Ch 3: Part 6: Battle at the Academy: Session 48

[15:12] <Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:12] <Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 3: The Armageddon Echo~~~
[15:12] <Kilarra> -Session 48-
[15:17] <Kilarra> After dealing with a squad of elven prisoners hastily slain and animated as zombies, and a pair of water elementals, the party has discovered that Kaerishiel's group had failed to penetrate their entrance, and were either captured or killed.
[15:22] <Kilarra> The party is headed to the northern room of the academy to see if Shalelu's group managed to get in, or attempt a rescue if not.
[15:24] <Kilarra> Kjell treads carefully back through the passage, not wanting to disrespect the slain elves further by stepping on their burnt corpses.
[15:26] * Aluthyra keeps close to Kjell, moving swiftly by his side. Hopefully, one of the teams made it...
[15:27] <@Aluthyra> Tognik scrambles to keep up. His little legs only move so fast.
[15:28] <Kilarra> Kjell isn't moving all that quickly, considering his armour
[15:29] * Kilarra sticks to the rear this time, switching to her crossbow. SHe'd used up her one good ranged attack spell.
[15:30] <@Aluthyra> Tognik keeps his fireball wand handy.
[15:30] <Kilarra> After a short bit of backpedalling, the group returns to the short hall at the middle of the academy
[15:31] <Kilarra> The door to the northern room is closed.
[15:32] <Kilarra> Kjell nods and motions for the others to stand back a bit as he pulls the stone doors open.
[15:32] * Aluthyra aims her bow at the door in preparation in case anything insidious were behind it.
[15:33] <Kilarra> The horrid scent of decay fills the air of this circular chamber. Ancient tables covered in arcane implements stand on either side in front of a faintly glowing circle scribed into the floor. The contents of the circle are a mystery, as thick black smoke fills the interior from floor to ceiling.
[15:36] <@Aluthyra> Tognik raises an eyebrow, examining the circle from afar.
[15:43] <Kilarra> Kjell draws his sword and puts up his shield spell. "I think we can guess that whatever that is, it isn't friendly."
[15:44] * Kilarra casts a Shield of Faith on herself.
[15:44] <@Aluthyra> Tognik frowns. "Some creature bound within." He shakes his head. "Not sure what... Kjell, would you be able to dispel a circle like that?"
[15:45] <Kilarra> Kjell shakes his head, "Not if the creature was already conjured. Dispelling the circle would just let it loose at this point."
[15:46] * Kilarra smirks, "Good thing one of us came prepared then. I can dismiss it."
[15:47] * Aluthyra blinks, smiling. "Good. One less creature to deal with."
[15:48] * Kilarra notes, "Of course, if the dismissal fails, it'll be on us like a Quasit's lips to a wizard's ass."
[15:51] * Aluthyra raises an eyebrow. "...what?"
[15:52] * Kilarra rolls her eyes, "Just cover me." She plucks up her holy symbol and holds it up in her off hand. "Alright Calistria, let's send this beasty back to the bit it crawled out of."
[15:53] * Aluthyra aims her bow at the circle.
[15:54] <Kilarra> With a screech like an angry vulture, whatever was in the circle vanishes along with the cloud of dust and feathers and spores.
[15:54] * Kilarra blinks, looking surprised, "That... actually worked." She grins.
[15:55] <Kilarra> Kjell cuffs Kilarra on the back, "Well done."
[15:56] * Aluthyra nods, smiling to Kilarra. "Good job. Though, let's continue. Hopefully Shalelu and her elves are well."
[16:00] <Kilarra> With the creature in the circle gone, the room is empty, and seems to have been hastily cleared out.
[16:02] * Kilarra looks to Aluthyra, "You're the keen eyes, check the room." She then looks to Kjell, "You and me can check the outside."
[16:02] <Kilarra> Kjell nods and follows Kilarra to the hole in the rear wall
[16:02] * Aluthyra nods, looking about the room. Tognik assists.
[16:06] <Kilarra> Underneath one of the desks in this chamber is a scrap of parchment bearing CHarts and calculations in undercommon. A pouch on that same table contains diamond dust, and there are a number of black onyx gemstones as well.
[16:07] * Aluthyra takes the diamond dust and gemstones into her handy haversack.
[16:08] <@Aluthyra> Tognik activates his wand of comprehend languages, then looks over the charts.
[16:10] <Kilarra> The chart is how the sky might have looked about 10,000 years ago. One note on the bottom states: "This time is the key. We must study Earthfall more closely, no matter the cost."
[16:11] <Kilarra> Kilarra and Kjell find a few elf corpses, some fair, some dark, but no living elves on the outside. SHalelu is not among the corpses.
[16:12] * Kilarra frowns and steps back inside. "Fantastic. We're the only ones who got in safely."
[16:12] * Kilarra notes, "Relatively speaking."
[16:12] <@Aluthyra> Tognik frowns, putting away the charts and papers. Maybe the elves would want them.
[16:12] * Kilarra comes up to Tognik and ALuthyra, "Anything useful in here? If not, we should try and catch them."
[16:13] * Aluthyra nods. "We did find some items of interest." She pulls out the dustt and gemstones, handing them over to Kilarra. "I believe you can make use of these?"
[16:14] * Kilarra smiles at the bag of Diamond Dust, "Now we're talking. I completely forgot to get some when we were back in Riddleport." She eyeballs it, "There might even be enough here for a raising." She passes it to Tognik, "How much would you say that's worth?"
[16:15] * Kilarra frowns a bit at the gems though. "Black Onyx is used for animating corpses so far as spells go, so no thanks. At least they can go even for currency."
[16:16] <@Aluthyra> Tognik eyes the dust, appraising it.
[16:16] <@Aluthyra> He nods. "The dust, 5000 gold."
[16:17] <@Aluthyra> "And the gems for a total of 1000."
[16:17] * Aluthyra examines the room once more, just in case she missed something.
[16:18] * Kilarra smirks, "Alright, good. That's enough for plenty of restoration, or even a single raising." SHe looks around, "Not that I can actually do either of those things yet, so try not to die."
[16:18] <Kilarra> There were also five pearls worth about 100g each
[16:19] * Aluthyra hands the pearls over to Kilarra, then readies her bow. "Right. So, shall we continue?"
[16:20] * Kilarra carefully stores the diamond dust and nods, "Yes. Only one place left to look."
[16:20] <Kilarra> Kjell keeps his sword ready and shield spell up, taking point. "Again, nice work with that dismissal. The time we might have wasted fighting whatever it was can now be put towards rescuing our allies."
[16:23] <Kilarra> Kjell leads the group back to the central chamber, and then follows the blood trail to the eastern chambers. He opens the door...
[16:25] <Kilarra> Set into the north wall of this antechamber is a black pillar of stone, carved with hundreds of small, wicked symbols. A flicker of purple light pulses from these runes, traveling up and down the pillar’s length. In front of the pillar is a prayer rug made of blood-soaked paper.
[16:27] <Kilarra> Aluthyra can determine (somehow) from the symbols that this small study has been converted to a temple for the Demon Lord Abraxas
[16:29] * Aluthyra frowns. "I... believe this is a temple. If the symbols are of any indication, for Abraxas."
[16:29] * Kilarra frowns, "Guessing this place was some little shrine to whatever wretch passes for a god to these... Abraxus?"
[16:31] * Aluthyra nods. "Yes. The Demon Lord, Abraxas. Considering the drow have been seen with demons by the elves, it would be reasonable to assume he is their patron deity."
[16:31] <Kilarra> Kjell frowns, "Horrendous. We should do away with such a profane altar."
[16:33] * Aluthyra nods. "Yes, but only if you have a spell that could do away with it in haste." She reminds him, "We need to find Shalelu soon."
[16:34] <Kilarra> Kjell frowns, "You're right, that's more important, let's go." He pulls open the next set of double doors.
[16:35] <Kilarra> moments later, an eruption of sickly purple fire fills the room.
[16:37] <Kilarra> Kilarra and Aluthyra take the worth of it, while Kjell is rather badly hurt
[16:38] * Kilarra screams and curses profanely even for use of the abyssal language
[16:39] * Kilarra falls to her haunches, charred, bloodied and in an extreme amount of pain
[16:39] <Kilarra> Kjell is also bloodied, but nowhere near as badly as Kilarra.
[16:40] <Kilarra> Kjell groans, "It seems they didn't want to be followed."
[16:40] * Aluthyra nearly doubles over from the pain as screams. Reacting quickly, she quaffs a potion of moderate healing. Though still charred, she turns to Kilarra, pouring a second potion down her throat.
[16:40] * Kilarra 's screaming is cut off by the administering of the liquid, sputtering a bit. The pain eases, slightly.
[16:42] * Kilarra places both her hands on her chest and expends a spell she had prepared to hastily cure critical wounds
[16:43] <Kilarra> Kilarra's quick spell use manages to completely heal her wounds before they manage to set in.
[16:43] * Kilarra then quickly grabs Aluthyra for a cure serious.
[16:44] <Kilarra> Kjell qualfs two potions, one of cure moderate, one or cure light
[16:44] <@Aluthyra> Tognik is unharmed! Sneaky fellow. He looks around if anyone still needs healing at this point.
[16:45] * Aluthyra sighs as Kilarra heals the most of her wounds. She groans. "I should have let you examine the room, Kjell..."
[16:45] <Kilarra> Kilarra has managed to restore herself completely, and Kjell seems to be in decent condition after the potions.
[16:46] <Kilarra> Kjell shakes his head, "We shouldn't blame ourselves for being in a hurry to save our allies. Thankfully we had enough resources amongst us to mitigate the harm done.
[16:46] * Kilarra stand up a bit shakily, "Yeah, but I had to use two of my more powerful spells to do it."
[16:47] * Aluthyra frowns. "Then... we should find the other elves soon, though... perhaps move more carefully."
[16:47] <@Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "I'll make sure to check for traps, next room."
[16:48] * Kilarra pulls out her wand and gives Aluthyra an extra poke to be on the safe side.
[16:49] * Aluthyra nods appreciatively. She looks to the door, once again drawing her bow. "Kjell, if you would please."
[16:49] <Kilarra> Kjell steps forward into the next room...
[16:50] <Kilarra> Unlike the other rooms of this place, this large chamber has been restored to its former beauty. Polished white marble gleams from the walls, carved in the likeness of dancing and frolicking elves. Along one wall is a gigantic sparkling pool of crystal clear water, behind which stands a gateway made of the purest alabaster, carefully shaped to look like a ring of leaves.
[16:50] <Kilarra> In the center of the pool, a comely elven maiden reclines on a tremendous floating leaf.
[16:52] <Kilarra> Kjell blinks in surprise. "It seems someone went out of their way to restore this chamber." He steps in cautiously, glancing towards the elf maiden in the pool.
[16:53] * Aluthyra raises an eyebrow, stepping within. She eyes the maiden with suspicion. Quite out of place for an area taken over by drow.
[16:53] <Kilarra> The elf maiden stands up, looking back at Kjell. It's not Shalelu, or any other elf they know
[16:54] <@Aluthyra> Tognik asks, "Are you part of the elf raiding party?"
[17:00] <Kilarra> The elf shakes her head, "My name is Ixilano. I come from a time long past, and the drow bound my spirit here so as to serve them and for them to take advantage of my ancient knowledge."
[17:03] <Kilarra> Kjell doesn't sheathe his sword, but lowers it. He wasn't about to attack a non-hostile elf. Apparently that wouldn't have been much use anyways, if she was just a spirit.
[17:08] * Aluthyra nods, smiling. She feels the elf is lying, but tries to hide her distrust. "If the drow bound you, then you are no ally of them. Might your knowledge be able to assist us?"
[17:10] <Kilarra> The elf maiden nods, "The drow tell me so little; how long has it been since the exodus? Perhaps we can exchange answers, of you think what I know might be of use."
[17:13] * Aluthyra frowns. "The exodus? I... am not familiar."
[17:13] <@Aluthyra> Tognik touches one of the white pillars, hoping she doesn't notice.
[17:14] <@Aluthyra> Tognik finds it odd that the drow would keep a prisoner in such a nice environment... He examines the pillar as he presses his hand to it.
[17:16] <@Aluthyra> [Replace Pillar with white wall]
[17:18] <Kilarra> The wall looks, feels and even smells real
[17:22] <Kilarra> Tognik however, knows illusions, and while this is an expertly crafted one, including olfactory, visual and tactile elements, it remains an illusion nonetheless.
[17:23] <Kilarra> Ixilano nods, "The time when my people fled Golarion in the wake of the coming catastrophe. The Earthfall the drow call it."
[17:28] <Kilarra> The actual chamber is as decrepit as the rest—the walls filthy and worn, the pool fetid, and the archway cracked and broken. Smears of blood (traces of the elven prisoners led through here)
[17:28] <Kilarra> However, Ixilano still looks like an elf.
[17:30] <@Aluthyra> Tognik frowns. He turns around-- hopefully the elf still doesn't notice him-- and begins to cast a spell of detecting alignment.
[17:31] <Kilarra> The elf does not register as chaotic evil
[17:32] * Aluthyra shakes her head. "I am still unfamiliar about that time." She turns to Kilarra and Kjell. "Either of you?"
[17:32] <@Aluthyra> Tognik frowns, casting another round of the spell... this time for Lawful evil!
[17:32] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "Common knowledge really; Earthfall was ten thousand years ago." He then asks her, "Did the drow come through here with prisoners?"
[17:34] <Kilarra> Ixilano nods, "Yes. The room beyond contains a portal to a demi-plane between the Material and Shadow called the Armageddon Echo. It is likely there that the prisoners were taken." She follows it up with her next question, "Are you the only ones who came here, along with those capture, or are there more?"
[17:35] <Kilarra> Kjell words this carefully, "We are all that remains of those who assaulted the Academy."
[17:35] <Kilarra> The elf -does- however, register as Lawful Evil.
[17:36] <Kilarra> Kjell then gestures to the archway behind Ixilano, "What purpose does this archway serve?"
[17:37] <@Aluthyra> Tognik casts a spell of grease underneath the elf (once Kjell finishes his questioning)! He mumbles in gnomish, pointing his finger. (If uninterrupted).
[17:37] <Kilarra> The elf nods, "It is a gateway. Once it led to Kyonin, but the dark elves repurposed it. However, it will not function without the key held by Nolveniss."
[17:38] * Kilarra raises an eyebrow. This conversation was actually a pleasant change from fighting things. Naturally, she was skeptical. The elf probably wanted something from them, if she was playing nice.
[17:38] <Kilarra> The grease spreads over the surface of the water, nothing happens.
[17:40] <Kilarra> The elf asks her next question, "What of Kyonin then? Have the elves returned to reclaim their empire here?"
[17:41] <Kilarra> Kjell blinks, "I believe Kyonin still stands as a nation today, though I don't think it a true empire."
[17:42] <@Aluthyra> Tognik frowns. He casts a spell of message, each of his companions being a target, and each hear him in a hushed tone, "She's evil. I have a spell of detect alignment."
[17:44] * Kilarra nods back to Tognik. She whispers back, figuring the spell worked both ways like a sending. "She doesn't seem to care much for keeping the drow's secrets though. I say we get what we can out of her, then bail when she starts asking for favours."
[17:44] <Kilarra> Kjell simply nods.
[17:45] * Aluthyra keeps her bowstring tense, but aimed at the ground.
[17:46] * Aluthyra nods. "And yes, they have returned to reclaim this place."
[17:46] <Kilarra> Ixilano nods, "I see."
[17:47] <Kilarra> Kjell looks to the door to the last chamber, wherein they would, according to this elf, find a portal to a demiplane. "We should really go, our companions need rescuing and we now know where to find them."
[17:47] <@Aluthyra> Tognik nods.
[17:48] <Kilarra> Ixilano raises a hand, "Before you depart, one request. Since you are able, I would ask to be freed of my bondage here, that I might return to my rest."
[17:50] <@Aluthyra> Tognik frowns. "I don't have a spell that could do so, unfortunately,"
[17:51] <Kilarra> Ixilano shakes her head, "The focus for my bondage here is this leaf upon which I stand. If you were to remove it from the pool, the ritual would be sufficiently disrupted."
[17:51] * Kilarra frowns, she didn't think any of their group could actually swim.
[17:52] * Kilarra shrugged though, not like they were actually planning to do it anyways.
[17:52] * Aluthyra remains silent. She can't lie.
[17:53] <@Aluthyra> Tognik shakes his head. He gestures for everyone to move along.
[17:55] <Kilarra> The elf frowns and gestures at Kjell, the one who had been the most talkative. "You -will- do as I command."
[17:57] <Kilarra> Kjell feels something strange come over him. He turns around and looks to the elf woman.
[17:58] <Kilarra> The elf woman smirks, "Kindly stand in the doorway, your friends will be in danger if they leave this room."
[18:00] * Aluthyra frowns, aiming her bow at the elf. "Release your hold on Kjell, or I will release my arrows."
[18:01] <Kilarra> The elf shakes her head, "I am not afraid of a few small stings from a lowly human. You are all of you beneath my kind. Don't worry though, you're much more useful to me as slaves."
[18:02] * Aluthyra releases a barrage of five arrows. If they do not kill the woman outright, hopefully she'll change her attitude.
[18:05] <Kilarra> Aluthyra's barrage of arrows hits something important, eliciting an inhuman scream of pain from the elf woman. Her concentration is broken, and her true form is revealed.
[18:05] <Kilarra> Four long tentacles writhe from this three-eyed fish-like creature's flanks, and its green body glistens with thick, clear slime.
[18:05] <Kilarra> One of those three eyes has an arrow stuck deep within it
[18:06] <Kilarra> The aboleth was clearly not expecting that kind of pain. It quickly dives below the water and swims deeper than the pool appeared to be, out of sight.
[18:07] * Kilarra grimaces, "Disgusting."
[18:08] <Kilarra> The aboleth is gone, and its illusions go with it, revealing the chamber for what it really is to all. However, Kjell is still under the influence of his order to bar the way to the next room.
[18:11] * Kilarra frowns, looking at Kjell. "Crap. He's hypnotized or dominated or something."
[18:13] <@Aluthyra> Tognik frowns, calling to the beast within the pool. "If you release your hold on him, we'll release you."
[18:13] <Kilarra> The beast is already long gone
[18:13] <Kilarra> The bottom of the pool was false, and leads beyond what can be seen
[18:14] <@Aluthyra> Tognik looks to Kilarra. "You don't have a spell to dispel magic, do you?"
[18:16] * Kilarra nods, "Yeah, but it might not be strong enough." She looks Kjell over, trying to determine exactly what kind of effect had been used.
[18:19] * Kilarra grimaces, "He's been dominated. And unless she gives him another order that's something he wouldn't normally do, he's not gonna get a chance to snap out of it till tomorrow at least."
[18:20] <@Aluthyra> Tognik frowns. "No chance you can dispel it?"
[18:22] * Kilarra shrugs, "I can try."
[18:23] <Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:23] <Kilarra> Rewards: 1 CR 9, 1 CR 7
[18:24] <Kilarra> 2400 Experience Each