Chp. 8 - Please Save the Children!

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal is confused by what is transpiring right before him.

He sees the others heading for the exit and decides that might now be the best solution. He makes a run for the rope, looking up to see if the halfling is still there along the way.

Last one out's a rotten potato!

[AleBelly]

Given Wrenly's clever casting, Wulfhart moves to climb up the rope too, taking a final, longing look at the fine specimen that is the succubus.

[Hotgoblin]

Bene grabs the succubus vile in his jaws then heads up for the rope as well.

[Grognardsw]

Sex and Violence - Round 4

Wrenly the magician recognizes the polymorph magic of the incubus as it transformed into a small red dragon. Powerful demon magick indeed. The tail withdraws from between the succubus' legs. As the dragon rears its head, the adventurers move to retreat.

Asherrion the alien elf chants words of beguilement to charm the succubus.

Gagel the thief struggles vainly to free himself from Swilbosh's clutches, as the lizardman defends his paramour succubus. Swilbosh apparently isn't tricked by Wrenly's ruse. When he sees the red dragon transformation, his instinct for survival overcomes his feelings for Eyrotiax. Swilbosh runs, leaving Gagel to grab the Vase of Buxom Enrapture.

As his hand closes on it, so does the maw of Bene the intelligent dog. "Unhand it dog, we must bottle the demons!"

The dragon's mouth sparks.

"How?" asks the dog.

"The cork has the power word on its bottom!" says the brilliant thief, his intellect and observation boosted by the magic wine from earlier.

Bene lets the vase go. Gagel holds it forth and utters "in utre!"

As the first syllable falls from his lips, the dragon unleashes its fiery breath and it envelopes Gagel, Asherrion, Bene and Niles. (Save vs. Breath please.) As the flames burn, both incubus and succubus are sucked into the vase, which melts away from the heat.

The other adventurers climb the well shaft and hear cries of pain and feel a wave of heat from below.

[greyarea]

Asherrion
Save vs breath [1d20] = 16

[Grognardsw]

- Niles Save vs. Breath [1d20] = 13. Yes.
- Gagel Save vs. Breath [1d20] = 9. No.
- Bene Save vs. Breath [1d20] = 12. No.

doughx if you appear prior to my next post (probably tomorrow) you are welcome to roll, otherwise I'll go with this. Thanks.

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart keeps hold of the rope, looking down into the well hopefully.

[ChubbyPixie]

Wrenly the Brown, MU

Wrenly looks expectantly down the well, scroll at the ready, then, after the explosion of flame and screams of pain, at the others. "I don't think my plan is going to work..." he says.

[Hotgoblin]

Bene. Stop...Drop...& Roll in some dirt....it works on fleas, it should work on flames too!!!

Saving Throw/Ability Check [1d20] = 17

[Grognardsw]

The searing flames of the incubus-turned-dragon envelope Asherrion the elf, Niles the knight, Gagel the thief and Bene the dog. The fiery breath is cut short some when the Vase of Buxom Enrapture sucks the demon and its succubus lover into it. The Vase melts away with them inside.



The papier-mache knight is instantly incinerated into ashes. Asherrion leaps aside, his grey skin baked, his body prone on the sandy floor (1 HP left.) Gagel is consumed, flesh sloughing off his skeleton. Bene jumps partially away but the fire is too much and he dies with painful yelps.

Then all is quiet.

At the well, Wulfhart holds the rope as his hope fades away.

- Half-damage from successful Save was 13 HP, enough to kill everyone except Asherrion with 1 HP left.
- Hall of Heroes:
viewtopic.php?p=141620#p141620

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart calls down in a hoarse whisper "Niles? Gagel? Asherrion? Devils?" If no response is forthcoming, the heavily muscled woodsman will turn to the others.

"Let's get back to town. I could use some healing, and you fancy wizards probably need new spells."

He turns to Porphyry

"Not sure how that skeleton will be welcomed!" he guffaws.

Unless other areas are to be explored, Wulfie will head back to the town. He activates his ring of invisibility before doing so.

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal gives the large barbarian a stern look and shakes his head.

You can all run back to town if you want, I'm going to go back down and check for survivors.

The thief quickly scurries back down the rope and disappears into the tunnel.

PM sent, Grog.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Oh dear. That didn't sound like it ended well.... Yes. Yes, I am in agreement with Fingal - we must see what can be done." says Wrenly and follows Fingal down the well. Upon seeing the carnage (the burnage?) he is quite dismayed, especially by the demise of Bene, whom he had begun to consider the wisest and most level-headed of the group. After pulling himself together, he offers the use of his mule he left tied up down the hill to transport Asherrion back to town. He will painstakingly gather a bit of the remains of each of the others in separate specimen bottles, in case at some later date they might be able to reinvigorate/revitalize them? He's heard of such powerful magics, though he has not an inkling where one might go to have such a service performed.

When these things are done, barring some other plan of action proposed, he is also of a mind to retire to town, though upon arrival he'll keep his ghastly sketched appearance concealed under his hood and let someone else do the negotiating for lodgings.

Wait, YOU CAN DIE IN THIS GAME?!!!... Remind me to run away sooner next time...

[Hotgoblin]

Groyn, Best Friend of Bene Groyn races to the horrific scene then falls to his knees sobbing....Me dawggggg, he's gone, he was too damn nice, why couldn't he be more selfish like me and gotten aways.....it should have been Me!!!! He then realizes that Gagel and Niles were also obliterated. Too many deaths...the children must be all dead as well!!!! We're all fight'n adventurers and we're dropping like shit does out a my ass!!!!

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal rushes in to check on each of his fallen comrades, ending with his now deceased fellow thief.

They are all dead except the badly burnt mutant elf. Why didn't we all just run away when we had the chance?

I can't even find anything left of young Niles in here! Anyone seen his pack at least?

Oh the humanity!

He is especially torn up when he sees Bene, the half burnt, no longer talking dog. He was really starting to like that little guy. His personality really grew on you after a while.

Sorry Hotgoblin! I know you were really growing attached to that little guy.

[saalaria]

Swilbosh shakes his head to clear the hideous memories he now has.

"What?....wait...oh...that wassss horrible , jusssst horrible...ssshe didn't even have Ssszzratzz "

He hangs his head - either from shame or disbelief.

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry also returns to the scene of immolation to inspect what little remains. He tsks sadly when he finds the molten puddle of metal and deduces that it must have been the vase.

"I think we have seen and done enough. There seems little point in searching for children who must surely be dead, if they ever existed. Nor, upon reflection, would I suggest returning to the village. This warren seems too active with forces too powerful to have gone unremarked by the townsfolk for as long as the old man said. I expect the townsfolk profit in some foul way by sending the errant and adventuresome to their death in these halls. They may not be pleased upon our return."

[ChubbyPixie]

Wrenly the Brown, Evoker

Wrenly ponders Porphyry's words. "It is true that the children do not seem to be here. However, no one seems to have disturbed this temple in some time. Is this consistent with your theory? I am uncertain. Perhaps we should rest elsewhere tonight, then confront the villagers tomorrow? On the chance that there are actual children to save. Clearly there is some chicanery afoot."

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal stands up from Gagel's burnt corpse, still shaking his head.

I know my head still ain't straight after that wicked brew but, whatever happened to that little halfling that I saw poke his head down the hole? Maybe he would have some information for us?

Or did I just hallucinate that too?

[Grognardsw]

Inside the chamber the sands are still hot, the air sulfuric. Asherrion yet breathes, his body covered in hideous burns. Gagel is dead. Niles the paper knight is unseen, his ashes scattered about. Bene the dog is half-burnt up, a terrible and sad sight to behold.

There remains the closed sarcophagus in the middle of the chamber. Besides the exit from which the party came, there is a shaft up from the center of the rising cathedral ceiling of the cavern. That is where the giant slug worm fell from. No halfling is seen up the shaft.

The party gathers themselves to exit the cave complex, to rest or possibly return to town...

I'll pause for any actions here or majority decision on next step.