Pendar - Session 13

45 Merrysest, Sunsday -
After making their way back to sunlight and safety, the party begins to set up camp and plan their strategy.

Maximilian rubs his head, as he feeds Marigold a carrot.
Atremis curls up on the ground near Sana, keeping a groggy look at his surroundings.
Nimue: "Can I copy the scroll of dexterity? I would scribe a new one."
Maximilian: "If you want to copy the scroll, you should ask the fox."
Nimue crouches down next to Atremis.
Nimue: "Can I scribe the scroll into my spellbook? I would afterwards scribe a new one to replace it."
Atremis looks at Nimue with hints of concern.
Sana: "Please leave Atremis' things alone..."
Maximilian: "I don't think it's a bad idea, myself."
Atremis looks around, attempting to discern where the scroll ended up.
Nimue: "I am asking permission and would replace what I use, not like I steal it and trade it away to malicious fey."
Maximilian: "If she copies the scroll, she can cast it for you herself, if she wants!"
Nimue stands up and shrugs.
Nimue: "Well. I will let him think about it."
Nimue suddenly grins.
Nimue: "Something I would never have expected to say about a fox."
Atremis looks at Maximilian, then at Nimue.
Atremis tilts his head, trying to ponder the implications of that.
Maximilian: "Atremis is definitely a thinker."
Nimue: "So, I guess for tomorrow it is magic missiles, mainly, with me and Efta taking care of the incorporeal ones."
Maximilian: "I can empower my lance if needs be, though not for long."
Pol Trisk: "You all look less torn up than last time you were down there, at least. Maybe it's not so bad?"
Efta: "I suppose I should start preparing, then, shouldn't I?"
Atremis begins to dig through Sana's belongings, until he pulls out a small scroll case with his teeth.
Nimue: "Or maybe..."
Efta sits down crossed-legged on the ground, the snake coiled around his arm, while looking at the pegasus.
Efta: "Hmm..."
"...How can we be sure its friend is still okay down there?"
Nimue: "Efta, would you care to compare spellbooks, do you have per chance already know Cat's Grace?"
Young Pegasus looks at Efta sadly, then whinnies to Sana.
Young Pegasus: "{Not okay. Turned dark. Want to free them...}"
Efta slumps backwards onto the ground, looking up at the night sky, stretching.
Atremis sets the scroll case on the ground, and begins to draw in the dirt.
Efta: "Do we have to?"
Nimue sits down crosslegged on her bedroll.
Sana: "{We will be freeing them soon. I am trying my hardest...}"
Nimue: "We can't be sure but..."
Nimue shrugs.
Nimue: "You gotta try."
Nimue looks at Atremis.
Atremis: "(Miss Sana, how do I request promises?)"
Nimue: "So I can scribe it?"
Maximilian pulls a pastry out of his pouch, and munches on it, listening to the bickering.
Efta throws his spellbook up in the air, before catching it and then tossing it to Nimue.
Efta: "There. Good luck reading my handwriting, though."
Nimue: "Okay."
Nimue takes a look at Efta's spellbook.
Efta: "Wanna pass me yours?'
Nimue: "Okay."
Nimue stands up and hands over her spellbook to Efta, not quite as happy
Sana:  "{Atremis, I can request promises for you, if you want.}"
Atremis nods at Sana, pointing at the crude designs he made in the dirt.
Maximilian looks at what the fox has drawn, trying to distinguish it.
Sana: "{I... do not know what those mean, Atremis.}"
Efta flicks through Nimue's spellbook, seemingly uninterested.
Atremis: "{Ask for a promise the scroll will be returned.}"
"{If they do, it's okay.}"
Sana: "Atremis wants a promise that the scroll will be returned."
Nimue: "Atremis is going to get a replacement."
Atremis tilts his head.
Sana: "{The people is taking the scroll I bought you forever, and will give you a different scroll with the same effect.}"
Atremis: "{Then I just want a promise the people will cast it on me.}"
"{I don't know how to use it anyways, but I do want it cast on me.}"
Sana: "Then Atremis wants a promise that you will cast this spell on him when you can."
Atremis: "{I don't want the scroll itself, I just want to be able to protect my friends better.}"
Nimue: "Would he be satisfied if I cast the spell once on him tomorrow, when he tells me to?"
Sana: "{I understand, Atremis.}"
Nimue: "The spell lasts a few minutes when I cast it, one when it's from the scroll."
Atremis tilts his head, then nods.
Atremis nudges the scroll case on the ground forward with his nose.
Nimue: "Thank you."
"Would you be okay with getting the scroll the day after we cleansed the catacombs?"
Maximilian: "Well, you just offered to cast it tomorrow, anyway."
Atremis uncurls, stands up, and heads a fair distance from the party, staring intently at a particular rock.
Maximilian tilts his head, looking at the fox.
Maximilian: "Something on your mind, boy?"
Sana shuffles over to Atremis' position.
Nimue: "Wondering how many bursts of radiance I should prepare, if you are intermingled with the undead it would blind you, but it hurts all undead in an area."
Atremis: "(Fire... I saw it, there was fire.)"
Efta tilts his head at Atremis and Sana curiously.
Maximilian: "Blinding, huh?"
Sana: "(Yes, you were able to create fire...)"
"(You must be becoming a lot lot more than just a fox, if you have such magical potential.)"
Nimue: "It is a spell which blinds everyone and hurts evil creatures in an area. Thing is, if you are engaging the enemy, I have to be careful where I throw it, hence wondering how often I should prepare it ."
Sana: "(Atremis, you really are incredible.)"

46 Merrysest, Windsday -
The party makes camp and finishes their preparations, before returning underground, apprehensive of what remains...
Maximilian: "(Right then. Atremis, did you want to run ahead again?)"
Atremis nods, prowling ahead carefully. [Stealth: 28]
Efta follows cautiously behind Maximilian.
The undead vermin seem preoccupied scuttling around, not reacting.
Nimue casts Mage Armor.
Nimue: "(Why did they return to undead?)"
Atremis lunges at the distant rat viciously in a pounce.
[Fox Bite, Attack: 14, Damage: 4, Sneak Attack: 7]
Atremis startles the rats, biting one to true death swiftly.

[Efta: Initiative: 22.03
Maximilian: Initiative: 18.01
Atremis: Initiative: 14
Sana: Initiative: 11
Nimue: Initiative: 10.01
Dire Shadow Rat: Initiative: 8]

Efta grips his spell book, moving down the corridor.

Maximilian strides forward, lance in hand.

Atremis turns around from his stance, flinging the dead rat aside, and lunging at the other one while it's still caught off-guard.
[Fox Bite, Attack: 13, Damage: 6, Sneak Attack: 7]
The rat manages to skitter away, even being taken by surprise.

Nimue carefully sneaks ahead, pointing at the rat and speaking an eldritch word. [Ray of Frost, Attack: 22, Damage: 5]
The rat is badly wounded by the ice missile, and attempts to flee.
[Fox Bite Attack of Opportunity, Attack: 15, Damage: 4, Sneak Attack: 7]
Atremis finishes off the creature before it can escape.

Efta: "Alright, let's press on. Want to take the lead, Atremis?"
Nimue: "What I want to know is, are there just a very large number of undead rats, or do they get reanimated every night?"
Atremis heads on ahead, being wary about anything that might have cropped up since last day. [Stealth: 34]
Efta: "I don't think I'd want to know."
Nimue: "Atremis, if you want me to cast the spell just, I don't know, yip?"
Maximilian: "Rats are rats."
Nimue: "It has implications for what we can expect"
Atremis looks around the room, but even with his vulpine eyes, he finds it difficult to make much out.
The room seems devoid of any presence except a few rats, showing little concern for the party.
Sana: "We don't need to fight the rats, if they are undead... I have prepared a spell."
Atremis stares at the rat in the cage near him, before going around the corner.
Efta: "(Mm, I think it's best we leave them.)"
Maximilian follows, but makes sure not to go round the corner.
Atremis encounters a door, and begins to sniff at it. [Perception: 25]
As before, Atremis smells an overwhelming reek of decay from this room, some of it the now recognizable specific smell of the zombie rats, but mostly something worse.
Atremis looks at Sana and Maximilian, whimpering.
Atremis: "(Trouble here. Something bad.)"
Sana: "(Then I will prepare myself for combat...)"
Atremis: "(Can I get prepared too?)"
Maximilian: "(We're here to support you.)"
Sana prepares casting a summoning spell.
Sana: "(Yes, become prepared.)"
"Now is the time to power up Atremis."
Maximilian kneels down, pressing a hand to Atremis. [Protection from Evil]
Nimue: "(Does Atremis want his spell?)"
Nimue casts Shield.
Atremis yips in affirmation.
Sana casts Protection From Evil on both herself and Maximilian.
Efta removes a wand from his sleeve, laying it on himself a magical barrier appears in front of him. [Shield]
Nimue crouches down, casting Cat's Grace on Atremis.
Efta then motions his hand around himself, as he becomes imbued with a matte white energy. [Protection from Evil]
Nimue: "(Everyone ready?)"
Sana: "(Yes, we will charge.)"
Maximilian pushes the door open, anticipating battle.
Efta cracks his knuckles, grinning.
The door opens to reveal, as well as the usual rats, a pair of massive golems and a spectral humanoid figure, which turn at the sound of the door opening.

[Atremis: Initiative: 23
Efta: Initiative: 22.03
Maximilian: Initiative: 21.01
Dire Shadow Rat: Initiative: 20
Crypt Thing: Initiative: 18
Dire Shadow Rat: Initiative: 17
Nimue: Initiative: 12.03
Carrion Golem: Initiative: 12
Dire Shadow Rat: Initiative: 8
Sana: Initiative: 7
Dire Shadow Rat: Initiative: 6
Carrion Golem: Initiative: 3]

Atremis lunges at the distant golem-like thing, attempting to locate a vulnerable point.
[Fox Bite, Attack: 29, Damage: 7, Sneak Attack: 5]
Atremis manages to tear some of the rotting flesh from the golem.
Nimue: "That spectre thing can teleport us, hit it with maces"

Efta takes a step forward, tracing a rune on Maximilian's armour. [Guidance]
Nimue: "The golems are immune to magic."

Maximilian: "Yaaa!"
Maximilian rushes forth, with the intent of impaling the nearest flesh abomination. [Fervor, Divine Favor]
[Lance, Attack: 24, Damage: 16]
Maximilian strikes the golem, though the rotting flesh it's composed of doesn't give way much.
Maximilian: "Uh, this might not be the best place for my lance..."

One of the rats goes to bite Sana.
[Bite, Attack: 18, Damage: 3, STR Damage: 1]
It only strikes armor, and another goes after Atremis.
[Bite, Attack: 16, Damage: 2, STR Damage: 1]
Atremis winces from the incoming rat, but a light shimmer wards the rat away from actively striking him.

Nimue calls on the forces of light and throws a pinch of silver towards the spectre and suddenly the space sourrounding it is immersed in light. [Burst of Radiance, Damage: 11, DC 18, 2 rds]
[Crypt Thing: Reflex Save: 20]
The specter shudders, squinting glowing red eyes as it glares at Nimue, and the rat fades away entirely.

The golem brings both of its fists down on Atremis with a roar.
[Slam, Attack: 16, Damage: 6
Attack: 14, Damage: 4]
Atremis finds a surge of nimbleness from the magic spell, and manages to avoid the brute's slams.

One of the rats scampers to bite at Max.
[Lance Attack of Opportunity, Attack: 22, Damage: 11]
He destroys the creature before it can reach him, though.
Maximilian: "Hm, change of tactics is needed."

Sana steps around the rat, bludgeoning it with her sword.
[Greatsword, Attack: 23, Damage: 11]
Celestial Wolf runs at the golem, biting and tearing at it!
[Wolf Bite, Attack: 5, Damage: 2, +1 Smite Evil, 4 Trip]
The rat dissolves into shadows with a squeak, although the wolf's bite falls short of the golem.

The other golem trudges forward to smash Max.
[Slam, Attack: 14, Damage: 8
Attack: 10, Damage: 9]
Maximilian blocks the blows with his lance.

Atremis shifts around the golem nimbly, using the opportunity the wolf is providing to strike it from behind. [Acrobatics: 11]
The golem pounds Atremis as he tries to dodge away.
[Slam, Attack: 14, Damage: 5]
Atremis manages to avoid the golem's swing, biting in retaliation.
[Fox Bite, Attack: 16, Damage: 6, Sneak Attack: 6
Atremis's fangs fail to get through the thing's leathery flesh.

Efta rushes into the main room, releasing a pair of missiles from each finger at the creature in front of the far door. [Magic Missile, Damage: 4, 5]
The magic strikes the creature, seeming to injure it.
[Fortitude Save: 4 - Efta feels ill from the smell as he approaches the golems. Nauseated for 1 round.]

Maximilian drops his lance, instead drawing his Greatsword.
Maximilian: "Perhaps this'll getcha!"
[Greatsword, Attack: 22, Damage: 16]
Max does some harm to the golem, although it still resists it partly.
Maximilian: "I see your point about hammers, Nimue."

The specter creeps forward to slash at Atremis with a sharply-clawed hand.
[Claw, Attack: 17, Damage: 8]

Nimue walks into the room while throwing fiery motes towards the spectre. [Magic Missile, Damage: 4, 4]
The missiles scorch the thing's rotting flesh as they strike.

The golem smashes the celestial wolf with one massive arm.
[Slam, Attack: 20, Damage: 9]
Celestial Wolf takes severe damage, but still stands solidly.
Seeing the creature barely survive, it tries to smash it again.
[Slam, Attack: 24, Damage: 4]
Celestial Wolf takes the hit, barking ferociously.

Celestial Wolf attacks the golem, fangs bared!
[Wolf Bite, Attack: 4, Damage: 3, +1 Smite Evil, 12 Trip]
Weakened from the golem's attacks, the wolf fails to land a hit.

Sana moves forward, focusing magical energies at the golem Atremis and the wolf are fighting. [Spiritual Weapon, Attack: 25, Damage: 3]
The sword makes contact with the golem, but seems to have no effect on it.

The other golem continues trying to squash Max.
[Slam, Attack: 23, Damage: 11
Attack: 25, Damage: 8]
It lands two powerful attacks, denting his armor and cracking bone beneath.
Efta: "Max!"
Maximilian: "Rrrgh, these are some tough foes."

Atremis, wary about the specter at his back, bites at the golem-thing again.
[Fox Bite, Attack: 8, Damage: 6, Sneak Attack: 7]
Atremis stumbles, however, losing his focus on trying to keep them from hitting him.

Efta conjures a flaming sphere as Atremis moves out of the way, hurling it at the distant spectre with an overarm throw. [Flaming Sphere, Damage: 6, DC 17]
[Crypt Thing: Reflex Save: 22]
The spectre steps aside from the flames, turning its gaze to Efta.

Maximilian: "I won't fall that easily, you horror!"
[Greatsword, Attack: 14, Damage: 19]
Max's sword lands harmlessly on the thing's body, not aimed precisely enough to hurt it.
Maximilian channels a surge of energy through himself, recovering some of the damage. [Fervor: 1]

The thing creeps a bit closer, clawing at Atremis again.
[Claw, Attack: 25, Damage: 3]
Atremis winces, the claws digging into his body.

Nimue creeps behind the golem, trying to move silently only to ruin the effect as she screams, throwing a lance of fire at the specter. [Scorching Ray, Attack: 25, Crit Confirm: 19, Damage: 12]
Nimue: "Burn, hellspawn!"
The lance of fire burns the creature badly, as it hisses in agony.

The golem keeps smashing at the wolf.
[Slam, Attack: 12, Damage: 9
Attack: 22, Damage: 9]
The wolf struggles to keep fighting, but survives the attacks

Celestial Wolf lunges at the golem in response!
[Wolf Bite, Attack: 13, Damage: 3, +1 Smite Evil, 21 Trip]
[Spiritual Weapon, Attack: 8, Damage: 5]
The wolf fails to do any harm to the golem, too badly injured, and the sword likewise misses.

Sana channels energy, attempting to damage the evil undead. [Channel Energy, Damage: 5]
The wave of light seems to do a little damage to the spectre, but has no apparent effect on the golems.

The golem keeps slamming its fists onto Max, undisturbed.
[Slam, Attack: 10, Damage: 10
Attack: 26, Damage: 8]
Maximilian stammers, getting slammed back.
Maximilian: "I can... still stand."

Atremis pulls away from the specter, biting at the golem.
[Fox Bite, Attack: 23, Damage: 7, Sneak Attack: 8]
Atremis is able to seriously wound the golem.