Take Two...

[Zhym]

Gaerys looks toward the way out, sighs, and dashes back to drag Ethan out of harm's way.

[OGRE MAGE]

Flambeau

Sensing that the thing can be hurt, he repositions himself and also swings harder.

Firesledge [1d20+6] = 13+6 = 19 Damage [1d6+4] = 4+4 = 8 + [1d6] = 4

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin guards the ground with his body.

[Magnus]

Round 5

The heroes act decisively in pushing their attack against this freakish, horrid incarnation of the Messenger. They take a initiative by a wide margin.

Flambeau begins the assault - hurling Firesledge across the Temple chamber. It slams into the bulbous evil form with a fury of concussive force and flame, clearly doing damage. His brother in faith, Arqos, again hacks at his unholy adversary. The paladin's strikes are more effective this time, slicing and searing what might be called wounds in the form of something less alien. The party has definitely done damage, though it seems that the Messenger has somehow healed itself among transformations - much like their departed druid friend did between animal and human form.

Gaerys dives into the fray, helping Ethan to his feet, but not before the fighter can reclaim Frostfell. The onetime rivals feel any remaining differences melt away in the heat of the struggle against a form so horrid and foul.

Hollis drags Vorsyin further from the fight (abound halfway up the hallway), while Olaf and Lorath make their way up to the rockpile.

Now wounded, the Messenger lashes out all the more desperately. Indeed, the party is horrified to see the slime on its top two tentacles unfurl, exposing a foot-long spike underneath. Greenish pus expels from each of its tip. The party realizes these gruesome weapons will only increase the stakes of this already desperate battle.

The spike kinda looks like this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtTgHuGgW-c

The Messenger swings three tentacles at Ethan (including one of the spikes). Ethan steps away from the spike, and wacks away another tentacle. Unfortunately, he is caught be a third tentacle, which wraps around his leg, squeezing tightly. The seasoned fighter manages to twist and spring out of its grasp.

Ethan: 5 damage; makes save

Arqos has barely a moment before the other three tentacles are swung at him simultaneously. The servant of the Lord of Light parries away two strikes, but those serve only as dummy blows that allow the Messenger to plunge a spike needle between his neck and collarbone. Arqos feels the pus rush into his bloodstream...only the Lord's grace will save him!

Arqos: Hit with Natural 20!!! 7 damage - not doubled, but save is at -2.

Save v. Poison at -2 please. No armor bonus.

Does this campaign moment really need commentary to be more tense?

DECLARE ACTIONS!!!

Gaerys: 21/69 (!)
Hollis: 8/52 (!!!)
Lorath: 9/40 (!!!)
Ethan: 35/71 (!)
Olaf: 12/75
Arqos: 82/114
Flambeau: 43/75

[Zhym]

Arqos shrugs off the unholy poison and redoubles his attack against the Messenger.

Save vs. poison (6): [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19
Sunfire vs. evil (THAC0 12): [1d20+4] = 10+4 = 14 Dmg [1d8+4] = 5+4 = 9 (S/M) [1d12+4] = 7+4 = 11 (L)
Sunfire vs. evil (THAC0 12): [1d20+4] = 18+4 = 22 Dmg [1d8+4] = 4+4 = 8 (S/M) [1d12+4] = 7+4 = 11 (L)

Sorry; I forgot to make the save at -2, which cancels the +2 vs. evil for a paladin. Fortunately it doesn't matter.

Also, his save vs. poison is 5 (unmodified) and his THAC0 is 9 while the potion of super-heroism is in effect.

[Zhym]

Gaerys takes a wistful look toward the exit. The urge to get out of here with his life and leave this madness behind is strong. But every blow against the Messenger could help. He sighs again, heavily, swings Giantbane...

Giantbane (THAC0 12): [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4 Dmg: [1d8+2] = 2+2 = 4 (S/M) [1d12+2] = 12+2 = 14 (L)
Giantbane (THAC0 12): [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4 Dmg: [1d8+2] = 4+2 = 6 (S/M) [1d12+2] = 3+2 = 5 (L)

...and realizes he might be more useful guarding the retreat of the heavily wounded.

[OGRE MAGE]

Flambeau sets down his hammer and prepares his Flame Strike spell. Keeping his distance from the beast he invokes a column of fire down from the Lord of Light to attempt to quell this evil creature.

[saalaria]

Hollis casts another CLW from the scroll on Vorsyin:

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 6

[Magnus]

Round 6

Perhaps all sensing that the end of the battle is near, the party and the Messenger act simultaneously. Though the long reach of the tentacles give the creature a slight advantage...

The Messenger again attacks Arqos with three tentacles. Its stinger rises high and again plunges into the chest of Arqos. The paladin grimaces in pain as he again appeals to his most holy Lord to grant him relief from the foul toxin that has been injected into his body. The other two tentacles turn heavy, like hammers, and pound at the Slave of R'hllor. Both hit, but the force of one is absorbed by the armor. The other rattles the holy warrior, much as a blow from a large flail would.

NATURAL 20 AGAIN! Save v. Poison at -2 please. Arqos: 22, 17 damage

In return, Arqos strikes twice with Sunfire. The strikes fall true! The holy blade cuts deeply into

The Messenger strikes twice at Gaerys, while sending a third tentacle again around Ethan's leg. The warrior springs over the loping strike, while simultaneously bringing Frostfell downward - severing the tentacle in the process! Gaerys easily dodges both blows, though his return blows are similarly ineffective.

Flambeau raises his hands high and bellows forth a prayer most holy. As he completes it, an intense column of flame - the breath of the mighty R'hllor himself - roars downward. The most Holy of Fires surrounds the Messenger - overcoming both its resistance and any attempt of the bizarre form to evade it. The intense heat burns and burns, at once both an instant and an eternity.

Hollis's spell takes effect -- Vorsyin coughs out a clot of blood as he rises to his feet. He gains his senses just as the roaring flame subsides, leaving a few whisps of the most foul-smelling smoke and a pile of rubble. But nothing else...

THE MESSENGER HAS BEEN DEFEATED!!!


An eerie silence falls over the Temple as the dust settles. But just as the conception of the next move fall into the party' minds, the room buckles and shakes. The ceiling cracks loudly. Dust falls onto the face of each of Arqos, Gaerys, and Ethan. Rubble begins to fall from the ceiling. The Temple is going to collapse!!!

*************************
Vorsyin: 5/49
Gaerys: 21/69 (!)
Hollis: 8/52 (!!!)
Lorath: 9/40 (!!!)
Ethan: 35/71 (!)
Olaf: 12/75
Arqos: 43/114
Flambeau: 43/75

[Zhym]

The Lord of Light again favors Arqos with the strength to overcome the Messenger's venom. The Slave of R'hllor says a silent prayer of thanks and leaves the temple, making sure that Gaerys and Ethan also have no trouble escaping the collapsing room.

Save vs. poison (5): [1d20] = 9

[Zhym]

Gaerys takes a quick look around the temple to make sure there isn't anything worth trying to grab before he goes. Assuming not, he gets the heck out of there.

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin opens his eyes and takes a look around. He is somewhat surprised to be alive although the pain throughout his body seems to spoil his mood.
Did we destroy the evil? he asks right before the walls seems to crumble around him. Lets go!! he yells as he looks for someone to show him the way out.

[saalaria]

Hollis takes Vor's am and helps him out over the rubble to catch up with the others.

[OGRE MAGE]

Flambeau

With the walls crumbling down before him, Flam hasn't the time to relish in the heat of the flames or to celebrate the fresh kill of the deadly Messenger. He looks to the rest of the party and then back to the doorway. RUN!!!

[Magnus]

The heroes have little time to savor their victory, as the destruction of the Messenger brings upon the destruction of the Temple - the likely portal allowing that most unholy of beings to emerge. The party gathers themselves and evacuates, seeing nothing of interest and encountering no other obstacles on the way out.

The party makes it up and over the Rockpile without incident. As they clamber down to its west side, they glance behind them -- the tunnels to its east have collapsed, leaving whatever dwells in the natural caverns behind it killed or cut off from the dungeon. Give or take a few ghasts wizard locked in a cell and scores of rot grubs devouring the tons of carrion piled up due to the parties' handiwork, the party has successfully cleared the Steading!!!

The shaking has stopped, at least for now, seemingly giving the party a few moments to gather what they can in terms of treasure and make their way out!!!

[Zhym]

Gaerys gathers up the Messenger's armor on the way out. "Let's take the rest of the gold from the Keeper's room and get the hell out of here," he suggests.

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 10
Time: 1:00
Weather: 65 degrees
Location: Dungeon Level, Area 1

************************
Magic in Effect:
PfE 10' from Arqos
Arqos - potion of super heroism - Drank 12:41
**********************************

Gaerys, with assistance from Olaf, gathers up the Keeper's gold.

Add to your sheet but note please that Olaf has half.

The rest of the party stands in the midst of its wreckage, though far enough away to avoid the scourge of the rot grubs! Whatever attack would come that night, it was surely weakened, if not broken. They had surely done well...but would it be well enough?

Anything else in the Dungeon or Steading, or back to camp?

Last chance to correct sheets before the Steading is closed.

[Computer +1]

What should I do about the LvL drain and all the XP stuff?

[Magnus]

XP will be awarded when the party reaches a safe location!

[Zhym]

Arqos stands watch, trying to sense any evil that might approach as the party gathers its treasures on the way out of the Steading.

I'd suggest we load whatever's left in the treasure room that will fit into the bag of holding then get back to camp.