Silent Sanitorium - Part 4
Log Info
- Title: Silent Sanitorium - Part 4
- GM: Culix
- Characters: Rune, Harkashan, Aelwyn, MAC-B1G,
- Location: Sanitorium
- Summary: The battle continues, and our Adventurers deal with the brainy consequences left behind by the villainous Alienist!
Psychotic Mutants, a deranged physician and now ambulatory brains with voracious appetites- it has been quite an arduous foray to investigate the sanitorium. Alienist Clifflowe underestimated the party, though, and the mutant former patients have been dispatched, Clifflowe himself lays dead, and his apostles- the four-legged and tentacle mouthed brains extracted from the unfortunate city militiamen who investigated this place prior to the party's arrival have had their escape headed off, and are contained within the basement with the party.
With their attempted flight foiled, the brains fight with renewed vigor- their pink, gelatinous flesh rippling with palpable fury at the adventurers.
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1: (17)+27+1: 45 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1: (6)+27+1: 34
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+4+1d6: (1)+4+(4)+4+(1): 14
GAME: Culix rolls 2d8+10: (5)+10: 15
GAME: Culix rolls 14: (13)+14: 27
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (10)+18: 28
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (17)+18: 35
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (19)+18: 37
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (14)+18: 32
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (10)+18: 28
GAME: Culix rolls 4d4+20: (10)+20: 30
The brain-frog creatures continue their assault, the one nearest rune Recoiling at the pressure of the magic circle around her which seems to cause it physical pain or discomfort- it backs away, and Rune is able to lash out and strike at its hind legs as it does. It knits the wounds closed again, its grey matter pulsing with purple light for a moment as it staunches the most recent wound.
Likewise pulsating, the one bearing down on Harkashan lashes out towards him with a lance of necrotic energy- energy which splashes against the cleric's divine protections and fails to do harm. Aelwyn is not so lucky, as its compatriot springs towards him and lashes out in a brutal attack with its clawed forelegs, tearing at the Dragoon with ferocious speed and surprising strength for it's small stature.
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 24.
It is now Rune's turn! MAC-B1G is next!
GAME: Rune takes ten on bluff: (10)+32: 42
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-2: (5)+27+1+-2: 31
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-7: (20)+27+1+-7: 41 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-7+4: (20)+27+1+-7+4: 45 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-7: (16)+27+1+-7: 37
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-12: (11)+27+1+-12: 27
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-12: (16)+27+1+-12: 32
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1: (19)+27+1: 47 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1+4: (17)+27+1+4: 49 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (2)+4+(3)+(24): 33
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+damage1+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (6)+4+(4)+4+(2)+(25): 45
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (6)+4+(6)+(36): 52
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (5)+4+(2)+(30): 41
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+damage1+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (1)+4+(1)+4+(4)+(37): 51
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 12.
It is now MAC-B1G's turn! Dirk is next!
There is a quick slash of a blade as one of the brain-creatures attempts to flee, but it isn't the one that has most of Rune's attention. Instead, her focus is largely on those that are closest to the doors.
She turns, stomping down onto one of the ones she'd already killed, the flesh making an uncomfortable squelch underneath her booted foot. It is an ominous foreshadowing of what is about to befall the one closest to her...
One slash takes the legs out from under it, another spears it through the center of the brain, leaving it quivering on the edge of the blade. Then, with a quick series of movements of both weapons, it is all but blended into twitching pieces of brain matter which are sent flying through the chamber, splattering into nearby walls.
One chunk, still briefly quivering, lands right near the remaining intellect devourer. As if it were a warning...
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 8.
It is now Dirk's turn! Harkashan is next!
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 6.
It is now Harkashan's turn! Aelwyn is next!
MAC-B1G's survey and analyses of the room and its contents are either completed or cut short by the indications of threats to taskforce members in the adjoining space. With heavy, if untiring, strides, it advances to assess the situation and assist.
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1-5: aliased to bab+wisdom+1-5: (10)+13+10+1+-5: 29
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1-5: aliased to bab+wisdom+1-5: (6)+13+10+1+-5: 25
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1-10: aliased to bab+wisdom+1-10: (2)+13+10+1+-10: 16
GAME: Harkashan rolls damage26-5: aliased to 1d8+6-5: (7)+6+-5: 8
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 5.
It is now Aelwyn's turn! Froggy Brains is next!
As far as Harkashan is concerned, this is Cleanup Duty right now! He hears the pained sounds behind him as Aelwyn is struck, and quickly calls out; "Get close to me if you need aid, Dragoon!" Before lifting his hand to block the spell the quivering brain thrusts at him. He then quickly swipes and strikes at the little thing, trying to get his blade to find purchase. One strike finding its place, but it does little to punish the thing as of yet.
GAME: Aelwyn rolls perform/dance+2: (11)+15+2: 28
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (8)+18: 26
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (14)+19+-4+2: 31
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (2)+19+-4+2: 19
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2-5: (7)+19+-4+2+-5: 19
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2-10: (2)+19+-4+2+-10: 9
GAME: Aelwyn rolls damage11+12+1d6: aliased to 1d10+5+12+1d6: (6)+5+12+(5): 28
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 25.
It is now Froggy Brains' turn! Rune is next!
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (19)+18: 37
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (20)+18: 38
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (10)+18: 28
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (12)+18: 30
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Harkashan casts Bear's Endurance. Caster Level: 18 DC: 22
GAME: Culix rolls 18-2: (4)+18+-2: 20
GAME: Culix rolls 2d8+10: (7)+10: 17
Aelwyn takes deep gash wounds, spattering blood over his ruddy, now crimson, scales. He clutches at the wound. "Tch, no need to need for aid for such close quarters, Lava!" He calls out with a flicker of his tongue.
And the Dragoon straightens, holding up his bloodied hand. Stepping backwards, he flicks the droplets into the air and they catch fire, raining down around him in a curtain of fire. The flaming glaive spins and flexes - before with several dazzling swipes, one of them chunks into the brain. "Tch. Who knew brains with feet were so dangerous?"
GAME: Culix rolls 14: (4)+14: 18
GAME: Aelwyn rolls will: (16)+7: 23
The creature to Rune's north recoils as a chunk of its fallen kin splats unceremoniously against the ground next to it. It still can't approach the woman and her accursed circle of protection, so it bolsters itself again- seeping wounds from Rune's previous assaults closing up and knitting themselves shut as it paces, waiting for its moment to strike or make a break for it.
The one Harkashan wounded lashes back, but the Deathsinger is too swift for it- its attacks find no purchase and even when one draws perilously close, some twist of fate deflects the blow at the final instant.
Aelwyn, meanwhile, will find his mind assaulted by a cacophony of disjointed images and nonsensical, maddening babbling. It is not enough, though, to distract him from his purpose.
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 24.
It is now Rune's turn! MAC-B1G is next!
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1+2: (20)+27+1+2: 50 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1+2+4: (13)+27+1+2+4: 47
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+4+1d6: (6)+4+(2)+4+(5): 21
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 12.
It is now MAC-B1G's turn! Dirk is next!
The skittering sound of the intellect devourer pacing back and forth across the stones has rune slowly turning her attention towards it. "You're not getting out of here alive, I made sure of that..." The fact that she can still hear her allies voices, mean that things can't be that bad in the adjacent rooms.
So, she focuses on the one that is skittering near the back wall, closing in to make sure that it has few options left to it. Her blade lashes out once with spell-enhanced quickness, slashing into part of the twitching brain matter on one side and sliding in with an unpleasant squelch.
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon8+2: (10)+17+2: 29
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 8.
It is now Dirk's turn! Harkashan is next!
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 6.
It is now Harkashan's turn! Aelwyn is next!
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1: aliased to bab+wisdom+1: (4)+13+10+1: 28
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1: aliased to bab+wisdom+1: (6)+13+10+1: 30
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1-5: aliased to bab+wisdom+1-5: (2)+13+10+1+-5: 21
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1-10: aliased to bab+wisdom+1-10: (10)+13+10+1+-10: 24
GAME: Harkashan rolls damage26-5: aliased to 1d8+6-5: (3)+6+-5: 4
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 5.
It is now Aelwyn's turn! Froggy Brains is next!
GAME: Harkashan rolls 11d6: (41): 41
There are more reverberations of metal on stone as the taskforce's personal warfare companion enters the nearer room. Its nitial assesment notes the threat to Harkashan, thus MAC turns sharply to step towards the threat enactor. "Engaging." One reinforced primary manipulator is raised and thrust at the creature, though it manages to evade. "
"Ooph, thank you MAC." Harkashan calls out as the Wargolem approaches to assist him. "This little sucker is faster than I'd like it to be. I fear my skills with the blade have greatly waned in comparison to the gifts bestowed upon me by the Death Singing Dragon." As his blade keeps carving down at the thing, but failing to land. It of course doesn't help that he's fighting in a way that keeps himself protected from harm. Even managing to send out a wave of healing energies in the midst of his wiggling. His tail lashing with each strike.
GAME: Aelwyn rolls perform/dance+2: (5)+15+2: 22
GAME: Culix rolls 13: (3)+13: 16
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (7)+19+-4+2: 24
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (11)+19+-4+2: 28
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2-5: (8)+19+-4+2+-5: 20
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2-10: (15)+19+-4+2+-10: 22
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 25.
It is now Froggy Brains' turn! Rune is next!
Aelwyn continues swaying around the edges of the room, gesticulating in a fashion across the air with both fire and blood that would be more fit to the theatre district than this sullen, rotten basement. In a mental institute, nonetheless.
Perhaps that is why Aelwyn was there now, dodging a walking brain with set of sharp appendages. Heavy swipes of the glaive come down, punctuating his rhythm, but all he does is scrape the floor and sparks. "Tch, one is too young to be old, Lava!" He calls out with a flash of his teeth, and he spreads his hands. "Straighten from one's grouch, it is merely a lively bit of brain!"
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1+2: (7)+27+1+2: 37
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6: (1)+4+(5): 10
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (5)+18: 23
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5: (4)+5: 9
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (13)+18: 31
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (19)+18: 37
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (6)+18: 24
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (12)+18: 30
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5: (4)+5: 9
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5: (1)+5: 6
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (6)+18: 24
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (7)+18: 25
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (3)+18: 21
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (11)+18: 29
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5: (4)+5: 9
The remaining brain in the entryway and storage room where Rune finds herself decides it is not winning this fight, and makes a break for it. It receives a slice for its efforts as it flees past Rune but pays it no heed, launching itself into the barred doors and raking them with its claws, tearing rents in the wood. But the doors are sturdy, and will take more than that to give.
Meanwhile, in the other room, a new attacker has arrived- the one who had been failing to find any gaps in Harkashan's defense vents its spleen on MAC on the war golem's arrival, turning suddenly and lashing out at it with a series of rapid swipes that bite into the metal of its carapace.
Harkashan fares better, fending off the bulk of the creature's attacks as it claws at him- but still takes a fresh nick to recently healed flesh courtesy of Harkashan's gifts.
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 24.
It is now Rune's turn! MAC-B1G is next!
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1+2: (2)+27+1+2: 32
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6: (4)+4+(4): 12
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 12.
It is now MAC-B1G's turn! Dirk is next!
GAME: MAC-B1G activates its Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Str,+4 Dex
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon8: (17)+19: 36
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon8: (7)+19: 26
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon8: (15)+19: 34
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon8: (7)+19: 26
There is a certain amount of annoyance at the creature continuing to skitter away from her, but survival instincts are strong, even in creatures such as these. Rune lets out a breath, giving another slash as it retreats towards the door. "Seriously?"
The rogue moves to follow, feet sqleching across the floor that is now littered with intellect devourer parts. Even as the creature attacks the door, she gives it another stab from behind, digging the blade into another part of the brain structure.
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls damage8: aliased to 2d6+10: (7)+10: 17
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls damage8: aliased to 2d6+10: (6)+10: 16
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 8.
It is now Dirk's turn! Harkashan is next!
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 6.
It is now Harkashan's turn! Aelwyn is next!
"Re-evaluating... Supplementary combat systems engaged." Several small gems on MAC's chassis brighten as power is diverted. This time, both appendages are raised and both of its tri-lobed 'fists' rapidly extend hydraulically into the threat organism before retracting and extending anew in a rapid reciprocating manner.
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1: aliased to bab+wisdom+1: (8)+13+10+1: 32
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1: aliased to bab+wisdom+1: (19)+13+10+1: 43
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1-5: aliased to bab+wisdom+1-5: (17)+13+10+1+-5: 36
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1-10: aliased to bab+wisdom+1-10: (5)+13+10+1+-10: 19
GAME: Harkashan rolls damage26-5: aliased to 1d8+6-5: (4)+6+-5: 5
GAME: Harkashan rolls damage26-5: aliased to 1d8+6-5: (8)+6+-5: 9
GAME: Harkashan rolls damage26-5: aliased to 1d8+6-5: (7)+6+-5: 8
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 5.
It is now Aelwyn's turn! Froggy Brains is next!
GAME: Aelwyn rolls perform/dance+2: (3)+15+2: 20
GAME: Culix rolls 13: (1)+13: 14 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (6)+19+-4+2: 23
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (14)+19+-4+2: 31
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2-5: (14)+19+-4+2+-5: 26
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2-10: (17)+19+-4+2+-10: 24
"Perfect! Keep that up!" Harkashan calls out as the Wargolem shows it's got some more tricks up its sleeve. Each time those fists extend, he slashes at the thing, managing to use MAC-B1G's timing to catch the brain off-guard. His own magics keeping him safe, though he does keep glancing back at Aelwyn, who seems to be doing just fine on his own over there.
"Hey Aelwyn, how's Rune doing down the hall?" He calls out to the ruddy one.
GAME: Aelwyn rolls damage11+12+1d6: aliased to 1d10+5+12+1d6: (1)+5+12+(1): 19
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eleven - Init 25.
It is now Froggy Brains' turn! Rune is next!
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (2)+18: 20
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (17)+18: 35
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (15)+18: 33
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (11)+18: 29
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5-5: (2)+5+-5: 2
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5-5: (1)+5+-5: 1
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5-5: (4)+5+-5: 4
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4+5-5: (3)+5+-5: 3
GAME: Culix rolls 14: (3)+14: 17
GAME: Culix rolls 14: (11)+14: 25
Aelwyn continues his solo performance with the walking brain. It may be pretty, but definitely not one of his best performance. And the brain was doing quite a good job at evading all the dozen strikes Aelwyn has thrown at the thing's way.
The Dragoon looks back towards Harkashan, then spares a moment of being set on fire to glance at the hallway. "... this one is not certain, there is too much brain mist." He flashes his teeth. "Twin's blades seem to be slicing just fine."
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1: aliased to bab+wisdom+1: (9)+13+10+1: 33
GAME: Harkashan rolls damage26-5: aliased to 1d8+6-5: (5)+6+-5: 6
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (6)+19+-4+2: 23
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (2)+19+-4+2: 19
The frantic clawing bears fruit and the devourer scraping its way through the door manages to tear a splintered hole through it big enough for it to step through- which it does without hesitation, attempting to flee Rune even as she bears down on it. As it steps through, it throbs, once, sending out a psychic word to its kin elsewhere in the basement. Though the adventurer's cannot hear it, the response it provokes makes it clear what instruction was given: Run.
The two fighting the bulk of the party in the alchemy room suddenly draw away from their opponents, pulsing with energy before going invisible. Even before their forms have faded fully from sight they are on the move, heedlessly squeezing their way past the party and towards the recently opened egress.
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eleven - Init 24.
It is now Rune's turn! MAC-B1G is next!
GAME: Rune takes ten on bluff: (10)+32: 42
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-2: (2)+27+1+-2: 28
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-7: (14)+27+1+-7: 35
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-7: (19)+27+1+-7: 40 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-7+4: (19)+27+1+-7+4: 44 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-12: (16)+27+1+-12: 32
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-12: (1)+27+1+-12: 17 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1: (2)+27+1: 30
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (6)+4+(1)+(30): 41
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (1)+4+(1)+(33): 39
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+damage2+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (2)+4+(6)+4+(4)+(35): 55
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (1)+4+(1)+(25): 31
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6+9d6: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+9d6: (4)+4+(1)+(45): 54
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eleven - Init 12.
It is now MAC-B1G's turn! Dirk is next!
Given enough time and focus, it's not surprising that the door gives way under the assault. However, the intellect devourer doesn't have time to make a full escape, given that Rune is standing right behind it like a harbringer of death. The moment it moves to step through, she follows and neatly slams both weapons down, separating the brain into equal parts, and then slicing through them until it falls into quartered bits of flesh and legs.
"Door is down! I'm blocking the way, though!" Rune calls out, making sure that the others are aware of the situation. "They'll have to get through me..." Which sounds as if it is a-okay with the rogue. It makes her a choke point that her allies can build up on, if nothing else.
GAME: MAC-B1G casts See Invisibility. Caster Level: 12 DC: 14
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eleven - Init 8.
It is now Dirk's turn! Harkashan is next!
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eleven - Init 6.
It is now Harkashan's turn! Aelwyn is next!
The threats before it and Harkashan vanish, causing MAC to pause. "Engaging camouflage countermeasures. Scanning." Its cyan optics brighten and dim in a pulsating fashion as its faceplate rotates full circle before halting facing east. "Threats located. Unit desginate Rune, high probability of camouflaged threat forces inbound to your vicinity." It then moves east to pursue.
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+1+2: aliased to bab+wisdom+1+2: (3)+13+10+1+2: 29
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Eleven - Init 5.
It is now Aelwyn's turn! Froggy Brains is next!
"She can see them." Harkashan remarks to MAC as he ends up next to him, charging through the room to try and get into position. He can't easily get past the creature MAC is fighting, and doesn't want to risk tumbling over invisible ones, so he takes formation next to him and swipes at the froggy brain. "She won't let any of them past her."
GAME: Aelwyn rolls perform/dance: (16)+15: 31
GAME: Culix rolls 13: (5)+13: 18
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (14)+19+-4+2: 31
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2: (16)+19+-4+2: 33
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2-5: (1)+19+-4+2+-5: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon11-4+2-10: (10)+19+-4+2+-10: 17
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (94): 94
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (52): 52
GAME: Aelwyn rolls damage11+12+1d6: aliased to 1d10+5+12+1d6: (8)+5+12+(6): 31
GAME: Aelwyn rolls damage11+12+1d6: aliased to 1d10+5+12+1d6: (8)+5+12+(4): 29
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Twelve - Init 25.
It is now Froggy Brains' turn! Rune is next!
Aelwyn exposes his teeth in a macabre grin. He saunters forth as the others rush towards the fleeing, invisible brains. "Oh, this one shan't let one go lest one sees the final act." The Dragoon rumbles, dragging the glaive behind him. It's blade thuds along as he nears the rear of the other two of his party.
Glaive falls - thunk. Slides. Curls. And with a final sweep upwards, the brain is set on fire and drops to the ground. Aelwyn clicks his teeth. "Tch."
GAME: Culix rolls 33+20: (9)+33+20: 62
GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (12)+32: 44
And then there was one. The fleeing creature crashes into the border of Rune's circle against evil like it is a physical barrier, and rears back as it recoils. It freezes in place for a moment, and then skitters north, before moving out of sight of any observers as it tries to conceal itself in a dark corner of the basement.
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Twelve - Init 24.
It is now Rune's turn! MAC-B1G is next!
GAME: Rune rolls perception: (11)+37: 48
"They shouldn't be able to get past me due to Harkashan's magic." Rune explains, raising her voice so hopefully it can be heard by the others. "So I'm going to stay right here and keep them away from the doors." She has no idea that they may very well be down to the last of the intellect devourers.
She peeks around the door, using her magically enhanced sight to spot one of the creatures having made their way into the room. "Got one over here, behind a crate in the Northwest corner." She aims a blade in that direction to point it out.
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Twelve - Init 12.
It is now MAC-B1G's turn! Dirk is next!
GAME: MAC-B1G spends ONE use of CHARGE POOL.
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls ranged+2: (5)+14+2: 21
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls 1d20+artificer: (10)+12: 22
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Twelve - Init 8.
It is now Dirk's turn! Harkashan is next!
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Twelve - Init 6.
It is now Harkashan's turn! Aelwyn is next!
GAME: Culix rolls 18: (12)+18: 30
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Twelve - Init 5.
It is now Aelwyn's turn! Froggy Brains is next!
MAC-B1G continues its pursuit, taking advantage of unti-designate Rune's assistance in locating the target. Its manipulator opens and a tube telescopes from its center and begins to glow magenta. "Nethericte intermix levels to maximum." Bracing with its other manipulator, it then looses a charged bolt of hyper-excited Nethercite particles. When they impact the target, they react violently with the manifested matter in a rapid mutual annihilation.
"I'll move into position, just keep guiding me." Harkashan remarks to both MAC and Rune as he enters the main basement hall and maneuvers around his allies to get to where they claim the invisible creature is trying to hide. Hoping that standing right next to it while others are firing on it will make the message clear: There is nowhere to hide.
GAME: Aelwyn rolls intimidate: (12)+19: 31
GAME: Culix rolls 13: (14)+13: 27
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Thirteen - Init 25.
It is now Froggy Brains' turn! Rune is next!
GAME: Aelwyn rolls will: (19)+7: 26
The creature is still squeezing itself into the shadowy gap behind the crate when Rune calls it out and mere moments later it is struck by the beam of disruptive energy from MAC. Its form shimmers raimbow colors and then resolves as its invisibility is stripped away. It bears down, the veins in its grey matter throbbing as it tries to assault Aelwyn's mind once again, striking back against the threatening display with one of its own. But the alien imagery washes over Aelwyn's psyche without impact.
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Thirteen - Init 24.
It is now Rune's turn! MAC-B1G is next!
Aelwyn follows on after the others - but there was something different about it. In fact, he was on fire. Or so it looked, at a quick glance - he was spinning his glaive around him in such fashion that it was hard to tell the difference between blade and flame. "Come!" He calls out. "Let us dance! Our minds shall meet, if our bodies cannot!" He calls out - swiping a table clean of whatever equipment there in, and now juggling a pot by the tip of his glaive. He seemed, questionably so, unhinged. Yet the flames were licking around him in pretty fashion.
As her allies are finally able to pinpoint the creature, Rune gives a little sound of approval. "Yes, they've got this." However, she has put herself into a position where she has to hold her place, despite her tendency to want to wade into the thick of things. It's one of those times when she knows to step back and let others handle it.
That doesn't mean that she isn't bouncing on the balls of her feet and looking behind her up the stairway incase there was any other trouble. "You've got this, finish it off!" Rogue turned cheerleader.
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.
Round Thirteen - Init 12.
It is now MAC-B1G's turn! Dirk is next!
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls ranged+1: (6)+14+1: 21
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls ranged+1: (5)+14+1: 20
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls ranged+1-5: (4)+14+1+-5: 14
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls 6d6: (19): 19
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls 6d6: (21): 21
Now that the threat's camouflage is breached, the construct adjusts the pre-firing admixture to more typical levels. MAC then unleashes a short, controlled burst of excited particles at the creature. Two shots connect, scorching flesh and nervous system alike. After a cursory evaluation of effect, it notes, "Threat neutralized."
The sizzling flesh almost /almost/ smells like bacon, but there is an unsettling sourness to the scent that turns the stomach rather than entices it. With the blast of the death way the last of the alienist's "apostles" are dispatched- at least, the ones which were borne here of the unfortunate militia.
Harkashan puts his hands onto his knees and kneels over a bit, letting out a long pant. "Okay, I think that was all of them." He remarks, before looking to Rune. "Right? You counted this many of them." He motions to the dead corpses, both here and in the previous chambers. "Seems 'Doom upon this world' has been stayed yet another day."
Aelwyn swings his glaive in the air, gives it a little spin and then lets it fall over his shoulder. He touches his side then; seeing the damage upon his once pristine and blood soaked scales. "There is truly one way to be sure - set it all on fire." The ruddy sith-makar states, before he tilts his head towards the golem and then the rogue. "This was fine battle; though this one is eager for a bath in something else than mind matter."
"I... wasn't really counting them." Rune admits, though she cocks her head, as if trying to hear if there are more of the skittering legs. "But that was the last one I can see, currently." For the time being, she still lingers there in the doorway, not knowing if they could find themselves set upon again.
"Seems like they were up to some pretty nasty stuff here. Nasty enough that we definitely need some folks of the magical sort to likely investigate and sort it all out." She reaches up, and then pulls a bit of splattered brain matter out of her hair. "Though, we may want to warn them that it is a bit of a mess."
MAC-B1G's faceplate pans in a full circle before it reports, "No additional threat activity detected." Lower-priority parsing of recently-collected data then occurs. "This unit possesses minimal data concerning biological processor maintenance facilities, yet the processes demonstrated in current facility appear to be ... inadequate."
None of the party can hear any sounds of other creatures skittering about, and are able to spend a little time looking around and poking at crates and cupboards just to make sure. Eventually, they are able to head back to report their findings on this disturbing place.
None of the party can hear any sounds of other creatures skittering about, and are able to spend a little time looking around and poking at crates and cupboards just to make sure. Eventually they are able to head back upstairs, and a thorough scan of the place reveals no further secret doors or hiding critters. They will have the solemn duty of reporting the loss of the Militia squad that preceeded them, but at least whatever evils Alienist Cliffowe was committing here have been put to the sword.
As for his brother, the reclusive noble who founded this place? That is something that gives some concern when the party report it to the guild of explorers. But for now, the party's duties are fulfilled.