Occa identifies the beads and the eyeball.
The beads are black and about the size of a marble. They are quite heavy, weighing about 3/4 of an ounce each. Occa determines that they are some sort of explosive device.
Niko's eyes light up. "Hey, Gonzo...how many of those do ya got there?"
"Interesting. Beads of something or other...I can't remember what. We should give these to one of the newbies or someone who doesn't have a good missle weapon. I believe these are area affect, so they shouldn't be thrown when someone is within say...20 or 30 feet of your target. Good for an opening barrage, though."
"I do not have a missile weapon. With the beads, I might be able to add some offensive firepower to the party since I do not have many offensive spells now," says Equinox.
"Didn't you get any grenades?"
He hands the beads over to Equinox.
"What is a grenade?" asks Equinox, accepting the beads.
"Something similar to these beads."
"That reminds me Occa, our tech weapons may not work wherever that tunnel underwater leads. My anti-grav belt conked out when I passed to the other side of the tunnel."
"Did magic work?"
Niko shrugs. "I didn't get the chance to find out. I didn't know about my belt not working until I tried swimming back through the tunnel."
"Ok."
The eyeball is a key.
Niko shudders. "I wonder what kind of door this key would open..."
"Well, we will have to find the door for this."
"Since the giant had it...the door must be through that underwater gateway. I would guess, at least."
You leave.
Gonzo mumbles to himself. "... dang no good... giffin me magic 'karumba'...mphfph!" and goes off to examine the walls of the chamber for secret passages or something to hit very hard.
He finds no secret passages. The only item worth hitting very hard appears to be Al.
"I suggest we clear this level before going into the water." Al suggests to the group, seemingly eager to take a more participating role in the dungeon clearing.
Occa says, "Let's go then!"
He turns invisible.
Niko follows suit with his ring of invisibility.
Gonzo gives a listen at the bloodstained door and reports anything he hears.
With Claw in hand, Al follows Gonzo to the door to aid him in case of attack.
Gonzo hears...nothing.
Gonzo points at the door... "I hear nodink on da oder side... youse wants me ta open it?"
Occa says, "No, let me get it with an unseen servant."
He will cast unseen servant and have it open the door.
However, the servant thrashes and pulls at the door for a long time, without effect. Finally Gonzo steps up, flexes, growls and essentially punches a hole through the door, causing it to collapse into tinder.
On the other side is a passage running east (left). It runs for 30' in all (wall to wall), turning south after 20'.
Suddenly you hear a bone-chilling wailing -
"OOOoooooOOooooOOOOOOoooo...."
- and seven wraiths come flying around the corner, their hatred and lust for your living flesh glowing apparent in their sickly green eyes.
"Cue the cleric!" shouts Robert.
"Orlon, you're on. And do it quick!"
Darian draws his flametongue and gets ready to meet a wraith.
"In the name of Thor, BEGONE!" Al roars as he grasps his holy symbol and points it at the undead.
"Ah, at last," Orlon grins. "Come and get it," he calls to the wraiths before he turns them.
The power of Thor is unleashed by the two high priests. There is a dazzling flash of light, and suddenly the wraiths are gone.
It takes a moment for your vision to return.
You proceed into the passage, and take a look to the south. You see that it continues for only another 20', then ends.
You head down and poke around, but find nothing of interest there.
"Well, I hope all of you can swim..." Niko says with a shrug. "Not sure what we're going to do with those fire giants once we surface, though."
"Huh," Gilstrock says. "I can't swim in armor. But the armor helps me walk on the bottom of the water! Of course, breathing is another matter."
"I have 'part water' memorized. I also have it on a scroll. It's supposed to last for three hours. I think it's worth a try," Orlon comments.
Gonzo examines the walls for any secret doors, cracks etc.
Gonzo does not spot any secret doors or whatnot.
"Me dinks 'ere might be a good spot ta try dat eyeballs youse found on dat giant," he says.
"Good thinking Gonzo." Occa hands to the eyeball back to Niko. "Take a look around for doors here."
Occa helps search for secret doors as well.
He finds none.
Darian complies and helps look for secret doors.
Darian, however, spots a secret door at the end of the passage, in the right hand wall.
There does not appear to be any way to open it, though.
Niko draws his flame tongue and asks it to detect sliding or shifting walls.
He feels an arousing tingle when he waves his weapon near the section of wall where Darian just spotted a secret door.
"Any traps around here?" Emm asks Bubba.
"Nope! Wish there were some tender traps hereabouts!" the sword replies.
"Hmmm," Emm cleverly retorts.
Gilstrock walks up to the door, and lifts a leg, about to kick the wall with his heel. "Want me to try to kick it down?" he asks Darian.
Darian examines the wall again. "Maybe we should try the eyeball key, first?"
"I agree." says Occa. "Who has it?"
Niko pulls out the eyeball key and holds it up to the wall "What do we do with it?"
Darian shrugs. "Try looking through it at the walls or try pressing it to the wall."
Niko shrugs and points the eyeball at the wall. He then tries to look at it and then presses it against the wall.
He sees nothing through it, and nothing happens.
"Maybe it would be easier if someone could cast Knock on this door."
"Or...." Gilstrock says, lifting is foot again.
Occa casts knock on the secret door.
You hear a bit of a clank, but nothing else.
Equinox touches the door and the wall around the door, trying to determine whether the wall and door is some sort of rock or another substance.
It is dressed stone, as best as you can tell, though of a type you have never seen before. Perhaps it is igneous in origin.
Occa casts another knock on the door. "I guess that one unlocked it. Maybe this one will open it."
You hear another sort of clank, but nothing else happens.
Emm begins to examine the walls for hidden panels, keyholes, buttons, or other mechanisms that may open the door.
He spots none.
Occa says, "I will try my last one."
"Wait!" Niko cries. "Let me try a few things."
Occa stops. "Maybe I should cast passwall?"
Niko tries to push, pull and lift the wall.
Pushing has no effect. There is nothing to grip, so pulling and lifting do not work, either.
"You could get Gil kick the wall first. He's asked to do that twice now..."
"Aw, heck," Gilstrock says. He lifts his foot again, and stomps on the wall-- kicking it heel first, so that he can get the force of his stomping leg behind the kick. First time, he does it absolutely as hard as he can without actually hurting himself should it turn out to be a solid wall.
The wall does not give.
Occa casts passwall on the wall. "Hope there isn't molten lava behind it!"
He goes ahead and flies up just in case.
Niko, initially unsure if Occa was kidding, goes wide eyed as Occa flies upward. He then activates his anti-grav belt and flies up next to Occa.
Occa casts his spell. The wall lets out an agonised groan. The stone appears to flow and shift, and you think you see suffering, pain-wracked faces form in the moving stone. Then, the opening forms, but the walls, floor and ceiling seem to shift constantly, as the transient forms of crude faces, crying and wailing mouths and grabbing arms appear and disappear constantly.
The cries of pain and agony raise a deafening din.
Through the opening you see a large chamber beyond. It extends for 5' north, 50' west and 25' south (5' deep alcove in the south wall, 10' - 20' section). This is actually an overchamber; the main area lies below. Up here, a 10' wide walkway runs from the secret door west, where it meets another walkway along the west wall. In the 10' - 20' section of the east-west walkway, another one runs south to the alcove. Three pillars support the westernmost walkway.
You hear the deadly hiss of undead.
A half a dozen wights come shuffling along the walkways towards you. Above, five wraiths swoop in as well.
Occa says, "I really hate these guys!"
"Orlon and Al, you're on again!"
Darian draws his flametongue again and gets ready.
Niko waits for the Al and Orlon to turn the undead. If there are any wraiths left, Niko will blast them with as many magic missiles as it takes.
Emm stands ready with shield and Bubba. "Looks like action, but not the kind you prefer, Bubba."
"Oh well," says Bubba. "Maybe next time."
"Ah, bring em on," Orlon grins as he flexes his hands. "Come to dinner," he calls to the wraiths.
There is a flash of holy fire, and three wights and all the wraiths are gone.
Al is more forthright than Orlon.
"BY THOR, BEGONE!" Al roars as he presents his holy symbol at the oncoming undead.
Al destroys the rest of the wights, leaving no more undead.
Occa says, "Let's go quickly. It will probably seal back up."
Orlon quickly scampers through the opening, surveying the room for any more sign of undead.
Of course, Occa goes through also.
Darian keeps the flametongue drawn and holds it aloft to shed some light. "Hospitable place, isn't it?"
He steps through, keeping close to Occa, just in case.
Niko draws his cutlass and dagger as he lands and hurries nervously through the opening. "I hope we don't have to hack our way back through this wall..."
"Don't worry too much, I can probably Stone Shape through it if need be." Equinox says.
"I wouldn't be so confident, if I were you. Did you see what happened when Occa cast his spell?"
Equinox shrugs, "Well, we will see what happens. I do not have to go through the same part of the wall."
You all hurry through and into the chamber beyond. A few of the hands manage to grasp at your ankles, but their grips are feeble and easily shaken off, though their clammy touch is unnerving.
The chamber is as previously described, and you see no more undead up here. You walk about, and discover a pile of coins in the northwest corner (2792cp, 750sp, 1125gp). In the wall in the southwest corner is a glowing bas relief depicting the face of an arcanadaemon.
You look down into the chamber below.
The chamber below has smaller dimensions, it seems, compared to the area that you are now in. Thanks to the locations of the walkways that you stand on in the overchamber, plus the pillars rising up from below to support these walkways, you do not have a completely clear view of the area down there. The lower chamber measures perhaps 40' square, extending 10' less to the west than the overchamber. The western half of is water-filled. There appears to be an alcove in the south, roughly corresponding to the alcove in the area above. There seems to be a 10' wide walkway running directly below the north-south walkway on this level. To the east of it is a 5' wide pool of water. Along the east wall runs a 5' walkway, and at its south end sits a large pile of gold pieces.
There appears to be a 5' wide exit in the north wall, leading out of the chamber below.
Darian asks, pointing to the bas relief, "You think that's the ruler?"
The bas relief does indeed resemble the arcanadaemon who took Salaam.
With Claw in hand, Al takes point and looks into the chamber below.
"I guess we go down?"
Gonzo surveys the room and ponders... "Me dinks dat alcolve ova der is some kinda uppy-downy dingy me pap called an elder-vacator or some such nonsense. Any one interested in a ride?" He'll go over and give the thing a good dwarven eye-balling and wait for other "volunteers" to join him.
Occa says, "This place is big! Let's check this area out and then go down the elevator."
Thew elder-vacator that Gonzo has spotted appears to descend to the area below...not into some new area.
"Perhaps, some with missile weapons should stay on the the balcony while the others descend," Emm suggests. "That way we can provide covering fire, if need be."
Niko checks his anti-grav belt. Assuming it works, he then flies down.
Emm stands by to provide covering fire.
The rest of you go over to Gonzo's elevator...
Gonzo, Darian and Gilstrock step together into the alcove that the dwarf has identified as an elevator, while Emm stands ready and the rest of you wait your turn. Only three of you will fit on it at a time.
As soon as they are on it the elevator drops suddenly with a loud clashing of gears, taking them to the floor below...
The elevator stops, and they find themselves facing a 20' wide alcove which extends 5' ahead of them, and 5' to either side. Through a 10' wide opening in the north wall you see the main chamber beyond. A 10' wide walkway extends north from the alcove and into the chamber. 20' away from you is a5' wide, 10' long pool in the middle of the walkway.
Of more immediate concern, though, are the derghodaemons who are waiting to greet you. There is one in the left alcove, one in the right alcove, and one at the end of the walkway, some 40' away.
"GRRRRRRR!!!" say the two nearest ones as they jump you, while the third one also moves to attack.
There is no sign of Niko, though knowing the way he operates you can rest assured that he is somewhere near the treasure.
Gilstrock draws Hangnail (the Sword of Sharpness), and says, "Foul fiends, go back to Hell where you... err, Never Mind!" as he attacks.
Darian moves to meet the second demon with his frostbrand. "That leaves the third for you, Gonzo!"
Niko pounces on the third daemon with cutlass and molecular chain sword in hand.
He bellows as he makes his strike "Here I come to save the day..."
"Woo hoo, some action," you hear Al whoop from above.
Gonzo abliges with his own attack.... "KAAAAAAAAARUMBA!", his ugly dwarven face split by an ear to ear grin. "Taste dis youse ugly varmit!"
An insubstantial form floats down from above. It look like Al. He sees Gilstrock about to attack a derghodaemon, Darian about to attack a second such daemon, and Gonzo racing to attack a third. The first two are right in front of him, while the third is about 40' away.
Gilstrock opens the festivities by missing with his sword of sharpness. His second swing is more successful, and he carves a large slice out of his foe. In the process, he is clawed for 22 hit points.
Beside the warrior, Darian attacks the second daemon. He too also puts a nice big dent in his daemon, before being clawed for 10 hit points. The elf's second attack misses as he suffers two more hits, totalling 22 more hit points.
Al moves to help Darian and Gonzo lunges to attack the last daemon.
Gonzo beats Niko to the daemon, but his flame tongue bounces right off of its hide.
This last daemon laughs at the dwarf, sees the invisible Niko coming, though, and swings at him instead. The elf is missed. Niko connects with his cutlass and chops a hunk of meat off the monster, but his Sinclair sword bounces right off. Niko then suffers three hits in a row, for 34 hit points. His last swing with his cutlass misses.
Al, meanwhile, attacks. His scimitar bites deep, and then bites again. The daemon howls, but presses its attack against Darian.
Suddenly the water in the small pool erupts, and a giant frog launches itself out of it, aiming at Niko and Gonzo, croaking threateningly!
Suddenly a neatly knotted rope drops from above, and down it climb Emm, Orlon and Robert, in that order.
They see a little more from down here. The chamber is somewhat odd shaped. From the southeast corner where the treasure lies, a wall runs north for 45', west for 30' (5' wide opening in 20' - 25' section), south for 5', west for 10', south for 40', and then back for 40' to close up (opening in 20' - 30' section). From the southeast corner there is a 5' wide walkway running north for 40', turning west after 30'. To the west it runs for 25', before turning north and leading to the opening in the north wall. In the 10' - 20' section of the walkway (as measured west from the east wall) is a 10' wide walkway running south. It runs down to the opening in the south wall, and is separated from the walkway where the treasure rests by a 5' wide pool of water. A second 5' wide pool of water runs along the north wall, and the western half of the chamber is taken up by a third. Also, in the middle of the 10' wide walkway running south is a 5' X 10' long pool of water.
It is a wet place.
The latest arrivals come down over the pool to the east, and from there can jump onto the east walkway, to rush over to where the action is.
They can see partially through the opening to the south. It seems to be 10' deep in all, with a 5' wide, 5' deep alcove on the west side. The area roughly corresponds to the alcove directly above, where Gonzo's elevator rests.
At the entrance to this alcove are Gilstrock, Darian and Al, battling a pair of derghodaemons. Just north of the 5' wide, 10' long pool are Gonzo and Niko, battling a third derghodaemon. Also, a giant frog has apparently just launched itself out of the pool and is attacking Gonzo.
Niko, Darian and Gilstrock are all wounded.
"Darian, you and I will take this critter," Al instructs.
Darian continues to fight. he is immediately walloped for 11 hit points. He heals himself completely, but the derghodaemon hits him again for 9 hit points and grabs him. Darian swings his sword as best he can while held, but misses. The derghodaemon swipes at him with claw #3 but also misses. Darian fans a second time, then is shredded for 19 hit points.
Gilstrock is creamed across the kisser for 11 hit points, then he jabs his blade into the daemon. He takes another 11 hit points as he connects again, then is clawed for a further 12 hit points.
Niko moves away from the daemon to launch as many magic missiles at the giant frog as he can until it's dead. However, the daemon is fast as it pursues the elf, and Niko takes 19 hit points of damage before he can fly out of its range.
Gonzo switches weapons and attacks again.
"Gonzo, Gil, Niko, take out the frog, I'll be there in a moment to help," Al says as he cuts into the daemon in front of him with holy fury.
"They got their own demons to tackle, Al. It's just not me."
"Just fight," Al replies as he gets face to face with the daemon on hand. Once this nasty is cut down, Al goes to help against the frog daemon. The cavalier connects twice with his scimitar, and the daemon is finally beginning to look ill.
Gonzo finds himself being clawed for 2 hit points by the giant frog as he goes after the daemon attacking Niko; then he is bitten for another 6.
Suddenly Ocaa appears, casting magic missiles all over the place. His first two spells finish off the frog and dent the daemon on Gilstrock. His third and fourth spells kill that daemon, but do not harm the daemon on Darian. His last magic missile spell is equally ineffective.
Gonzo, now using his frost brand, has better luck this time and the daemon howls and turns on him as the blade digs deep. Niko unloads four magic missile spells into the daemon...but none have any effect on the creature.
The water in the small pool erupts again, and a second giant frog leaps out, aiming at Gilstrock.
At the same time, Orlon and Emm notice a pale green, frog-like head appear above the surface of the water in the western pool.
Emm suggests to Orlon, "Try to missile that thing in the water. When he attacks, Bubba will be waiting."
"With what? I am a cleric," Orlon answers. He tries to turn the daemon.
The creature sees Orlon waving his holy symbol around and gives him the (webbed) finger.
Emm then unslings his shield and draws his sword. "It's time to pith a frog, Bubba."
"Yeah! I'll stick it to her!"
Gonzo chortles and growls "Now dats more like it! KARUMBA DIS youse ugly varmit!" attacking the daemon-spawn beast again.
The daemon grins and says, "I'll KARUMBA you!"
He then slashes the dwarf for 9 hit points as Gonzo misses. Next, the derghodaemon grabs him for 12 hit points. The struggling dwarf swings again, this time barely connecting, while being bloodied for a further 31 hit points.
Niko attacks the daemon on Gonzo from behind with his flame tongue and magical dagger.
The elf's first hit almost causes the daemon to let go of Gonzo. He misses with the dagger, then connects a second time with his cutlass and kills the monster.
Darian heals himself again and then tries to fire magic missiles right into the demon's mouth.
"Hurry, Al! I don't know how much longer I can hold him!"
He gets a spell off as the monster fans, but the missiles bounce right off. He is next clawed for 11 hit points, fails with a second spell, takes another 11 hit points, fails with a third spell, is ripped open for 12 hit points, misses with a fourth spell and is finally sliced up for a further 11 hit points.
"Die, daemon spawn," Al cries as he cuts into the daemon he and Darian are fighting.
Al finally spots an opening and jumps in with his scimitar, gutting the daemon. It howls one last time and drops dead.
Orlon starts to cast Dispel Evil.
Emm moves cautiously with Orlon, as he advances towards the main battle. He keeps his eye on frog-fiend, alert for a sudden attack.
Occa lightning bolts the frog that came out of the pool.
The frog-like creature, which - apart from a rude gesture aimed at Orlon - has done nothing more than watch the proceedings with interest, takes the bolt full on, being blown to pieces. At the same time a flurry of darts flies down from above, also aimed at the creature.
Gilstrock tries to skewer the frog on Hangnail as it comes in. He succeeds, and the frog is impaled on the sword but not killed.
Suddenly a fireball blossoms in your midst, taking you rather off guard.
Occa, Al, Gilstrock and Darian are unaffected.
Emm, Gonzo, Robert and Orlon take 28 hit points of damage. Orlon has his spell ruined.
Niko, already badly injured by the derghodaemon, takes 55 hit points and is vapourised.
The frog on Gilstrock is also killed.
When the flames and smoke clear you look about to see where the fireball came from.
You spot a second frog-like creature in the water of the pool to the northeast.
He waves and ducks under the water and out of sight.
At the same time another giant frog launches itself out of the small pool in the centre of the walkway, aiming at Al, while simultaneously a grotesque looking toad-like creature comes literally gliding into the chamber through the exit to the north. It looks hungry.
A bat comes flying down from above.
It can see a little more from down here. The chamber is somewhat odd shaped. From the southeast corner where the treasure lies, a wall runs north for 45', west for 30' (5' wide opening in 20' - 25' section), south for 5', west for 10', south for 40', and then back for 40' to close up (opening in 20' - 30' section). From the southeast corner there is a 5' wide walkway running north for 40', turning west after 30'. To the west it runs for 25', before turning north and leading to the opening in the north wall. In the 10' - 20' section of the walkway (as measured west from the east wall) is a 10' wide walkway running south. It runs down to the opening in the south wall, and is separated from the walkway where the treasure rests by a 5' wide pool of water. A second 5' wide pool of water runs along the north wall, and the western half of the chamber is taken up by a third. Also, in the middle of the 10' wide walkway running south is a 5' X 10' long pool of water.
It is a wet place.
The bat can see partially through the opening to the south. It seems to be 10' deep in all, with a 5' wide, 5' deep alcove on the west side. The area roughly corresponds to the alcove directly above, where Gonzo's elevator rests.
The corpses of monsters seem to be everywhere. The pools are filled with dead toads, and a dead, frog-like creature. Three large daemons lie dead on the floor.
The rest of the party is present, save for Varlen and Tracy. All are injured, to a greater or lesser extent, except for Al and Occa.
The bat also sees Niko lying on the floor, badly injured and unconscious. Robert is rushing over to tend to him. It sees Darian battling a flying, toad-like daemon.
Then, you all see a second such daemon come gliding through the north entrance, looking fun, food and frolic.
Gilstrock concentrates on killing frogs.
Occa, having experienced a lightning bolt in water, goes ahead and lightning bolts the pool of water.
There is a crackle of released electricity as the bolt strikes the water. The water in all of the pools in the norther two-thirds of the room flashes blue.
The body of the frog-like creature floats to the surface, dead. Also, the bodies of seven more giant frogs also come to the surface of the various pools in here. all are dead.
Al jabs at the last frog with Claw and slices as best as he can. He badly injures the monster but does not kill it. It snaps at him, but misses. Al connects a second time, killing the monster.
Darian heals himself again and goes to meet the grotesque creature, frostbrand in hand.
The elf does not have to go far, for the daemon is swooping right at him. Darian dodges a swinging claw, then lands a lovely hit with his frost brand. He is clawed for 4 hit points as he misses with his second swing.
"Orlon, I can't take this kind of abuse. Can you heal me up quick," Emm asks. He then adopts a defensive stance.
Gonzo slips into the shadows and attempts to avoid any other contacts at this point.
Darian continues to battle the daemon. "Occa, we need to find a more defensible position. Otherwise, we're going to get overrun."
Darian is nicked for 1 hit point. He chops deeply into the daemon, then fans. Luckily for him, he manages to dodge all of the monster's other attacks.
Occa says, "Two daemons and a bat don't seem too bad yet. Let's see if this is the last of them. Otherwise, grab Niko's paradise rod and we will retreat with it."
"I'm almost out of healing and a number of us are badly wounded. Emm, can you grab Niko's rod? Use it only if we get more desperate."
Occa lightning bolts the incoming daemon....and follows with 3 magic missiles.
His bolt blasts into the daemon.
Emm moves to get the rod of healing. He plans to first use it on himself, unless Orlon has already healed him. He will next heal Niko.
Darian notices Emm pointing the rod at himself. "It's a rod of paradise, Emm! It creates the place where we sleep!"
"Oh," Emm replies. He stands ready to activate the rod, but waits to see how the party fares. "How close does everybody have to be to get them to Paradise?"
"I don't know. Don't worry about it. After all, you're clustered around the most seriously wounded. The rest of us can make our way there, if need be."
Equinox flies down and transforms back into human form next to Niko. "You are better able than I to assist with the battling with the Demon. Why don't you let me take care of Niko?"
Equinox casts Cure Serious Wounds on Niko two times.
Niko is cured for 19 hit points.
The elf groans and opens his eyes.
Niko regains consciousness to see Equinox kneeling over him and Emm standing nearby, holding his rod of security. Niko is back up to 12 hit points, but is very weak.
He sees Darian battling a flying toad-daemon. A second such daemon is just in the process of being magic missiled by Occa.
Pulling out his blade from the latest death stroke, Al sees Darian and yells to him, "Need help?"
"You can help me or take on the new one. Either way, I won't complain!"
"Dun, dun, DUN, Al to the rescue," Al cries as he swings Claw at the daemon on Darian [say that 10x fast] - "By Thor, DIE !" as he slices.
Al easily cuts into the daemon, and it screams furiously.
Occa's first magic missile spell blasts into the other daemon. It too screams, then suddenly vanishes, reappearing instantly right above Occa! It slashes him for 1 hit point. Occa jumps back and unloads another spell, blowing the daemon to bits.
All is not over yet, though, as a third toad-daemon comes flying through that opening in the north wall.
Niko nods at Equinox. "Thanks for the aid, lad. Where did that fireball come from?"
"I have no idea. I was up on the ledge until just now," Equinox replies.
"I could use some healing," Emm hints, as he sheaths Bubba and unslings his bow and arrows.
"No problem. Here you go," says Equinox as he casts Cure Light Wounds on Emm four times, for 24 hit points. "Now I am out of healing spells, folks."
Niko, assuming he's strong enough, launches a lightning bolt at the toad-daemon.
Niko assumes wrong, and sags back onto the floor in a swoon.
Al strikes again and again until the beastie is dead.
"I want them dead, All of 'em dead!" He roars as the battle lust settles upon him.
"Occa, can you close that opening? Maybe then, we can get some peace and quiet."
Darian continues to battle the daemon in front of him and will move on to the next one when done.
"Gil, how about helping here!"
Occa casts wall of force in front of the opening.
Darian and the daemon stir up quite a breeze before the elf is slashed for 2 hit points. Darian replies and lands a glancing blow. Al tries his luck again, landing two more hits. Pieces of daemon fly everywhere, and the beast is dead.
The newest daemon sees the fate which has befallen his friends, and opts for easier prey. Suddenly he vanishes.
Then, from the ledge above, you hear Tracy say -
"Eeek!"
Then -
"CHOMP!"
Then Tracy says -
"Yuck! It just ate Varlen!"
Then -
"BUUUURP!"
Finally Tracy comes into sight, as she shinnies down Emm's rope to join you.
Suddenly the daemon reappears in front of Equinox. One of Varlen's bloody feet still hangs from his mouth, as the monster lunges at the druid.
A wall of force springs into existence across the north entrance, and just in time, too, as a fourth toad-daemon flies into it immediately thereafter with a thud. It drops to the floor on the far side of the force wall, dazed, leaving a slimy nose-print at the point of impact.
"Yeah, baby, by Thor, bring it on!" Al says as he grins while the daemon falls down dead.
Darian runs over to hit the daemon facing Equinox from behind. "Thanks, Occa, for the wall!"
"Ungh," grunts Equinox in surprise as he reaches for MC Hammer at his belt and swings it at the daemon.
Al charges for the daemon terrorizing Equinox. "Show these downtown bastards how we do things topside!" Al exclaims as he swings Claw once he is in range.
Equinox, unfortunately, misses the daemon. The monster does little better, trimming the druid's sideburns for all of 2 hit points. Then, Darian and Al arrive, and have a go at the monster as well. Darian manages to miss the monster completely. Al does much better, and carves off several slices of appetizing daemon meat.
Meanwhile, the other daemon, behind the wall of force, shakes his head, glowers, and then teleports to appear behind Al and Darian, and immediately attacks.
Emm draws Bubba and unslings his shield. He then joins the fray against the closest adversary.
Darian turns to meet the new foe and attacks it. "Gil, Robert, just don't stand there, help out!"
"Now the party is getting interesting, DIE!" Al roars as he continues to carve into the demon he is attacking, though he will try to keep his shield arm in the way of the new demon, to minimize damage.
The battle continues as Equinox swings and misses again.
"Yo! What kinda muthah are you??" complains MC Hammer.
The daemon claws the druid for 2 hit points.
Darian, attacking from the rear, connects once, landing a lovely hit and making the monster howl.
Beside him, Al battles the daemon as well. His scimitar flashes and he slices off another piece of the monster. His second swing lands only a glancing blow, though by now the daemon is beginning to look sore. The other daemon attacks from above, but its claws have no effect on the holy warrior. His bite is another story, though, as Al suffers 4 hit points, and feels the very life force being drained out of him.
Then a figure steps out of the shadows and tries to stab the second daemon in the back. It is Emm. Bubba connects, but the blade is unable to even nick the daemon's hide.
"Not so good down here!" laments the sword.
Orlon, snapping out of his daze, runs around and casts heal and cure spells into the wounded. He starts to heal Niko.
Robert jumps into the fray, followed by Gilstrock.
One swing is all it takes from Robert, and the daemon on Equinox falls.
Gilstrock lands two quick hits on the remaining monster as Al spins around to face it. The cavalier also connects, as he is scratched for 5 hit points. Al connects again, leaving the daemon badly injured. Emm also attacks, but misses.
Finally, Al connects one last time, and the daemon dies.
Orlon completes his heal spell, and the elf is fully recovered of all save 3 hit points of damage. The high priest next turns to Gonzo, and heals him completely, save 4 hit points. Two cure critical wounds spells go into Gilstrock, for 31 hit points of healing, and then Orlon casts two cure serious wounds into himself, healing himself completely. Hie remaining cure light wounds spells go into Emm (1 hit point), Darian (1), Robert (2) and Emm again (5).
"Damn that was good, praise Thor for his aid in this battle!" Al says with a weak grin as the draining attack on him has left him a little weak. "Brother Orlon, can you establish a contact with our lord to restore my drained vitality?"
"As soon as we get out of here bro," Orlon remarks.
Gonzo, feeling much better, looks around for something else to hack on.... finding nothing, he proceeds to investigate the carnage for any loot or other goodies.
"Da ya dink der be more o' dos dings on da oder side o' dat wall youse put up der?" he asks.
"That last demon teleported through the wall, so it's quite possible. I recommend that we retreat to Niko's paradise and get ourselves back into shape. I'm nearly out of healing and spells."
Emm looks at Bubba. "What happened. You hit the monster dead on? Well, let's go look at that pile of loot over there. And be sure to let me know if you note any traps. Or babes, either"
"My ability with babes is as good as ever...but I don't hit things so well down here, boss!"
Bubba spots no traps, either.
You inspect the treasure, and find 2333gp, 3 gems (10gp ea.), 3 jewelry (1200gp ea.), 7500gp and 1500pp.
You gut the daemons. In the derghodaemons you find 9 gems (50gp ea.).
"Oh yeah, I better collect this too," Emm declares. He then recoils his rope of climbing and replaces it on his belt.
"That reminds me, too," says Equinox who gathers the darts he threw.
Occa says, "Okay, let's go to paradise and rest. Of course, let's go to a corner of this room so that when we pop back out we have a wall at our backs."
Niko stands up and brushes the soot and ashes off his clothes. "Now where's that rod that takes us to paradise?"
Emm tosses Niko the rod. "Don't get pissed. The devils made me do it."
Niko looks at Emm quizzically. "What do you mean the devils made you do it, lad?"
Emm replies with a twinkle in his eye, "the devils made it necessary for me to take it. They nearly killed you, so I took your rod of healing to heal you and me. But Darian said it wasn't a rod of healing, but that paradise rod.."
Niko shrugs. "It don't bother me none that you borrowed the rod. I just merely wanted to know where it was at."
You retreat to the corner of the chamber where the treasure lay. Holding hands, Niko speaks the command words and suddenly you find yourselves back in the nymph-filled paradise.
"Oh, poor Al!" the bevy of beauties say, clustering around the warrior of Thor and cooing. Soon he is being led away into the bushes...to see just how extensive the energy draining was.
"Praise be to Thor!" exclaims Tracy. "I need to train!"
"Ok, ladies!" Al says, "there's plenty of me to go around!!"
He allows the women to drag him away to a quiet spot.
"Can't deprive Bubba of his well deserved glory," Emm muses. "Hey Buba take a peek."
"Whoah, baby!" says the sword, practically dragging Emm into the bushes after Al.
Darian uses his psionics to heal the wounded.
So, you spend a relatively quiet and peaceful evening, and sleep well that night.