View source for A Secret in Merkabah pt 12

Emblem of Ea - Tuesday, February 09, 2021, 7:38 PM

Within the black tech manufactories, deep in the bowels of Merkabah.

In the wake of exploring the chamber of breached, energy containment drums and corrosive mists, the party presses on ahead of pursuit. they soon found themselves in a large chamber caked with jagged crystal that fills it with brilliant light and oppressive, potentially lethal amounts of heat.

Then, the crystals congealed into a jagged humanoid, nearly skewering Serene in the process!

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Contents --=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
 Merek           A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.          2m   3h
 Morgan          Short pixy like half elf with fair skin               8m   2h
 Seldan          Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.  12m  1h
 Serene          Glacier meets granite meets strawberries.             1m   40m
 Stirling        Powerfully built Arvek with enormous chrome gauntlets 1m   22m
 Toha            A woman shaped contrivance of leather and steel, with 0s   1h
 Un'eth          An ebon-scaled female Sith-makar                      9m   29m
 Whirlpool       I am stinky!                                          1m   3d
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Objects =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 22.
      It is now Stirling's turn! Un'eth is next!

 GAME: Stirling activates his Titan Armor, gaining: +8 Str,+6 Dex
 GAME: Stirling casts Shatter. Caster Level: 16 DC: 18
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+25: (4)+25: 29
 GAME: Stirling rolls 10d6: (29): 29

Stirling puts a hand up to his brow with all the light but a large monstrous creature of crystal is something he has an idea to deal with. Reaching into his pocket he produces a small... toy hobgoblin soldier. With a flick he tosses the toy at the creatures feet, upon landing the small toy begins banging its tiny spear on its tiny shield furiously to produce an uncomfortable ringing loud enough the crack parts of the crystal. "Looks pretty tough..." is all Stirling says.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 21.
      It is now Un'eth's turn! Seldan is next!

Un'eth gives the situation a moment's contemplation. (Placeholder for held action)

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 16.
      It is now Seldan's turn! Toha is next!

 GAME: Seldan casts Tiny Hut. Caster Level: 16 DC: 20

"Use the sphere to conceal you!" Seldan shouts cryptically. In a burst of speed, he runs forward, then stops, chanting quickly and drawing a trio of sigils. With a last shouted phrase, he casts both splayed hands outward, and a sphere of pure gold-silver-blue force forms around where he was, a good distance away. Those within it will find that they can see the being; those without are now unable to see him or anyone inside. Better still, the temperature within is a good bit cooler than outside.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 11.
      It is now Toha's turn! Serene is next!

 GAME: Toha casts Expeditious Retreat. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15

Toha cants her head at the talk about a "Sphere?" and looks back into the shimmery opacity of Seldan's tactical manifestation. She sweeps the hall of their entrance anew, then, growling something about driving gales, the contruct moves with sudden celerity to one side, trying to get a gander at what the thing is doing, but has to shield her eye with a forearm. She then edges back toward the bubble with an orcish curse.

 GAME: Whirlpool reverses the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 10.
      It is now Serene's turn! Morgan is next!

 GAME: Serene casts Chains of Light. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+18: (10)+18: 28

Serene steps around the spike of crystal that nearly impaled her, noting Seldan's summoned sanctuary but advancing nonetheless. She speaks the words of a prayer, pulling forth what appears to be a small, simple chain.. but as the prayer completes it becomes infused with a brilliance that doesn't quite outshine the light coming from the radiance golem. She tosses it at the creature and then readies her shield and her holy sword.. and while the chain attempts to engulf the creature in light, it manages to overcome the magic and snap the chain.
                                           
 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 10.
      It is now Morgan's turn! Merek is next!

 GAME: Morgan casts Haste. Caster Level: 14 DC: 22

Morgan says in a strong voice "its a golem so becarefull what spell you use on it. Give me a few minutes to help figure out its weakness." with that she says a few arcane words as the world around ever one seems a bit slower.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 9.
      It is now Merek's turn! Living Magicite is next!

 GAME: Merek casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 13 DC: 21
 GAME: Merek rolls 5d6: (17): 17
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+25: (2)+25: 27

Merek sends a ray of green into that magicite, and although that does a little he does manage to damage the being. The man nods a bit while he takes a look from beneath the hood, "Well, we should probably keep in mind it might make up the whole area."

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 8.
      It is now Living Magicite's turn! Stirling is next!

 GAME: Stirling rolls ref: (10)+21: 31
 GAME: Un'eth rolls reflex: (11)+13: 24
 GAME: Morgan rolls reflex: (8)+9: 17
 GAME: Serene rolls reflex: (8)+28: 36
 GAME: Toha rolls reflex: (13)+7: 20"
 GAME: Merek rolls reflex: (14)+12: 26
 GAME: Stjepan rolls ref: (2)+7: 9

 Crackle. 
 
 Crackle crackle. 
 
 The magicite crystals embedded in the wall begin to break off. They're taking steps, one by one, to come to life, it woiuld appear, approximating humanoid shapes. Not as large as the big one, but definitely threatening. It's called for help, apparently, and is animating other crystals in the room. 
 
 There's a pulse of pure *heat* off it. You're able to mostly duck under it, except fro Stjepan, and Seladn seems to ignore it completely given their location. 
 
 Still, that would've been really, really bdw for your eyes if you hadn't been able to shield yourself.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round One - Init 7.
      It is now Un'eth's turn! Stirling is next!

 GAME: Un'eth casts Shapechange. Caster Level: 18 DC: 25

The searing lights are hard on the eyes, even with a nictating membrane for additional blinking. She knows of at least one creature that does not require eyes to locate prey, however, and the appearance of others only confirms her thought further. It also seems only fitting that such aid in cleansing a place such as this.

An utterance to Ea is made, and Un'eth's scales begin to grow, and her frame beneath them. The cerulean marks on them remain, but the darkest scales lighten from black to to a regal vert as she hunches over and her neck elongates. A moment later, leathery winds emerge, folded against her flanks.

 GAME: NEW ROUND!
      Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 22.
      It is now Stirling's turn! Seldan is next!

 GAME: Stirling rolls ranged: (17)+18: 35
 GAME: Stirling rolls 8d6+6 electric: (29)+6 electric: 35

Stirling moves into the cover of Seldan hut, drawing a bead with his deathray on the large golem, letting a sizzling beam of lightning fly out and strikes the golem. "Good idea with the hut, very clever." he says working the slide of the deathray to chamber another round.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 16.
      It is now Seldan's turn! Living Magicite But Smaller is next!

 GAME: Seldan casts Lightning Bolt. Caster Level: 16 DC: 20
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+18: (14)+18: 32
 GAME: Seldan rolls 10d6: (27): 27

Seldan nods crisply towards Stirling, but has only time to shout, "Use it well!" before turning back to the creature and raising his hands again. Lightning crackles from his hands, slamming into the creature in blue-white arcs.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 16.
      It is now Living Magicite But Smaller's turn! Stjepan is next!

 Now there are six *more* of these living cretures of crystal and power. They each radiate an additioinal source of heat and light as they approach towards where Seldan was standing. They stop at the edge of the tiny hut's radius, heads canting. Curious. Studying. 
 
 ... it is somewhat unsettling to observe.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 12.
      It is now Stjepan's turn! Toha is next!

Stjepan does stuff! (PLaceholder pose, lost connection)

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 11.
      It is now Toha's turn! Serene is next!

Things are getting pretty awkward around here. Toha, realizing too late that she left Piriona, ratchets internally to enhance her strength before she withdraws to take up the hammer. At once, the ruby fire appears again in her eyeslit, and a strange fuzziness takes to her outline as the silver mist begins to flow and she arcs her hastened steps back to reinforce Serene.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 10.
      It is now Serene's turn! Morgan is next!

 GAME: Serene casts Holy Shield. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24

Serene slows once she is within reach of the golem... yes, the expectation is that it is hostile. Yes, the light is brutal. Painful, even. Yes.. the heat is just as bad. And yes... it is spawning mini golems. Still, she focusses one it for the span of a breath, two.. then she notes Toha joining her and she nods to the crafted woman, then utters another divine word which wreathes her shield in a soft glow.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 10.
      It is now Morgan's turn! Merek is next!
 GAME: Morgan casts Cone of Cold. Caster Level: 14 DC: 24
 GAME: Morgan rolls 14d6: (59): 59
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (18)+12: 30
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (2)+12: 14
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (2)+12: 14
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (4)+12: 16
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (8)+12: 20

Morgan says as she puts her hands out of the hut and sends a cone of cold out hurting one of them "this hut trick wont last long, if it gets to bad we teleport out of here."

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 9.
      It is now Merek's turn! Living Magicite is next!

 GAME: Merek casts Chain Lightning. Caster Level: 13 DC: 21
 GAME: Merek rolls 13d6: (46): 46
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (13)+12: 25
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (5)+12: 17
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (15)+12: 27
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (6)+12: 18
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21

Merek looks to the magicite while he nods to the party, then he begins to lift up both hands, while he casts the chain lightning. It arcs along into the crystal magicite, from place to place while it begins to break away that material.


 The magicaal spells cast by Morgan and Merek certainly seem to harm them. They absorb it, assuredly, crystals shattering and splintering ... 
 
 ... but some of that energy is getting funnelled into the larger one, who's glow only gets brighter. 
 
 Uh oh.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 8.
      It is now Living Magicite's turn! Un'eth is next!

 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+31: (5)+31: 36
 GAME: Stirling rolls ref: (13)+21: 34
 GAME: Morgan rolls reflex: (13)+9: 22
 GAME: Un'eth rolls reflex: (19)+13: 32
 GAME: Serene rolls reflex: (3)+28: 31
 GAME: Merek rolls reflex: (6)+12: 18
 GAME: Seldan rolls reflex: (10)+21: 31
 GAME: Toha rolls reflex: (3)+7: 10
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 12d6: (35): 35
 GAME: Stjepan rolls ref: (20)+7: 27 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)

 There's a pulse ... a wave of ... 
 
 ... It burns, it feels like heat, but it isn't *quite* heat. It's concentrated mana. It burns your skin, sents your nerves a flame. It's *incredibly* painful. 
 
 And it's radiating from the brilliantly, blindingly illuminated thing you're faced with. It seems to swell, to grow even taller.

 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Two - Init 7.
      It is now Un'eth's turn! Stirling is next!

 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (5)+12: 17
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (10)+12: 22
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (2)+12: 14
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (15)+12: 27
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (20)+12: 32
 GAME: Un'eth rolls 12d8: (63): 63

Crowd control seems wise as the smaller entities swarm about. That they seem to be feeding the larger is a concern... though they cannot feed the parent if they no longer exist. Un'eth the Green steps around the hut, snaking her serpentine neck around the arc to eye several of the beings before inhaling deeply. With her expelled breath is a wide stream of corrosive acid.

 GAME: NEW ROUND!
      Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Three - Init 22.
      It is now Stirling's turn! Seldan is next!

 GAME: Stirling casts Cone of Cold. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21
 GAME: Stirling rolls 15d6: (53): 53
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (11)+12: 23
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (10)+12: 22
 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (12)+12: 24

Stirling looks up at the huge blasts of damage both Morgan and Uneth have unleashed and resolves to add his firepower to the mix as well. Unlatching the bolt in the top barrel of his deathray he loads a light blue cartridge from his belt and slams it home before shouldering the immense weapon. "How about you all chill out a bit." he says as he unleashes a wave of ice and snow from the gun.


 GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
      Round Three - Init 16.
      It is now Seldan's turn! Living Magicite But Smaller is next!