Hall of Harsh Reflections III
The Team tracks down the fungus and find that it grows underground but little else helpful. They then take 20 on a Gather Info check on "cold forge", taking 40 hours to come up with anything at all. They use this time tracking down info to gear up and divest themselves of loot. They eventually find out that it's a smithy, the owner named Crusty Patten. Rue makes a short pass at Crusty, purchasing a couple of cheap items and engaging him in small talk. She doesn't drop any serious clues to gauge his reaction or anything but does try to get a general sense for him. Overall she doesn't see anything particularly unusual about him.
Deciding that he's either a small player in the scheme of things or innocent altogether the team finds the nearest entrance to the sewers, entering covertly and searching the general area underneath the Cold Forge. Soon enough they find a rather obvious cavern entrance torn into the wall of the sewer tunnel. Reckoning this is the place the team prepares themselves.
At the entrance to the cavern complex Rue casts Summon Monster I: Giant Fire Beetle using her metamagic wand (extend). She sends it across the patch of fungus, setting off two of the shriekers. The Beetle immediately is hit by the yellow fungus as well, taking 6 damage to its Constitution.
Rue recalls the Beetle, then casts Wall of Fire in a circle in the middle of the fungus, hot side out. They wait two round for the fire to burn out everything in the area save for the small 5' spot in the middle of the fire ring. Rue then dispels the wall and the team moves onward, edging around the patch of yellow fungus.
On the other side of the charred fungus Copper activates his Draconic Aura (Senses) and they send Toerag ahead to scout. She moves forward slowly, hiding, and spots the oil on the floor of the cavern ahead as well as all three Drow elves on the nearby ledge. She reports back without being spotted.
The Kobolds decide to light the oil and engage the Drow with bows while the burning oil keeps them from escaping. Rue takes a vial of alchemist's fire and the team moves ahead.
1)
Rue moves forward and tosses the alchemist's fire into the oil, igniting it.
Drow1 fires at Copper: miss
Copper activates his Draconic Aura (Toughness) and fires at Drow1: miss
Drow2 fires at Copper: miss
Drow3 has to move around behind Drow1 before he has line of sight with any targets. He fires at Copper: miss
Toerag fires at Drow1: hit, crit, 12, miss
2)
Rue doesn't have line of sight and can't attack from this position. However, she realizes she hasn't cast Mage Armor on herself yet so uses this round to do so.
Drow1 fires at Copper: miss
Copper reloads his light crossbow and fires at Drow1: hit, 4
Drow2 fires at Toerag: hit, 4
Drow3 fires at Toerag: miss
Toerag fires at Drow1: miss, hit, 7
3)
Rue takes no action as she can't get line of sight on any of the Drow.
Drow1 fires at Toerag: miss
Copper reloads and fires at Drow1: miss
Drow2 fires at Toerag: miss
Drow3 fires at Toerag: miss
Toerag fires at Drow1: hit, 5, hit, 3, killing him
The oil burns out.
4)
Rue moves down the tunnel and casts Magic Missile at Drow2: 2, 5, 3, 3, 5
Copper moves forward and Spider Climbs up the short cliff. Drow2's AOO: miss
Drow2 wields his rapier and attacks Copper: miss
Drow3 wields his rapier and engages Copper. Copper's AOO: hit, 7+1 (shock damage)
Toerag drops her bow and wields her blades. She moves forward to the base of the cliff.
Rue's Pseudonatural Giant Fire Beetle moves to the cliff and attempts to climb up but fails.
5)
Rue fires her crossbow at Drow2: hit, 3
Copper attacks Drow2: hit, 5+1 shock, miss
Drow2 attacks Copper: miss
Drow3 attacks Copper: hit, 7 (-2DR)
Toerag scales the short cliff up behind Drow 2. Drow2's AOO: miss. She attacks Drow2: hit, 8+3 (flame), killing him.
Pbeetle fails another attempt to climb up and bite something before his time runs out
6)
Rue fires her crossbow at Drow3: hit, 3
Copper attacks Drow3: hit, 9+3, miss
Drow3 draws a tanglefoot bag and throws it at Copper: miss
Toerag engages Drow3. Drow3's AOO: miss. Toerag attacks Drow3: miss, hit, 6+2, hit, 5, killing him
Rue's poor Pseudonatural Giant Fire Beetle departs without having had the change to maul anything
Rue summons another Pseudonatural Giant Fire Beetle with her metamagic wand. She instructs it to obey Toerag's instruction and the two set out ahead of the party to scout. In the next chamber Toerag becomes aware of the Spirit Naga when it rises up and casts Magic Missile at the Pseudonatural Giant Fire Beetle, killing it. She moves quietly back to the team to report. The Spirit Naga hears her moving, however, and demands she show herself. Toerag opts to retreat back to the group.
The team decide to confront the beast and move forward. The Spirit Naga's demand for an apology for waking her rubs Rue the wrong way, though, and her disrespectful retort draws a threat from the Naga in turn. Violence inevitably erupts.
1)
Copper takes a 5-foot step forward into range with Fassash. He attacks Fassash: hit, crit, double crit: 24+6 (shock), hit, 5+4 (shock)
SpiritN takes a 5-foot step back and cast Invisibility on itself.
Rue moves forward ahead of the group and casts Lightning Bolt into the area she's sure Fassash still occupies. Fassah fails her Reflex save and takes 26 damage.
Toerag bounds forward next to the spot and attacks blindly. Fassash's AOO: miss. Toerag attacks: miss, hit, 6+2 (flame), miss.
2)
Copper attacks again: hit, 10+4 (shock), killing Fassash.
The team search the area and find Fassah's (presumably) treasure scattered along the bottom of the stream. After collecting it and preparing to move on they notice three Drow having formed ranks in the next chamber, waiting for them. When the team initiates dialogue they are made aware of the apparent leader of the Drow speaking from behind the three warriors in the chamber itself. She makes it clear that if they do not depart immediately they will be attacked and killed. Rue attempts to reason with the woman but to no avail. They are given their last warning. Deciding there's nothing else for it they spring to attack.
1)
Drow1 fires at Toerag: miss
Drow2 fires at Toerag: hit, 8
Drow3 fires at Copper: miss
Copper moves forward and attacks Drow1: hit, 9+2, hit, 5+4
Drow4 moves forward and fires at Toerag: miss
Drow5 moves forward and fires at Copper: miss
Toerag moves to engage Drow1. Drow1's AOO: miss, Drow2's AOO: miss. She attacks Drow1: hit, crit, 8+4 (flame) +9 (sneak attack, Telling Blow feat). She kills him.
Rue steps forward and casts Summon Monster III:Bison behind Myriannas. It attacks Myriannas with True Strike: hit, 11
Myriannas casts Divine Favor. PBison's AOO: miss
Drow6 moves forward and fires at Copper: miss
2)
Drow2 drops his crossbow and draws his rapier. He attacks Toerag: miss
Drow3 drops his crossbow and draws his rapier. He moves to engage Toerag, her AOO: miss
Copper activates his Draconic Aura (Energy Shield) and moves to attack range of Myriannas. Drow2 AOO: miss. Drow3 AOO: miss. He attacks: hit, 9+2
Drow4 drops his crossbow and rushes after Copper. Toerag's AOO: miss. Copper's AOO: miss
Drow5 drops his crossbow and rushes after Copper. Toerag's AOO: miss. Copper's AOO: hit, 9, 3
Toerag opts to attack Drow2 while Copper's flanking him: hit, 5+4+5, hit, 4+4+10, miss. She drops him.
Rue steps closer to Toerag and casts Magic Missile at Myriannas: 3, 3, 4, 2, 3
PBison attacks Myriannas: miss
Myriannas has nowhere safe to step to so she casts Divine Power. PBison's AOO: hit, 16. Copper's AOO: miss. She makes her Concentration check and successfully casts the spell.
Drow6 drops his crossbow and rushes after Copper. Toerag's AOO: 4+7+12
3)
Drow3 attempts to disarm Toerag. He wins the check and Toerag's scimitar is knocked to the ground.
Copper attacks Myriannas: hit, 7+6, killing her.
Drow4 attacks Copper: miss
Drow5 moves to engage Copper. Copper's AOO: miss. He attacks: miss
Toerag grabs up her scimitar. Drow3's AOO: miss. She attacks Drow3 with her kukri: hit, 2
Rue wields her Wand of Spiritual Weapon and summons a longsword beyond Drow3. It attacks Drow3: miss
Pbison moves to engage Drow5. Drow5's AOO: miss. It attacks: miss
Drow6 moves to engage Rue. Toerag's AOO: hit, 3. Rue's AOO: hit, 3. He attacks Rue: hit, 10. He takes 4 acid damage, killing him.
4)
Drow3 attacks Rue: miss
Copper attacks Drow5: miss
Drow4 attacks Copper: miss
Drow5 attacks Copper: hit, 5. Drow5 takes 4 acid damage.
Toerag charges Drow3: hit, 4+5 (flame)
Rue takes step back and fires her crossbow at Drow3: miss
Longsword Spiritual Weapon engages Drow4 and attacks: miss
PBison attacks Drow5: hit, 16, killing him
5)
Drow3 darts around Toerag to engage Copper. Toerag's AOO: hit, 4+1 (flame). Rue's AOO: miss. Drow3 attempts to disarm Copper. He hits but fails the disarm check.
Copper attacks Drow3: hit, 10+5 (shock), killing him.
Drow4 attacks Copper: hit, 6. Drow4 takes 4 acid damage.
Toerag moves to engage Drow4. Drow4's AOO: hit, crit, 10. Drow4 takes 4 acid damage. She attacks Drow4: hit, 7+1 (flame), hit, 5.
Rue fires at Drow4: miss
Longsword Spiritual Weapon attack Drow4: miss
PBison moves to engage Drow4 and attacks: hit, 15, killing him
Toerag makes two attempts at the lock on the iron bars before getting it. The team move inside, finding nothing but filth and some corpses at first. At the back corners of the cave they find the four humans and an elf held captive. They describe the mind flayer that comes to take a prisoner away every few days but know little else about the complex. They do know that the corpses by the door of the small prison are zombies who attack anyone attempting to leave.
Leading the way out the Kobolds rouse the zombies to attack by attempting to leave.
1)
Rue fires at Zombie1: hit, crit, double crit, 9
Zombie1 attacks Copper: miss
Copper attacks Zombie1: hit, 5+4 (shock), destroying it
Zombie2 attacks Toerag: miss
Toerag attacks Zombie2: hit, 6+2, hit, 4+1, hit, 3+3, destroying it
Zombie3 attacks Toerag: miss
Zombie4 attacks Toerag: miss
2)
Rue drops her crossbow, wields her staff and attacks Zombie3: miss
Copper attacks Zombie3: hit, 9+5, hit, 7+2, hit, destroying it; and Zombie4: hit, 10+3
Toerag attacks Zombie4: hit, 6+5, destroying it
Once out of the prison the humans and the elf are eager to depart. Toerag warns them about the small patch of yellow fungus near the entrance but other than that the team assumes they will be safe.
Moving on Rue then summons another Pseudonatural Giant Fire Beetle and sends it out across the glowing symbol on the floor of the next room. It is instantly destroyed by the glyph on the ceiling above. Heartbroken, Rue takes a moment to recover and announces that she won't be using her "loyal subjects" as fodder anymore. Harrumph.
Grumbling a bit the team moves on, Toerag again scouts the chamber ahead and spots two purplish-black tentacle critter hiding behind stalactites and columns. They don't seem to have spotted her so she reports back to the group. Having decided to rest a bit before proceeding past the big double doors Toerag described the team decides it's time to cut loose a bit. Rue summons two Pseudonatural Bisons (with metamagic, extend) and uses two charges of her Enlarge Person wand on Copper and Toerag. They then proceed to the mouth of the cavern, position the bison ahead of them and open fire on the first Octopin.
1)
Octopin1 has the top initiative but, since it thinks it's hidden and is waiting for the Kobolds to approach the door, he doesn't act.
Copper fires at Octopin1: miss
Toerag fires at Octopin1: hit, 5, miss
Rue casts Magic Missile at Octopin1: 3, 3, 2, 4, 2
PBison1 and PBison2 take a Ready action, activating their daily True Strike abilities, to attack anything that approaches.
Octopin2, unseen up to this point and literally right over Toerag's right shoulder, attacks her: miss, hit, 8
Octopin3 hits the ground and moves to engage Pbison2. Pbison2's AOO: miss. PBison's Ready attack: hit, 17. Octopin3 attacks PBison2: hit, 7, hit, 6; Rend: 20.
2)
Octopin1 approaches the group of intruders and uses his Slowing Gaze.
PBison1: saves
PBison2: fails the save, slowed 2 rounds
Copper: fails the save, slowed 1 round
Rue: saves
Toerag: fails the save, slowed 1 round
Copper drops his crossbow and wields his chain.
Toerag drops her bow and wields her blades.
Rue casts Scorching Ray at Octopin2: hit, 14, hit, 15
PBison1, at Rue's direction, moves to engage Octopin1, AOO: hit, 9. PBison1 attacks Octopin1: hit, 17
PBison2 attacks Octopin3: hit, 15
Octopin2 attacks Toerag: miss, hit, 11
Octopin3 attacks PBison2: hit, 11, hit, 11; Rend: 12, destroying it.
3)
Octopin1 attacks PBison1: hit, 6, hit, 5; Rend: 17, destroying it.
Copper attacks Octopin2: hit, 8, miss.
Toerag attacks Octopin2: hit, 7+6, hit, 8+3, hit, crit, 10+7, killing it
Rue casts Scorching Ray at Octopin1: hit, 14, hit, 12
Octopin3 moves to engage Copper. Toerag's AOO: miss. Copper's AOO: hit, 6. Octopin3 attacks Copper: miss
4)
Octopin1 moves to engage Toerag. Copper's AOO: hit, 6. It attacks Toerag: hit, 6, hit, 9; Rend: 14. Toerag is down and dying.
Copper attacks Octopin1: hit, 7, killing it. He attacks Octopin2: miss
Rue casts Scorching Ray at Octopin3: hit, 12, hit 17, killing it.
Rue then moves quickly to heal Toerag with her wand, then heals everyone fully. The team then thoroughly scours that chamber for any other dangers. Once satisfied, they move into the small alcove nearby to rest, staying as quiet and hidden as they can.
After resting up Copper spends the next few minutes burning through the double doors with his Breath Weapon. Entering the room the Giant Brain targets Copper first and Dominates him. Copper turns to the other Kobolds and demands they leave immediately, referring to his "master" Zyrxog.
1)
Rue casts Lightning Bolt at Stone Brain: 38-8Hardness=30
Copper attacks Rue: miss, miss
Toerag attacks Stone Brain: hit, 7+5, hit, 5+4, hit, 6, deactivating it.
Copper regains his wits.
The Kobolds move on up the stairs into the Laboratory. There the consider the nearby door, deciding to take it. The huge Octopin in the tank stirs and begins to crawl out...
1)
Octopin engages Copper and uses Slowing Gaze on the team:
Copper: fails the save
Toerag: fails the save
Rue: fails the save
Rue casts Scorching Ray at Octopin: hit, 17, hit, 12
Toerag moves to engage Octopin.
Copper attacks: hit, 8 (immune to shock)
2)
Octopin attacks Copper: hit, 18, miss
Rue cast Scorching Ray at Octopin: hit, 19, miss
Toerag attacks Octopin: miss, miss
Copper attacks Octopin: hit, 9
3)
Octopin attacks Copper: hit, 15, hit, 11, Rend: 24
Rue casts Scorching Ray at Octopin: hit, 14, hit, 18
Toerag attacks Octopin: hit, 6+5+9, hit, 7+4+10, miss, killing it
Rue heals Copper and the team give the room a quick examination, revealing nothing of interest. They proceed through the nearby door. In the Viewing Pool they can see Telakin's throne room and the Kobolds realize the mind flayer has been watching them up to that point.
Toerag scouts ahead as usual and spots Zyrxog floating above the end of the pool as well as two more Octopin on the wall above the other entrance. She reports back to the team.
Rue casts three extended (via metamagic rod) Summon Monster III spells, summoning a total of 9 Pseudonatural Giant Bees. She then casts Haste on Copper and Toerag, followed by Invisibility on all of them. She casts Spectral Hand and is ready for battle.
Surprise:
Rue enters the room, instructing the PBees to enter and hover over the pool. She casts Wall of Fire, blocking the two Octopins off.
Toerag enters the room and tosses a Thunderstone into the air near Zyrxog.
Copper enters and fires his crossbow at the Thunderstone midair: hit, detonates it. Zyrxog makes his save, however.
1)
Rue casts True Strike. She directs the bees to engage Zyrxog. They all activate their True Strike abilities, move to engage and attack Zyrxog. Due to his Displacement spell one of the five attacking bees (the others can't get close yet) misses.
PBees: 4, 4, 4, 4. Zyrxog fails three of his four saves (!), suffering a total of 10 Constitution damage.
Octopin1 rushes down the wall and through Rue's Wall of Fire. The room's Unhallow effect prevents it from being damaged.
Zyrxog uses Mind Blast, directing it directly in front of him. The Kobolds, off to the side, are unaffected. PBees 2, 7, and 8 makes their saves. The rest are stunned.
Copper activates his Energy Shield and moves to Zyrzog's side, firing his Breath Weapon. Zyrxog makes his Reflex save: 9 damage.
Octopin2 rushes down the wall and through Rue's Wall of Fire. The room's Unhallow effect prevents it from being damaged.
Toerag fires at Zyrxog, taking advantage of the flanking PBees but suffering the close melee penalty: hit, 7+11, hit, 3+5, hit, 3+11
2)
Rue casts Bestow Curse on Zyrxog via her Spectral Hand, casting it as a Moillan spell (using her only 3d6 runebone): hit. Zyrxog fails his Will save, taking 16 negative energy damage and is unable to act this turn.
PBee2 dies, having already planted its stinger in Zyrxog.
PBee7 engages and attacks Zyrxog: hit, 3. Zyrxog fails his save and suffers 1 Constitution damage.
PBee8 engages and attacks Zyrxog: miss
Octopin1 rushes forward and uses its Slowing Gaze on Toerag and Copper. Both make their saves.
Zyrxog is cursed and unable to act this turn.
Copper fires his Breath Weapon again at Zyrzog: 16 damage
Octopin2 rushes forward and uses its Slowing Gaze on Toerag and Copper. Copper fails his save, Toerag makes hers.
Toerag fires at Zyrxog: miss, miss, hit, 5+8
2)
Zyrxog is unable to act this turn
Rue casts Summon Monster III, summoning a Pseudonatural Bison between Toerag and Octopin1.
PBison activates its True Strike and attacks Octopin1: hit, 15
PBee7 dies.
PBee8 attacks Zyrxog: hit, 3. Zyrxog makes his save.
Octopin1 attacks PBison: hit, 6, hit, 9; Rend: 16
Copper fires at Zyrxog: hit, 5
Octopin2 moves to engage PBison, AOO: miss. It attacks PBison: miss
Toerag fires at Zyrxog: hit, 4+2, hit, 7+7, miss, killing him
3)
Rue casts Magic Missile at Octopin1: 4, 3, 4, 4, 3
PBison attacks Octopin1: hit, crit, 18
PBee8 dies.
Octopin1 attacks PBison: hit, 13, hit, 12, destroying it
Copper drops his bow and wields his chain, he moves into range of the Octopin.
Octopin2 engages Copper, AOO: miss. It attacks Copper: miss
Toerag drops her bow and wields her blades. She moves to engage Octopin1, AOO: miss
4)
Rue casts Magic Missile at Octopin1: 3, 2, 2, 4, 3, killing it
Copper attacks Octopin2: miss, hit, 8
Octopin2 attacks Copper: miss, hit, 9
Toerag attacks Octopin2: hit, 7+2, hit, 7+8, miss
5)
Rue casts Magic Missile at Octopin2: 5, 2, 5, 2, 5
Copper attack Octopin2: miss, miss
Octopin2 attacks Copper: miss, miss
Toerag attacks Octopin2: hit, 7, miss, hit, 6, killing it
Rue dispels the Giant Bees and the team loots Zyrxog's corpse. Taking the key they find they also loot his quarters and find the ledge noting that a man named Loris Raknian paid him to assassinate them.
After examining the tadpoles in the pool they decide to destroy them, not knowing what they are but that they are surely dangerous if the mind flayer was keeping them. Copper accomplishes this by breath acid into the water until they are all dead.
With that the Kobolds leave the mind flayer lair without bothering the search the rest of the complex. They return to their inn room, deciding to lay low until Eligos completes his research.
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