Lasciel opens her eyes, the fact that she had been unconscious slowly dawning on her. Her head pounding like a blacksmith's hammer, it takes her quite a few moments to realize that she was seeing with darkvision.
Wherever I am there's no light at all.
Taking stock of the aches and pains along her body, she realizes that though battered and bruised, she is essentially uninjured, a blessing to be sure, and as she backtracks to the last thing she can clearly remember the fear strikes her.
Lomar
Working hard to calm her breathing she closes her eyes, allowing that inexplicable innate sense of each other to wash over her awareness.
He was alive and near
She breathes again, not realizing that she had not been until now. That didn't mean he wasn't hurt. Slowly she stands up, couching as the shift of rubble creates a new cloud of dust, as she scans the area for her brother.
"Lomar? Are you hurt?"
"The f%@!?" Kieran groggily manages to mouth when he finds himself keeled over and covered with dust and rubble.
Cid? Hey, CID! Where are ya, bud?" he calls through the blinding debris as he gropes through his backpack for the flint and steel needed to light his torch. "G$@***nit. " His bellows echo through the once vibrant streets of Kenabras, reverberating from wall to shattered wall. He sparks the torch alight after exchanging a few scrapes between rock and metal, then shoulders his bag and begins to search the area his light uncovers.
The sounds of tortured souls begging for a mercy they'll never receive floats up to his ears. A dark and cruel smile creeps along his face.
Jaeger jerks free from this nightmare to another nightmare of a different sort. His vision all in stark blacks and whites all color washed out tell him he was viewing the world through his demon granted sight. He crawls along the rubble strewn ground to a prone Ethyra. "My love, are you ok?" He whispers as he cradles her head and caresses her cheek.
It did not take long for Cid to gain his bearing. In fact, being surrounded by earth and darkness felt very normal, though the rubble lacked the smooth, naturally carved surface of the cavern walls of the Underdark.
Survival instincts kicked in, believing the cause of the destruction was from some attack, be it demons or another source. He hears some minor chatting of unfamiliar voices looking for people, but Kieran's voice became very apparent. He saw his companion a short distance away, and quietly walked toward him. Though he does not mean to sneak, his quiet footsteps make it almost involuntary.
** spoiler omitted **
Jaeger jerks free from this nightmare to another nightmare of a different sort. His vision all in stark blacks and whites all color washed out tell him he was viewing the world through his demon granted sight. He crawls along the rubble strewn ground to a prone Ethyra. "My love, are you ok?" He whispers as he cradles her head and caresses her cheek.
Ethyra laid there on the cold ground and rubble motionless. For a moment she blacked out and saw only bubbles in her mind. The only thing she heard were the words her husband spoke to her but it didn't make sense to her. As she started to come to, all her nerves began to fire off at once like a delayed alarm. Pain shot up and down her limbs and she shook for a moment. The smell of dust settling assaulted her nose. She slowly opens her eyes and then flutters her lashes wildly, blinking trying to make sense of what she is seeing. "Have I gone blind?"; she feels a hand touching her and she begins flailing and flopping like a fish. Too scared to to make a sound her mouth is agape in a silent scream then suddenly two glowing eyes came into focus. A small squeak escapes her mouth. "Jaeger? Where in the bloody abyss are we? Why do I feel like the earth just swallowed me?"She croaked at her husband as he loomed over her. She reaches up to his face and accidentally touches his nose and nearly pokes his eye. She fumbles around finally landing her hand on the side of his face. "My love, I am horrible at trying to find my way in the dark, good thing you have glowing eyes or I would have definitely poked your eyes out trying to touch you! Are you alright?"
Desna smiles, she's ok! He thinks in relief.
"I think that's exactly what happened my love." He says as he grips her hand.
"Here let me help with the light." He says as he pulls out one of Ethyra's torches and some flint and steel. After a few strikes he manages to get a flame started. Offering her his hand he assists her to her feet and pus an arm around her pulling her close and giving her a kiss in relief.
"Where are we, do you remember anything?"
Kieran continues cursing and calling through the veil of debris engulfing the city.
Jaegers's act of mercy for his wife is rewarded by a grim scene, as light floods the chamber those with darkvision realize what they had been looking at and mentally blocking out. You all feel the cold caress of mother crows hand as you spot the remains of people mixed in the rubble, those who sadly didn't survive...
It's then, at this scene of carnage and death that everythign comes rushing back...
At noon Armasse was blessed by the appearance of Lord Hulrun himself, ruler of Kenabres. The crowd gathered in Clydwell Plaza quieted as the aged inquisitor took the stage, clad in shining, resplendent armor. He cleared his throat, but just as he was about to speak, a bright light shone from the west, as if the sun were rising from the wrong direction. Hulrun’s shadow fell huge and distorted across the cathedral’s facade. A moment later, the sound of a thunderous explosion ripped through the air and earth, along with a violent tremor.
To the west, the fortress known as the Kite—the location of Kenabres’s wardstone—had vanished. In its place, a brilliant plume of red fire, lightning, and smoke erupted into the heavens.
A moment later, a powerful roar accompanied a welcome sight rising from the crowd—Kenabres’s greatest guardian, the ancient silver dragon Terendelev, who had until that moment been attending the opening ceremony disguised as a human. Above, another form appeared, as nightmarish as the dragon was breathtaking. A humanoid shape three times the size of any man, with skin coated in fire and lightning, gripped a flaming sword and whip. The creature’s identity was immediately obvious: Khorramzadeh, the Storm King of the Worldwound, had come to Kenabres!
As the ground continued to shake and disgorge demons into the streets, the dragon and the balor lord clashed above. The fight was over in a few harrowing moments, as the balor cut deep into Terendelev’s body, swooping down to strike the dragon and arresting her charge. A few more blows, and the titanic duo spiraled downward toward the crowd.
Denison's smile turned downward in a grim hardened edge and before Jaeger could so much as flinched the aged crusaders blade was sliding over his shoulder and the feeling of warmth splashed against his backside. Followed by the scream of something not of this earth. Denison shouted for you both to fall back but as he did a shadow fell over him from behind. A creature appeared out of no where, wielding a massive axe and in one swing severed Denison's sword arm. Despite the loss of his arm Denison shouted in rage and came around with his shield, slamming it across the horned goat demons muzzle and driving it stumbling back. Without second thought you both started falling back, Conrad right on your heels...
Lasciel and Lomar never saw it coming, as all hell broke loose they were frozen by a fear they'd never felt before in their lives. The very presence of the Stormlord froze them in place. Tedren was shaking as he surged forward and threw you both to the side. He was rewarded for his heroism by a demons axe burning with infernal fire. It passed through him, searing his armor, blackening the steel and causing him to stagger as the demon slowly turned toward both of you. Tedren turned to you both as you laid their in the street, eyes wide in horror as the demonic goat demon raised its axe. Clearly in shock Tedren spoke, each word sounding like it took more effort to speak then the last. "Run... Now... Survive... Please..." The demon, clearly annoyed by this mortal's speaking, strikes Tedren in the chest with the bottom of his axe handle and Tedren falls. His torso fell back and his waist and legs fell forward. AS it twirled its blade and stepped on blackened cloven feet to finish you both, Tedren's remaining allies surged forward, striking at the demon with well trained blows. Driving it back as you both scrambled to your feet, fleeing into the panic stricken crowd...
All the distractions left Cid wide open, he never saw it coming when the waitresses wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He turned and realized instantly that this wasn't the same woman as before. But a replacement, he was entranced though, Kiedren's yell of surprise was lost on him as the woman leaned in. Just as she was about to press her lips against his a dull thud and a spray of black demonic blood shocked him out of his trance. The demoness stumbled back, her bat wings forming and horns sprouting out of her head as she tore at the arrow in her arm. Cid's eyes fell on the elf from before, the one that left in disgust, now kneeled with a bow in her hands. Before the demoness could recover two more arrows slammed into her and the elf shouted. "Begone Abyssal Wh#$e! You'll not claim the souls of those I am sworn to protect!"
She rose to her feet knocking another arrow, but she never saw the demon that appeared behind her. An eight armed monstrosity, armed with several infernal blades and reeking of such powerful evil that the two hardened men shook in fear of the creature. with four of its arms it grappled the elf, knocking the bow from her hand, ripping the front of her armor and clothing off in one smooth motion. The female, lamia like demon smirked with dark pleasure as it ran its free hand over the defiant near nude elf it held in its powerful grasp helplessly several feet off the ground. "If you had remain hidden, i'd not have found you so easily Eruraviel~" As she struggled it leaned in and ran a serpent tongue across her now bare shoulder, the elf shrieked in outrage as the demon whispered somethin in her ear.
"I will enjoy breaking you..."
Lioness of God
...then they were gone, the elven bow and broken chain armor lay scattered on the street as you both fled the diner...
You all somehow find yourselfs gathered together in the plaza square, some of you have your weapons drawn. Back to back amid the chaos in the streets, the sight of the dragon smashing into the facade of the Cathedral of St. Clydwell is one no witness would ever forget. At that moment, a titanic demon erupted at the far end of the plaza, reducing several buildings to ruins as it smashed into this world. The rift it created shot across the plaza, and this time there was no escape—it opened below your feet, angling away into darkness.
Even as you fell, the dragon noticed your plight. Though she saw death standing over her, she seized this final chance to save a few more souls. After she uttered a few arcane words and stretched out a bleeding talon, you felt her magic take hold of you, slowing your plummet into the darkness as if you were feathers falling into a pit. Yet the fall remained as inexorable, and as you drifted downward into the depths, the last thing you saw was the Storm King standing before the ancient silver dragon, his sword lashing out and cleaving full through her neck. As her severed head fell, the rift above you slammed shut, and the light of the world above was gone...
Other voices join in the chorus of confusion and pain. Three other poor souls appear to have survived with the rest of you...
The others survivors are...
The first is a woman, who's sitting on the ground where she landed. She coherent looking around the room once the torch lights up and trying to get her bearings. She's very quiet, stoic and covered in dirt and dust in appearance. Her leg is also surrounded by larger debris...
The second is an elven man in battered robes, with horrific burns on his face, both of his eyes are gone. Despite his injuries his voice is strong and steady; obviously this elven man was used to a position of power. "Hello, who's there?" He reaches out and slowly pats the ground and waves his hands in the air in the direction he hears voices. This is being distorted by echoing off the cave walls.
The last man is fussing over the despairing effect the fall had on his fine clothes. "Why in hellfire did this happen to me? And who are you motely lot?" He gives some of you an appraising look and sniffs in a disappointed higher than though way.
You’re distracted by the glimmer of several silver coloured items mixed in the rubble. During your quick investigation you discover a handful of silver scales...
The ceiling and far walls of this vast cavern recede into darkness. On one side, the wall has collapsed in an enormous mound of rubble—here and there the arms or legs of victims who didn’t survive the fall protrude...
Your lengthy darkvision reveals a bit more of the area your all in, because of your experiance in the underdark your able to make out outlines better then most. In the back of the cavern, a disturbing shape looms. Nearly the size of a horse, what appears to be an immense black spider crouches silent and still on the ground. You can easily tell its a giant spider of some sort and a very very large one at that. You can tell from the outline of its mandibles that it is looking right at all of you...
In the back of the cavern, a disturbing shape looms. Nearly the size of a horse, crouches silent and still on the ground orientated in your direction.
In the back of the cavern, a disturbing shape looms. Nearly the size of a horse, crouches silent and still on the ground orientated in your direction.
Jaeger stares blankly his mind slowly piecing the last few minutes in his mind. ...Denison.... He pulls his mind away from the agony using his father's training.
Morn later survive now.
It's then he notices the large shap towards the back. "Damn, we've got company any of to still alive. Get ready!"
To gain lore on the giant spider (does it have darkvision, tremorsense, fighting-tactics, etc...)
Cid: (Abyssal)"Calm yourself, tiefling. It already knows where we are. It's waiting for us to cross its path. I suggest we quietly warn the others before some fool lures it to us."
Cid
The sheer size of this spider tells you one thing, it's deadly, fast and most like has the usual tremorsense and darkvision it's kind have exhibited before. However, this spider is unknown to you, your darkvision allows you to see it but not identify markings...
A white flame of anger flashes through Jaeger but he embraces the feeling and let's it wash over him. He instead focuses on checking on the other survivors. "My love lets see if we can't help our fellow survivors." Jaeger says to Ethyra and heads over to the injured elven man. "I'm Jaeger, not to state the obvious but are you ok?" He says as he puts his hand on his shoulder to show him where he was.
Ethyra nods her head after placing a hand on Jaeger's arm in sympathy understanding his pain with Denison and yet unable to grieve yet. She makes a quick prayer to Desna for her fathers safety. With that she heads over to the trapped woman. She gently touches her hand. "I'm Ethyra di Angelo, what's your name and can you feel your legs? I'm a healer."
Jaeger interaction with the elven man gains the unfriendly attention of the human in fine clothes. "He's fine. Wizards fall softer then most."
The elven man reacts to Jaegers hand, bringing his own to lightly touch Jaegers arm. "Good to meet you Jaeger, I am Aravashnial. I was too close to the Stormlord... The last thing I remember was being lashed across the face, although it wasn't on purpose or else I don't think I would have survived. How many are here? And a spider lurks nearby you say?" One of his hands begins to surge with magical energy, you didn't know how useful a blind wizaard was but he appeared clearly ready to fight if needed.
Now that you are interacting with him it is more apparent this man is used to a position of power or being in charge. However in his current state his insecurities are making him more desperate to be in control.
"I hate to burden you but I will need someone to guide me..."
The woman remains quiet, watching how you all react and drawing a shortbow. Without a word she nocks an arrow and readies to defend herself...
Jaeger holds in a sigh at the mans need for control. "Alright hold onto my shoulder but if we get into a fight I'm going to move and move fast can you do that?" He says as he moves the Elven mans hand to his shoulder.
Ethyra
The woman turns slowly to Ethyra. "Anevia, ya I can feel my legs and my left one hurts like hell..." Now that Ethyra is close the rubble doesn't appear to be pinning her leg, its just shored up around her leg. With your help you both clear it away and Unsteadily Anevia rises, primarily using her right leg and when she tries to use her left leg she screams in pain.
Those watching the spider see it move ever so slightly...
Anevia sticks part of her glove in her mouth as she bites down on it, stiffling her scream. It's obvious to Ethyra that the leg is broken and beyond her ability to heal...
Jaeger
"I will try." He appears thankful for the help and places his hand on your shoulder. "Jaeger... Garret's son, Denison spoke of you often. Now is the spider on the move?" He speaks fondly when he says the name of your father and the Captain of the Kenebras Guard.
Everyone
The human man sighs in exasperation. "Scream louder if you will and you think you'll keep up with him, i'd call you blind if you weren't already Aravashnial..."
Aravashnial ignores the man, focusing his attention on the problem at hand and looking in the wrong direction for the spider...
"You knew my father and Denison? No never mind there is time for that when we are not in mortal danger. It moved a little but doesn't seem ready to charge. I'm guessing it's hoping one of us will be stupid enough to walk past it. Probably doesn't want to take on a large group." Jaeger says quickly getting over his shock.
He gently redirects Aravashnial's search for the spider in the correct direction.
"In case you haven't noticed your down here as well and as far as blindness is concerned the spider is also blind for to it we are all food." She says as she continues to check on Anevia's leg.
Kieran scoops up the silver scales in his massive hand and nudges them delicately with his thumb. The boys'd sure like to take a look a these. T'think I almost let them come with me... I couldn't... I f!+!ing won't let it! Losing them would - no. Not now. Gotta get outta here. Find Cid. Then I'll write them. Tell em to stay put. No, they need to stay close. They still ain't safe where they are. One a them bastards already came for Erec. Gods only know how many more will follow. The cowards. THE F*@@ING COWARDS!
He crams the dragon scales into his beltpouch and pushes himself to his feet; leaving the few tears he shed to trace their paths into his beard.
He turns to see that other torches have now been lit so, naturally, he pulls himself closer to their signals. Cid! Ya bloody a%%~*$~, why didn't y'answer me? Where the hell are we? His tone was harsh but it was obvious that he was only upset because he cared for the strange little drow. Cedeleon noticed, by now, that Kieran often treated him like he would his children. At times it was annoying but it was his overbearing way of showing love.
"Nnnnnnggghhhhh! My head! By Cayden's ba!!s, what the hell hap..." but then it all comes rushing back to him and he sits up straight, the pain in his head momentarily forgotten. Instantly, his immediate thought is for his sister, and he begins to call out to her but then feels her near and coming nearer. Looking towards her Lomar sees that she is alright and breaths an unconscious sigh of relief.
Standing and brushing the worst of the debris off himself, he moves towards his adopted sister and for a few eternal moments the two embrace fiercely, ignoring all else around them. Communicating wordlessly their love for the other, fear for the other even more than for themselves, and relief that the other is well. Finally they break their embrace and look at each other. Gently, Lomar brushes some of the dust off Lasciel's face "Thank Cailean's lucky stones, I cannot imagine what I would have done if..." not willing to even think about such a scenario, Lomar squeezes his sister tightly once more for a few brief seconds then steps away to asses the situation. One of his hands though, remains gripping one of her hands protectively.
Finally noticing the other survivors, and as well the not-distant-enough arachnid, Lomar moves closer to the others, pulling Lasciel along with him. Approaching the tiefling and those near him Lomar calls out quietly "Jaegar, Ethyra, glad I am to see you unharmed."
Taking a moment to look around and assess the other survivors, Lomar raises his voice slightly and says with authority "We cannot stay here, at least not while that thing threatens us. I say we kill it now, for to try to escape with that thing at our backs will be a death sentence for more than one of us."
Knowing she is almost certain not to listen, he tries anyway. Letting go of his sister's hand Lomar says with feeling "Lasciel, please, stay back and watch the wounded." He then takes several steps towards the giant spider, stopping well out of it's attack range. Shadowy energy begins to roil around his clenched fists as he looks quickly back over his shoulder "Who is with me?"
Ethyra
You have Anevia sit on a large piece of rubble and a few minutes of work, Ethyra used splinters of wood and rope from the rubble to fashion a splint for Anevia's leg, allowing her to hobble with the aid of an improvised crutch formed from a fallen timber. The look of relief on the woman's face is an instant sign that Anevia was in pain but feeling much better. "I may not be able to use a bow but I will do my best to help out." She hobbles onto her crutch and despite being injured she is now able to move on her own, leaving you free to do your work.
Excellent job, Anevia is now friendly. :)
@Lomar's Approach/Everyone
The Spider twitches again but makes no indication of attacking. Its abodmen shifts ever so slightly as it sits only twenty feet away from the rubble strewn zone...
The vivid rush of memory, the stark terror, the sight of so much death was overwhelming. Lasciel clung to her bother as if he were life itself, reveling in the fact that in the midst of this horrible chaos they hadn't lost each other.
As they took in the area around them, torches being lit illuminating the area, she could see others she'd noticed earlier. Lomar's friend Jaeger and his wife, Ethyra was it? It looked as if she was splinting the leg of a woman who seemed well composed despite the obvious pain she was in.
There were a few others as well in various stages of disorientation, and true to form, Lomar steps forward to handle the threat that seemed looming. While in no rush to engage a spider that big, she wasn't about to leave her brother to face any kind of monster alone.
As he looks over his shoulder for support she walks to stand by his side, a small smile on her face, "Do you really think I'm going just sit here and watch the wounded?" she asks placing a hand on his shoulder. Whisps of mist from condensing air begin to form around her other hand.
Cid: (Undercommon)"My large-friend, calm yourself. Your children are nowhere near us. Which I know is not very comforting. However you are in danger, which does not mean they are in danger. Do not concern yourself with me; I am fine. This environment is actually much more comfortable to me. I was worried I would fall into the sky if I remained on the surface for much longer." Calm and collected, Cid deploys a dry grin.
(Common to everyone)"Come. Lets get the wounded to the back where we do not have to worry about them when the spider attacks. I propose we grant ourselves initiative by using its acute senses against it. While hunting, we would throw objects near spiders to confuse them, making them think they were surrounded. This may allow us to subdue it quickly before it can even attack."
The barbarian's face goes stoic as he nods agreement to Cid's wisdom. "Ay. True words, Cid. True words." As the drow proposes his attack plan, Kieran scans the faces of the other survivors trapped beside him. His face distorted with confusion as he realized how prominatly he remembered the majority of them before the Stormlord descended on Armasse. That oughtta count fer somethin', he thinks with a vague sense of Déjà vu.
"Ay!" he agrees to Cid's plan. "Be fools t'do it elsewise; I ain't stepping no web that thing shat out!"
"Sounds like as solid a plan as any." Jaeger says as he suppresses a shudder. It's not that he is scared of spiders he just doesn't like them all those creepy eyes, or so he tells himself.
The man sighs in exasperation. Dismissing Ethyra's words of wisdom in lieu of everyones sudden need to attack. "Can we not just avoid it?"
Cids plan, as smart as it was, nets no response from the spider. No movement, no change in position, not even a twitch of a mandible. It continues to sit there looking in your direction...
The scales in your hand reveal their power to you in an instant, accompanied by memories of there various uses...
You walk among the clouds, seeing Kenebras and miles of the surrounding land from atop a great cumulus cloud...
You walk among the citizens of Kenebras, then a different town, all the while guised in a skin not your own...
Despite the demons infernal flame you resisted, your shining scales protecting you from harm...
Your claws rended the strongest demon's flesh, their hell-born skin useless against your blessed claws...
In times of great hardship you quietly casted magic to aid those in need, never asking for recognition, but smiling when you saw that the gods were praised by those thankful for help...
Your last moments, the strongest enemy has come, you chose to save others over yourself. Using what little time you have left to save as many as you can...
"Well...that was disappointing." Jaeger quips to no one in particular.
Placing his other hand over hers on his shoulder Lomar smiles slightly and says softly "No, of course I did not. As always, I'm glad you're with me."
It had been a good plan the dark skinned Elf had suggested, but a futile one, nonetheless. With the wounded moved safely back Lomar looks around to and address the other combat capable seeming members of the group "Do any of you other possess the capability to attack the beast from a distance? If so, I say we spread out, and then attack simultaneously, not giving it one, but many separate targets to retaliate against. Once we begin, we pour it on and do not stop until it's dead."
If all agree to his plan, once spread out Lomar nods to the others then shouts "NOW!" and raises his hands, twin blasts of fire and shadow shooting out of them.
plus
"If it's content to just sit there and not bother us I'm content to let it. Though I do say we should move away from it rather than be a temptation."
Jaeger says to Lomar in response to his suggestion.
"And your name is?" Jaeger asks the as of now unnamed man.
"He does have a point. If it's not acting aggressive can't we just let to live after all we did fall into it's territory? I just want to get the injured to a safer location."
"Well we can at least see if it is actually a threat." Lasciel says looking at her brother. With i brief gesture she conjures a number of glowing lights as bright as torches, sending them streaking towards the spider, circling it rapidly.
"Perhaps it is more docile than we believe. It could bear intelligence. Stranger things exist in this world. Attacking it without provocation would be a meaningless death...."
"I say we approach it... with caution."
"Heh! Can't say this is much of a 'wait n' see' crowd," Kieran chuckles to himself. "Spider's got the most patience a' any us. Bastard proved too clever t'let itself be provoked from his little trap so if you want it dead, gotta play on his grounds."
"Now, as fer avoiding it," he begins, now facing the man who suggested it. "Might be we could just climb up out the hole we fell in but the second that spider feels like venturing outta its pit o'er there, we find ourselves in the unblinking eye of a s$#$storm; and that's assuming the lot of ya can even make the climb! So we pestered it with rocks and magics; if she don't move, she ain't movin'. Best we got after that is hitting from a distance and hoping we scare the b+%@! off. Less any of you speak spider, I can't see the merits in walking past it n' tipping our hats."