Not understanding the whole situation, Sureiya growls angrily. "You bastard! Where are you hidding!?" Seeing the guard as his only target, he goes for it.

Move + charge: Marauder rush in F-16 (16 damage) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3655930/

With his charge, Sureiya regain a bit of his composture.
Save throw: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3655932/

Torinn knocks over an ornamental orb standing on a pillar, and it breaks after crashing to the ground with a terrible racket.

Sureiya works his way across the battlefield, unable to see the speaker, and charges towards the stygian guard. Though the hit is sort of glancing off the beast's hide, it does draw blood after a moment, and the last remaining guard looks to be quite injured now.

The remaining thrall archer plugs Sureiya with an arrow, but it barely slows the half-orc down. The speaker, seeing the situation deteriorate, says in a cold, resigned tone, "Thisss isss only... the beginning..."

Sureiya moves, then charges the stygian guard, hitting with marauder's rush for 16 damage.
Thrall archer 4 shoots Sureiya with its longbow for 6 damage.

Initiative
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): 23
Thrall Archer 2 (Enemy): 20
Sureiya (anon-kun): 18
Thrall Archer 4 (Enemy): 18
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): 15
Myn Nthelsyr (George): 15
Sariel (Liliane): 15
Stygian Guard 2 (Enemy): 10
Cult Speaker (Enemy): 10

Players
Myn Nthelsyr (George): (K-2) 31/55 HP, darkspiral aura 5, fails next save, shadow walk
Book Imp (Myn): (In Myn's Space) Passive Mode
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): (F-17) 47/53 HP, +2 to all defenses (stance)
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): (D/E-8/9) 21/64 HP (Bloodied)
Rutger (Astaroth): (D/E-8/9) 23/32 HP, Resist 5 all
Sureiya (Anonkun): (F-16) 36/60 HP
Sariel (Liliane): (D-10) 29/53 HP, CA against the stygian guard 1

Enemies
Cult Speaker: (C-8) -75 HP
Cult Lunatic 1: (G-8) -111 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Cult Lunatic 2: (J-8), -119 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 1: (I-6) -109 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 2: (E-16) -55 HP (Bloodied)
Thrall Archer 1: (C-12), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 2: (D-14), elevation 6
Thrall Archer 3: (P-2), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 4: (P-25), elevation 6

Notes
The water-filled squares appear to be crudly-made pools, and drop off sharply, appearing about 30 feet deep. The water is somewhat murky and difficult to see through.
The raised platforms in the middle-north of the room, and the lower right and left corners are about 20 feet high, a sheer scale. The thrall archers are perched atop them.
The archer thralls are minions, and the speaker is an elite.
The stygian guards can use threatening tentacles when an enemy adjacent to them shifts, which will grab and slide a target if it hits.
The tentacles on the map are merely for effect. Anywhere adjacent to the water is subject to attack from them.

Folka shifts to lock the guard into place, before attempting to give it a few well placed blows with his fists. Unfortunately, most of his well known or trained attacks seem to fail him this fight, to his annoyance.


Shift to E-17 (no attack from guard cause he's dazed until end of my next turn, which is the end of this turn)
Standard Action:Monk Basic Attack
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3656612/
(Miss)

[/spoiler]

Folka circles around the aberration and attempts another strong kick, but the stygian guard manages to shift just far enough to the side to dodge it this time.

Folka shifts, then uses monk basic attack but misses the stygian guard.

Initiative
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): 23
Thrall Archer 2 (Enemy): 20
Sureiya (anon-kun): 18
Thrall Archer 4 (Enemy): 18
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): 15
Myn Nthelsyr (George): 15
Sariel (Liliane): 15
Stygian Guard 2 (Enemy): 10
Cult Speaker (Enemy): 10

Players
Myn Nthelsyr (George): (K-2) 31/55 HP, darkspiral aura 5, fails next save, shadow walk
Book Imp (Myn): (In Myn's Space) Passive Mode
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): (E-17) 47/53 HP, +2 to all defenses (stance)
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): (D/E-8/9) 21/64 HP (Bloodied)
Rutger (Astaroth): (D/E-8/9) 23/32 HP, Resist 5 all
Sureiya (Anonkun): (F-15) 36/60 HP
Sariel (Liliane): (D-10) 29/53 HP, CA against the stygian guard 1

Enemies
Cult Speaker: (C-8) -75 HP
Cult Lunatic 1: (G-8) -111 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Cult Lunatic 2: (J-8), -119 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 1: (I-6) -109 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 2: (E-16) -55 HP (Bloodied)
Thrall Archer 1: (C-12), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 2: (D-14), elevation 6
Thrall Archer 3: (P-2), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 4: (P-25), elevation 6

Notes
The water-filled squares appear to be crudly-made pools, and drop off sharply, appearing about 30 feet deep. The water is somewhat murky and difficult to see through.
The raised platforms in the middle-north of the room, and the lower right and left corners are about 20 feet high, a sheer scale. The thrall archers are perched atop them.
The archer thralls are minions, and the speaker is an elite.
The stygian guards can use threatening tentacles when an enemy adjacent to them shifts, which will grab and slide a target if it hits.
The tentacles on the map are merely for effect. Anywhere adjacent to the water is subject to attack from them.

Stepping across the dead guard's corpse, Myn now directs his glare at the remaining northern archer.
Move action: Move to I-6.
Standard action: Cast Spiteful Glamor against Archer 2.
Attack roll:http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3657153/

Myn strides forward, using another glaring psychic attack to strike down a third archer. It stops in the middle of drawing another arrow, and crumples.

Myn moves and uses spiteful glamor, killing archer 2.

Initiative
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): 23
Sureiya (anon-kun): 18
Thrall Archer 4 (Enemy): 18
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): 15
Myn Nthelsyr (George): 15
Sariel (Liliane): 15
Stygian Guard 2 (Enemy): 10
Cult Speaker (Enemy): 10

Players
Myn Nthelsyr (George): (I-6) 31/55 HP, darkspiral aura 5, fails next save, shadow walk
Book Imp (Myn): (In Myn's Space) Passive Mode
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): (E-17) 47/53 HP, +2 to all defenses (stance)
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): (D/E-8/9) 21/64 HP (Bloodied)
Rutger (Astaroth): (D/E-8/9) 23/32 HP, Resist 5 all
Sureiya (Anonkun): (F-15) 36/60 HP
Sariel (Liliane): (D-10) 29/53 HP, CA against the stygian guard 1

Enemies
Cult Speaker: (C-8) -75 HP
Cult Lunatic 1: (G-8) -111 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Cult Lunatic 2: (J-8), -119 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 1: (I-6) -109 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 2: (E-16) -55 HP (Bloodied)
Thrall Archer 1: (C-12), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 2: (D-14), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 3: (P-2), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 4: (P-25), elevation 6

Notes
The water-filled squares appear to be crudly-made pools, and drop off sharply, appearing about 30 feet deep. The water is somewhat murky and difficult to see through.
The raised platforms in the middle-north of the room, and the lower right and left corners are about 20 feet high, a sheer scale. The thrall archers are perched atop them.
The archer thralls are minions, and the speaker is an elite.
The stygian guards can use threatening tentacles when an enemy adjacent to them shifts, which will grab and slide a target if it hits.
The tentacles on the map are merely for effect. Anywhere adjacent to the water is subject to attack from them.

Nodding her approval to the Warlock, Sariel advances towards Sureiya, again using magic to inspire another timely attack from him.

Move Action: To F-11.
Standard Action: Direct the Strike, grant Sureiya an attack. (He still has +5 damage from Adaptive Stratagem)

Following Sariel's order, Sureiya swings his blade again, but it seem to be off-mark.
MBA (nat 1 pls) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3658159/

Sariel moves across the battlefield at a leisurely pace, directing Sureiya to attack the nearby guard. The half-orc must have black, aberrant blood in his eyes, though, because he misses wildly. The stygian guard then turns on an opponent it can hit for once, slashing into Sureiya viciously before knocking the bloody ranger to the ground.

The speaker makes a noise that is halfway between laughing and gurgling, saying, "Do not think yoursssssselves victoriousssss.... thisssss isssss far from over!" He then produces a dagger from its robes--and slices into its own neck, spraying its black blood all over the floor. As it does so, it briefly disappears from sight, then reappears at the top of the balcony. It then turns on its heels and runs away as fast as it can.

Sariel moves, then uses direct the strike, granting Sureiya a melee basic attack, which misses with a natural 1.
Stygian guard 1 attacks Sureiya with its bastard sword for 13 damage, then uses slam against him for 5 damage and knocking him prone.
As a minor action, the cult speaker draws a dagger. As a standard action, it bloodies itself, triggering aberrant escape, allowing it to teleport 6 squares to A-14 (elevation 6). It then uses a move action to run.
Since it does not sustain spectral tentacles, they disappear.

Initiative
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): 23
Sureiya (anon-kun): 18
Thrall Archer 4 (Enemy): 18
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): 15
Myn Nthelsyr (George): 15
Sariel (Liliane): 15
Stygian Guard 2 (Enemy): 10
Cult Speaker (Enemy): 10

Players
Myn Nthelsyr (George): (I-6) 31/55 HP, darkspiral aura 5, fails next save, shadow walk
Book Imp (Myn): (In Myn's Space) Passive Mode
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): (E-17) 47/53 HP, +2 to all defenses (stance)
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): (D/E-8/9) 21/64 HP (Bloodied)
Rutger (Astaroth): (D/E-8/9) 23/32 HP, Resist 5 all
Sureiya (Anonkun): (F-15) 18/60 HP (Bloodied), prone
Sariel (Liliane): (F-11) 29/53 HP

Enemies
Cult Speaker: (??) -94 HP (Bloodied)
Cult Lunatic 1: (G-8) -111 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Cult Lunatic 2: (J-8), -119 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 1: (I-6) -109 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 2: (E-16) -55 HP (Bloodied)
Thrall Archer 1: (C-12), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 2: (D-14), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 3: (P-2), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 4: (P-25), elevation 6

Notes
The water-filled squares appear to be crudly-made pools, and drop off sharply, appearing about 30 feet deep. The water is somewhat murky and difficult to see through.
The raised platforms in the middle-north of the room, and the lower right and left corners are about 20 feet high, a sheer scale. The thrall archers are perched atop them.
The archer thralls are minions, and the speaker is an elite.
The stygian guards can use threatening tentacles when an enemy adjacent to them shifts, which will grab and slide a target if it hits.

"You craven little..." Torinn snarls after the speaker, but doesn't have the strength to give chase. The dragonborn instead has his tiger leap across the field and try to bite at the remaining guard.

Move to I/J 12/13, then jump to H/I 17/18 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3658752/ (33)
Charge to F/G 17/18 w/ bite http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3658757/ (18 since bloodied)

Torinn is obviously unhappy about the speaker's escape, but he turns his attention towards the stygian guard. Bounding forward, his tiger comes off a little unsteady, and though he successfully lands, the big cat's attack is easily side-stepped by the last remaining aberrant foe.

Torinn moves, and his charge with bite misses the stygian guard.

Initiative
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): 23
Sureiya (anon-kun): 18
Thrall Archer 4 (Enemy): 18
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): 15
Myn Nthelsyr (George): 15
Sariel (Liliane): 15
Stygian Guard 2 (Enemy): 10
Cult Speaker (Enemy): 10

Players
Myn Nthelsyr (George): (I-6) 31/55 HP, darkspiral aura 5, fails next save, shadow walk
Book Imp (Myn): (In Myn's Space) Passive Mode
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): (E-17) 47/53 HP, +2 to all defenses (stance)
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): (F/H-17/18) 21/64 HP (Bloodied)
Rutger (Astaroth): (F/H-17/18) 23/32 HP, Resist 5 all
Sureiya (Anonkun): (F-15) 18/60 HP (Bloodied), prone
Sariel (Liliane): (F-11) 29/53 HP

Enemies
Cult Speaker: (??) -94 HP (Bloodied)
Cult Lunatic 1: (G-8) -111 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Cult Lunatic 2: (J-8), -119 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 1: (I-6) -109 HP (Bloodied) DEAD
Stygian Guard 2: (E-16) -55 HP (Bloodied)
Thrall Archer 1: (C-12), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 2: (D-14), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 3: (P-2), elevation 6 DEAD
Thrall Archer 4: (P-25), elevation 6

Notes
The water-filled squares appear to be crudly-made pools, and drop off sharply, appearing about 30 feet deep. The water is somewhat murky and difficult to see through.
The raised platforms in the middle-north of the room, and the lower right and left corners are about 20 feet high, a sheer scale. The thrall archers are perched atop them.
The archer thralls are minions, and the speaker is an elite.
The stygian guards can use threatening tentacles when an enemy adjacent to them shifts, which will grab and slide a target if it hits.

"What? Where is that bastard going!?"
Angered by the speaker running away, Sureiya attacks the damn guard.

Minor action: Stand up
Minor action: Quarry the guard
Standard action: Twin strike all day long (one crit for 27 damage!)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3658973/
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3658983/

Sureiya hacks at the stygian with his blades. The first hit lops off the creature's sword-arm, and the second tears a horrible gash across its chest. It makes a gurgling sound, then falls over backwards in a dead, wet heap of disgusting flesh.

The remaining archer seems frenzied, and fires a hasty shot at Torinn that doesn't even come close to hitting before it falls over the platform, hits the ground hard, and does not move.

Sureiya stands and quarries the guard.
Sureiya's twin strike crits once and hits once for a total of 36 damage. This kills it.
The archer tries to shoot Torinn but misses. It then dies.

Final Stats
Myn Nthelsyr (George): (I-6) 31/55 HP, darkspiral aura 5, fails next save, shadow walk
Book Imp (Myn): (In Myn's Space) Passive Mode
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): (E-17) 47/53 HP, +2 to all defenses (stance)
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): (F/H-17/18) 21/64 HP (Bloodied)
Rutger (Astaroth): (F/H-17/18) 23/32 HP, Resist 5 all
Sureiya (Anonkun): (F-15) 18/60 HP (Bloodied)
Sariel (Liliane): (F-11) 29/53 HP

Surges Spent (Before Short Rest)
Torinn: 2
Sureiya: 3

Sariel wastes no time in getting out her Battle Standard.

"Gather 'round, the lot of you. We must make haste--that one of them escaped does not sit well with me, but a foolish barrel into danger without rest seems ill-advised."

Plant Standard of Healing. Spend surges how.

Sheathing his weapon, Torinn pat's the tiger's head and sighs resignedly, "Agreed. While it's hardly ideal, we'll have to rest up before we entertain any notions of giving chase. That last fight didn't go as smoothly as the first."

Spend at least one healing surge (21 hp surge value)

The ranger also sit down, looking apparently exhausted.
"These guys were pretty tough, but his leader wasn't so much."
Spend two healing surges.

Myn sits, poking at the water with his rod to ensure that it's safe after all.

Spend 1 healing surge.

Updated total after Sureiya spends 2, Torinn spends 1, and Myn spends 1, thus 4 HP healed for everyone from the standard

Players
Myn Nthelsyr (George): (I-6) 48/55 HP, darkspiral aura 2
Book Imp (Myn): (In Myn's Space) Passive Mode
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): (E-17) 51/53 HP
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): (F/H-17/18) 46/64 HP
Rutger (Astaroth): (F/H-17/18) 27/32 HP, Resist 5 all
Sureiya (Anonkun): (F-15) 52/60 HP
Sariel (Liliane): (F-11) 33/53 HP

Sariel finishes resting up as well, then retrieves her banner.

"Are we ready to pursue then?" She eyes the balcony. Halp how get up.

Spend a healing surge.

>>10049
"Hold on. Sureiya took quite a beating in that last battle. I suggest granting him some vitality if you are able to do so."

"Then, is there anyone who'd offer their vitality?" Sariel inquires. "I can drain and give to someone, but it has to come from somewhere."

She settles her eyes on Myn.

Myn smiles with a hint of strain. "What's the point of a meatshield if I'm supplying the meat?"

"Feel free, Miss Sariel. I should scarcely require all of this abundant good health."

>>10053
"I'll do it too."

"I see." Sariel pauses momentarily, then adds, "I suppose we can take longer, then. What harm could a few minutes do?"

So saying, she sets about preparations to cast the ritual. "I'll distribute vitality as I see fit, and I see it fit that our warriors are too keen on entering the fray that they will need an extra boost."

Taking a little extra time, the group is able to adequately heal up their wounds and prepare for the rest of the journey. A ritual cast by Sariel redistributes the party's remaining strength more evenly, to allow the front line greater resilience.

Take two extra short rests, Sariel uses inspiring word on Myn, herself, Torinn, and Sureiya to help them heal up a bit more. Comrade's Succor takes 5 minutes to cast and is done in the same time-frame. Unless I'm told otherwise this is how things look to me:

Players
Myn Nthelsyr (George): (I-6) 55/55 HP, darkspiral aura 2
Book Imp (Myn): (In Myn's Space) Passive Mode
Folka Shiningarm (Hideiling): (E-17) 52/53 HP
Torinn Tormine (Astaroth): (F/H-17/18) 59/64 HP
Rutger (Astaroth): (F/H-17/18) 28/32 HP, Resist 5 all
Sureiya (Anonkun): (F-15) 60/60 HP
Sariel (Liliane): (F-11) 53/53 HP

Surges Remaining
Sureiya - 5
Torinn - 6
Folka - 5
Myn - 4
Sariel - 4

With the group refreshed and rejuvenated, Torinn tackles the obvious problem : how to move forward. There's a big wall in their way that's several feet high, so what do?

Obviously, climb it like it's nothing. Rutger has no trouble scaling the wall. Torinn takes out a rope and lowers it down to the others, proclaiming, "Come on then, there's villains that need a good smiting."

Take 10 on athletics to climb wall
Lower rope

When Torinn climbs the platform and begins to help the others up, he is able to see more of the area up above. It appears there is a raised passage here, with a large, ornate door blocking the path immediately north, and stairs leading both west and east, slightly curved downwards. Judging by the trail of black blood on the ground, which is easily seen against the marble-like ground, it seems the speaker went through the door to the north.

The door has an activation mechanism similar to the one you used to enter this room.

With Torinn's help, Sureiya climbs the wall without much trouble. "Look at this, the Speaker was gentle enough the leave a trail. Should we follow it?"
Perception and Insight rolls in the area. (13,21) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3664675/

Sureiya finds nothing out of the ordinary in the immediate area, besides the blood trail. The stairways appear to angle downwards and continue back south, also angling slightly further to the west and east, respectively, as you follow them south.

Looking a the rest, the rangers questions.
"Alright, are we following the trail or are we checking the rest of the area?"

>>10076
"Let's take in the area first before we press on. It's no good if we walk into a trap."

The rope is not difficult to climb, and anyone willing to carefully do so is able to get to the top of the balcony.

Torinn has proposed proceeding down the side paths first, but which one?

After a moment of thought, Torinn declares, "Let's take the right path first."

"No objection here."

"Alright." The ranger go and scouts the right path
Perception (18) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3667562/

Following the stairs down and around, Sureiya discovers a door. His search of the door reveals no traps on the door, and the ranger's keen spacial awareness tells him that he thinks he knows what's on the other side of the door.

Sureiya decides to follow the scientific method, by opening the door, attempting to check his hypothesis.

Opening the door reveals what's on the other side.

Bored by the outcome, Sureiya goes back and check the other stairs.

Sureiya finds something a little more interesting on the west side--he'd passed an area like this on the east, but the entrance had collapsed and was basically blocked off. There appears to be a display room here of some sort, with two giant shining pedestals set into the floor. It appears this room has been ransacked, and there is broken glass or shards of gems scattered over the floor, but there are a few intact shiny objects resting near the base of one of the pedestals that Sureiya surmises still have value.

Sariel steps around, a spaced out look on her face. She heads for the door Sureiya opened, questing with preternatural senses to see what's beyond, convinced that if it is magical, she will find it.

Detect Magic down Staircase of opened door with scientific hypothesis:
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3669898/

"Oh look, this seems valuable" The orc inspects the room.
Take the loot and inspect the room, lol perception http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3670436/

Sariel reaches out with her arcane senses, aided by magic. As far as the eladrin can tell, there WERE at one point some spell defenses here, as she spots several places where runes were once carved into the walls. However, she can sense no latent magic remaining within them. She does, however, have a vague sense some sort of powerful magic nearby--in the distance, to the north, as if someone were performing a potent ritual.

Sureiya's search has a bit more interesting results--though his quick survey finds nothing dangerous in the room, he does locate several intact treasures--a gold bracelet adorned with black pearls (art object worth 1500 gp), an ornate hourglass of eladrin design, containing several ounces of gem dust (art object worth 1000 gp), and a perfect topaz (gem worth 500 gp). The rest of the valuables in this room have been broken or stained; the large silk mural on the wall would be valuable if it weren't drenched in water and what appears to be blood. It's also ripped in several places.

Sureiya steals the loot and return to the other room
"I found some shiny stuff there, but it seems we need to continue with this door."

Sureiya gathers up the shiny things and returns. He is right, there IS a big door in front of you that it seems that the speaker went through. There's probably something bad on the other side.

"Enough meddling, that bastard is surely setting a trap for us!"
Sureiya opens the awesome looking door.

As the door opens, it becomes clear that it leads back out into the cavern into which the city has sunk. And it also becomes clear that there are no functioning light sources out here; you'll need someone to hold something to provide you with light in order to safely proceed. Something in the distance is chanting in a low, droning tone.

Gripping his swords with his both hands, the ranger exclaims "Someone, light this place quickly! We aren't alone!"

>>10104
Next thread~