A Curious Request, part 5

Log Info

• Title: A Curious Request, part 5
• Emitter: Whirlpool
• Characters: Ashes, Silmeria, Zaxx, Edinaz, Baz da Ork
• Place: Dragonier
• Time: Wednesday, May 05, 2021, 9:19 PM
• Summary: The party advances to discover the wights have already unearthed the Star Metal. They are forging it into a giant golem. Nearby, the Void Dragon supervises the relentless work. All are doomed. Preparations are made. Ashlee sneaks up on the Void Dragon to Hex it to pieces. Silmeria sneaks up on the Foundry to rain some Holy Water on it. Lysos and Edinaz prepare spells and Baz calls Kor's anger down on the dragon. Kor is apparently having a mellow day. A steam explosion kicks off the battle, The tighty wightys attack the Inquisitor and the Void Dragon... taunts in chorus.

-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Baz da Ork   7'0"     320 Lb     Orc               Male      7' 320 pounds of metal, muscle and stupid. WAAAGH!                         
Lysos        5'6"     105 Lb     Human/Tsuran      Female    Dark eyes, dark hair, olive skin, a jotun-sized chip on the shoulder.
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face
Silmeria     5'8"     126 Lb     Human             Female    A sweet-looking blond human in a long black dress and breastplate.
Zaxx         5'2"     152 Lb     Shadow Elf        Male      Compactly built, bald man with dark skin and pointy ears.
Edinaz       6'10"    296 Lb     Half-Orc          Male      Grey-skinned half-oruch, extensive black ink.   
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=--=--=--=--=--=---=--=--
Whirlpool    5'0"                Otyugh                      I am stinky!          
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Previously

As you grow closer, the heat is increasing.

In fact, it's getting overwhelming. You're all sweating by now and you find yourself hearing obvious sounds of work. This has got to be the place...

... and it is, but it's not quite what you were expecting. The druids told you that the dragon and his wights are searching for Star Metal. That part was right. What they didn't get right was that they'd already found it.

They aren't digging the material out, they've converted the area around it into a foundry itself. Molten magma has been raised up from the earth and wights are already hard at work smelting it. They aren't extracting it -- they're forging it. This is their foundry.

And overlooking all of it, from a layer above the tunnel entry you've taken, is the drawgon. A black dragon.

It's not as large as some, of course, herad resting on its forelegs as it observes the wights placidly. It's scales are dark enough that the shadows itself seem richer for its presence, and the wights are mindless continuing their labor. What they're forging seems to be weapons, yes, but not of the regular sort. They aren't making blades.

They're making a golem.

"So this is how I die..." Lysos mutters to herself, barely vocalizing it at all as she stares at the dragon. She hasn't even clued into the golem yet.

Ashlee stares. She wants to go home. She saw the golem first, then the wights, then the dragon. The black dragon topped it for her. She really has no idea what the approach should be. Negotiation is right out, although they could have some amusement showing their skull faces to each other. Mostly, it, he, she, is in a great position to rain acid down on her and she's... not got a lot of useful spells.

And that's a lot of star-metal.

Edinaz pauses. "Fuck. Me. Running." He crouches down, trying to figure out how the hell to approach this. He pines for his bomb-necklace.

Suddenly, the stink and the dark and the uncomfortable and, yes, even the squelching takes a backseat in Silmeria's mind, as she presses herself against the nearest rock wall. Transferring her pistol to her shield hand for a moment, the Speaker reaches out to tap on Lysos' shoulder, pointing a finger at the golem under assembly.

A Starmetal Golem. Presumably, only the first of many. And a Void Dragon as the operations overseer.

There is no conscionable way to turn back, not with this. This madness *must* be stopped.

But when she gets home, perhaps a couple of weeks with only the incurably ill and inexorably-dying elderly to deal with.

Drawing in a breath, the Speaker looks to the furnace, then to Edinaz, and tilts her head, speaking a question that might spell the beginning of a madness to match the tableau before them.

"Master Edinaz... Do you still happen to have that holy water I gave you?"

Edinaz very quietly holds out the two flasks to Silmeria. Yes."

Now

"Oy, dis heat is getting me downstairs all sweaty." Baz announces. He peers at the collection of wights and the small Black Dragon. "Eh. Looks like we got dragon on de menu." There's a pause from the big Ork as he holds his heavy cleaver like scimitar to the side. "Hey, do you tink dats insulting to the dragon peoples back home? Ya know the little ones that talk about how I blessed my nest is. Is that like uh, relative or like something bigger? I know, when we kills it. I'm gonna only gnaw part of it's face off, incase anyone back in da city recognizes it."

Lysos groans softly when she sees the golem under construction. As if it has taken that and the dragon to finally get through to the young woman how over her head she is here. "I shouldn't be here," she admits a moment later, then winces at Baz's declaration, her eyes whipping back to the void dragon. "What do we need to do."

"Yes." Ashlee answers, perhaps to all Baz's observations, although she doesn't normally share how her downstairs are doing. The heat and the stink are becoming quite oppressive. She fingers the strap on her satchel, bringing out her small Holy Symbol.

"I can consecrate, create water, and give the dragon a bad day. I have to be closer. I can sneak up." It will be a challenge with her smell, but perhaps she'll blend in with the wights, since she's wearing one.

The vials are taken with a smile, then Silmeria turns back to Lysos. "You are exactly where you are needed," she murmurs, ducking her head to look the sorceress in the eye. "This is a fight we can absolutely win, *if* we have your help." Turning the holy water over between her fingers, the Inquisitor considers, then looks to Ashes.

"Mourner, that is an excellent idea... And this seems like a comfortable roost for our host, so... Let's ruin his operation, first... and let that be the signal to attack?"

"Hey, I can give them a bit of the Sun if we wants ta start off right. A nice tet-a-tit with a few inches from dere faces." Baz grins and chuckles. "Kor likes ta see the fear in dere eyes right before dey burn." The big Ork shifts his form as he digs in one of the pouches around his waist. "Lets see here, wot kinda magics I got lay'n around for me fun times." The Ork does not seem to really care about being quiet, though he hasn't started waving his hands in the air, or his rear end for that matter.

"I'll put a veil on anyone who needs to get closer," Lysos offers, a bit chagrined at the gunslinging inquisitor.. "When this starts. And then.. I guess I'll figure something out."

<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Silmeria, pose it. Ashes, roll stealth."
<OOC> Ashes says, "+3 Chippen, +5 Shadowy"
GAME: Ashes rolls stealth+3+5: (12)+19+3+5: 39
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (5)+15: 20
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Yeah, it did not notice you. xD"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "(It can't. xD)"

Ashlee nods at Lysos, fingering her satchel strap again. Casting is loud, requiring a firm, clear voice. Lysos might have some tricks to help with that, she doesn't. She does have a quieting spell, but it doesn't last long and defeats the purpose if casting it will attract attention. They could head back a ways. A ways away, and hope they'll be harder for the dragon to notice. If it hasn't already. That will use up precious time.

Plus, Baz isn't going to wait forever. Her best chance is to leave now and carefully sneak into position, glare evil thoughts at the dragon until he's well and truly cursed, then also do what seems best once the fighting starts.

Ashlee takes her defensible parasol out, shortens the handle and holds it close over her head. It's proof against dragon breath, she was assurred. Absolutely. One hundred percent. Yessirree. Bet yer life. Doubtful, but it will help her blend with the darkness. She plots a route that will take her close enough to the dragon she can ruin his day before he ruins hers, then slips out of sight.

Shifting off to one side, the Speaker watches Ashes' progress until the Mourner's skill makes it impossible, then eases her way closer to the forge, signaling to the others to wait. Clutching the vials in her shooting hand, Silmeria begins a mental countdown. Thirty seconds... that should be enough time for her fellow Vardaman to do what needs done.

At the end of those thirty seconds, the Speaker, looses a slow, steadying breath... and lobs.

Half a dozen bottles of holy water might not be a patch on the conjured stuff... but at the temperatures this foundry is running at, the thermal shock and explosive expansion can't do anything good.

The Mourner moves through the darkness, silent, unseen, until she's lurking just underneath the void dragon. She peeps out from under her parasol and glares upwards. It's an intense, almost otherworldly stare.

She uses the techniques Nan Mochtrath taught her. Pull up every negative emotion, thought and feeling and use it to damn someone. Imagine all the ways they can suffer misfortune. That little gap there in the scales on the skull, a blade could slip in. Those claws, dulled, cracked from idly scratching at the perch. The dragon is not nearly as strong, tough and agile as it thinks it is. It has gone weak, it's skills atrophied from disuse, it's mind clouded with boredom. The exitement, when it hits will turn into panic. It's not as resistant as it thinks. It too, can suffer; it too, can die.

Her teeth are almost grinding with the intensity of her hate. Almost. Her Nan taught her well.

Then the foundry explodes.

GAME: Lysos casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18

AS things kick off, Lysos reaches for the nearest person.. Edinaz. This isn't by chance. He makes a good person to hide behind, so it's not a fluke that Lysos has been near him for much of this. She makes a motion as if pulling a hood or a cloth over his head, and utters "Obscurius!" as the vials go crashing into the foundry and the half-oruch fades from sight.

GAME: Edinaz casts Shield. Caster Level: 8 DC: 13

The steam explosion is immediate. Sure, it's holy steam vapr, and that's enough to make it sting the wights. They're turning around, stopping what they're doing. There are howls of rage, confusion, and of cour3se, hunger.

...but then they stiffen, stiffen as if pulled on invisible strings. The dragon has lifted its head from where it laid above you on the ring around the open cavern below it, and it observes with half-lidded eyes.

It's lips peel back into a hungry snarl and then the wights speak.

...they speak as one.

"... so few of you deliver yourself unto us. We shall hammer you into more productive frames, make you empty and hugnry as all that isn't. Feast, children."

...and then the wights relax.

In the darkness, magical wards assemble themselves around Edinaz' unseen form.

<OOC> Baz da Ork does not have bless, would like to searing light the dragon. It isn't undead or anything weird?
<OOC> Baz da Ork says, "Ranged touch attack it seems. So I just roll my ranged? 1d20+7?"
<OOC> Ashes says, "Saving throw Hex, then AC Hex, DC17 Will, Whirl."
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d20+7: (17)+7: 24
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (13)+12: 25
<OOC> Silmeria notes that making your save still affects the creature for 1 round.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 3d8: (8): 8

Holding his shield out to one side the big Ork roars a challenge as he calls out to Kor. "KOR! BATTLE IS JOINED! LET THIS BEAST SEE WOT YOUR EYE BRINGS UPON IT!" With that his left hand goes over the inlayed holy symbol in the chest of his armor. The various rhinestones and shiny objects beaten into the metal glow with a holy rage. Until a ray of searing light, a shaft of the very sun lances from Ork to Dragon. Baz unleashes his most devastating Carebear stare! The beam of light strikes true! Searing energy covers the dragon; or well a very small beam taps it on the nose.

"Kor, wot?" Baz asks the sky suddenly.

GAME: Ashes casts Consecrate. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15

Ashlee stares. It's unsettling as all the wights speak in one voice, and promise to eat them. Although mildly amusing that they end up talking to themselves.

Still Creepy.

The Mourner shakes her small holy symbol, 'tink'. "Feiu of the Tears, make holy the ground surrounding Silmeria, so she can smite things harder. She's one of yours."

The last bit might be important, seeing how indifferent Kor was to his herald even with a reminder. Best include one for the Grey Lady.

<OOC> Silmeria says, "Good enough! Channel Energy, Will DC 22 (Thanks, Consecrate) for half damage."
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Swift action: Judgments of Smiting (good-aligned weapons) and Protection (+3 AC)"
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+1: (16)+1: 17
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+1: (14)+1: 15
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+1: (7)+1: 8
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+1: (16)+1: 17
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+1: (11)+1: 12
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+1: (19)+1: 20
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Silmeria rolls 5d6: (16): 16
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Who are also -1 to attack, damage, and save."

For a Vardaman, a graveyard is like a second home. That's not literally true, of course, but a properly blessed and sanctified graveyard is the single most peaceful, relaxing place a servant of the Grey Lady can be in. Fresh soil, waiting for its tithe of eternal sleepers, the gentle song of birds that flit from tree to tree, the knowledge that every single thing is exactly where it's supposed to be... Graveyards are relaxing.

Dragons are *not* relaxing. Broodlings of the Void Wyrm, doubly so.

And with the ground around her claimed as Vardama's Home Turf, Silmeria's stamped foot sends a wave of silver light outwards, stripping the rotted flesh from cursed bone. Her pistol is raised to level, unwaveringly, at the dragon.

"Abomination I name thee, deathworm! You are a blight upon this benighted land, and your sire shall rue the day he spawned your filth! Be cleansed by death, and know that when you walk into the Grey Halls, your misdeeds shall be engraved upon your soul!"

The dragon spreads its wings and casts its gaze down upon the gathered below it. Both these things fill the room with a colossal dread that eats at your soul, a gnawing tug of emptiness and 'wrongness'.

One can feel its laughter.

Combatty

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     26   Edinaz           1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     24   Baz da Ork       1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     16   Ashes            1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     15   Silmeria         1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     10   Avoid Dragon        
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     9    Lysos            1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3    Tighty Wighties     
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================

Spells and Hexes

<OOC> Ashes says, "My Evil Eye order would be AC, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, then saving throws last. Penalty is -4 for all things. Using Soothsayer, making the Hex delay activating until it's relevant, at which point will save to determine duration with success = 1 round duration / fail = 7 rounds. I expect, if attacking or attacked, those hexes would turn on, but since they'd need a save to see duration, the Saving Throws would activate first, making the subsequent saving throws against hexes -4 for at least 1 round, which would apply to the AC & Attack hexes. DC17 Will save"
<OOC> Ashes says, "but if the save is as the hex goes on, which is the part I'm not clear about, then that's why I put the Evil Eye on saving throws last, because a hex following it would get a saving throw, so it get the penalty and have the creeping feeling of doubt alert it that something was going on"
<OOC> Ashes says, "in both cases all hexes wait until the penalty can happen (soothsayer), so at least the 1st time it's hit, attacks, does an ability, skill or save, theres a -4 for 1 round, possibly more. Until 24 hours has gone by."
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "You will need to remind me."
<OOC> Ashes nods and will try to as things occur

Spells cast so far in arc

In part 1
GAME: Lysos casts Prestidigitation. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16, indefiniate duration Everythang is PANK

In Part 2
GAME: Silmeria casts Silence. Caster Level: 9 DC: 14 Duration 9 rounds - Expired
GAME: Silmeria casts Light. Caster Level: 9 DC: 12 Duration 90 minutes - Potentially active? Was Cancelled?
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Swift action: Judgments of Justice (+1 attack) and Destruction (+3 damage)."
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Mkay, let's do a little mass ablation to make this quick. :D Channel for damage; "

GAME: Lysos spends ONE use of TOUCH OF DESTINY.
GAME: Lysos casts Shield. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17 Duration 6 minutes - Expired
GAME: Lysos casts Light. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16 Duration 60 minutes - Potentially active? Was Cancelled?

GAME: Ashes casts See Invisibility. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16 Duration 80 minutes - Potentially active.
GAME: Ashes casts Glide. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16 Expended when landed

In Part 3
GAME: Lysos casts Blur. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18 Duration 6 minutes - Expired
GAME: Lysos casts Thunderstomp. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17 Instantaneous

<OOC> Ashes says, "Channel for Damage, 1 of 5" Will, DC 12"
<OOC> Ashes says, "I'll channel to heal the party this time. 2 of 5"
<OOC> Ashes says, "okay, channel again then" 3 of 5

GAME: Edinaz RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 16 temporary HP

<OOC> Silmeria says, "Bane Baldric gives me an effective 13 Inq for Bane, so +4d6 to damage."
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Judgment of Healing and Destruction. Fast Healing 4, and +4 to damage, atop Bane, full attack."
GAME: Silmeria casts Flames of the Faithful. Caster Level: 9 DC: 14 Duration 9 Rounds - Expired

In Part 4
- No casting

In part 5
HEX: Evil Eye: -4 AC - On Avoid Dragon, Duration 1 round Active
HEX: Evil Eye: -4 Attack Rolls - On Avoid Dragon, Not activated yet
HEX: Evil Eye: -4 Ability Checks - On Avoid Dragon, Not activated yet
HEX: Evil Eye: -4 Skill Checks - On Avoid Dragon, Not activated yet
HEX: Evil Eye: -4 Saving Throws - On Avoid Dragon, Duration 1 Round 1 Active

GAME: Ashes casts Consecrate. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 Duration 10 hours Active

GAME: Lysos casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18 Duration 6 minutes Active

GAME: Edinaz casts Shield. Caster Level: 8 DC: 13 Duration 8 minutes Active

GAME: Baz da Ork casts Searing Light. Caster Level: DC no save, Instantaneous

<OOC> Silmeria says, "Good enough! Channel Energy, Will DC 22 (Thanks, Consecrate) for half damage."
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Swift action: Judgments of Smiting (good-aligned weapons) and Protection (+3 AC)"