Van says "Well I don't like heading up there blind and Wes isn't too happy to scout it out. But I can do one thing..." Van will cast detect magic above them.
(I'm also going to use Arcane Recovery to get my 2nd level spell slot back)
“Is there any cause for alarm Endaelin? Should I take charge in case of any hostiles as we head up?” Anahn will say with worried face as he looks up the stairs. He’d been clearing his head from smoking the pipe before, it was quite an enjoyable experience...He wonders if Endaelin would be willing to share the recipe. I bet Elena will love it..
"Alarm enough for the lot here," he honestly responds. He sets his finger on the trigger gently. "Guess this means it's not your doing. Go ahead, sword fella."
Presuming Anahn goes first, the stairway leads to a store room for confiscations- various weapons, bottles, tools, bits of armor, odd trinkets, and even piles of coins and gems lay scattered among rows of racks and counters. The room is 20'x30', the stairs coming up on the right side of the room coming up 5' from the inner wooden wall. At the center of the inner wall, a door rests open into the room, a single candle lit on the door frame. The three outer stone walls have small, tall open windows, thick and sloped outward. Van:
Detect Magic, working through the wooden wall picks up an aura just on the other side of the open door, surrounding a motionless humanoid sitting awkwardly on the ground. The humanoid is under an effect, Van almost certain of it being paralysis under an enchantment, like Hold Person.
It seems no creatures hide in the room, and Anahn looks around the door into the next room. It is a long room, 20' wide, extending beyond the haze of 35'. 10' long desks line the sides facing inward, making a sort of hall along the middle, starting 5' past the wall your group stands behind. The older defender, with his rear on the ground just on the other side of the door, holds one hand up in front of his face as though warding a blow, unmoving. Two more blue-skinned humans lay motionless, one face down over the desk on the right 20' into the room, blood dripping down the desk soundlessly, another in the center of the room, face down at 25' in. Blood pools around that man, a few deep gashes on his back. Both have daggers laying beside them.
Standing over the man in the center, facing away from you, is a large, smooth black-skinned quadruped resembling a muscly two-headed antelope without horns. One head is lowered to the man, a green transparent gas or fluid rising from the man, being consumed by its trunk-like mouth. The other head held up repeatedly turns back and fourth, its eyes a ghastly white glow, without a mouth but instead a scythe-like bony protrusion. As soon as you are laying eyes on it, it begins circling with bull-like movement around the man on the floor such that it faces you, the one head still obsessively consuming. The other head continues to turn back and fourth, its head turned perfectly perpendicular to you a only once every fourth turn, as if dismissive of you. You lightly feel the shaking of the floor as the creature moves, but it makes no noise. You hear the light rattle of the door beside you.
Endaelin moves around Anahn, behind him, drawing breath between his teeth at the sight of the creature, but waiting for your lead.
“What do you recommend Endaelin?” Anahn will whisper as quickly and as quietly as possible to the crossbow wielding individual. He will also try to stealthily draw both his blades, keeping an eye on the mysterious creature, watching for any sudden movements as Anahn waits for a reply.
Endaelin looks to Anahn wide eyed, a drop of sweat forming on his brow. He readies his crossbow on the creature. His right foot twiches wildly, but he forces himself steady after it taps the floor a few times.
While brave enough to fight the creature, Endaelin is no adventurer. It's taking all he has to not run from the monster that seems to be sucking something out of his comrade's apparent corpse.
Anahn’s grip tightens on both his blades as he takes a deep breathe, steadying himself and preparing to move forward when prompted. He will look to both Amandil and Van with a grim smile, nodding to the beast in the room and mouthing, “You ready?”
Van would like to relay the info he got from casting detect magic before they went upstairs "Detect Magic shows a background of an intense, multi-hued aura at 15 feet. It constantly pushes in and out of your vision rapidly, almost like a living being repeatedly reaching into hot water only to pull out before plucking what it reaches for- you. Though disturbing, it takes on a static-like nature after a few seconds of observation - discordant sort of order - like watching a contained plasma ball. It seems harmless for now."
Van nods to Anahn and says very quietly "Yes. I'd like to kick off the attack if possible. I can hopefully keep it from attacking for a moment." (I'd like to be behind my other party members. I'm guessing with Endaelin)
When everyone is ready Van will cast [Tooltip Not Found] Dmg: 13 (INT14 save for half)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
When Anahn sees Van cast a spell (when everyone is ready) Anahn will dash forward, staying as small as possible once again as he rushes this mysterious beast. He will take two slashes at the trunk that seemed to be absorbing green gas from the body.
(Ikarbino opted for the others to act first, via PM.)
The monster levels it's head as soon as the party goes into action, lowering its front, scythe head turned to keep an eye toward the door. One of its hooves crushes the man's chest with a single footfall, gore splattering, still no sound issuing.
Forming a purple-black bolt in a single motion, Van launches it at the creature, dispersing into it on contact. The creature shakes at the effect, but doesn't seem to slow. (INT: 16, saved, 6 damage)
Endaelin fires, his crossbow twanging, bolt whistling for only a split second before silently piercing the base of the monster's large scythe-headed necks. (attack vs monster: 19, 5 damage)
Running up close to the aberrant beast, Anahn sweeps up in a spin at the creature's breast, scoring a weak cut. It steps back from the cut, and now, when its feet hit the wooden floor, you hear it rattle hard with a thump. Whatever was keeping it silent is now gone.
Amandil's wall, transparent to the group, rises up between Anahn and the rest of the group at the door, with Amandil in front of the door, Van at the doorway, and Endaelin back in the confiscation room.
The aberrant beast turns its full attention to Anahn with the wall's appearance. It lunges with the trunk-mouthed head at him but far from touching. His body flashes with a green glow, but he wills his essence back into his body. (Anahn WILL: 18, saved, no effect) It follows up with a rapid swipe down with the other head, the bone scythe striking Anahn's shoulder, rattling his armor. Anahn buckles under the large beast's attack, staggering toward it's body, but holds his ground. (attack vs Anahn: 20, 9 damage) Its hooves continue to thunder in the room, desks and door rattling as it puts a couple feet between Anahn and itself, scythe-head lowered as though in defense. You hear no breath coming from it.
Van:
The paralysis on the older defender on the ground persists through the damage the beast takes, suggesting it does not require concentration for it. The beast possessed an aura of silence, but when Anahn struck, the effect vanished- suggesting the opposite from the earlier effect.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Grimacing in pain and almost mystified by this terrifying monster in front of him, Anahn will grit his teeth and wipe any blood on his swords on the dead body that had gotten his chest crushed. Looking up after cleaning them Anahn will give a primal scream and once again rushing the beast.
Attack 1:20 Attack 2:15ACTION SURGE: Attack 3:27
Damage 1:6 Damage 2:1 Damage 3:8
(will expend 1d8 superiority die on Attack 1. Add 1d8 to attack roll on Precision Strike: 6
[Total 11 to hit on Attack 1 now]
(Bracers of Rending if two hits? forgot what to roll for bracer attack)
ooc: Bonus action to use Mantle of Inspiration to give everyone else 5 temp hp. They can also now move as much as their movement, without drawing attacks of opportunity. Action to shoot crossbow: Attack: 24 Damage: 11
With both of his friends having now taken damage, Amandil stepped out of cover long enough to sing "we're not gonna take it/ no, we ain't gonna take it" to inspire the others, then shoot his crossbow at the monster before stepping back behind the "wall".
Readying a fire bolt, Van unleashes it from the cover of the doorway, but it flies high past the creature's heads. (Attack vs creature: 9, miss)
Endaelin steadily reloads his crossbow, raising it to his shoulder to fire. The bolt whistles into the creature's torso, embedding into it. (Attack vs creature: 21, 5 damage)
In a masterful focused flurry his blades, Anahn slices repeatedly into the creature. (Adjusting to new dice rolls this time. Bracers add a single weapon die of damage. 3 hits. 24 damage)
Amandil adds another bolt into the torso of the creature. (11 damage)
The creature again goes to drain from Anahn, but he refuses to yield his essence.(Anahn WIS: 19, save, no effect) In a small hop with its front legs, it forcefully brings the scythe down on Anahn, who deftly sidesteps the blow. It hammers into the ground, splinters scattering up around Anahn. (attack vs Anahn: 10, miss)
End round 2.
The party follows up with another barrage of bolts while Anahn continues his flurry.
Van: (Fire Bolt, 13, miss)
Endaelin: (Crossbow, 13, miss)
Anahn: (Scimitars, 23, 9 damage, 14, miss)
Amandil: (Crossbow, 13, miss)
Still focused on Anahn, the creature continues to try to steal his essence. (Anahn WIS save, 17, save, no effect) Anahn braces under the pull, but keeps hold of himself, the green flash about him retreating back into his body again. It turns and twists it's weapon-head fast in a sweep, a whoosh ending in a crash into Anahn's scimitars in a cross-guard defense. He dips in a stumble with the sweep rising over his head, deflecting the blow with all his might. Anahn ignores the pang of the blow in his arms, steadying himself. (attack vs Anahn: 18, miss)
The multiple cuts and bolts in the creature's front look severe, but the creature still moves with vitality and strength.
(BTl_Brian said he'd hit a 2nd level spell, then to do a normal rotation if it's looking hurt- and it is looking hurt now, so going with normal rotation. Also including Anahn using a Superiority Die on his 2nd attack roll in round 3. Normally this is a choice that should be made before the result is declared, but I didn't consider Anahn could do that at the time and rolled a d100 to decide. This triggers his bracers, and results in 6 damage from the hit and the rending)
Van evokes another bolt of fire, the burst on contact scorching over the beast in a hot flare. (attack vs creature: 21, 10 damage)
Focused on his crossbow and loading it smoothly before firing, Endaelin's shot scores a long cut just above the breast, between the necks. (attack vs creature: 17, 3 damage)
Anahn pulls his cross-guard scimitars close, attempting to lunge back into the creature with quick downward swipes but earn nothing more than scratches. (attacks vs creature: 6 and 6, both natural 1's)
Amandil quickly reloads, bringing up the crossbow as he steps around the false wall to fire. The bolt hits into it's right leg. (attack vs creature: 16, 4 damage)
As Amandil draws a breath to encourage everyone, the beast slips on it's right leg, and slams sideways into the desk on your left. It shatters beneath the creature. The scythe cracks against the stone wall, the neck snapping from the impact. The trunk head rises up amidst the scattering wood. It stares at Amandil for a moment, trunk extended as though trying to steal his essence. The white light of it's eyes vanish. The head limply falls, its body relaxing into death.
Endaelin sighs in relief, letting the crossbow down at his side.
(The creature's bone scythe might be worth something to the right buyer, but a detailed account of the unique creature is probably worth more, also to the right buyer.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Van tells Endaelin to go look after his friend. (Is the aura of paralyzation still there?) I'd also like to study the room for a couple specific things. 1) Is there any indication of how the creature got in here. 2) Are there any signs anywhere that would indicate how long they were time stopped here?
Investigate +6, Perception +1 12
(Crap! It's crazy but for the last couple weeks since the roller has been messed up my rolls have been shite!)
((well a blue 2 can't be right... perhaps you rolled a d2 by accident where you meant to roll 2d20? Re-rolling for ya.))
The older fellow is still caught in paralysis, but even as you look, the aura starts to fade. He will be free soon. Endaelin takes the man's crossbow and sword as a precaution, grunting through the pain from his injuries. "All right, wake up now. Don't leave me hanging."
(Investigation: 26) With reason to believe it was night when the time stopped, the sun must have made a quarter day's march at least (or the world turned depending on Van's understanding). Your friends who sent you here seemed very excited about the event, implying it did happen very recently- which suggests it may have been just hours along with the evidence. Determining more than that with what's available, however, is impossible- such an event has no precedence as far as Van knows. Looking through the mess caused by the creature, he finds slight indents in the floor show where it stepped- and where the trail stops near the opposite side of the room sixty feet down. At a glance it seems to have come from thin air by one of the now-broken desks. With a little sifting at the rubble, Van finds a magical figurine - similar to Cerebrus (as Van recognizes) but with two heads. The creature was quite different from the figurine, but ...
(Knowledge, Arcana: 23) Van recalls what he has read about figurines of power. They vary greatly, summoning creatures from simple animals to proud mythical beings. However, they always summon what they depict- unless something happened. There are disagreements on the cause of such- some say the summoned creature is an extant being that is normally restored by the power of the figurine, others say the figurine itself possesses some degree of intelligence and can suffer from the environment or effects on it directly causing the creature to become changed from the original design. Whatever the case, it seems this is a Wondrous Figurine of Power and is the source of the creature, though how it was summoned is an unknown- by the look of it, the figurine activated itself, which could be very valuable knowledge for the libraries on your home world. If only you had time to tinker an experiment!
Otherwise, the desks here appear to be for day-to-day paper-pushing. There are 10 long desks in total, in a 90 foot long room. There is a trapdoor to the ceiling on the left side of the room at the end, and a stairway down at the right side of the room, which has a door at the bottom.
Taking a deep breathe Anahn will stand back and put his hands on his knees as he tries to process what he had just battled. It had tried several times to steal something from him, he’s not sure what. Looking over to Endaelin and his older companion he will walk over,
”I don’t suppose either of you have any idea what just happened, or what we just fought?”
Van will do his best to sum up the info he has learned "I can't say I know exactly what that was but it seems to be tied to this figurine." He says pointing to it (I'm not touching it at this point) "It's emitting magic and while I'm familiar with such figures used as a focus for summoning this one seems to have triggered itself. I'm sure the wizards would be interested in it but until I know more I'm going to leave it where it is." It's obvious Van is disturbed by this. He asks Endaelin if he knows anything about it.
Van will also communicate with Wes and ask him to act as lookout on the first floor.
Endaelin nods to Amandil. "The bandages can wait. I'll come along." He grabs his crossbow, loading it with an ordinary bolt.
The stairway is 5' wide, with no door at the top. There seems to be enough light from windows on the second floor, albeit a little dim.
Van says "Well I don't like heading up there blind and Wes isn't too happy to scout it out. But I can do one thing..." Van will cast detect magic above them.
(I'm also going to use Arcane Recovery to get my 2nd level spell slot back)
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules
“Is there any cause for alarm Endaelin? Should I take charge in case of any hostiles as we head up?” Anahn will say with worried face as he looks up the stairs. He’d been clearing his head from smoking the pipe before, it was quite an enjoyable experience...He wonders if Endaelin would be willing to share the recipe. I bet Elena will love it..
(Opting to push things along a bit)
"Alarm enough for the lot here," he honestly responds. He sets his finger on the trigger gently. "Guess this means it's not your doing. Go ahead, sword fella."
Presuming Anahn goes first, the stairway leads to a store room for confiscations- various weapons, bottles, tools, bits of armor, odd trinkets, and even piles of coins and gems lay scattered among rows of racks and counters. The room is 20'x30', the stairs coming up on the right side of the room coming up 5' from the inner wooden wall. At the center of the inner wall, a door rests open into the room, a single candle lit on the door frame. The three outer stone walls have small, tall open windows, thick and sloped outward. Van:
Detect Magic, working through the wooden wall picks up an aura just on the other side of the open door, surrounding a motionless humanoid sitting awkwardly on the ground. The humanoid is under an effect, Van almost certain of it being paralysis under an enchantment, like Hold Person.
It seems no creatures hide in the room, and Anahn looks around the door into the next room. It is a long room, 20' wide, extending beyond the haze of 35'. 10' long desks line the sides facing inward, making a sort of hall along the middle, starting 5' past the wall your group stands behind. The older defender, with his rear on the ground just on the other side of the door, holds one hand up in front of his face as though warding a blow, unmoving. Two more blue-skinned humans lay motionless, one face down over the desk on the right 20' into the room, blood dripping down the desk soundlessly, another in the center of the room, face down at 25' in. Blood pools around that man, a few deep gashes on his back. Both have daggers laying beside them.
Standing over the man in the center, facing away from you, is a large, smooth black-skinned quadruped resembling a muscly two-headed antelope without horns. One head is lowered to the man, a green transparent gas or fluid rising from the man, being consumed by its trunk-like mouth. The other head held up repeatedly turns back and fourth, its eyes a ghastly white glow, without a mouth but instead a scythe-like bony protrusion. As soon as you are laying eyes on it, it begins circling with bull-like movement around the man on the floor such that it faces you, the one head still obsessively consuming. The other head continues to turn back and fourth, its head turned perfectly perpendicular to you a only once every fourth turn, as if dismissive of you. You lightly feel the shaking of the floor as the creature moves, but it makes no noise. You hear the light rattle of the door beside you.
Endaelin moves around Anahn, behind him, drawing breath between his teeth at the sight of the creature, but waiting for your lead.
“What do you recommend Endaelin?” Anahn will whisper as quickly and as quietly as possible to the crossbow wielding individual. He will also try to stealthily draw both his blades, keeping an eye on the mysterious creature, watching for any sudden movements as Anahn waits for a reply.
(if needed) STEALTH: 14
Endaelin looks to Anahn wide eyed, a drop of sweat forming on his brow. He readies his crossbow on the creature. His right foot twiches wildly, but he forces himself steady after it taps the floor a few times.
While brave enough to fight the creature, Endaelin is no adventurer. It's taking all he has to not run from the monster that seems to be sucking something out of his comrade's apparent corpse.
Anahn’s grip tightens on both his blades as he takes a deep breathe, steadying himself and preparing to move forward when prompted. He will look to both Amandil and Van with a grim smile, nodding to the beast in the room and mouthing, “You ready?”
Van would like to relay the info he got from casting detect magic before they went upstairs "Detect Magic shows a background of an intense, multi-hued aura at 15 feet. It constantly pushes in and out of your vision rapidly, almost like a living being repeatedly reaching into hot water only to pull out before plucking what it reaches for- you. Though disturbing, it takes on a static-like nature after a few seconds of observation - discordant sort of order - like watching a contained plasma ball. It seems harmless for now."
Van nods to Anahn and says very quietly "Yes. I'd like to kick off the attack if possible. I can hopefully keep it from attacking for a moment." (I'd like to be behind my other party members. I'm guessing with Endaelin)
When everyone is ready Van will cast [Tooltip Not Found] Dmg: 13 (INT14 save for half)
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules
When Anahn sees Van cast a spell (when everyone is ready) Anahn will dash forward, staying as small as possible once again as he rushes this mysterious beast. He will take two slashes at the trunk that seemed to be absorbing green gas from the body.
Scimitar Attack 1: 24
Damage 1: 4
Scimitar Att. 2: 11
Damage 2: 1
Initiative: Amandil- 17, Anahn- 17, Van- 15, monster- 13 (This allows Van to go first if Amandil allows him to... and edit: Endaelin initiative- 17)
ooc: Minor Illusion to create a 5 foot illusion of a stone wall between himself and the creature. Draws his light crossbow.
Amandil spoke the incantation and motioned with his hands as if raising something from the ground, while announcing "Minor Wall of Stone!"
(Ikarbino opted for the others to act first, via PM.)
The monster levels it's head as soon as the party goes into action, lowering its front, scythe head turned to keep an eye toward the door. One of its hooves crushes the man's chest with a single footfall, gore splattering, still no sound issuing.
Forming a purple-black bolt in a single motion, Van launches it at the creature, dispersing into it on contact. The creature shakes at the effect, but doesn't seem to slow. (INT: 16, saved, 6 damage)
Endaelin fires, his crossbow twanging, bolt whistling for only a split second before silently piercing the base of the monster's large scythe-headed necks. (attack vs monster: 19, 5 damage)
Running up close to the aberrant beast, Anahn sweeps up in a spin at the creature's breast, scoring a weak cut. It steps back from the cut, and now, when its feet hit the wooden floor, you hear it rattle hard with a thump. Whatever was keeping it silent is now gone.
Amandil's wall, transparent to the group, rises up between Anahn and the rest of the group at the door, with Amandil in front of the door, Van at the doorway, and Endaelin back in the confiscation room.
The aberrant beast turns its full attention to Anahn with the wall's appearance. It lunges with the trunk-mouthed head at him but far from touching. His body flashes with a green glow, but he wills his essence back into his body. (Anahn WILL: 18, saved, no effect) It follows up with a rapid swipe down with the other head, the bone scythe striking Anahn's shoulder, rattling his armor. Anahn buckles under the large beast's attack, staggering toward it's body, but holds his ground. (attack vs Anahn: 20, 9 damage) Its hooves continue to thunder in the room, desks and door rattling as it puts a couple feet between Anahn and itself, scythe-head lowered as though in defense. You hear no breath coming from it.
Van:
The paralysis on the older defender on the ground persists through the damage the beast takes, suggesting it does not require concentration for it. The beast possessed an aura of silence, but when Anahn struck, the effect vanished- suggesting the opposite from the earlier effect.
Grimacing in pain and almost mystified by this terrifying monster in front of him, Anahn will grit his teeth and wipe any blood on his swords on the dead body that had gotten his chest crushed. Looking up after cleaning them Anahn will give a primal scream and once again rushing the beast.
Attack 1:20 Attack 2:15 ACTION SURGE: Attack 3:27
Damage 1:6 Damage 2:1 Damage 3:8
(will expend 1d8 superiority die on Attack 1. Add 1d8 to attack roll on Precision Strike: 6
[Total 11 to hit on Attack 1 now]
(Bracers of Rending if two hits? forgot what to roll for bracer attack)
ooc: Bonus action to use Mantle of Inspiration to give everyone else 5 temp hp. They can also now move as much as their movement, without drawing attacks of opportunity. Action to shoot crossbow: Attack: 24 Damage: 11
With both of his friends having now taken damage, Amandil stepped out of cover long enough to sing "we're not gonna take it/ no, we ain't gonna take it" to inspire the others, then shoot his crossbow at the monster before stepping back behind the "wall".
Readying a fire bolt, Van unleashes it from the cover of the doorway, but it flies high past the creature's heads. (Attack vs creature: 9, miss)
Endaelin steadily reloads his crossbow, raising it to his shoulder to fire. The bolt whistles into the creature's torso, embedding into it. (Attack vs creature: 21, 5 damage)
In a masterful focused flurry his blades, Anahn slices repeatedly into the creature. (Adjusting to new dice rolls this time. Bracers add a single weapon die of damage. 3 hits. 24 damage)
Amandil adds another bolt into the torso of the creature. (11 damage)
The creature again goes to drain from Anahn, but he refuses to yield his essence. (Anahn WIS: 19, save, no effect) In a small hop with its front legs, it forcefully brings the scythe down on Anahn, who deftly sidesteps the blow. It hammers into the ground, splinters scattering up around Anahn. (attack vs Anahn: 10, miss)
End round 2.
The party follows up with another barrage of bolts while Anahn continues his flurry.
Van: (Fire Bolt, 13, miss)
Endaelin: (Crossbow, 13, miss)
Anahn: (Scimitars, 23, 9 damage, 14, miss)
Amandil: (Crossbow, 13, miss)
Still focused on Anahn, the creature continues to try to steal his essence. (Anahn WIS save, 17, save, no effect) Anahn braces under the pull, but keeps hold of himself, the green flash about him retreating back into his body again. It turns and twists it's weapon-head fast in a sweep, a whoosh ending in a crash into Anahn's scimitars in a cross-guard defense. He dips in a stumble with the sweep rising over his head, deflecting the blow with all his might. Anahn ignores the pang of the blow in his arms, steadying himself. (attack vs Anahn: 18, miss)
The multiple cuts and bolts in the creature's front look severe, but the creature still moves with vitality and strength.
End round 3.
(BTl_Brian said he'd hit a 2nd level spell, then to do a normal rotation if it's looking hurt- and it is looking hurt now, so going with normal rotation. Also including Anahn using a Superiority Die on his 2nd attack roll in round 3. Normally this is a choice that should be made before the result is declared, but I didn't consider Anahn could do that at the time and rolled a d100 to decide. This triggers his bracers, and results in 6 damage from the hit and the rending)
Van evokes another bolt of fire, the burst on contact scorching over the beast in a hot flare. (attack vs creature: 21, 10 damage)
Focused on his crossbow and loading it smoothly before firing, Endaelin's shot scores a long cut just above the breast, between the necks. (attack vs creature: 17, 3 damage)
Anahn pulls his cross-guard scimitars close, attempting to lunge back into the creature with quick downward swipes but earn nothing more than scratches. (attacks vs creature: 6 and 6, both natural 1's)
Amandil quickly reloads, bringing up the crossbow as he steps around the false wall to fire. The bolt hits into it's right leg. (attack vs creature: 16, 4 damage)
As Amandil draws a breath to encourage everyone, the beast slips on it's right leg, and slams sideways into the desk on your left. It shatters beneath the creature. The scythe cracks against the stone wall, the neck snapping from the impact. The trunk head rises up amidst the scattering wood. It stares at Amandil for a moment, trunk extended as though trying to steal his essence. The white light of it's eyes vanish. The head limply falls, its body relaxing into death.
Endaelin sighs in relief, letting the crossbow down at his side.
(The creature's bone scythe might be worth something to the right buyer, but a detailed account of the unique creature is probably worth more, also to the right buyer.)
Van tells Endaelin to go look after his friend. (Is the aura of paralyzation still there?) I'd also like to study the room for a couple specific things. 1) Is there any indication of how the creature got in here. 2) Are there any signs anywhere that would indicate how long they were time stopped here?
Investigate +6, Perception +1 12
(Crap! It's crazy but for the last couple weeks since the roller has been messed up my rolls have been shite!)
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules
((well a blue 2 can't be right... perhaps you rolled a d2 by accident where you meant to roll 2d20? Re-rolling for ya.))
The older fellow is still caught in paralysis, but even as you look, the aura starts to fade. He will be free soon. Endaelin takes the man's crossbow and sword as a precaution, grunting through the pain from his injuries. "All right, wake up now. Don't leave me hanging."
(Investigation: 26) With reason to believe it was night when the time stopped, the sun must have made a quarter day's march at least (or the world turned depending on Van's understanding). Your friends who sent you here seemed very excited about the event, implying it did happen very recently- which suggests it may have been just hours along with the evidence. Determining more than that with what's available, however, is impossible- such an event has no precedence as far as Van knows. Looking through the mess caused by the creature, he finds slight indents in the floor show where it stepped- and where the trail stops near the opposite side of the room sixty feet down. At a glance it seems to have come from thin air by one of the now-broken desks. With a little sifting at the rubble, Van finds a magical figurine - similar to Cerebrus (as Van recognizes) but with two heads. The creature was quite different from the figurine, but ...
(Knowledge, Arcana: 23) Van recalls what he has read about figurines of power. They vary greatly, summoning creatures from simple animals to proud mythical beings. However, they always summon what they depict- unless something happened. There are disagreements on the cause of such- some say the summoned creature is an extant being that is normally restored by the power of the figurine, others say the figurine itself possesses some degree of intelligence and can suffer from the environment or effects on it directly causing the creature to become changed from the original design. Whatever the case, it seems this is a Wondrous Figurine of Power and is the source of the creature, though how it was summoned is an unknown- by the look of it, the figurine activated itself, which could be very valuable knowledge for the libraries on your home world. If only you had time to tinker an experiment!
Otherwise, the desks here appear to be for day-to-day paper-pushing. There are 10 long desks in total, in a 90 foot long room. There is a trapdoor to the ceiling on the left side of the room at the end, and a stairway down at the right side of the room, which has a door at the bottom.
Taking a deep breathe Anahn will stand back and put his hands on his knees as he tries to process what he had just battled. It had tried several times to steal something from him, he’s not sure what. Looking over to Endaelin and his older companion he will walk over,
”I don’t suppose either of you have any idea what just happened, or what we just fought?”
Van will do his best to sum up the info he has learned "I can't say I know exactly what that was but it seems to be tied to this figurine." He says pointing to it (I'm not touching it at this point) "It's emitting magic and while I'm familiar with such figures used as a focus for summoning this one seems to have triggered itself. I'm sure the wizards would be interested in it but until I know more I'm going to leave it where it is." It's obvious Van is disturbed by this. He asks Endaelin if he knows anything about it.
Van will also communicate with Wes and ask him to act as lookout on the first floor.
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules