Chp. 3: La Muerta Espara

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

"Let us descend further into the ziggurat, and avoid that accursed mirror trap.
"Our fool's errand is to find power enough to face the savage cannibal horde of this jungle. Items of such power are usually held deep below. Come."

[Mant72]

Calto the Druid:

"Agreed, Azoth. Let us try to make some progress in this ancient abattoir." Calto secures his equipment and looks down regretfully at his spikes that are confining the bone-horror, knowing they are now irretrievable and hoping they are not needed again.

[Storm11]

"Perhaps we could use some of these terrible monsters against the savages, let them kill each other maybe?" the gnome suggests following along with the others.

[OGRE MAGE]

Finally some sense is being made. I agree! Let's go deeper into this place. To the stairway then!

He chuckles softly at the gnomes suggestion.

Perhaps you could ask the next gruesome undead horror that comes along if they might be willing to discuss those terms, my tiny friend?

[Storm11]

"Alas I don't have the kinds of magic to perhaps encourage or coerce them to head out into the forest. Perhaps with the undead our not so good priest might compel them to exit. I don't personally have any useful magic to do that? Do you? Anything at all useful?" the gnome asks innocently

[Marcanus_da_Lich]

Grindhelm the Dwarf

Grindhelm pipes up after listening to the discussion. "How about we try and find out what the source of this structure's power is? This seems unholy if I've ever seen anything like it. If not, then we just need to keep bashing skulls until we get somewhere. We need to start using tactics. Scouts ahead, team of 2." the dwarf takes on a tone of seriousness, different from his gruff, abrasive voice from before.

[Dram]

Kitchi- Moves with the first group. I agree lets head into the lower levels.

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai merely shrugs and speaks to Kitchi "Where you all go I go."

[max_vale]

Alex 'Blade Rain' Vam; Human male Fighter


After sharpening all of his weapons and cleaning his armor during the 'night'; Alex awakes and stretches his stiff limbs and after rolling his neck several times in a vain attempt to ease the kinks there; he sighs and says; "Well, let's get on with this then." Looking over at Leomar, he smiles and says; "I'm glad to see you back on your feet my friend….no offense, but it was getting to be a real pain carrying you around everywhere". With that, the Fighter packs his gear and readies to move out with the party….

[OGRE MAGE]

"Alas I don't have the kinds of magic to perhaps encourage or coerce them to head out into the forest. Perhaps with the undead our not so good priest might compel them to exit. I don't personally have any useful magic to do that? Do you? Anything at all useful?" the gnome asks innocently

I have no such spells my little friend. Perhaps our esteemed holyman could help with that?

Si will lead the group to the stairway leading down and try to get the party moving again.

I switched one spell around Mr. DM, sir.

[Grognardsw]

The adventurers reach the stairs. The thieves Bruno and Leomar move ahead to search for traps as the group carefully goes down the stairs, which look to be about 60' long. Half-way down, Leomar feels a step shift and everyone hears the sliding of stone behind them...

At the top of the stairs behind the party...



The dragon glares down, unmoving, though steam or steamy smoke drifts from its nostrils.

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

"Alas I don't have the kinds of magic to perhaps encourage or coerce them to head out into the forest. Perhaps with the undead our not so good priest might compel them to exit."

The not-quite evil cleric replied, "These undead horrors are here to guard the shrine against heathen invaders exactly like us."

Grog, My understanding is that only evil clerics can command the undead. Is that true?
Also, Yikes!!!! What color dragon, please?

[Grognardsw]

Yes, only evil clerics.

The dragon is stone colored, the same color as much of the walls and other statues encountered.

[Dogma]

"Son of a rat bastard! " cries Leomar, "Not again!" Without another word he runs down the stairs.

[Storm11]

Bruno stands ready to tumble away from whatever might spew from the dragon statue as he hears the human leg it. "Run Forest ... Eerrrr Leomar, RUN!"

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

As ever, the dark cleric counsels caution even as he expects that counsel to go unheeded. He rasps, "If the dragon is merely an unliving statue, with steam braziers burning in its jaws, then it has been cunningly designed to drive us down these stairs to dangers that wait below. Look before you leap, Leomar and Bruno the Mad."

Then Azoth coldly observes the dragon. If it moves a muscle, he'll cast Resist Fire upon himself.
If its stone body remains motionless (even if it "breathes" steam or its eyes light up), then he'll slowly continue to advance upon it, torch alight, thin dark eyes squinting in suspicion and curiosity.

[Mant72]

Calto the Druid:

Being in tune with nature and the living, Calto surmises that the creature is constructed of stone. He stands at the ready with his scimitar drawn, hoping his assumptions are correct.

[Grognardsw]

Priest and druid stand poised, waiting to see if the dragon is but a statue. Leomar, skittish from his travails in the Shrine, runs down the stairs. The thief's steps reach only several stairs down when the dragon's mouth opens and jets of spraying scalding steam blast out. (Everyone please Save vs. Breath.)

[Mant72]

Calto the Druid:

Calto curses and screams as scalding steam billows from the dragon's gaping maw.

Save vs. breath weapon [1d20] = 6

[Dram]

Kitchi- Curses aloud than runs down the stairs

Sav throw [1d20] = 7