(050) The Heart of Woe

[waysoftheearth]

flightcommander wrote:
As the creature erupts from the surface of the tar pit, Armando seeks shelter momentarily behind the ruined altar.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Olaf continues to back toward the door, shield up. He still wants to lure the monster out of the tar, if he can.

Grab everything from the altar. We can use it to prove we did the job given us, even if we aren't completely successful in clearing the whole place.

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:

Grab everything from the altar. We can use it to prove we did the job given us, even if we aren't completely successful in clearing the whole place.

Is this a good task for Invisible Highbough? I am assuming the relics will become invisible as he slips them under his cloak?

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Gustave and Olaf are on once side of the tar pool, by the barred doors.

Olaf, Ulric and Armando are on the other side of the tar pool, by the ruined altar.

The thick, choking cloud of ash rushes outward and engulfs Olaf so that he vanishes from sight.

Ulric clambers back over the window ledge, while Armando shelters behind the altar from when he can only see the dark figure because of the horrid red glow of its searing eye beam.

Within the choking cloud -- and thus unseen by everyone -- the burning-giant wades (with giant step) directly toward Olaf who {save versus poison; d20=19}, gasped a lungful of clean air before being enveloped and scampers back toward the altar with his shield raised, but {d20=12} feels the scorching burn of the monster's baleful red glare ignite his shield, which burst into flame upon his very arm as he runs! There is an horrific groan as the thing lunges at him {d20=11,9,2} and pile drives a mighty fist into the floor sending shards of broken flagstone flying as the very ground ripples under the impact, causing Olaf to stagger violently as he flees!

At the other end of the room, Invisible Highbough lends his arm, and to Gustave's astonishment, the bar on the door begins to lift itself! Between the two of them they set it aside, and the double door lies at their mercy as the wall of choking ash roils toward them!

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Is this a good task for Invisible Highbough? I am assuming the relics will become invisible as he slips them under his cloak?

Maybe so, but Highbough is at the other end of the abbey with Gustave at the moment.

Armando is in the best position to swipe stuff from the altar...

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Olaf is retreating for the outside as fast as possible, window if it's nearest door if it is nearest. He'll shout, "Run!" on his way, but he's getting out of here now. We're going to have to regroup and take on this thing as a group...and if he lives to tell that to the others he will!

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Gustave squints into the billowing cloud of ash as it envelops him, coughing as fiery cincers stick in his throat.

"Now that was not...very...nice", he mutters into the scorching fog as he tosses the heavy bar to the ground, wondering only momentarily at how it had seemed to lift itself just now.

Figuring now would be an apt moment to vacate the area, he makes to open the door for a fast exit, whipping out his sword as he does so.

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough runs away through the now-open door! Once we are out of immediate danger, Highbough will hang back, keeping an invisible eye and ear out for pursuers.

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
"I'm beginning to think that we should have just given the good sisters all of our silver," Ulric shouts from outside the window.

"Everyone out! I'll see if I can slow it down once you're clear."

Ulric stays low but keeps clear sight of the monster.

[waysoftheearth]

flightcommander wrote:
Armando musters all of his roguish skill to remain hidden behind the ruined altar. He looks among the flotsam for anything of interest ...