Off to the see the (dragon) wizard! (Jaela)

[Anastasia]

The doors are solid stone, carved to fit in with the walls rather than being wood. They're in good shape and closed tight.

[Corwin]

Good Hope on all of us.

Jaela could break them open, of course, but instead she tries to see if there are any mechanisms that aren't visible to the naked eye. She also tries to just get the doors open with her strength alone.

[Anastasia]

Spot and Strength check, respectively.

[spoiler]

Mirima
HP: 307/307 (fast healing 3)
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Good Hope (CL20)
Bonuses: +1 morale attacks/will, immunity to fear and poison, good hope morale bonuses add in morning.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 5 4th level spell

Golden Bracers (Hidden Dawn): Ranks are unlocked by using them in battles of the appropriate CR or higher. Multiple ranks can be unlocked in a particular battle if it meets the CR requirements and is particularly epic.
Rank 1: CR 10 or sparring, fire resistance 10, 100ft range.
Rank 2: CR 13, +2 fortitude saves, 125ft range.
Rank 3: CR 15, searing light at will as an SLA, 150ft range.
Rank 4: CR 18, +2 reflex saves, 200ft range.
Rank 5: CR 20, flame strike at will, 300ft range.
Rank 6: CR 21, +2 will saves, 400ft range.
Rank 7: CR 24, +2d6 goldenfire damage on weapon damage rolls, natural attacks and spells and spell-like abilities with the fire descriptor, 700ft range.
Rank 8: CR 27, immunity to fire, 1000ft range.
Rank 9: CR 29, save bonuses increase to +7, 5000ft range.
Rank 10: CR 32, goldenfire damage rises to +4d6, unlimited range as long as on same plane. <-- Current Rank
[/quote]

[Corwin]

Lisa: Spot 54, Listen 54, Scent
Jaela: Spot 38, Listen 26, Blindsight, Invisibility-busting 140ft radius aura

[14:57] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+11 str
[14:57] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 24 > [d20=13]

[Anastasia]

There's no hidden traps or levers that you can see.

A hard shoulder check to the door jars them partway, though isn't quite enough to pop them open. Yet a moment later they groan and crack open, enough to push them open if you please.

[Corwin]

Jaela does so!

[Anastasia]

The doors crack open. Within is a short hallway lined with crumbling statues. Curled up around the statues and on the walls is a smattering of man-sized worms, bright red in color and with bull's horns rising from their heads. They slowly creep about, slithering along the ground and walls like snakes.

On the far side of the hall way is another door that leads further in, partly open already.

[Corwin]

Any knowledge that helps? Taking ten for Knowledge/Nature 41, Knowledge/The Planes 65, Knowledge/Arcana 60.

[Anastasia]

These look to be some sort of mutated or magically altered worms with fire affinity. They don't seem bothered by the head and the horns are downright odd. Whatever it is, it's likely unique to here.

Logically, you can surmise that they may have some function for those horns. A gore attack perhaps, or perhaps as some sort of energy channel.

[Corwin]

Unlike Afina, she can't burn with fire so hot it smites everything in her way. Which is unfortunate, of course, as it forces Jaela to use less efficient means to dispatch them.

Horrid Wilting, Fort DC32 half.

[19:20] <@Annerose> roll 20d6
[19:20] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 84 > [d6=4,3,6,3,6,4,5,6,3,2,2,2,5,6,3,6,6,5,1,6]

Gambiting, Gae Trocaire out.

[Anastasia]

Caster level check, they have SR.

[Corwin]

[19:45] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+23
[19:45] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 34 > [d20=11]

[Anastasia]

A shock - the spell crumbles before them. Suddenly all the worms freeze and turn your way, eyeless 'heads' all gazing in your directions as sparks fall from their horns. They move in perfect tandem and coordination, as...

Init. You can also make a follow up K:A check here.

[Corwin]

[19:59] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+17
[19:59] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=15]

Lisa stays out of combat and just does her spot thing for sneak attacks/ambushes.

Taking ten for K:A 60

[Anastasia]

"More strangeness," Mirima brandishes Woven Gold, a tight smile on her face, "Be grateful, worms. Today you will see true grace as we slice you apart!"

> roll 1d20+11 Mirima
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 21 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+18 worm oddness
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 24 > [d20=6]

Initiative is Jaela (32) > Worms (24) > Mirima (21)

Lisa holds the flank against ambushes and stays out of the way as much as possible, noted.

Well, that answers some questions for Jaela. The way those beasts move, the coordination and sameness. Combined with them all resisting your magic and it's clear to you now - you're facing a sort of hive mind, one overmind controlling these worms and probably far more within. You're essentially fighting little fragments of something far greater, bolstering these creatures well beyond what they would normally be.

This will not be an easy battle. That your spell failed suggests they have a great deal of combined might, enough to perhaps threaten you. Your planar lore reminds you that Ysgard would doubtless strive to have it that way. It is conflict or death.

Open Jaela.