The Eye of Anubis: Book Five

[Nathan of the FoS]

That's right, we already saw it do that once, Charles thinks in the instant before he is drenched by what feels like a deluge of acid. In the first moment of pain he makes his decision.

Over the side it is.

Dropping the other pistol and slipping into the water on the same side of the causeway as Tomas, he takes out his rapier and dagger and waits, trying to clear his head from the pain and hoping that the damage from the acid won't be permanent...my boyish looks will not be improved by the scars...while using the stones of the causeway to keep himself from sliding deeper into the abyss. It's all too much to really enjoy the sensation of being able to breath water, although that is rather novel and would be quite enjoyable under more relaxing circumstances.

Ref save 12, Fear save 29. So, 20 damage but no fear. I dearly hope that going over the side will dilute the acid enough to prevent further damage, but that's as may be. I'd like to use a toehold in the causeway to stabilize Charles' position (at least until he gets attacked or has to move away from the causeway for some other reason).

BTW, this means there are two loaded pistols available for use on the causeway, Whistler.

[steveflam]

Ishaq grins sheepishly at Kuzan "Sorry Effendi, I always wondered what it would be like to ride a Sea Serpent, and now I know. Thank for the healing." Ishaq's grin quickly disappears when he gets squirted by the venom. "AAaaarghhhhhhh" he yells. Then quickly thinking, he slips back into the water like the others to rinse the foul liquid off his body.

Reflex roll a 12 so Ishaq takes 20 damage. The fear was a 26 so Ishaq sticks around. I'd like Ishaq to use his belt to heal some damage his next action, please. Using two charges giving Ishaq back a nasty roll of 6! Wow what a puny roll!

[Kaitou Kage]

Kuzan almost wiggled himself out of the worst of the acid. Almost. If he'd moved just a split-second sooner, he might have been better off. Unfortunately, he missed that split-second and the acid seared through his skin, eliciting a grunt of displeasure from the priest.

What the hell? was all Kuzan could really manage to think when Charles jumped over the edge. Trying to swim around a beast that was obviously swimming better than they made absolutely no sense to the priest. Had they never heard of falling back, regrouping, and reconsidering?

"Fall back!" he shouted, "Fall back and regroup! Don't jump in the water, you idiots! We can't fight it if we're in the water!"

He moved backward, drawing a scroll from his satchel as he went, and recited the prayer on the scroll.

Mass Aid, granting 16 temporary hp to the party, except Tomas. That should soak most of the damage over the next couple of rounds.

Reflex save 21 (so close).
Fear save 29 (easy as pie).

Moving back around to what looks like Z-37.

[yalenusveler]

Andre swore like a sailor when he got bathed in the unnatural acid, feeling it eating at his skin even with the mystical protections of the amulet of tears. His rational mind tried to tell him that this was something "Natural" and that there was a rational explanation for all of this.

The part of him that was "In charge" however, knew that this was a giant serpent that just spit caustic acid over the lot of them, and that things had just gone VERY poorly indeed.

"I..If if it's a magical beast...I think it perhaps..might be using some sort of arcane effect to produce the acid...perhaps." He managed to stammer out, hoping it was some help as he made haste to retreat to a more defensible spot

OOC: 10 reflex, 13 will. Yay Also, if it's a magical beast, 24 on a Knowledge:Arcana =+1 to any future saves against its abilities...IF it's a magical beast. Also, falling back with Kuzan

[DocBeard]

This is about when Tomas's 'mild phobia' kicks in, with cleats.

WHY AM I IN THE WATER!, Tomas thinks, as he struggles...avoiding the acid, but touched by the creature's power all the same, all of those horrible memories of the chill, the gripping, strangling effect of the stormy Lamordian coast, the...

"Burlb!" Hitting his leg on a piece of masonwork doesn't help, and Tomas flails in the water, stuck fast, trying to move ahead before the beast notices the easy prey in front of it...!

(OOC: Rolled a nat 5 on the saving throw and an adjusted 9 on the swim check. I hate you, Milkman Dan.)

[The Whistler]

It is truly amazing how having several gallons of caustic fluid dumped in one's face can change one's mood. Otto stands there, on the causeway, for a moment longer than might be necessary--for that short second, the impression is of a man who's had a beer spilled on him by a waitress in training. Then, he's...back several feet near the beginning of the causeway, next to Kuzan. It's not clear precisely how he got there, but since he's still facing in the same direction (and with the same pale, tight-lipped expression), he must have either spontaneously learned how to cast dimension door, or actually have been running *backwards* all the way down the bridge.

He's still holding his gun, and mumbling something that might be the activation word for his healing belt, and he's not saying anything--but there's something hard in his eyes as he scans the water.

OOC: 17 and 20 on the Reflex Save and the Fear save, respectively (I forgot to factor in the Bless bonus in the email I sent you, Neo), and burning two charges of the healing belt to heal 8 HP

[NeoTiamat]

The Cistern, Sub-Level One, Dežbār Keep
May 29th, 761, 6:42 AM; Day 73 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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Round Two Actions:
Otto heals himself for 8.
Kuzan casts Mass Aid on everyone but Tomas for 16 HP.
Charles goes over the side.
Lia casts a Magic Missile. Pierces SR, deals 14 damage.
Andre moves back and uses Dark Knowledge, no success.
Khalil does nothing.
Tomas attempts to not drown.
Ishaq heals himself for 6.

The serpent seemed well content with its results, watching the various humans writhe in agony from the acid. The acid didn't really look like much, just thick saliva, but it felt hideous. Even the little orbs of energy that stung this time didn't feel particularly vexsome any more.

Splash. Splash.

This was interesting. Or at least more interesting than pain-ridden mortals, even if they did use strange colored lights. With a soft hiss, the pale serpent lowered its body onto the water and swam towards the most persisten splashing.

It moved more liesurely now, not worried about anything, a sinuous gliding motion that made one forget its bulk. Until, that is, it struck. Lightning like, the serpent lashed out...at Tomas. The Lamordian didn't even realize he'd been attacked till the water around him began to run red with his blood.

Cistern Serpent moves towards the splashing prey and attacks with a Bite. Hits, deals 17-1=16 damage to Tomas.



Player Status Report
ALL Bless (+1 to attacks and Fear saves)
Ishaq: -6 HP.
Khalil: Absentee
Kuzan: Mass Aid (+6 Temp HP)
Charles: Shield (+4 AC), -4 HP
Lia: Extended Mage Armor (+4 AC), Autopilot
Tomas: Magic Weapon (+1 AB, +1 Dmg), Shaken, Flailing, -16 HP.
Andre: Mass Aid (+16 HP), Shaken (-2 to Rolls)
Otto: Barkskin (+2 AC)

Enemy Status Report:
The Cistern Serpent: -56 HP

[steveflam]

Ishaq curses as the serpent attacks Tomas. He climbs out of the water. Looking to the others he says. "I want to jump the serpent again, Effendi's. It seemed to actually do some damage to it last time. Maybe then it will leave us alone. Can any of you make me any stronger and faster?"

[DocBeard]

Hellhellhellhellhellhellhell-"Auch!" Tomas shouts, blood dripping into the brackish, freezing water...but, somehow, the pain allows the Lamordian to focus, kicking his leg savagely out of the hole and managing to float!

this is it for reals. i'm going to die. Tomas shakes off the fear, surging forward and screaming a desperate war cry, taking a broad swipe at the sea monster's front, and following up with a vicious, but clumsy, stabbing attempt-!

(OOC: Juuust made swim check. I got a 17 and a 14 on the attack rolls, respectively. Dunno if that's enough, will edit with damage rolls when I do.)

[lostboy]

Having stood open mouthed at the serpants original attack, Khalil now burst into action. Well theres nothign like a bucket of acid being thrown at you as an incentive after all. Dropping flat as the venomous spray splashes around him he rolls clear, springing back to his feet unscathed.

Cursing himself for his previous inaction he hefts both knives and sends the spinning towards the gruesome aquatic nightmare.

[OOC: Reflex: 24 so with evasion thats nada damage I believe... Also 21 on the fear check *does a jig as Khalil finally passes a will save*

Attack rolls: 16 & 22 if they hit *and I assume on past performance they dont* damage 5 & 6 total 11]

[yalenusveler]

I can do this Andre thought to himself, his breathing more than a little panicked, though if it was due to GIANT ACID SPITTING SERPENT or being covered in acid spat out by a GIANT ACID SPITTING SERPENT was a matter of debate. It resists spells, but spells are about all i have. Even with the aquatic submersion, I've got it in range.. He took a moment to steady himself, and then shouted "Clamo!" directing the sonic energies towards the Serpent. And then cursed like a sailor as the sound...had no appreciable effect.

"Hit the thing with everything you have..spells, bombs..even sodding surly attitude!" escaped his lips after a blast of profanity in Vaasi, Balok, Souragnien, Pharazian, and even an insinuation that the serpent's mother had had inappropriate relations with an untouchable in Rajian.

OOC:Spell penetration roll of 15. Sound Lance has no effect.

[Kaitou Kage]

"Bloody fools," the priest growled. As a sailor, he knew that typically you didn't try to fight sea monsters in the sea. Fighting a sea creature from land or ship was difficult enough. Going into the water was a fool's errand.

"Less talking, more killing," Kuzan snarled at Ishaq and then belted out a prayer. A spear of force materialized next to the serpent and took a pair of sharp stabs at it.

Spiritual Weapon, two attacks

Spell Resistance 14, so never mind.

First Attack: 21
First Damage: 9

Second Attack: 18
Second Damage: 8

[NeoTiamat]

The Cistern, Sub-Level One, Dežbār Keep
May 29th, 761, 6:42 AM; Day 73 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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Round Two Actions:
Otto does not post.
Kuzan casts Spiritual Weapon, fails to pierce Spell Resistance.
Charles does not post.
Lia does not post.
Andre uses another Sound Lance, fails to pierce Spell Resistance.
Khalil throws two daggers at the Serpent, misses both times.
Tomas attacks the Serpent, misses both times.
Ishaq does nothing.

For all the magecraft and metal sent the serpent's way, it seemed to do no appreciable good. Magic slid off the pale serpent's body like damp water, and even as Khalil threw forth his daggers, they hit the small, close-linked scales and bounced into the water without any appreciable effect.

The creature was very hard to hurt. As thick around as a tree trunk, it had small scales, yes, but they were thick and close-set, affording no chink in its armor. Below them, thick coils of muscle roped around its bodies, a living wall. And however it did it, the serpent was as hard to assault with spells as it was with knives.

Meanwhile, however, it was interested in something much more elementary. Specifically, the splashing figure attempting to stab it. With an unfathomable look in its large, luminous eyes, the serpent struck at the Lamordian, its teeth wide and waiting....

Only to hit, as neatly as you please, the Lamordian's shield. Through some divine agency of luck, the fangs struck squarely around the shield, nearly tearing it off of Tomas's arm, but preventing them from piercing any further. As fast as it struck, the serpent retreated its head, though you fancied it had a faintly aggrieved look to it. It was wondering, no doubt, why some fool had put so much metal around its food.

Then it drew its tail out of the water. At first you took this to be a simple stabilizing movement, but then you saw just what this tail was. The end of the serpent was split in half, with two whip-like tails reaching backwards. Near each end there was a long fin on opposite sides, and as it moved, you realized what it was had lacerated Ishaq earlier. Those fins, and the spines in them, were hard and sharp as cutlasses. It was with these that the serpent lashed Tomas, drawing the bladed tails along his lower side and his upper arm, drawing yet more blood into the dark water of Dezbar's cistern.

Serpent full attacks Tomas. Bite Attack, it rolls a natural 1, proving that someone really likes the Paladin.

Two tail-blade attacks hit, dealing 15-1=14 and 18-1=17 damage respectibely, for a total of 31 damage dealt.



Player Status Report
ALL Bless (+1 to attacks and Fear saves)
Ishaq: -16 HP
Khalil:
Kuzan: Mass Aid (+6 Temp HP)
Charles: Shield (+4 AC), -14 HP
Lia: Extended Mage Armor (+4 AC)
Tomas: Magic Weapon (+1 AB, +1 Dmg), Shaken, -47 HP.
Andre: Mass Aid (+6 HP), Shaken (-2 to Rolls)
Otto: Barkskin (+2 AC), -10 HP

Enemy Status Report:
The Cistern Serpent: -56 HP

[yalenusveler]

"Lia, either hit it with something and have it stick, or if you have it, make Kuzan fly so he can potentially get to Tomas...and Ishaq, for gods sakes, HIT THE DAMNED THING!" Andre managed to shout out, trying to get some of the fear tremor out of his voice as he began to gesture and speak, finishing up with "Clamo!" trying to get out a final Sound Lance on the thing, and hopefully have it stick this time.

And with a smile to make a cheshire cat jealous, Andre saw that it did in fact, stick, hyperfocused sound agitating the water, and hopefully making the bad thing go "ow"

OOC:23 damage from a sound lance with a dc 18 fortitude save for half, 24 to penetrate SR

[Kaitou Kage]

"Just focus on killing it," Kuzan belayed Andre's order to Lia, "Burn the thing down!"

Kuzan gritted his teeth and darted forward, uttering another spell.

"Don't stand in a line!" he hissed to Lia and Andre, "We don't want it to get us again."

"Tomas!" the priest called, "Try and move closer to shore!"

A ghostly spear of force materialized in the air next to the serpent and stabbed at the beast, but bounced harmlessly off its scales.

"Stop standing around and KILL it before it kills YOU," he snapped irritably at all the people who seemed to be unable to decide what to do, especially Ishaq.

Spiritual weapon passed SR this time, but missed both attacks.

Moving forward to W-33

Tarlyn, there isn't time for buffs right now if we're going to survive. There needs to be tons of attacking every turn.