Jovial Jungle Jaunt (ToA)

"You are right cleric. That is what guides me here today."

He looks to the party and says to them, "We've reached the floor and now have a tablet with some riddle. Have any of you come across anything like this? Do you know what it entails?"

"There will be tombs here and traps, I have no doubt.  These riddles may well line up with what we find here.  Whether they are any help at all.."  Boosey trails off.  "The important thing is to not touch anything  unless we are ready to repel some kind of attack or trap."

"They seem to be clues for the traps and rooms on each floor," Nenne says. She spots another eye in the purple moss and points at it silently to draw the party's attention. "Also, beware the moss. It is harmful to those who fail to give it space and respect."

She points down the hallway with the guardians and the double doors. "Our mysterious stalker went that way, if I recall. I would like to take a glance down the other corridors. Everyone stay quiet, please." She picks her way past the group to peer down the other halls. 

Two hulking figures stand motionless in alcoves along this long hall, facing each other. Armor is bolted to their flesh, and they wear bucket helms and spiked gauntlets. Iron collars around their necks are connected by a spiked chain that stretches across the corridor. A narrow corridor juts off the hallway on the north side. The pair of double doors at the end of the hallway is framed with carved skulls that are leering and laughing. The hallway stands ominously quiet. A slight rumbling can be heard from somewhere deeper in the pit.

Nenne continues around carefully watching for anything dangerous. The south hall splits left and right at a dead end not far inside. The north hall has quite a bit more detail. A huge carving of a snarling jackal’s head protrudes from the wall at the end of this twenty foot corridor. A chamber is visible through the two inch gaps between its fangs. The carved face doesn't move, but it stands ominous and terrifying.

The eladrin returns and relays her findings. 

"Do any of you recall seeing a jackal in any temple? I do not. In either case, I would hazard a bet there is a tomb behind that carving."

"I have no recollection of a Jackal, I'm afraid.  Why would a tomb of one of the nine gods be guarded by a carving of a jackal, do you think?  More to the point, if it is  a tomb for one of the nine, which of them would be likely to be guarded by a Jackal.  Perhaps Moa or Glimbul's god would know?"  Boosey's face turns serious.  "However, I'm not keen on investigating this place any further with those two tin cans behind us.  What if they set upon us while we are dealing with another situation, we would be mincemeat in seconds.  We should destroy them before they have a chance to do the same to us."

Looking down the passage towards the two metal guards, Boosey tries to carefully enter it a move towards the northern one.  He looks up at the massive figure in fear, and casts dispel magic on it, before moving back to the group.

Boosey's spell gathers energy just like normal and goes off without a hitch. The moment it does, the thing spins , swinging its right arm down to catch Boosey in the cheek. Allister can hear the crunch of bone from where he is. The fighter barely has time to react before the second creature crosses the hallway to send a fist thudding into the back of the bard's neck. Bloody and dazed, he doesn't even see the third blow take him to the ground. Somehow he manages to raise his head in time to see the fourth blow land directly into his chest. The bard lays very still in the middle of the corridor as the armored creatures turn make their way to Allister and Glimbul near the banister.

"No!" Vombec yelled as the first hand came across Boosey. Baring witness to the fall of a new accomplice and friend he just made, Vombec glared at the monstrosities. 

Wasting no time and any hesitation, Vombec yells in an unknown language, points his finger after some weaving through the air behind one of the monstrosities (J6), and brings it forth to his mouth and makes a loud piercing sound throughout the tomb. Nothing happens however, stillness goes through the air. However, Vombec shouts another word and the sound of tooth against metal could suddenly be heard. And it came from right on the undead (K6). (Faithful Hound)

Attack: 11  Damage: 25

Hearing the commotion in the hallway and seeing the creatures emerge, looming over her friends, Nenne's skin pales and she clasps her holy symbol. "Boosey! Allister! Glimbul! Be strong!" (Aid - 3rd level. 10HP to all three, and all the max HP of all three is increased by 10 for the next 8 hours) She runs to Glimbul's side and peers around the guardian's form, trying to spot Boosey, and casting a belated Spare the Dying once she does.

Coughing violently Boosey seems to wake suddenly as the Cleric’s spell takes effect.  Taking a deep, painful breath he gasps frantically for air.  Seeing the two figures have moved on, he quickly heals some of his wounds before vanishing from sight completely.  

Glimbul seeing the dire situation retreats around the corner behind nenne and hides. He sits patiently with his magic dart in hand waiting for an opportune time to attack.

Allister performs at peak capacity in the next few seconds. His rapier becomes a blur of deadly motion, striking the creature in front of him four times. Each time he does, the chain flashes with a red light that travels from one creature to the next. The wounds inflicted on one creature seem duller than they should be. A curious thing happens, as the same wounds appear on the other one as well.

As Glimbul retreats, the creature changes his attacks to Nenne, as she is next in line. The blow that comes in hits against her shield possibly harder than anything she has ever felt before (12 bludgeoning and 9 piercing damage). The thing pushes her shield up and into her cheek, causing the grip to poke her hard in the jaw. The next fist comes in over the shield to plant hard into the cleric's shoulder (20 bludgeoning and 10 piercing damage). Nenne has to check to make sure she still actually has an arm as the pain from that hit surges through her. A whole new appreciation for the blows Allister has suffered at the hands of these things makes itself apparent. This thought causes the cleric to steal a look over at the warrior just in time to see him fall back against the banister as one of the spiked gauntlets crash into him (10 bludgeoning and 7 piercing damage). Nearly falling over the edge into the pit causes the last fist to hit only air. Allister just barely manages to save himself from going over the rail.

Vombec watches the exchange in blows from amazement to horror as the monsters retaliate. He looks to Allister, "I will wait for you, if even one of them still stand I'll attempt to get their head a real rocking!"

Nenne coughs up blood and plants her hand against the wall to stay upright. Her vision swims as she looks at Allister. "I'm no good...to you here," she wheezes in apology. She stumbles toward him, touches him on the arm and prays to her god, "Protect him." (Protection from Evil and Good) Then she disappears from the railing and reappears near the rogue (Fey Step to R3).

A earth shattering blast of noise tends the air round the constructs as the gnome reappears behind them.  Dust falls from the ceiling of the passageway but the creatures seem relatively unaffected.  Boosey backs away from them slowly. 

Waiting for his chance Glimbul throws one of his darts at the one in front of Allister only for the dart to bounce harmlessly off of the metal plates. Seeing his attempt fail he hides behind the railing again hoping they do not round the corner toward him.

Allister has more experience with fighting these behemoths than he likes but it also enables him to dodge their punches while slashing at their arms and fists. Twice he manages to slice deep wounds into his opponent‘s arm, only to see them appear on the other creature, too