Give 'em a hand... [Combat thread]

[DM Bob]

"It LIES!"

"It wears HER bracelet!"

"And the skin is TOUCHED!"

The coffer's lid flips by unseen lifting. An uncountable number of black & green clawed hands scamper, leap and swarm from the stone prison before the wicked glowing red eyes. It seems like thousands of fingers, thumbs and palms resided within. Now free, they run every direction like a plethora of Addam's Family Things, but more gnarled and pointy.

Roll initiative. Intentions, etc... Attilus leaving the hallway has forced all of you within the chamber.

As far as you can tell, there are three angry spirits and hundreds of skittering clawed hands to deal with.

[AthasianLaborer]

Initiative: 7 (rolled a 5, -1 for Dex, +3 for Casting Time)
Intent: Cast Spectral Force from Invisibility. AoE (40' cube + 11 10' cubes) centered on the party (two additional cubes since it is his Signature Spell)

Illusion is as follows:

[ToM Elven: "YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE WAY OF PAIN! TASTE THE FATE OF HEGRITS SISTER!"] booms out from what sounds like all the stone in the room just before everything in the AoE that isn't a party member erupts in flames.

The audio changes to the roaring of the Eternal Hearth, layered with the screaming of a 1000 blue hags.

The thermal signature matches that of the Eternal Hearth, layered on itself in waves.

The scent is exactly the same as the blue hag smelled as she cindered.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Skrye sees the evil in this room, feeling the disgusting feeling towards the ethereal entities, holding her action to turn them

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"Uh oh." Quila mutters under her breath as she sees the troll spirits and undead crawling claws swirl around her.

She quickly pieces together the parts of a puzzle she's not sure yet how it holds together.

"Please hold fearless and honored warriors from Tnor'morken. We respect you and your ancestors. That bracelet our goliath wears was gained in spoils of battle against the legions of fire and was picked from the dead body of one such cultist. We recovered it from a place holding it nearby. We are not some [ToM Goblyn:] b’in’nuch."


(OOC: that Goblyn word I use specifically because it means one is a coward or faint of heart. And we are not.)

[DM Bob]

Quila makes her plea.

"Hold, brothers."

The one on the far right(?) you think laughs.

They seem to not regard your illusions at all... well, in not fearing them that is. They seem to be aware as they reply.

"Then tell us how you are flame-touched and yet somehow not b'in'uchen?"

One of the others adds, "There is memory of our Tnor'morken? What of Mak Thuum Ngatha, the very force that fuels our eternal guard?"

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"Yes there is memory of your great cities, even though they are now mostly that in this day and age: memories. I myself am historian and want to make known the tales of your brethren. There is so much we do not know, and very little opportunity for an encounter with those like you Y'nar. What may I call your two brothers? I am Quila."

Quila looks around her to her friends and with her hands outstretched besides her body pads them down a few times to indicate for them to hold their attacks.

"For us there is no necessary connection between having visited the Eternal Hearth in order to pick up something for one of the brothers and being flame-touched as you call it. We were not aware beforehand that our skin would have this bronzen complexion or any radiation after going there. Having vanquished flame creatures both there, and here, including a priest of the flame called Kurt'ta'ali who worked for Liandrin, an efreetess, I again implore you: we are not b'in'nuch in our heart of hearts. We also know Myron had second thoughts about what he had done under pressure of the one called Rajaat the Warbringer. But we are only a few of maybe a score alive that even know of such things. Killing us will not keep anything, not even a memory, alive for the future. Not of your great Tnor'morken, nor of Mak Thuum Ngatha."

Quila swallows after mouthing that name before she ends herself with a question, "Pray tell us, wise ancestors, but what is the relation between Mak Thuum Ngatha and your Tnor'morken or trollkin civilization? We had only knowledge about the relation to any and all worms, oh, and the pssurlons of course."

Then she waits for a reply by the trio of red eyes.

(OOC: rolled a 12 vs 17 CHA check. My Chronicler kit might bestow a +1 benefit here but I don't know how to apply it as I'm not sure what I'm exactly rolling for, so you adjudicate.)

[DM Bob]

"Yes. Mak Thuum Ngatha forgives those that embrace change & chaos, even one who caused so much hurt. Myron donned the vestige of our Father-Mother and attempted justice for his misdeeds. His gift? No death. His curse? Knowing he may absolve no further as he lies chained below. Even now, he babbles in commune with Mak Thuum Ngatha - strengthening his/her bond with Athas.

The Eternal Hearth and it's arrogance has helped erase many Gods, but wise Mak Thuum Ngatha has always kept distance beyond their reach. The psurlon are his devout from outside our sphere. As are others. We have been seeded upon many worlds... as entropy, an end to all beginnings and a beginning to all ends.

Our form is unimportant, be it troll-kin, wurm or other. We adapt and consume, more than we are. As you can be too. Tell us.

What are your plans here?"

Meanwhile, the hands scamper about, avoiding your protective wards. They climb through unseen ventilation holes, cracks and even around you. While they currently do not attack, you feel that they could be found anywhere within and around in the near future.

[AthasianLaborer]

As mentioned in the chat, 'Muiko will mute the effects of his Spectral Force while not releasing concentration on the spell.

He'll wait until it is needed again (if it is, probably) before enacting likely new effects.

[Attilius]

The giant remains silent intently watching the ventilation holes and cracks. He looks at Skrye to get her attention, points to his own eyes with his two fingers, then points with his index finger at the escaping hands into the holes...

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Skrye looks at the room itself, then at Attilius, just to and return her sight to the spectres

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Apr 12, 2024 16:21:55 GMT DM Bob said:

"Yes. Mak Thuum Ngatha forgives those that embrace change & chaos, even one who caused so much hurt. Myron donned the vestige of our Father-Mother and attempted justice for his misdeeds. His gift? No death. His curse? Knowing he may absolve no further as he lies chained below. Even now, he babbles in commune with Mak Thuum Ngatha - strengthening his/her bond with Athas.

The Eternal Hearth and it's arrogance has helped erase many Gods, but wise Mak Thuum Ngatha has always kept distance beyond their reach. The psurlon are his devout from outside our sphere. As are others. We have been seeded upon many worlds... as entropy, an end to all beginnings and a beginning to all ends.

Our form is unimportant, be it troll-kin, wurm or other. We adapt and consume, more than we are. As you can be too. Tell us.

What are your plans here?"

Meanwhile, the hands scamper about, avoiding your protective wards. They climb through unseen ventilation holes, cracks and even around you. While they currently do not attack, you feel that they could be found anywhere within and around in the near future.

"Ah, Gods. And here I thought Athas only had forgotten ones, legends and old wives' tales. Entropy is in all living things and in nature itself.

But how can we be more than we are? You must elaborate on what you mean.

As for our plans, we are explorers. We helped Aman before with a mission to get him materials needed for one of his arcane rituals. As payment he let us explore the buried city in search of treasures and history. Little did we know we would have an encounter with such as yourselves, or any encounter at all.

I would imagine that once we are done talking and exchanging knowledge, we would get your permission to further explore this temple. Is that at all possible?"

(OOC: Quila is engaging these entities for a while now. I think it's quite useful for her to use her Kurnan Spymaster ability of 'Probing Conversation' here. Probing Conversation: At 5th level, you can Detect Lie after a solid round of conversation. You can do this a number of times per day equal to your Charisma score's loyalty base adjustment.)

[DM Bob]

"That would be a simple no..." Continues the one you were talking to.

"Unless sacrifices were made. Sacrifices that we decide." Adds another raaig.

"This world has suffered through many Gods, epochs and abuses... whether those that live here are aware or not. But like a rug beaten clean, it is only a matter of time before it gets too ragged; too worn to repair. Better to be eaten and returned to the clay so the process can begin anew, yes? That is all Mak Thuum Ngatha promises."

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"And what sacrifices are we talking about then? What is your proposal?"

[DM Bob]

"You let..." One states.

"Us..." Adds the second.

"In." Finishes the third.

Together they speak, "Possession."

The first one adds, "The ability to leave this place and experience life once again."

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"Ah. I see. It does not sound like fun for me or whomever you might possess. What is in it for me or them? And why can't you leave this place in your current guise? I would think being intangible and nigh invisible would be quite handy."

Quila also pings 'Muiko <'This cant go on like this much longer I think. Can you immobilize them somehow? Wait for an answer from them, but take action the second you feel this turns.'>