thuryl:
OK. Anyone got a recap for me?
Lephista:
We got through Phol-Phoram's test by searching for secret doors, then Hurak's by sacrificing stuff.
Now we're up to Imaunte, at a dead end, and King Zellak is here with a fake historian and some goons.
Jarrox:
Jarrox might be a ticking time bomb of doom now too.
Meredith:
(How?)
(Oh, the potions, yes)
thuryl:
That works. Time to start.
As you watch from the altar platform, the "historians" Kekka and Druju rush down the stairs toward you, flanked by a team of armed goblins. Behind them, you see the familiar form of King Zellak lumbering along with surprising speed.
Druju is holding a spiked mace, and seems dangerously competent with it. Kekka and Zellak appear unarmed.
Lephista:
"Stop right there!"
Jarrox:
"Soup's here!"
Phulax:
I step forward and draw out two bottles.
Kekka:
"I was about to say the same to you."
Phulax:
One is yellow, and one is cyan.
Kekka:
"About the stopping, I mean, not the soup."
Lephista:
I spend a stamina to conjure a new battleaxe. Can I take 10?
Phulax:
"Halt, or I'll blow this bridge to pieces."
"I just have to shatter these two bottles... and boom."
Meredith:
"And then we'll taunt you. How'd you like *that*?"
thuryl:
Sure. Lephista conjures a smallish bronze axe. The blade is a bit chipped and the handle has splinters, but it's serviceable.
Kekka:
"Blow up the bridge? What, and trap yourselves here?"
Phulax:
"I"m a portal mage." I stick my tongue out at her.
Lephista:
"Let us worry about our own problems. You just don't come any closer."
Phulax:
"Aren't you?"
Jarrox:
"And trap you out there. I like the idea, let's do it."
Lephista:
Whisper to Phulax: "Maybe don't tell her useful stuff about us, okay?"
Phulax:
I blink.
"Good point, Leph."
Kekka:
"Ah, a fellow mage. If we had met under different circumstances, perhaps we could have had a fascinating academic discussion."
"Unfortunately, you are quite literally standing in the way of our goals. I'm going to have to ask you to move aside."
Jarrox:
"Or maybe we could eat?"
Phulax:
"And what are your goals?"
Jarrox:
"Blow the bridge and then toss me over, I'll take them all on myself."
Meredith:
"Yes, do what Jarrox says. We might finally be rid of him!"
Druju:
"Heh. Well, you already know what our new friend back here wants. He just wants to keep his city as it has been for centuries. Is that so wrong?"
Phulax:
"Yes."
"Next?"
Jarrox:
"Next we blow up the bridge."
Meredith:
"Phulax, you're starting to grow on me."
Jarrox:
"Like today, before we lose our advatage."
Lephista:
Whisper: "Seriously, somebody figure out how to keep going."
King Zellak:
"Why do you insist on being so unreasonable? If only you had listened to me, you could all have had your heart's desire granted."
Lote Hin:
Whisper: "We face our fate."
Phulax:
"If you don't want to talk, I'll just blow up the bridge."
Meredith:
"We still can. We're on the right side of the bridge, Zellak."
Lephista:
(I mean, this is the test of Imaunte, right? We ought to figure out what it is, and hopefully how to get out of here.)
(Or if this is where we wish, figure out how to do it so we can ignore these guys and finish the quest.)
Meredith:
I'll examine the star-thing here.
* Meredith rolls: d20 => 19
Meredith:
(yay)
Jarrox:
"BLOW UP THE BRIDGE!"
thuryl:
While the rest of the group maintains their standoff with Zellak and his newfound goons, Meredith inspects the central stone. It's an altar in the shape of an eight-pointed star, and there's writing around the sides of it. She manages to decipher it:
Lephista:
"Druju, Kekka, you seem like reasonable people. I'm sure it has occurred to you that, now that you're here, Zellak has nothing to offer you."
Phulax:
As we talk, I keep my eye trained on Kekka for any sign that she's about to use teleportation magic.
thuryl:
"It is said that in ancient times a mortal gained the power of the gods. In retribution, the gods poured out a jar of curses upon Mote. The last and cruellest curse was named Hope. Mortal, place your hand upon this stone. Receive its curse, and know what it means to be as a god."
(Perception roll, Phulax?)
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 7
thuryl:
Kekka doesn't seem to be preparing a spell right now.
Meredith:
I go ahead and put my hand on the stone.
Phulax:
...
Siana:
"Hey, wait a minute! The deal was that we got to make our wishes first, wasn't it?"
thuryl:
Hirst and his group move over to intercept Meredith.
Dyen:
"Now is not the time!"
thuryl:
Hirst and Siana get to Meredith first, and attempt to pull her away from the stone. Meredith, are you going to try to resist and keep your hand on the stone or are you going to back away?
Meredith:
Resist them.
* Meredith rolls: d20 => 1
Meredith:
Oh, come on. And I'd just about made my wish too!
Phulax:
"I came to Elpis hoping to help. Kekka, Druju: do you have nothing more to say that will help me help others?"
(At least it's not 4?)
thuryl:
Meredith resists, but is no match for the two adventurers. They pull her away and she is thrown to the ground in the struggle, taking some bruises.
Meredith:
*** Meredith loses 3 hit points.***
Meredith:
"You bastards!"
Jarrox:
"Okay, I guess we are talking and not blowing up the bridge. When they kill you all I ain't helping you at all."
Meredith:
I draw my gun, and point it at Siana.
Druju:
"Help, you say? You could help US by getting out of our way."
Phulax:
"Patience, Jarrox. Mr. Cyan and Mr. Yellow are still here."
Dyen:
"What are you doing?!"
Jarrox:
"I'm going over here and drinking, do what ever you want King Soup."
Phulax:
"I don't know what you want to do, but I feel confident you have ill intentions."
Lephista:
"That's not going to happen, Druju. Is your task worth dying for?"
I summon an ostrich to take Jarrox's place next to me.
Druju:
"I've got no intention of dying."
thuryl:
... roll it, Lephista. I'm not sure I have an image of an ostrich, so I may have to improvise.
Phulax:
"You cannot pass." I hurl the two bottles to the bridge, shattering them.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 11
Jarrox:
I sit down and watch them while I pull drags on my hip flask.
Lephista:
(You could have warned me you were about to do that before I summoned a flightless bird.)
Dyen:
(Should have gone for a roc.)
thuryl:
Lephista summons a cassowary. It's not quite as big as an ostrich, but it's got fairly impressive-looking claws on its feet.
Phulax, roll for the throw.
Druju:
"Getting ready for a fight, are you?"
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 15
thuryl:
Phulax skilfully lands both bottles near the middle of the bridge. The cyan bottle shatters and forms a pool of liquid, while the yellow bottle cracks but remains intact in the middle of the pool.
Kekka:
"What was that? What did you just do?"
Dyen:
"Try and cross it now."
thuryl:
Phulax, roll Perception.
Meredith:
"Drop a rock on it or something?"
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 2
Dyen:
(Tell the bird to go stompy it!)
Jarrox:
"Get the bird to step on it." I call out.
thuryl:
Phulax fails to notice Kekka attempting a spell until it's already complete. Fortunately, whatever it was going to do, it fizzles out.
Lephista:
(I suggest you back up, Phulax.)
I wave the bird back toward me.
thuryl:
You can feel radiant heat coming from the bridge. Kekka and Druju can feel it too, not to mention see you running away from the site of the spill, and they start to step back.
Meredith:
"So, are we wishing?"
Lephista:
"Sure. Siana expressed an interest in going first."
Siana:
"We go first, remember? It's safe now, right? You've dealt with those thugs?"
Phulax:
I continue to watch the bridge and our adversaries.
Dyen:
"For now."
Jarrox:
"I wish for some soup." I mutter.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 6
Dyen:
"No guarantees."
Lephista:
(Did we actually agree they could go first?)
Meredith:
"Well, no, so hopefully you'll get to waste your wish on about 5 minutes of life before they tear your ugly face off."
Lephista:
"Just get on with it. Siana, go."
thuryl:
As you talk, you feel the blast of a powerful explosion to the north, blowing a large hole in the bridge. The platform you're standing on shakes alarmingly, and hairline cracks form in the columns connecting it to the ceiling.
Siana:
"Hmm. Well, there's one obvious thing to wish for, of course." Siana places her hand on the altar.
"I want to always have as much gold as I could ever need!"
Phulax:
"I will continue to watch that teleportation abuser over there. The one who marooned a bunch of poor goblins deep underground by her abuse of portals." Watch Kekka and Druju and attempt to interfere with any teleporting they do.
Jarrox:
"See, that wasn't so hard now was it Phulaxy boy?"
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 4
thuryl:
The altar glows, and an aura of golden light surrounds Siana briefly before fading.
Siana:
"Huh. Nothing happened. Maybe I get my money on the way out?"
Dyen:
"Maybe you don't need any gold at all."
Lephista:
"Yeah, maybe. Who's next?"
Meredith:
I burst out laughing.
Dyen:
"Which one of you is next?"
Kekka:
"Stop! We won't be denied the temple's power so easily!"
thuryl:
As Kekka finishes speaking, Phulax realises too late that she is casting another spell. Zellak appears right next to the altar, and slams his flipper down on it.
Phulax:
...
Lephista:
I chop the flipper off with my axe. Roll?
Dyen:
Can I cast Glimpse of Oblivion on him?
thuryl:
Yes. Now would be a good time to roll well, if you want to try and interrupt him.
Jarrox:
"Its dinner time!" I holler.
Meredith:
I raise my gun again and shoot.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 3
Dyen:
I do that.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 1
Meredith:
(at him)
* Meredith rolls: d20 => 12
Lephista:
(god damnit)
"Cassowary, get the turtle!"
Dyen:
(Hurr. I blow up my own brain.)
Phulax:
I spend two stamina to attempt to attempt to teleport turtle king off out into the middle of the air, over the water.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 2
Phulax:
...
thuryl:
Hold on, everyone. Cutscene time.
Phulax:
(why can't I roll tonight?)
Phulax:
*** Phulax loses 2 stamina.***
Jarrox:
I sip on my hip flask as I watch.
thuryl:
Lephista swings wildly with her axe, but isn't used to the shorter reach of the new weapon, and the blade misses its mark. Meredith's last bullet finds its mark, cracking the king's soft underbelly and drawing bluish blood, but it's not enough to stop him. Phulax attempts a teleportation spell, but can't finish it in time. Dyen's magic has some effect on Zellak, but not the effect he desired.
King Zellak:
"Yes, I am insignificant now, but I am about to be so much more! I wish for the power to destroy my enemies!"
Phulax:
...
thuryl:
The altar glows and almost seems to vibrate, and a thin crack forms across its upper surface. Zellak tilts his head back and lets out a mighty roar, and you watch as his body... changes.
Everyone, roll a saving throw.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 19
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 8
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 20
* Meredith rolls: d20 => 1
Meredith:
(oh fuckit, twice in one night?)
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 15
Lephista:
(oh fuck)
Phulax:
...
Dyen:
(Well damn.)
thuryl:
You are all thrown back by a wall of expanding, scaled flesh as King Zellak transforms into a gigantic dragon. Lephista's cassowary is thrown into the water, while Meredith barely manages to catch on to the edge of the platform. Lephista herself lands awkwardly and suffers some bruises, while the rest of you are winded but unscathed. Only Jarrox manages to avoid being thrown back by the growing dragon, by grabbing hold of its tail and climbing up onto its back.
Phulax:
(Nice, Jarrox!)
Dragon Zellak:
"Now do you see the power of the temple? This city is MINE!"
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 3 hit points.***
Jarrox:
"Yeah, I'm riding a huge winged turtle! Mush doggy, mush!"
Lephista:
Our move?
thuryl:
Yup, party's turn.
Siana:
"What the hell do we do NOW?"
Lephista:
Is Zellak tall enough for me to run underneath him?
Dyen:
"Fight, you whore!"
Phulax:
"Kill this monster. His evil must be stopped." I drink a stamina potion.
Jarrox:
I slap the dragon on the rump and hold on tight, big grin on my face.
thuryl:
Yes, Lephista, you can in fact run underneath him. He has awfully big claws and teeth that you'd be running under or between, though.
Dyen:
I cast Fated Strike and stomp on his toe.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 17
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 4
Phulax:
***Phulax gains 3 stamina.***
Meredith:
I attempt to pull myself up, and shout up to Zellak, "Just so you know, I'm not your enemy. I was attempting to wish for you before the others stopped me!"
* Meredith rolls: d20 => 8
Lephista:
"Cover me, guys!" I bolt for the altar.
thuryl:
Dyen stomps on Zellak's foot with all his might. Unfortunately, a dragon's foot is not the easiest material to damage, and his stomp has no obvious effect.
Phulax:
Are there any pieces of debris lying around (e.g. rocks)?
thuryl:
Meredith manages to pull herself up, but spends her whole turn doing so.
Dyen:
(What have I got in my inventory? Anything, still?)
thuryl:
Phulax - yeah, there's some sections of marble tile thrown around by the explosion.
Dyen - nope
Lephista:
I made my move safely, right?
thuryl:
Lephista runs for the altar. She's not quite close enough to get her hand on it yet, but she's only a short distance away.
Phulax:
(Can I can't stop the rock to get Lephista to the altar?)
thuryl:
Zellak sweeps at her with a mighty claw as she sprints, but she ducks under it.
(Hmm, sure.)
Phulax:
"Lephista, you're to move!"
Can't Stop the Rock to warp Lephista right to the altar.
Lephista:
I still have an action, right?
thuryl:
Phulax easily teleports Lephista to the side of the altar. She's close enough to put her hand on it now, and can do so if she wants.
However, I am not going to give her an infinite amount of time to think about how to word her wish, so she had better act soon if she wants to do it this turn.
Lephista:
(Fine, fine.)
I put my hand on the altar. "I wish the bodies of all the people of this island were restored to their original shapes."
Phulax:
...
Dyen:
(We all turn into fetuses)
Lephista:
(It is tough to phrase things well when you are standing under a dragon.)
Dragon Zellak:
King Zellak turns his eyes straight toward Lephista and stares at her in what she's pretty sure is sheer terror. "Wh... what? No! You can't do that! I asked for immortality! It's not fair! It's not--"
thuryl:
Another crack forms in the altar, and this time the entire platform shakes.
King Zellak thrashes around wildly, striking the columns with his wings, claws and tail as his massive body begins to shrink and change in shape. Jarrox, saving throw please.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 12
Jarrox:
"Whooo!"
thuryl:
Jarrox manages to leap off the beast's swinging tail, avoiding being thrown into the water by its flailing.
Within seconds, the dragon is no more. All that lies before you is a dragonborn, his scales greyish, dusty and brittle with incredible old age.
Phulax:
"Thus always to tyrants."
Zellak:
Zellak, lying on the floor, reaches feebly and uselessly up at the altar. "My miracle... my miracle..."
Dyen:
"Was perverted and wasted on evil."
Kekka:
You hear Kekka shouting at you from the northern platform. "You fools! Do you realise what you've done?"
Jarrox:
(Is combat over?)
thuryl:
It sure is.
Meredith:
I look around. "Hey, why hasn't Siana changed back to her original form?"
Siana:
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Phulax:
"Indeed, Dyen. Well said."
Jarrox:
I run over and slap both hands on the stone star. "I wish that no wish can ever be wished with the exception of Hirst's wish, cause he's not so bad."
Meredith:
"Oh, come on. We all know you've had reconstructive magic to make you presentable in public."
"JARROX!"
Kekka:
"No, you damn fool of a dwarf! Don't you dare--"
Dyen:
(Rowen, you bastard. O.o)
Meredith:
"WAIT!"
Phulax:
(Rowen, nice!)
Meredith:
I wrestle Jarrox off.
thuryl:
If any of you want to stop Jarrox before he finishes his wish, you can try. It'll be a tough roll.
Lephista:
Hmm. I'll allow it. :P
Phulax:
I choose not to intervene.
* Meredith rolls: d20 => 17
Dyen:
I cast Glimpse of Oblivion on him.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 2
Dyen:
(Oblivion's very cheery today, it seems.)
thuryl:
Meredith realises what Jarrox is doing and manages to pull Jarrox away just before he finishes stating his wish. She won't be able to hold on to him forever, though. Jarrox, you can roll to struggle and free yourself.
Phulax:
"Hirst, quickly!"
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 19
Phulax:
"Before anything else happens!"
thuryl:
Jarrox breaks free of Meredith, but her attempt bought enough time to give the rest of you a chance to rush over to the altar and attempt to make your own wishes, if you do it right now.
Dyen:
I calmly and hopefully stealthily place a hand on the altar and whisper "I wish to know the fate of all things."
Phulax:
"Dyen! Let Hirst go!"
Dyen:
(I'm not stopping him.)
thuryl:
The altar glows, and small pieces of stone crumble away from its edges. Dyen, roll a save.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 16
Meredith:
I slam my hand on the altar and shout "I wish to have the power of the altar within me!"
Phulax:
...
Hirst:
Hirst places his remaining hand on the altar. "I want my wife Arielle restored to health!"
Meredith:
(now you're all going to have to touch up meredith to get wishes)
Lephista:
(woo, meredith/siana fanfiction in the epilogue)
Dyen:
(That could go badly very quickly.)
thuryl:
As Dyen removes his hand from the altar, he feels different -- more attuned with fate. He has gained a perk!
Instrument of Fate: You score a critical success on rolls of 19-20, or 18-20 when rolling Divination.
Dyen:
I bow to the altar and back up a few paces.
Hirst:
Hirst's wish has no obvious effect, and he solemnly removes his hand from the altar. "I can only hope it worked."
thuryl:
Immediately after, Meredith makes her wish, The altar glows and the platform shudders.
thuryl:
Meredith, roll a save and hope it's good.
* Meredith rolls: d20 => 1
Meredith:
(hahahaha)
Phulax:
...
Dyen:
(L-O-L)
Lephista:
(hahaha, best comeuppance ever)
Meredith:
(dude, i am laughing so much right now)
Jarrox:
(Should have let me seal up the wish power.)
Meredith:
(are you kidding? i get to die in a terrifically horrible way!)
Phulax:
(Wow.)
thuryl:
Meredith's entire body goes rigid, her hand locked into position on the altar's surface. As you watch, her form becomes more and more transparent, as if she isn't really there at all.
Meredith's body dissipates into a white mist that seems to seep into the cracks in the stone. Her essence is now one with the altar, as she wished. Unfortunately, she is no longer in any condition to take advantage of its power.
Phulax:
...
thuryl:
Meredith's earthly possessions still lie on a pile beside the altar.
Phulax:
I look sick.
Jarrox:
"Dibs on the boom stick!"
Meredith:
(haha)
Lephista:
"Oh gods, Meredith."
"Someone wish her back!"
Phulax:
(Hahaha!)
thuryl:
Before Jarrox remembers what he was trying to wish for, Ilestro, evidently undeterred by Meredith's cautionary example, runs over to the altar.
Lephista:
Speaking of Zellak, I watch him to make sure he doesn't go for the altar.
Ilestro:
"I want to be the most famous swordsman in Dilegad!"
Phulax:
I turn away, disgusted what happened to Meredith.
thuryl:
Lephista watches over Zellak, but he's barely conscious, let alone in any condition to do anything.
The altar glows and cracks a little more as Ilestro makes his wish.
Phulax:
I look at Kekka and Druju; what are they doing?
Ilestro:
"Hmm. I don't feel any better with a sword. Maybe I was already the best."
thuryl:
Roll Perception, Phulax.
Phulax:
"You wished to be famous, Ilestro, not competent."
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 14
thuryl:
Phulax notices Kekka trying to cast another teleportation spell. This time, he could try to interrupt it.
Phulax:
I do interrupt.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 17
Phulax:
"No more portal abuse!"
thuryl:
Kekka's spell fizzles out in response to Phulax's counterspell, and she glares at him with hatred in her eyes.
Kekka:
"You! Why do you all insist on destroying the future of Mote?"
Phulax:
I smile. "The future of Mote? You don't strike me as the philanthropic types."
Kekka:
"Have you no imagination? Consider! Mote's land is dwindling away, while its oceans grow ever larger. This is historical fact!"
"This city and its people were destined to inherit Mote's future! Imagine: a great undersea empire, spanning the entire world! And we could have been part of it, if you hadn't ruined it all!"
Dyen:
"Hah!"
"Have you seen their empire?"
Phulax:
"Gods decide the fate of the world. Not pompous abusers of teleportation magic." I spit.
Dyen:
"Heard the story of its years beneath Tempecomt's fist?"
Phulax:
"Siana, Baxa, do you want to wish?"
Kekka:
"This altar contains the power of the gods."
Dyen:
"The sea is no home to civilization."
Kekka:
"With it, we can be as they are!"
Dyen:
"We would be as savages."
Siana:
"I already wished, remember? Not that it seemed to do anything..."
Dyen:
"The gods will not enable their usurpers!"
Baxa:
"I... I was going to wish for what Jarrox was going to wish for, actually."
Baxa:
"I mean, after the rest of you were done."
"This place is just too dangerous for anyone to use it. I think so, anyway."
Phulax:
"Really? You are wise, friend."
Lephista:
"I think you're right. Let's do it and go home."
Kekka:
"Fools! Cowards! All of you!"
Phulax:
"Wait."
thuryl:
Kekka attempts to teleport herself over to the altar yet again, but in her rage the spell fizzles out.
Jarrox:
I rewish.
"No more wishies for anyone ever again!"
Phulax:
"..."
Kekka:
"No, you idiot! Don't just throw away this power! Don't you see--"
Phulax:
"Uh... Meredith, though?"
thuryl:
(If you want to try and stop Jarrox again, you can try again, but you'll need a good roll again.)
Lephista:
I gently restrain Jarrox.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 12
Phulax:
I'm probably too far away to stop him in time...
Dyen:
I sit in the lotus position and close my eyes.
thuryl:
Lephista is quick, but not quick enough. Jarrox places his hand on the altar and makes his wish. Immediately, the entire platform shakes and an enormous crack runs through the altar, splitting it in half.
Even after Jarrox takes his hand away, the platform doesn't stop shaking. You notice the columns holding it up are starting to develop deep cracks.
Phulax:
"It's done."
"Gather around me." I drink my other stamina potion.
Kekka:
"You bastards! You... you deserve to die for throwing away such a gift!"
Jarrox:
"Umm, was that a bad thing?"
Phulax:
***Phulax gains 3 stamina.***
Dyen:
"No, Jarrox. The time of this place has ended."
Lephista:
I help Zellak up, and walk with him to Phulax.
thuryl:
Lephista does so.
Phulax:
"Quickly!"
Zellak:
"You're... helping me? Why...?"
Phulax:
I begin to focus myself for a major spell.
Jarrox:
"Whoa, why we taking King Soup?"
Lephista:
"It's over now."
"There's no reason to kill him."
Druju:
Druju looks up at the ceiling, which is practically raining pieces of falling masonry. "Hey, uh, Kekka? It's over. They've won. We should probably cut our losses and get outta here."
Phulax:
"Dyen, Hirst, Baxa, come on!"
thuryl:
Phulax begins to concentrate deeply.
Baxa:
"Don't have to tell me twice!"
Dyen:
I very calmly stand and join the rest of you.
Jarrox:
"Want some of my drink?" I offer my skins to the party.
Kekka:
Smoke flares from Kekka's mouth as she screams at you, barely coherently. "You'll pay for this! Some day, I'll find you, I'll bring an army and I'll make you pay!"
Phulax:
Spend all stamina on teleportation, to the surface.
thuryl:
Roll it, Phulax.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 3
Phulax:
...
Dyen:
"You will not."
Phulax:
*** Phulax loses 7 stamina.***
thuryl:
Phulax casts his spell, but in his nervousness manages to mispronounce the last few syllables. You feel yourselves pulled away just as the columns crumble and the platform falls away below you...
You return to the physical world and find that you've been teleported some of the way back to the surface, but not all. You recognise your location as the entrance of Mariona's trial, but it's seen better days. The roof is still raining down chunks of rock, and the walls are crumbling: it seems that this entire temple must have been held together by the altar's power.
OK, you guys' turn.
Dyen:
(Is Phulax conscious?)
Phulax:
I collapse.
Lephista:
Do we have any stamina potions left?
thuryl:
Phulax collapses to the floor, dazed and exhausted. He's conscious, but he can barely stand.
Jarrox:
"There are, but they are a few tests below us."
Dyen:
(Didn't someone have a stamina potion?)
Phulax:
"I didn't... get... us... far enough..." I close my eyes and breathe shallowly.
Jarrox:
"If only you had let me take them with me but noooooo, it's a temptation you all said."
Lephista:
"Someone, get him another potion, quickly!"
Baxa:
"I would, but I kind of threw away all our potions in Hurak's trial."
Jarrox:
"Or we can run like hell?" I drop my pack on the ground and pick up Phulax over my sholder, fireman style.
Baxa:
"Sounds good to me!"
Lephista:
I drop my stuff and carry Zellak.
thuryl:
All of your stuff? Like, your entire pack?
Lephista:
Hmm. On second thought, just my axe.
Jarrox:
(My whole pack, and feel free to move my token along with Phulax.)
thuryl:
Okay. Lephista drops her conjured axe and picks up Zellak. She's easily strong enough to carry him, although it'll definitely slow her down.
Jarrox lets go of his pack and picks up Phulax.
Dyen:
I go and try and help whichever of the two is having more difficulty.
thuryl:
Dyen runs over to Lephista and helps to support Zellak.
Lephista:
I pray silently to Mariona as we run.
thuryl:
As you emerge into Sliros's trial, you see that the statues are wandering around the hallways in an apparent state of confusion. They make no directly hostile moves toward you, though.
Ilestro:
"This whole place is collapsing! Why did you have to make such a stupid wish, dwarf?"
Jarrox:
"Cause best swordsman in all Mote was already taken," I huff.
thuryl:
Hirst's party wastes no time in sprinting back the way they came, weaving around the stone guardians in the narrow hallways.
Dyen:
"He said famous! And don't you use an axe?"
thuryl:
As you run through the halls, the collapse of the temple speeds up. Large chunks of the ceiling fall down, threatening to crack your skulls. Saving throws, everyone.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 9
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 11
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 5
Phulax:
(Do I roll, being semi-conscious?)
thuryl:
(You can roll, but you'll take a penalty.)
Dyen:
(Where's Zellak?)
Phulax:
(Should I roll, perhaps I should say?)
thuryl:
(You should roll, yes.)
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 9
thuryl:
Phulax is showered with small but painful rocks, while a large chunk of stone glances off Jarrox's helmet, giving him a headache.
Phulax:
*** Phulax loses 4 hit points.***
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 6 hit points.***
Dyen:
(Yaaaay DEX modifier.)
Lephista:
Can I heal them both without breaking stride?
Jarrox:
"Graa, that rock gave me a hangover."
Siana:
"Argh! Why does adventuring have to be so painful? This is all your fault!"
thuryl:
Lephista - sure
If you use magic, that is.
Lephista:
Yeah, magic.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 19
Phulax:
(Yay!)
thuryl:
(Was that for Phulax or Jarrox?)
Lephista:
(Uh, both at once, I thought. But if that's no good, that one's for Phulax and I'll roll again for Jarrox.)
thuryl:
(OK.)
(Roll again.)
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 15
Jarrox:
***Jarrox is healed and gains 8 hit points.***
Phulax:
***Phulax is healed and gains 9 hit points.***
thuryl:
Lephista masterfully heals Phulax and Jarrox of the wounds they've received. Phulax feels a little better now: he can walk unassisted, although heavy activity will still be difficult.
Lephista:
(Woo, Mariona is with me.)
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 2 stamina.***
Phulax:
I stagger along as best I can.
Jarrox:
I bring up the rear of the party.
thuryl:
You can move freely, by the way, if you were worried about counting turns or anything. I'll just assume you're all going as fast as possible under the conditions.
Jarrox:
I point at one of the satues, "You got off lucky."
thuryl:
The statue turns to look at Jarrox in response to his taunt.
Roll a save, Jarrox.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 15
thuryl:
Fortunately, the statue appears to decide not to press the issue, and turns around and keeps wandering soon after.
You run down the halls and return to Kyrophius' trial. You hear the ear-piercing sounds of creaking and grinding metal to the north.
Lephista:
Once everyone is on, I pull the lever.
Ilestro:
"Hurry up! Pull the lever and get us out of here before the whole temple comes down on our heads!"
thuryl:
Lephista complies, and the platform moves unsteadily along its tracks.
You all disembark on the main platform, which is falling apart slightly less than the southern catwalk, but only slightly.
Phulax:
"This one," I murmur.
Lephista:
It's east next, right?
Dyen:
I pull this northern lever.
thuryl:
Dyen pulls the northern lever, and you hear the northern platform being summoned to you.
Lephista:
Oh, right.
thuryl:
After what feels like much too long under the circumstances, the platform arrives.
The entire central platform is starting to tilt alarmingly down to the east.
Lephista:
I help Zellak aboard.
Zellak:
"The temple... my city... everything... gone..."
Lephista:
Once we're all on, lever.
Jarrox:
"I can push you over the side if you like soup."
Phulax:
I sit down and shut my eyes while waiting for the platform to move.
Dyen:
"As it should be, King."
thuryl:
Lephista pulls the lever, and the platform creaks and grinds its way to the north along its tracks. You can't help but notice that the area below you is filling up with water at a distressingly fast rate: its surface is only a couple of feet below the platforms now.
Lephista:
So you're saying we can swim across the gap here, right?
thuryl:
You disembark as the platform arrives at its destination, to find that the section of catwalk connecting you to the entrance has already fallen away. You could swim for it, although the water is rushing and swirling around rapidly.
Lephista:
Hmm. How long is the jump?
Jarrox:
"Umm, I can't swim guys."
Lephista:
"Of course you can't."
thuryl:
About twenty feet. You have enough of a running start to make it if you're not heavily laden down, but the floor is slippery.
Phulax:
"I don't... still tired..." I wobble even as I speak.
"Rope? Do we still have rope?"
Lephista:
"We do! I have some!"
Phulax:
"Baxa... fly across with the rope."
Lephista:
I hand one end of my rope to Baxa.
Baxa:
"I'll do my best..."
Jarrox: (Didn't I fill my ale-skins with that cool healing water last session?)
thuryl:
Baxa leaps across the gap, fluttering her wings furiously all the way, and easily makes it to the other side.
Baxa:
"I've done it! Now what?"
thuryl:
(I think you filled one of them, yeah.)
(You also have three stamina potions left in your belt pouch from Phol-Phoram's trial.)
Lephista:
"Hang on! Everyone else, get across!"
(... what.)
(Sweet merciful Mariona, why didn't anyone say so?)
thuryl:
(Probably because they were from Phol-Phoram's trial.)
(I'm pretty sure it was mentioned already this session.)
Jarrox:
"Hey teleport man, open your mouth and drink up." I pop the top to my ale-skin and also pull out the potions.
Phulax:
I turn to Jarrox. "What?"
Lephista:
"What? Jarrox, where the hells did you get those?"
thuryl:
As you speak, you feel the rising water lapping around your ankles, and currents tug at your legs.
Jarrox:
"I can't make that jump and I sure as hell can't swim, now just drink the damn things and save our sorry asses."
Dyen:
"Lephista, you wanna try and swim it with this guy?"
Lephista:
"Let Phulax try his thing first. If not, yeah. I'll do that."
Phulax:
"What do you want me to try? I don't think I have any energy left..."
Lephista:
"Jarrox's stamina potions! Drink them! Hurry!"
Jarrox:
I grab Phulax and start draining the potions into his jaw.
Phulax:
"He's got stamina potions? Okay... would've been good to know... earli-gulp."
I stop as I try to swallow and not choke on force-fed stamina potions.
thuryl:
The water level is now up around your calves. It's getting difficult to keep your footing. Fortunately, Phulax drinks the potions and quickly feels full of renewed energy.
Phulax:
***Phulax gains 9 stamina.***
***Phulax is healed and gains 6 hit points.***
Jarrox:
"Bottoms up fool, I weigh too much to float in this watter."
Phulax:
I spent three stamina trying to warp us all to the other side.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 19
Phulax:
*** Phulax loses 3 stamina.***
Lephista:
"What are you doing? Take us all the way out!"
thuryl:
Using one of his strongest teleportation spells, Phulax easily sends everyone to the other side of the gap.
Ilestro:
"It's about time! Keep running!"
Phulax:
"Oh... good idea."
I shake my head, still trying to clear away cobwebs.
5 stamina to get us to the surface, or as close as I can.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 10
Phulax:
*** Phulax loses 5 stamina.***
thuryl:
Phulax follows his spell up with another. As the water continues to rise, you all vanish...
You reappear in the ruins of the old city, above the temple. You can still hear rushing water not too far below you. Ahead of you stand Kekka, Druju and their goblin hirelings.
Kekka:
"Do you think you fools are the only ones who can teleport? It's time for you to pay for what you've done!"
Phulax:
"You again? Go away."
Dyen:
I cast Glimpse of Oblivion on her.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 13
Lephista:
"Fighting now won't change anything, Kekka. It's over. Let us go."
Jarrox:
I spit and body slam myself into Druju.
Phulax:
"Goblins: Do you really want to work for this clown? He abandoned your comrades, you know."
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 19
Kekka:
"Or what? You've already destroyed the greatest thing in all of Mote. I want revenge! I--"
Phulax:
"We helped them return to the surface."
thuryl:
(Roll Composure, Phulax.)
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 1
Phulax:
...
(Grr. Oh well)
thuryl:
Dyen casts his spell on Kekka, causing her to reel back, momentarily stunned. Meanwhile, Jarrox lunges at Druju, bruising him and knocking him off his feet.
In his attempts to convince the other goblins to stop fighting, Phulax inadvertently uses a term that's an obscure racial slur. Unfortunately, it's not obscure to the goblins, and they immediately draw their weapons and begin to charge at him.
Enemy turn.
Phulax:
(Ha!)
Lephista:
I don't get an action? Eh, fine.
thuryl:
(You might have, if you'd got in before the critfail spurred them all to attack immediately.)
Lephista:
(Fair enough.)
Phulax:
(Sometimes the die is like that. Alas.)
thuryl:
The goblins set upon Phulax with short swords, hand axes and clubs. He does an admirable job of ducking and weaving, but two of the blows strike true for a total of 7 damage.
Phulax:
*** Phulax loses 7 hit points.***
thuryl:
Kekka is still too stunned to act, but Druju struggles on the stairway with Jarrox and manages to escape his grip with a throw, sending Jarrox tumbling down the steps.
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 9 hit points.***
thuryl:
Party turn.
Lephista:
I gently set Zellak down, walk over to the nearest goblin, and wrestle his weapon out of his hands.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 10
Phulax:
I back up. "Ilestro, great swordsman, help us out here!"
thuryl:
Lephista manages to disarm the nearest goblin, taking his crude hand axe.
Phulax:
I cast teleport to drop a rock on the goblins.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 8
Ilestro:
"Are you kidding? They're trying to kill you, not me! I'm not getting involved!"
Dyen:
I cast The Best Defense.
thuryl:
Phulax teleports a large rock from a nearby pile of rubble, bruising the shoulder of one of the goblins.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 10
thuryl:
Dyen casts his spell, and feels safer from harm.
Jarrox:
I get up and mad rush Druju, body checking him again.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 18
thuryl:
Jarrox rises to his feet and lunges at Druju, knocking him back and cracking his helmeted head hard against the corner of a step. The goblin grunts loudly in pain and anger.
That's everyone, isn't it? Enemy turn.
The goblin Lephista disarmed tries unsuccessfully to wrest his weapon back from her, while the others take swings at Phulax and Dyen. Phulax evades, but Dyen is struck by two heavy blows.
Dyen:
*** Dyen loses 8 hit points.***
thuryl:
Kekka attempts a spell, which fizzles, while Druju manages to get back to his feet, grab his mace and strike a glancing blow to Jarrox's helmet.
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 4 hit points.***
thuryl:
Party's turn.
Lephista:
I step in front of the goblins, take that axe I lifted off one of them in both hands, and snap the handle in half. "Run."
Intimidate:
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 12
thuryl:
The goblins look at each other. One of them seems suitably intimidated, and begins to back off. The rest continue fighting.
Dyen:
I cast Fated Strike.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 13
Dyen:
And punch the one to the south in the throat.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 10
thuryl:
Dyen punches the goblin hard in the throat, and it drops its weapon and reels back, gasping for air.
Phulax:
Ready Le Couran's Open Window for the next one of the goblin's attacks, so his attack passes through into Kekka instead.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 9
thuryl:
Phulax prepares his spell in readiness for the next goblin attack.
Jarrox:
I swing the sharp edge of my axe into Druju's helmet.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 17
thuryl:
Jarrox swings his axe down with all his might on the goblin's head, splitting his helm and leaving a deep gash in his scalp. He roars in pain.
Enemy turn.
Lephista:
"Hey, Baxa, they're fighting us because Jarrox made the wish you wanted to. How about a little help?"
thuryl:
Kekka makes a motion with her hand, and a rain of stones falls on Dyen and Lephista. Dyen takes the brunt of the attack, while Lephista takes a few glancing blows.
Dyen:
*** Dyen loses 7 hit points.***
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 2 hit points.***
Baxa:
"I guess that's fair, isn't it... Okay! I'll help!"
thuryl:
Meanwhile, Druju rains down another series of blows on Jarrox's head and shoulders with his mace. Jarrox parries most of them with the flat of his axe, but takes a few nasty bruises in the process.
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 7 hit points.***
thuryl:
One of the goblins flees for his life, but the others continue beating up Dyen and Lephista, who both take further injuries. Phulax attempts to divert their attacks with a portal, but isn't fast enough.
Dyen:
*** Dyen loses 11 hit points.***
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 8 hit points.***
thuryl:
Seeing Dyen in danger, Baxa steps back and hurls a sharpened steel throwing star into the throat of one of the goblins. It keels over, mortally wounded.
Party turn.
Jarrox:
I burn four stamina and stick my axe into Druju's head, sharp edge first.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 10
Lephista:
I spend 2 stamina to heal Dyen.
Phulax:
(Okay)
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 3
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 4 stamina.***
Dyen:
I cast Fated Strike and throw the goblin to my east at Kekka.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 10
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 17
Dyen:
"Healing!"
thuryl:
Jarrox brings his axe crashing down on Druju's head, leaving another deep cut in both his helmet and his head. Druju groans weakly.
Dyen:
Or otherwise propel him I suppose.
thuryl:
Meanwhile, Lephista hurriedly attempts to patch up the worst of Dyen's wounds with her magic.
Dyen:
***Dyen is healed and gains 7 hit points.***
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 2 stamina.***
thuryl:
Dyen successfully throws the goblin, knocking it down the stairs and glancing Kekka's leg on the way down, throwing her off balance.
Phulax:
I slip through the melee. "Drink this!" I thrust a healing potion into Dyen's hand. Then I teleport on a goblin (the one directly north of me), trying to drop him on Kekka.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 10
Dyen:
Roll to drink it?
thuryl:
(Naw, you still have an item-use action this turn.)
Dyen:
Then I do that.  
thuryl:
Phulax manages to teleport the goblin some distance away, taking it out of the fight for the time being, but doesn't quite have enough oomph to drop it down on Kekka. Meanwhile, Dyen gratefully drinks the proffered potion.
Dyen:
***Dyen is healed and gains 6 hit points.***
thuryl:
Enemy turn.
Phulax:
"Not quite what I had in mind, but it works," I say as I watch the goblin reappear.
thuryl:
Kekka regains her footing and summons another rain of stones over the party's heads, loose stones being not exactly hard to come by in this place. Phulax, Dyen and Lephista all suffer some more bruises to their head and shoulders.
Phulax:
*** Phulax loses 4 hit points.***
Dyen:
*** Dyen loses 6 hit points.***
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 3 hit points.***
thuryl:
Druju swings his mace at Jarrox in a mighty and desperate counterattack, scoring a direct hit to his head and ringing his helmet like a bell.
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 9 hit points.***
thuryl:
The goblin who was thrown down the stairs decides this is all too much trouble for him, and begins to limp away from the battle, but the one Phulax teleports away begins to charge back into the fight. Meanwhile, the two goblins next to Dyen and Lephista take some more swings at them, but they dodge easily.
Baxa hurls another throwing star at one of the goblins, but the attack goes wide.
Party turn.
Lephista:
I hand Dyen a healing potion, then cast a 2 stamina heal on Jarrox.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 9
Jarrox:
I go cross eyed and take a finishing swing at Druju.
thuryl:
Lephista hands another healing potion over to Dyen as she works to magically bind Jarrox's wounds.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 9
Phulax:
I try again to launch the belligerent goblin that I teleported last time into Kekka.
Jarrox:
***Jarrox is healed and gains 10 hit points.***
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 10
Phulax:
(LoL)
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 2 stamina.***
thuryl:
Jarrox swings at Druju, but the attack only grazes the goblin's arm.
Phulax teleports the goblin away again, keeping him out of the fight for now.
Phulax:
"Uh... I need to get this direction thing right..."
thuryl:
Dyen?
Jarrox:
I stagger a little as my blow doesn't connect fully.
Dyen:
I drink the potion.
Dyen:
***Dyen is healed and gains 6 hit points.***
Dyen:
Then I run at Kekka and do a flying tackle.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 15
thuryl:
Ignoring the goblins, Dyen charges at Kekka, sending her sprawling down the stairs.
thuryl:
Enemy turn.
Kekka:
"You... you'll pay for that, you barbarian!"
thuryl:
Kekka gets to her feet and attempts another spell, but in her rage she fails to cast it successfully.
thuryl:
Druju strikes another glancing blow to Jarrox's shoulder with his mace.
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 4 hit points.***
thuryl:
The goblin Phulax has been teleporting away decides that it's sick of this whole business too, and you see it wandering off toward the exit with the others. The two goblins still in the fight swing at Lephista, one of them grazing her side with a swing of its shortsword.
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 1 hit points.***
thuryl:
Baxa once again hurls a throwing star at one of the goblins, and once again misses.
thuryl:
Party turn.
Jarrox:
I burn 2 stamina to focuse on my attack and swing at Druju once more.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 5
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 2 stamina.***
Phulax:
Seeing that Kekka has ended up near me, I stride over to her. "You! You irresponsible twit! Mote has enough trouble with natural portals! It doesn't need the few people who have power over them abusing that power! You stranded those poor goblins!" I slug Kekka.
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 5
Phulax:
(Oh well)
Lephista:
I disarm the goblin north of me, throw its weapon away, and roar at it.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 1
Phulax:
(Lephista frightens herself?)
Dyen:
I cast Fated Strike and kick Druju in the side of the head.
thuryl:
Jarrox's wild swing just grazes Druju's thigh, while Kekka fends off Phulax's blow with her hands and Lephista attempts to disarm the goblin but instead manages to get herself stuck in the gut with its shortsword.
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 7
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 5
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 4 hit points.***
thuryl:
Dyen takes a high kick at Druju, who ducks out of the way at the last moment.
Enemy turn.
Druju strikes a blow to the side of Jarrox's head, although most of the impact is absorbed by his helmet.
Jarrox:
*** Jarrox loses 4 hit points.***
thuryl:
Kekka summons a small shower of rocks to plague Phulax, giving him a few more bruises.
Phulax:
*** Phulax loses 5 hit points.***
thuryl:
The goblin Lephista tried to disarm twists his sword in Lephista's gut, inflicting further damage, while she fends off the attack of the other.
Lephista:
*** Lephista loses 6 hit points.***
thuryl:
Baxa inflicts a further wound on the goblin that missed Lephista, with a throwing star to the chest.
Party turn.
Jarrox:
"Stop doing that!" I swing out wildly trying to hit Druju now that I can't see straight.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 8
Phulax:
I teleport Kekka northward, toward the sound of the floodwaters. "You are the weakest link. Goodbye."
* Phulax rolls: d20 => 19
Phulax:
(A good roll!)
Lephista:
(You used it to teleport the caster away from our fighters. :P)
thuryl:
Jarrox strikes another glancing blow to Druju's upper arm, but all of his wounds and blood loss are clearly starting to take their toll on the goblin.
Phulax:
(There are enough other people to hit.)
thuryl:
Meanwhile, Phulax manages to teleport Kekka some distance away. You don't hear a satisfying scream followed by an even more satisfying splash, but you're pretty sure it'll take her a while to get back to you.
Lephista:
I drink a healing potion, then cast healing on Jarrox.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 20
Lephista:
***Lephista is healed and gains 6 hit points.***
Dyen:
I'll just punch Druju in the back of the head now. After casting Fated Strike.
Lephista:
(Woo! Jarrox lives forever!)
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 7
* Lote Hin rolls: d20 => 6
Jarrox:
***Jarrox is healed and gains 14 hit points.***
Dyen:
(Roar.)
thuryl:
Calm under pressure, Lephista perfectly enunciates the words of her healing spell and Jarrox immediately feels much better.
thuryl:
Dyen tries to punch at Druju again, but can't find a good opening to attack between the wild swings of the goblin's mace.
Enemy turn.
Druju takes a moment to assess the situation, takes a step away from Jarrox and Dyen, drops his mace and raises his hands in the air. Seeing him stop fighting, his fellow goblins follow suit.
End combat.
Phulax:
"Now let's run."
Druju:
"Wait! I give up! This isn't worth dying for!"
Jarrox:
"Now that my head has cleared, where are we?"
Dyen:
"Was it ever?"
Kekka:
"You do what? Traitor! What did I even bring you here for?"
thuryl:
Kekka is apoplectic with rage, but she doesn't seem to be making any move to attack you now that it's just her against everyone.
Lephista:
FA on Dyen.
* Lephista rolls: d20 => 5
Jarrox:
"Do I need to chop up that one over there now or can we just get the hell out before the roof falls on us?"
Dyen:
***Dyen is healed and gains 4 hit points.***
thuryl:
Lephista manages to patch up some of the worst of Dyen's wounds.
Phulax:
I start heading out. "Come on, everyone. Don't drown!"
Jarrox:
I move over and pick up Druju's mace.
Kekka:
"This isn't over! I'll find some way to make you pay for this, I swear it!"
Lephista:
I start helping Zellak along again.
Dyen:
"Pay for what?"
"Saving the world from your torment?"
"Begone, craven."
Jarrox:
"Come on, out out out. All of you."
thuryl:
Kekka and Druju run for the exit, as do Hirst's party.
Once again, the water is beginning to spill into the floor you're on and lap around your feet. Fortunately, with no further obstacles in your way, you easily make it to the stairs up and out of this ruin.
Jarrox:
Once again I follow behind everyone, making sure that no one is left behind of our ever growing party.
thuryl:
You return to the Reef, and find that it is no longer a reef but simply an open garbage pit covered in shards of broken coral. Dozens of dwarves, naked except for a covering of filth and seaweed, wander aimlessly around the area.
Kekka:
"Well, look at what you've accomplished. You've returned everyone to 'normal'. Are you pleased with yourselves?"
Dyen:
"Yes."
Phulax:
As we pass by, I offer them my cloak, tent, and sleeping bag for some of them to cover themselves (keeping my brooch off the cloak, of course).
Kekka:
"They've never known any life but one of sitting in the Reef and eating garbage. Do you think they'll ever adapt to the life you think they should lead?"
Lephista:
"It's worth a try. Also, shut up, we're running."
Dyen:
"I am closer to Imaunte, and see things through the lens of Fate. This is for the best."
thuryl:
Phulax offers his gear to the dwarves. With some prompting from him, they manage to cover themselves, more or less.
Lephista:
I'm still helping Zellak.
Phulax:
"Come on, I want to get out of here."
Jarrox:
"Eww, don't let those things touch me."
thuryl:
The dwarves offer you no resistance as you pass by them.
Phulax:
"Hello."
thuryl:
A few grope at you, but they seem curious rather than hostile.
Jarrox:
I give a gentle push back with the mace to keep them off of me.
thuryl:
At the entrance to the Reef, four rather disconcerted-looking lacewings stand guard. It seems like it's all they can do to keep the dwarves down here. When they see a band of heavily armed adventurers approaching, they take a quick look at each other, turn tail and run.
Phulax:
I follow them out.
thuryl:
You flee to the surface of the island. Lying near the entrance to the reef is the body of an ancient-looking dragonborn, covered in wounds and burns. Although he has changed since you last saw him, his face distinctly reminds you of Skrass.
Zellak:
Zellak sees the body and laughs weakly. "Skrass... so you got your wish after all. Too bad you never lived to see it..."
Zellak coughs, gasps and clutches at his chest.
"And I... it seems I will live just long enough to see my kingdom fall..."
Zellak:
"Six hundred years... it feels like it went by so fast. Six hundred years, and what do I have to show for it?"
"I just wanted to live..."
thuryl:
The sounds of rushing water below you have calmed down. It seems the water level is stabilising.
Dyen:
"You could have done so without ruining and corrupting all around you."
Zellak:
"That was never my intention. But when I found myself in that position... can you blame me for making the best of it?"
Lephista:
"I think there's a life after this one. As long as you have that, there's always hope."
Phulax:
"Why did you need anyone's help to go wish again? Why were you working with this goon," I gesture at Kekka, "and what caused the island to rise?"
Jarrox:
"Yeah I don't blame you. I mean who doesn't want to be a turtle?"
Dyen:
"What you made was far from the best."
Jarrox:
"Anyone got some more booze? I need a drink."
Lephista:
I laugh. "No thanks, Jarrox."
Zellak:
Zellak gasps, trying to force a last few breaths of air through his ancient lungs. "I feared I could not complete the trials on my own, especially in the ungainly body of a turtle. As for the island... Kekka can tell you more... I'm so... tired..."
Jarrox:
"I wasn't offering, I'm asking for some. I need a stiff drink."
Phulax:
I offer Zellak my last healing potion, to ease what are likely to be his final moments.
Zellak:
Zellak sips the healing potion and closes his eyes. "Thank you. If there were more people like you in the world, perhaps... perhaps a temple that granted miracles wouldn't have been such a curse..."
Phulax:
I whisper as an aside "Jarrox, you've been drinking all day!"
thuryl:
Zellak's hand goes limp. The half-consumed potion falls from his grasp and its remaining contents spill onto the earth.
Phulax:
"This king is dead."
Lephista:
"We'd better go to the city. They may need more help."
Dyen:
I bow to his corpse.
Jarrox:
"I know. But I'm feeling rather sober after this last hour of running and fighting and having my head bashed in."
Phulax:
After staring quietly at the king's corpse for a bit, I look at Kekka. "Have anything to say for yourself? You somehow found this island and teleported down there, didn't you? And wished the island to the surface?"
Kekka:
"Why should I say a thing to you?"
Dyen:
"We outnumber you."
Lephista:
"We've been through a lot because of you. I suppose most of it was for the best."
Jarrox:
"This is why you have to talk." I bash Kekka in the side of the head with the mace.
* Jarrox rolls: d20 => 9
Lephista:
"Jarrox!" I hold him back.
thuryl:
Kekka raises her arm just in time to catch the blow with her forearm instead of her head. She winces and steps back.
Kekka:
"So you're going to kill me, then?"
Phulax:
"Not if we don't have to."
Jarrox:
"I've still got a lot of rage so get a-talking."
Phulax:
"Jarrox, behave."
Jarrox:
"Or find me some booze."
Kekka:
"You've destroyed a priceless magical artifact, and a way of life that had served these people well for six centuries. Don't you think you've done enough?"
Dyen:
"Would you deny us knowledge of our own actions?"
Phulax:
"Does it look like we're doing more? You disrupted their so-called 'way of life' by raising this island, I suspect. Don't blame us. We freed them from a life of slavery. Don't act so superior."
Dyen:
"How should we feel guilt then?"
Kekka:
Kekka snorts in disgust. "Fine. If I talk, will you let me go?"
Dyen:
"Yes."
Jarrox:
"Only if we get to fight again another day." I chuckle.
Kekka:
"Druju and I are historians, of sorts, but also much more than that. We are tasked with seeking out magical artifacts from certain locations, and retrieving them."
Phulax:
"Tasked by whom?"
Kekka:
"My life would be forfeit if it ever became known that I told you my employer's identity. It's not important, anyway."
"In any case, our latest and grandest task, set for us some months ago, was to retrieve the altar from the legendary Temple of Hope, so that our employer could make use of its power."
"On our first attempt, we knew nothing of the underwater society living on the sunken island. We teleported directly into the temple, with a team of goblin labourers to assist us. A few had to be sacrificed along the way, but we did reach the temple."
Phulax:
"You'd better hope you don't run into the goblins you left behind, by the way. They're up here on the surface now."
Kekka:
"Unfortunately, our surviving team was insufficient to dig the altar out of its position. We decided it would be easier to return to the island and retrieve it later if we at least brought it to the surface. Having achieved that, we used the temple's power to return to our employer, intending to go back to the island with a larger team and better resources."
"But when we returned, we found out about the remarkable people living on this island. And that set us to thinking."
Lephista:
"Why couldn't you move the altar by wishing?"
Kekka:
"As I said, we were low on resources. Even my own considerable stores of magic were nearly spent. If we had sent the altar away, we may have had difficulty returning to safety ourselves. We attempted to phrase our wish to bring the altar with us when we left, but our attempt was unsuccessful."
"In any case, we returned to the island to finish our work. But when we returned, we found that there was an entire society living here, a society with a bright future. Could we not use the temple's power to join them? I would earn immortality, and Druju would earn a respected place in society."
Dyen:
"A bright future?"
"They were in stasis."
Phulax:
"So you would abandon your employer? Hmm..."
Kekka:
She hesitates before answering Phulax. "Well, we could always have brought the altar back later, once we were done with it."
Druju:
"Enough, Kekka. They don't need to know every detail of what we've been doing. Are you all satisfied yet? Can we go?"
Lephista:
"Fine by me."
Jarrox:
"I want to know where you learned to fight, Druju, that was some nice work."
Druju:
"I learned what I had to learn to survive. You weren't so bad yourself."
Phulax:
"Wheels within wheels. Your employer's scheme... your plan... Zellak's plan... and Hirst's goal, and Ilestro and Siana and Baxa... such a jumble."
Druju:
"You know, I always thought this was a stupid plan right from the start. I mean, digging out an entire altar? Who's to say it'd even work once we removed it from its original location?"
"But our boss isn't the sort of person you say no to."
Jarrox:
"Maybe we can share a few blows without trying to kill each other, but in some friendly sparring. I wouldn't mind learning some of your techniques."
Phulax:
I approach Hirst. "I guess we'll be parting ways soon. I hope you find your wife well, and that you two have many happy years together."
Dyen:
"You are skilled, but weapons are not my path."
Hirst:
Hirst nods. "Thank you. I wish you all the best, as well."
Dyen:
"Kekka. You are half-blind to the truth, and a fool, but we have no further quarrel with you."
Phulax:
"Good luck, Baxa. Don't lose your positive spirit."
Lephista:
"Take care, Hirst. And you, Baxa."
Lephista:
I start walking back toward the city, eager to see how the people have changed.
Baxa:
"Hey, thanks, Phulax. Good luck out there! Y'know, if you were a lacewing... well, you're not, so never mind."
Dyen:
"Hirst, I bid you farewell. May fate favor your plans. I am pleased that we did not come to blows senselessly."
Jarrox:
"I'll miss the nice view. Bye guys."
Phulax:
I bow to Baxa. "Safe travels."
I follow Lephista to the city.
thuryl:
You and Hirst's party part ways; they head back west, toward the ship, while you go south toward the city centre.
Jarrox:
"So Druju, think your employer might be looking for someone with my skills?"
thuryl:
You return to the new City of Hope to find it in a state of confusion. Many humans, with newly-granted eyesight, are running through the streets, having freed themselves from their crude kelp bonds and escaped from their goblin masters. Lacewings, deprived of their lobster claws and natural armour, are trying ineffectually to keep the peace: many of them have given up and are simply trying to keep their heads down and stay out of danger.
Druju:
"Hey, if you're stupid enough to want to work for him, I might be able to arrange an introduction. We can talk more back at the ship. I'll even let them know you're alive so they don't leave without you."
Phulax:
In the city, I do my best to help achieve a modicum of peace and order.
Dyen:
"Your words carry the scent of fortune. I may be interested as well."
Lephista:
Me too. And I heal anyone I see that's hurt.
thuryl:
Kekka and Druju depart, heading back toward the ship that brought you to the island of Elpis.
Jarrox:
"Or if you want we can bail and get out of here, find something better to do. I heard that there's a mountain of gold the next island over."
Phulax:
"Meredith..." I shake my head. "I still can't believe..."
Dyen:
"It is sorrowful, but fate always is, in the end."
Jarrox:
"Well guys, it's been fun, but I don't want to be around when everyone figures out it was us that messed up their lives. Besides, I got a job offer to look into."
thuryl:
Your group tries to pacify the crowds running through the city. It isn't easy: six hundred years of tradition have just been violently overturned by your actions, and there are only four of you here to try and restore some kind of order.
Brawls between the different races have begun in the streets. Fortunately, the City's inhabitants made few weapons, so conflicts are mostly limited to fists and cause bruises rather than deaths. It may take a long time before the people of this city can truly throw away the vestiges of their defunct caste system and find a new way to live. But where there's life, there's hope.
End campaign.