The Lava Tunnels and the Missing Wands

This next part was completed during a live session, and the story unfolds as follows.

The three warriors, Lia Tesseril, Ormr Gwynt, and Steady-Hand, rise from the underground river into a softly glowing cavern filled with a murky, ichor-like liquid. As Lia and Ormr step up onto a small area of "beach", a monsterous form rises from the water. The creature looked as if a mixture of an anaconda and a mermaid, horrid in looks, and vicious in temperment. As the form moved towards us, Steady-Hand turns towards where the creature came swimming from and he quickly swims past the creature. The creature begins speaking to the two remaining warriors, and it quickly becomes apparent that the creature wants something from the group. During the conversation, Ormr casts Detect Good, as is his want. He realizes that the creature is not good in any way, and reacts fairly poorly. He insists that the creature leaves, but the creature does not seem as if that option suits him. Lia and Ormr realize that this creature is not willing to act with integrity, and they attack. Lia and Ormr end up quite damaged from the encounter, but they manage to run the creature off. The creature, however, still had Ormr's magical thrown weapon stuck in its side, of which Ormr chased after in a vain attempt to regain his lost weapon.

As Ormr and the creature round the corner of the tunnel in which Steady-Hand swam through, a demon rushes towards Steady-Hand, obviously intent upon devouring the mighty warrior. To no avail! The creature met its demise at a single swipe of Steady-Hand's great weapon, seemingly coming out of a trance of some sort. As the now reunited warriors take stock of the area around them, a great murky lake, with two large beaches, one easily accessible, and another requiring the group to climb a steep incline. While the group made its decision, Lia spread her wings, and lifted herself, with some difficulty, out of the water, leaving herself covered in a thick skin of filth. The warriors decided to scale the cliffside, and Lia went up first, being the one with the easiest way up, and also being the one most able to hide themselves in case of enemies. Of course, when she peaked the cliff, she saw several enemies up on top, playing a game of cards. Being one who did not wish to create violence unnecessarily, Lia quickly managed to ingratiate herself with the thugs playing cards, and ended up playing a few hands, whilst leaving Ormr and Steady-Hand waiting for some responce from her. Lia eventually convinced the thugs to take her to their leader, as she had a "desire" to join this gang that hid under the city proper. Ormr and Steady-Hand took notice of the group heading into a carriage of some sort, and then followed as the carriage sped across the water on a cable, reaching the other beach quickly, and the thugs, along with Lia, disappeared into one of many doors.

Lia was escorted through the small area that housed a large portion of the thugs, to be allowed into a room with the leader of the gang. A beautiful, red-haired woman, she beckoned for Lia to join her in a large bath, and even the chaste Lia could not deny the beauty bathing before her. As the thugs that escorted Lia through the small area of the gang's hideout return through the door leading to the beach, Steady-Hand removes the head of one, whilst Ormr forces his pick's head through the skull of the other escorter. Ormr attempts to rush through the door, only to be stopped by a large set of rotating razor-blades, and they do their best to shred Ormr entirely. With Steady-Hand's help, Ormr is able to slip out of the trap, and Steady-Hand and Ormr continue through the barrack-like area of the hideout, setting traps off safely, and then continuing on thier journey. During this time, Lia is being massaged and pampared by the beautiful leader.

Ormr busts through one more door, and runs to the center of the room before realizing that the room is covered in foes, four of which stand up to take care of the invader that is Ormr. As Ormr draws the attention of not only three of the enemy, but the leader of this group of thugs, Steady-Hand rushed into the room, wielding his weapon as if it were a great scythe, and the enemies before him mere straw, felling several with every swing. Ormr takes much damage in the interim, but then Steady-Hand stands by his side, and the two of them finish off those left in the room, including the leader of the thugs here. During this skirmish, Lia and the Lady Bandit are still bathing, until the Lady Bandit realizes the threat to herself going on in her guard-room. She turns Lia around, and before Lia can react, especially with her body completely relaxed, the Lady Bandit gently kisses Lia, and then forces her under the water, Lia almost too stunned to react properly, is unable to break free of the Lady Bandit's strong grip, and is slowly being drowned in the large bath.

As the two remaining warriors burst into the Lady Bandit's bath chamber, it seems as if it was too late for our companion Lia. By some miracle though, she manages to survive, but just barely. Steady-Hand reaches the Lady Bandit in a rage, and before anything can be said or done by either party, cleaves the woman in two. The warriors, after seeing to each others' wounds, hunt through the rest of the complex, and manage to find all but one of the Wand of Control Water. The group, easily defeating the remaining forces in the complex, come to a portion that looks to be completely covered in webbing. Logic dictates that the last Wand of Control Water is to be found in this area, assuming it is still in the compex at all. Unfortunately time ended for this live session of the game.

After pushing through the webs, the adventurers discover an old lava tube that leads into the caves beneath the bandits' fortress.

As the party descends into the tubes, they find that the air grows more cold and stale with each step. The tube opens into a large cavern covered in bones. The smell of death permeates the cold air of the cave.

Ormr boldly steps forward, easily walking along the lava tube. After a short while, he motions for the group to continue on before him, and he starts climbing along the ceiling using his spider-climb ability. His armor, fitted so perfectly to himself, makes little to no noise.

While Ormr has a different viewpoint, he glances about, taking in all the sights that his turquoise eyes can see. His darkvision pierces through the cavern's shroud, and he makes sure to keep his companions in sight. While he does not consider them an adventuring group, they are adventuring as of now, and the desire to keep them self keeps Ormr wary.

Every so often (approximately every 50 feet), Ormr casts detect evil, using his magic as a dowsing rod to find enemies.

Lia ventures forth into the lava tubes as well, wings kept close to her to avoid getting too much web stuck to them,

Upon arriving at the entrance of the large cavern a small gasp escapes her as she notices the large amount of bones and begins scanning the room for any sort of creature that could call this it's home although hoping it to be abandoned.

As the group ventures deeper into the cavern, Steady Hand draws his sword and and whispers a short prayer beneath his breath.

The cavern does not appear to have any recent occupents, and you notice that the bones all appear extremely old.

As Ormr reaches the center of the cavern he realizes that there is no apparent source of the magic, but the room itself seems to be permeated with a strong evil magic.

While looking around, Ormr chooses a wall, and starts to climb down it. As soon as he hits the floor, he moves towards the group. Once he reaches the group, he tells them to be on guard, and then he begins approaching some of the bones, and if he can get close enough, he breaks one.

The noise should be quite loud in this quiet cavern, and Ormr then silently listens, with his shield and heavy pick ready, for any signs that someone - or something - is approaching.

Lia stands in a defensive position as ormr shatters a bone. If nothing happens she begins to look for anything that could hold a wand or for another way out of the room.

As Ormr approaches, a large bone the room begins to shake and the bones start to fly around the room the bones form into two huge T-rex skeletons. An unearthly roar bellows around the room and while the party feals a primal fear well up, they are all able to shake it off and ready themselves for battle.

(Combat order for the next scene is as follows Ormr, T-rex 1, Steady hand , T-rex2, Lia. Please post your actions for the first round.)

Round one, Ormr will cast bull's strength. Along with that, Ormr will begin moving up the nearby wall he was at. His idea is to climb to the ceiling and drop down onto the beast from above.

Lia prepares for combat by focusing on whichever skeleton decides to come at her first (declaring dodge) and curses under her breath about foul undead creatures. She will attack one if it gets withing striking distance and will go aid either ormr or steady hand should she not be a target.

Ormr cast bulls strength on himself and scurries up the cavern wall, the first Trex slams into steady hand but is unable to move the goliath. steady hand calls on the mountain father and his falchion splits into two gargantuan scimitars and brings them into snapping mawl of the beast shattering part of his jaws. the second beast answers with a charge and bites into steady hands shoulder spraying large amounts of blood. lia centers herself and charges the second beast landing a solid jump kick across the creatures back.

(round two order ormr, lia, steady hand, t-rex1, t-rex2)

(post your intentions for round two)

As Ormr reaches the ceiling, he scurries just above the monstrous skeleton that is biting Steady-Hand. The creature, now dead in his sights, is about to feel the weight of 250 lbs. of metal and muscle and a glowing heavy pick as it lands on its head. Ormr drops from the ceiling, the pick ready in his righteous grip, yelling a warcry to his god.

"Feel the Platinum Lord's fury!"

Lia activates her nimbus of light and attempts a flurry of blows on the trex she kicked.

As Ormr lands on the skull of his target, he spews his acid breath across both of the Tyrannosaurus skeletons. With a mighty swing, his pick-ax connects with the creature's lower jaw, disconnecting it, and causing it to fly across the floor. Lia's blows slam into the legs of the t-rex Ormr just landed on, and both legs shatter under the weight of her blows. The undead beast collapses in a pile of bones and dust from the dual-onslaught. Steady-Hand hurls the head of the last beast into the far of the cavern, shattering it. As the last of the life leaves the bones Steady-Hand kneels, holding his bleeding arm.

Ormr looks over at Steady-Hand, victorious, but damaged, and the power that normally spreads from Ormr, one that grants his allies and himself a measure of constant healing, alights over Steady-Hand. His wounds begin to mend, and while this process continues, Ormr looks around the room, wondering if there are any more enemies on their way, especially after the loud noises of thier very brief combat. Ormr makes sure to look over Lia as well, and if she is injured, beckons her to stay close to him. Once his gift stops effecting Steady-Hand's, and perhaps Lia's, wounds, Ormr intones spells of healing from Bahamut until Steady-Hand's wounds close completely, and he has full movement of his arm again.

"Forsooth, those abominations were of things I have not seen before. T'would make one wonder if the magic that taints this place is just reassembling bones to create horrors to terrify invaders, or those who have wish to purify it. I say we continue searching this area to see if there are any more of those wandering around, and cleanse them from the land. Perhaps we shall catch the bones unaware and begin destroying them before the fell-magics have chance to raise them against us again. Or might it be that we shall find the cause of this taint, and remove it's foul essense from our plane. Do your injuries still bother you Steady-Hand?"

Steady-Hand rises and returns his sword to the strap across his back.

As he stretches out his arm, Steady-Hand speaks to Ormr.
"Ormr, thank you for the aid. The damage appears to be repaired. I would suggest that we destory the rest of the bones here and head further into these tunnels. It would appear that what ever has the last of the wands does not want us to retrieve it."

Lia turns her nimbus off and says to Ormr, "I agree, if there are more of those creatures here they need to be dealt with. Such creatures have no place in this world.Perhaps though our priorities should be to find the wands, we may find whatever is reanimating these bones by doing so."

She looks to the large piles of bones around the room, "Well, the only way i know of to permanently stop them would be to find a cleric to consecrate the grounds here, although with their bones shattered it will be more difficult for whatever is reanimating them to do so." (edited to reflect knowledge religion)

Ormr nods at Steady-Hand's gratitude, and then slowly, he agrees with Lia's assertion about the skeletal beasts. Ormr starts walking through the rest of the complex, keeping his eyes open on the ground, and to the ceiling, looking for bones or monsters laying in wait. He urges the rest of the group to do so, and he continues on to look for the remaining Wand of Water Control. His pick-axe is held in his hand, as well as his shield, and every now and then, Ormr will run to the ceiling to look forward with a height advantage, and to see if there is anything on the ground that looks like a magical sigil that he might be able to inspect, and perhaps see if there is some way to prevent the magic that reforms the beasts from doing so until a priest can come and consecrate the grounds.