2015-08-17
zzzzzZAP!
Immediately after the elemental appears an arc of lightning arcs between the two halves of the clamshell structures, and there's a pinging sound as a blue mist surrounds the elemental. The lamps flare to twice their previous intensity and beads of green light come streaming out from the top of the structure, arcing across the walls trailing traceries behind them. Suddenly the flare dims, with only a few sparks and arcs left, and the voice heard earlier says "Energy below mimimum threshold - emergency functions only".
The elemental remains trapped as the door to the south is outlined by the tracing lights, which solidifies into existance. Tyrus explains the message about emerency functions and tells everyone to keep an eye on the elemental as he has felt it's bond to him severed.
The party steps up to the door and it seems to sense their presense, and the door opens with a lot of grinding and dust billowing forth. As the view clears, shadowy figures turn to re-orient themselves towards the door and it becomes clear that they are skeletons. One Rust-washed accompanied by another skeletal dwarf wearing robes over whatever armour it might be wearing and wielding a battle-axe off to the left. There are also two skeletal archers accompanied by a taller skeleton wielding an extremely shiny rapier and wearing some kind of wire frame straight ahead from the door on the other side of a raised table with scattered detritus. Behind them there is some kind of dias with a crystal laid carefully in the center of a mat.
In an otherworldly-smooth motion the tall skeleton in the center moves over the table (almost as if floating) and fluidly moves behind the party and a disembodied voice says "You will come to regret having done this.". As he comes closer the party realize the "wire" is some kind of frame of twigs. Korfal staggers back from the revenant and fires a panicked shot at it before dropping his crossbow and drawing his hammer.
Obankot backs up to a wall, whispering an incantation over his bow and his arrows sprout fists in the place of the arrow heads. Ulfgar steps to the side and channels his wave of mutilation, a cone of force tearing through the two archers who have drawn longswords and sending one tumbling to the floor and Brannock's axe smashes into the other sending chips of bone splintering across the room but it still stands. Tyrus channels forth the last of his divine energy, visibly sagging a little as he moves over to the wall near the tall skeletal warrior.
Tyrus & Ulfgar identify Greater Invisibility being cast by the robe-wearing skeleton in the room to the south as it disappears, and the tall revenant tumbles past Korfal before impaling him on its rapier and its voice calmly states "This shouldn't take long.".
Obankot draws back his bowstring and looses a flurry of arrows, all of which are clearly and easily dodged, and so Ulfgar steps over next to the downed Hobgoblin and unleashes a pair of empowered scorching rays, neither of which hit. He calls "Tyrus, Brannock, did you notice the skeleton turning invisible?" and Tyrus and Brannock both respond in the affirmative. Brannock deflects the attack of the Rustwashed skeleton and pivots on the spot to charge at the tall skeleton, but the towering revenant resists his offense.
Tyrus calls on Nephe's Blessing of Fervour http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/blessing-of-fervor and draws a tanglefoot bag from his haversack. He then recognizes Transmute Rock to Mud being cast and the entire party sinks 5-feet into the floor. The skeleton "It's been some time since I've fought dwarves." as it plunges its rapier into Brannock. Obankot clambers up out of the mud onto solid stone and casts Extended Barkskin on himself.
Ulfgar's hammer comes sweeping out of the mud towards his tall tormentor but cannot land a hit, nor can he quite reach the Rustwashed skeleton who darts along the edge of the mud-pool. Tyrus clambers out and summons his Spiritual Weapon which fails to hit the tall, gaunt assailant.
Another spell is cast but not identified. There's a slight plinking sound and no other obvious effect.
Tyrus burns some divine favour with Eshnil to take his turn, empowering his Spiritual Weapon through Owl's Wisdom which does not appear to help, and charging up to the skeleton yelling for it to get away from Brannock.
Skeleton turns to face Tyrus, regarding him for a moment with a curious tilt of the head before running him through with its rapier. Obankot attempts to run up the wall but finds himself trapped in a Resilient Sphere http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/resilient-sphere so he drops his bow and begins flailing around to try to find the limits of the sphere.
Ulfgar side-steps and unleashes his Dragon's Breath in the direction of the skeletal warrior, but Protection from Fire blocks the attack entirely.
Brannock raises his hand which glows briefly and the skeleton levitates briefly into the air before suddenly hurtling backwards into the water. Brannock clambers out of the mud into Tyrus' waiting arms where he is healed as Tyrus directs his Spiritual Weapon to attack the Rustwashed skeleton, sending it toppling to the ground followed by a staggering fall http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/staggering-fall.
A cone of cold spews forth, catching Tyrus, Brannock and Ulfgar. Brannock is knocked unconscious and Tyrus is Disabled http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Disabled
Ulfgar dispels the Resiliant Sphere around Obankot and the elf kicks his bow up into his hands again and sends a flurry of arrows flying in the direction of the previous cone of cold.
Tyrus heals himself and moves to the other side of Brannock, eyeing the gauntlet but instead gathering himself to heal his fallen comrade. He's still gathering himself when he hears the all-too-familiar sound of a Fireball being cast. The flames engulf the party, killing Brannock instantly.
Tyrus casts Sanctuary on himself and grabs Brannock's burned and battered corpse, dragging him towards the exit while yelling to the others that they have to go immediately. As he drags his erstwhile friend along the side of the water feature, a dripping skeletal figure heaves itself up and out onto the path ahead. Tyrus considers the exposed figure a moment before trusting to Nephe and dismissing the idea of lashing out at it. He knows that he will join his friend in death if the abomination before him strikes him even once, but the only thing holding back his grief is his faith.
Ulfgar heaves himself out of the mud and prepares to run, while Obankot runs deeper into the room to the crystal on the dias. On the far corner of the room he can see what appears to be a map and he considers whether to run or to try to check the map out.
Tyrus attempts to drag Brannock past the skeletal warrior and it raises the dreaded rapier to attack, then stops suddenly and begins strolling casually alongside him as he drags Brannock towards the exit. The skeleton speaks again "I almost admire you, but you will not succeed.". Tyrus pauses a moment, his jaw clenched, and allows the love and light of Nephe to flow into him, healing him again. With tears streaming down his face he slowly, reverently pulls the gauntlet from the blackened hand of his fallen friend, and places it onto his own.
Ulfgar and Obankot each run at great speed toward the exit, the dwarf on the floor and the elf running up the wall and across the ceiling, their skin still burning as the acid eats away at them. Bolts of streaming fire fly out across the room, one of which hits Obankot and the elf falls unconscious from the ceiling with a sickening thud.
