to swing its stony arms at Geyorg, but Geyorg was able to duck under the savage blow. Grimgold moved up and pushed the statue back with his powerful tide of iron. Then Karyak stepped up and slashed the animated statue with a righteous blow. Geyorg moved around to flank the creature, and stabbed it with a piercing strike. Xaxis, using his arcane knowledge, stepped near the runic statue and attempted to take control of it. He nearly felt as if he could, but the magic of the statue was too strong this time. The runic statue, perhaps feeling the surge of magical energy from Xaxis, turned and swung its dangerous arms at the Tiefling wizard. Xaxis saw the attack and was able to shift to one side to avoid it. Grimgold struck the statue with all his might, connecting with his devastating attack that granted him bonuses to attack and damage for the rest of the combat. Karyak missed his attack, but then Geyorg used his own arcana skill to aid Xaxis before Xaxis made a second attempt to control the living statue. Xaxis concentrated and exerted a powerful blast of magical energy that grasped control of the animated statue.
With the threat neutrolized, Xaxis and Geyorg worked for a few minutes to try to patch the statue a bit, while the others circulated around the room to gather tools that were placed on each of 8 stone tables. They found a pick axe, a shovel, a block and tackle, a trowel, a bucket, a rake, a crowbar and a magical coil of rope. The rope could be commanded to move slowly in any direction, stretching out its 50 foot length, horizontally or vertically, even hovering in air or tying knots if desired. Xaxis gave the rope to Geyorg and showed him how to use it. Geyorg thanked him for the magical treasure. After a short rest, the group moved toward the south end of the room to a double door. Geyorg listened and saw the flickering of fire light through the cracks of the door. The door was locked, but Geyorg used his thieving skills to remedy that situation. The party commanded the runic statue to open the doors.
Inside the next room, was a stone table in the center of a 50’ x 50’ room. Two lit braziers burned along the west and east walls, bathing two blazing skeletons in the fire light. Across the table, directly to the south was a small pile of coins, with a menacing skull floating three feet above it. Xaxis commanded the runic statue to enter the room and attack one of the blazing skeletons. The statue’s blow landed, knocking the skeleton 10’ back and to its knees. Then, the flameskull let loose a firey ball that exploded in the middle of the doorway, engulfing the entire party in a burst of flames. All but the runic statue were injured by the blast, Xaxis, Grimgold and Geyorg each felt the burns more intensely. Geyorg, moved toward the injured skeleton and hit with his opening move. Then he doubled his effort and pierced it a second time with his longsword, knocking it down for good. Karyak moved in and healed Geyorg with a healing word, then he threw a javalin at the other skeleton. Karyak took a second action to heal Grimgold, and move toward the blazing skeleton to engage it in melee combat. Unfortunately, his healing strike missed the mark. The skeleton reached out with its burning claws, but the claws scraped off of Karyak’s armor. Although the skeleton missed, Karyak could feel a slight burn from the intense heat of the undead creature.
Xaxis decided to drop a flaming sphere upon the burning skeleton, and luckily, it did some damage. Then, taking an extra attack, Xaxis launched a magic missle at the skeleton, injuring it further. Grimgold moved forward and swung at the creature, but his axe was turned away. The runic statue, controlled by Xaxis, moved to the flameskull, attacking yet missing it. The flameskull attempted to bite the runic statue, but failed. Then, Geyorg tumbled across the room to position himself behind the blazing skeleton. His sneak attack piercing strike skewered the skeleton between the ribs, collapsing it into a smoldering pile of bones.
With only the flameskull remaining, Karyak pushed forth his holy symbol and burned it slightly with radiant damage. It was then that he realized that the radiant damage hindered the flameskulls ability to regenerate. After talking a second wind, Xaxis fired a magic missile at the foe, and Grimgold swung wildly at the floating skull, but missed. The flameskull retaliated with another powerful fireball that scorched Grimgold, Geyorg and Karyak. The runic statue was able to avoid the blast. Geyorg paused for a moment to take a second wind, and he tried to stab the skull with his blade, but he could not hit the mark. Karyak heaved another javalin and hit the skull, but then he retreated back towards Xaxis, who bandaged Karyak’s wounds for minor healing.
Grimgold, taking second wind, moved up and connected with the flameskull splitting it into two halves with his mighty axe. Karyak poured holy water over the broken skull to make sure it would stay dead, and then Xaxis commanded the runic statue to pulverize the remains of the skull just in case. As the runic statue was fulfilling that command, Xaxis could feel that his control over the creature was starting to ebb. He warned the others, so Grimmy and Geyorg both tried to help Xaxis with their own attempts to understand the arcane magic of the statue. With help, Xaxis was able to maintain control but he decided he should not tempt fate much longer, so he walked the statue back to where it originated, and used his magic arts to restore the statue to its dormant state, resetting the white squares on the checkerboard that triggered the statue’s animation.
The group scooped up 128 gp and 218 silver pieces, took a short rest, and searched this room for any other means of exit. Unable to find a way out, Xaxis decided to perform a detect secret door ritual, which successfully revealed a door beneath the stone table. Using their combined strength, the party pushed the table aside and saw another hole that went down deeper into the darkness.
350 xp for each PC for this part of the adventure (you are very close to 5th level now)
(Just in case you are wondering, in my campaign, all PCs can take 2nd wind as a minor action...Dwarves can do it as a free action. Also, PCs can use an action point every encounter. Healing in my game is also a bit different now. I give the Cleric a fixed amount for each healing word (5+2per level), and I allow anyone to bandage for 2+Con healing if they tend to a fresh wound. 2nd wind still restores 1/4 hp, and a short rest also restores 1/4 hit points. No more healing surges. I made these changes to help with bookkeeping and to speed up combat. I think they work well...at least so far.)