Chp. 4: The Gods Will

[Grognardsw]

"I am no demon. I am coatl, an aspect of the Great One upon this world. I have been long imprisoned here and surmise the empire has fallen. You come from a far land judging by your skin. Free me and I will show you the ways out of this place, and heal your wounds."

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai walks up and speaks to the coatl "How do we free you?"

[Inferno]

Wanting no part of the imprisoned demon until he has magical power enough to discern its true nature, Azoth opens the double doors at the north end of the previous chamber before his otherworldly vision leaves him.

[Grognardsw]

"The magic wards placed upon the door must be broken," the feathered snake answers Tabai in the jungle native's own language. "You are of the blood. What has become of this place?"

Siavel the elven sorcerer examines the door closely, but not touching it.

Meanwhile, Azoth walks north through the corridor amidst graven images of the past.



He opens the double doors to reveal a corridor going east about 30', then turning south. At the corner there is water on the floor, about 6" judging by the water height on the wall. Azoth sees no traps.

Azoth finds that Siavel has joined him at the north doorway. "Give me the dagger Azoth. It may help us."

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai has no magic to break wards "I am but a warrior I have no means to remove magics. This place has become a tomb of sorts for the various gods."

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

The arcane acolyte had wondered how long it would take. Not long, it turned out. Azoth could no longer Exorcise the possessed elf. Nor could he risk open violence. The party was in too weakened a condition. But to safeguard the party's safety, it was rapidly becoming inevitable. From this moment on, he would watch Siavel, take night watches with him, never let him from his sight.

He smiled at the dominated thrall. "Of course, my friend. I see you are yourself once more," the cleric lied sweetly.
"I am happy for that. Here you are. Take it. Wield it in good health.
"What does your dagger tell us of this path ahead?" Azoth asked, sliding his dark eyes toward the flooded hall. "My vision reveals no traps."

[Grognardsw]

Siavel takes the exotic dagger from Azoth. He smiles and runs his finger along the blade, drawing blood, then sheaths it.

"The blade does not want to free the serpent," says Siavel. "There is danger there. Through this door and down the hallway is the direction we should head."

The feathered snake hovers near the door and whispers in Calto's ear: "Do not trust him."

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai tries to use his spear to open the case containing the coatl. Trying to cut at the edges or even pry at it...if all else fails he will potentially try to smash the containment.

[Mant72]

Calto the druid:

"This door is trapped. What is the best way to free you without harm to ourselves?" Calto asks the feathered serpent.

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

Siavel
"There is danger there. Through this door and down the hallway is the direction we should head."

"Excellent," purrs the dark cleric. "Use your dagger to scout ahead; lead the way. I shall collect the others. We're right behind you."

If Siavel complies, when Azoth joins the others he says to the feathered serpent. "What must we do to free you?"

[Dram]

Kitchi- Standing quietly at the beautiful creature. Let us find a way to free this creature. I am not proceeding any farther without this creature.

[Inferno]

If Siavel is away from them, Azoth will also tell the magical prisoner: "Another evil empire now threatens this land. If we free you, will you promise to aid the peaceful peoples of this jungle?"

The arcane acolyte of Nodens scrutinizes the wards of binding for a way to shatter them.

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai "We are in agreement Kitchi."

[Grognardsw]

"I will lead, but we should go as a group," Siavel says to Azoth. "We are stronger as one. Gather the others and I will wait."

The battle priest of Noden walks down the corridor to join the others before the ensorcelled door holding the feathered serpent. He sees Tabai the jungle barbarian use his spear to attempt to open the door, prying at the edges and...

Tabai is shocked - his body jolts and convulses as magical energy courses through his body (18 HP, Save vs. Magic for half.)

The party rushes to help the jungle native, pulling him away.

"If freed, I would help the people be free of evil influences," answers the flying snake. "My prison door is enchanted to resist magics."

Azoth the arcane acolyte scrutinizes the wards of binding for a way to shatter them. He suspects they need to be dispelled. As he examines the runes they explode, tearing and ripping and scorching into Azoth (22 HP). The door remains.

Siavel rushes over.

- Glyphs and Wards 2 HP per level of caster.
-Explosive runes on door [6d4+6] = 16+6 = 22

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai Save v Magic (14) [1d20] = 12

which if my brain is working correctly means Tabai failed and is at zero HP.

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

The dark cleric curses and looks toward Siavel, who is 100 feet away. He whispers to Calto, Kitchi and Tabai, "Do not let the elf stop me."

If Siavel is coming toward them, Azoth will wait until he is in range and suddenly utter the forbidden eldritch words of his uncaring master to violate the inviolate laws of Time itself and plunge Siavel into a temporal prison of corporeal paralysis. (casts Hold Person)
"'Ai! 'Ai! Ftaghn! Tharanak! Ftaghu!"

If Siavel is not coming toward them, then Azoth will use his otherworldly power attempt to shatter the ancient sorcery that binds the feathered serpent. (casts Dispel Magic)
"'Ai! 'Ai! Thanarak! N'gha! Vulg'th! Zhro!"

[Mant72]

Calto the druid:

Calto stares in shock at the mayhem caused by the arcane wards. He rushes to the side of the electrified barbarian and checks for a pulse to ensure the native still lives. The nature priest looks down with disdain as he realizes he possesses no curative magicks.

[Dram]

Kitchi- rushes to Tabia's side and begins to bind his wounds. Does anyone have any healings spells?

[Grognardsw]

Tabai convulses, his hair raises on end, and he collapses to the ground in pain. He staggers back from the warded door and recovers his breath (at 9 HP.) Kitchi the ranger kneels down to help his friend.

Azoth reels back in shocked pain from viewing the explosive runes. Despite the pain (at 8 HP), the cleric keeps his mind focused as he sees the elven sorcerer approach. Siavel's handsome elven face is stone cold as he nears.

Azoth utters the words again to place a divine hold on Siavel, but the elf overcomes the prayer.

"I have heard those words before," Siavel hisses. "Be thankful I am not the evil one you think I am."

He reaches a hand out to help Azoth.

The feathered winged serpent shifts in the air, watching from the grated window of the warded door.

I rolled initiative for Azoth vs Siavel. Azoth won. However, S made his save. Rolls can be seen in the campaign archive.

As a barbarian Tabai gets +1 on saves vs. magic, so you missed by one. I have him at 27 so now he is 9 HP. The damage/heal history is in the HP thread at: viewtopic.php?p=180013#p180013

Azoth is at 8 HP.

Greywolf there are a number of barbarian skills that could have been useful thus far. You may want to review the class on p. 18 of UA. A copy is here: http://archmagev.com/1st_Ed/Rulebooks/

Everyone may be interested in that link, which has free and safe PDFs of all the 1e rulebooks including Deities with Cthulhu and Melnibonean mythos.

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai takes a second look at the feathered creature he knows to be good and the surrounding confines of it....using abilities of a barbarian to determine if there is any illusion and magic as he knows it to be trapped.
Detect illusion (25%) [1d100] = 98
Detect magic (45%) [1d100] = 38

aside from those two and his first aid I really don't see anything else that can be of use inside this tomb/temple.