Crystal Quest Aftermath, Part 15
8-15-05
The group emerges into a larger chamber with three tables, holding leftover foodstuffs. There are five other exits from this circular chamber, and a firepit in the center... except instead of a fire, it's a vat of what appears to be lava in the center. Akili determines that it's not magic (he thinks), and tosses a bit of food in the vat, which vaporizes. While still puzzling out exactly how this lava is being heated, Atheele hears a commotion in the distance that's approaching, and advises that the party go check it out. They consider this, and decide to stay where they are, and prepare for the incoming mob. They are not disappointed.
A number of Slavaakians fall at the start of the battle, and when they can finally react, they summon help. They do not yet know that there is no help for them. Lengthy combat ensues. Akili gets decked by 16 points, and steps up on a table to retreat a little. Everyone else seems to be holding their own.
Sarai suddenly gets an critical blow against one of her opponents, her blade crashing with the sound of thunder through the enclosed room. While Akili narrowly avoids falling off of the table, the foe Sarai strikes is flung backwards so hard that the other guard standing behind the first is also killed. The room is eventually cleared, and the party gets a short reprieve to prepare for the next battle.
Sarai, Akili and Andune narrowly avoid a ballista bolt that flies down from another corridor. Peering down the corridor, Akili spies the group, and shouts, "Sarai, do you care about the ballista?" Sarai visibly hesitates, then replies, "Well... whatever. Go ahead." This is extremely amusing, because Sarai has wanted a ballista for quite a long time now.
Abruptly, an explosion occurrs over the vat of lava, and does a fair amount of damage to those that fail their reflexive dodge. Atheele picks out the spellcaster that flung the spell down the hall (the same area as the ballista), and shouts that location to Sarai. Akili noticed that person doing something peculiar, but didn't pick him out as the responsible party until Atheele's confirmation. When he has a chance, Akili flings a spell at the enemy caster. A rope of twine flies from Akili's fingertips, and touches the female spellcaster's forehead. It rapidly knits itself into an abrasive burlap sack, covering most of her body, and causes her to fall over.
Oy-aht breaks out her Kwalish, and advances in the direction of the ballista. While Sarai flails some more at the last couple guys, Akili flings another Prismatic Arrow at her current attacker, who promptly falls on his butt. Sarai capitalizes on the opportunity, and smacks him a good one. The spellcaster is still struggling within the confines of the burlap bag.
Sarai takes a moment to observe the situation, then shouts, "Everyone get back!" Akili, who is still back in the other room and thus the furthest away, goes closer to see what's going on, taking partial cover behind the Kwalish, just in case. Atheele takes a few hasty shots with his bow before also leaving the room. While everyone starts leaving, Sarai is being pummeled. Then more magic is flung around. Sarai gets pounded some more, and the Kwalish comes in despite Sarai's request to stay out, and takes out the caster that flung a lightning bolt down the corridor. Sarai then unleashes her delayed fireblast and wipes out most of the enemy. Two take the full brunt of the spell, though, and are still standing. Sarai sinks to her feet.
Andune kills a foeman that had been approaching from behind, while Akili flings another Wild Strike at one of the remaining two - which are a matched set of golems - and that one starts slowly floating towards the ceiling. The Kwalish charges the other one, and slices it in two with its claws. Atheele runs in and attacks the floating golem with his sword, killing it.
Once the battle is finally over, healing is dispensed, bodies are looted, and loot is distributed. Sarai invents a new spell to wind her newly-acquired ballista.
While looking for a place to rest and recuperate a little, they run across a barracks filled with cots. There are a couple Slavaakians there, and they are shortly disposed of. There is some concern about what to do about the smelly bloodstained cots. While there is a lively debate between Andune and others, Akili takes matters into his own hands and starts shoving the cots into his malfunctioning bags of stasis. Problem solved. He takes one of the cleaner cots and lays down. Atheele, in the meantime, kills a few other sleeping foemen in other nearby rooms, so the party is likely to be less distracted.
(Time passes, while the rest of the party slays others)
Eventually the other rooms are cleaned out, and the other members return to the chamber where Sarai, Akili, and Oy-aht are sleeping in.
(Game is paused here)