Hot on the heels of the the paladin, the barbarian uses the hasted energy to thrust himself into position and chop heavily upon the glass monster, hoping to shatter it before it could do anymore harm. The bright daylight shining from him reflected back from each of the glass creatures, sending an array of blinding beams of light around the room!
-------
The glass monster that stood near the chute exit took the opportunity to throw a cutting claw attack at the dwarf while he moved into position.
-------
The giant glass monsters stepped in tandem, moving into a slightly more advantageous strategic position where they had the dwarf flanked while having everyone within reach in case openings in their foes defenses opened up. With limbs already dripping in Veronica's and Roland's blood, the ultra-sharp long limbs sliced down again and again to stop the forward progress of the invading companions. The ensuing blood bath gushed and sprayed from myriad wounds, erupting from all four heroes. The mithril veins along the walls suddenly had a pink hue to them as Roland's radiating light reflected off of the glass creatures' gore-covered appendages.
The hovering eyestalk-covered orb shouted a boast in the common tongue,
"When my master returns, you will truly be in peril!"
Once again two of its four eyes fired out beam of supernatural light against the melee-entrenched heroes.
--------
Again the swing of the glass creature passes right through Veronica's cloak and defenses, tearing open new wounds on the same side as the last hit to her shoulder. For a moment, that arm goes weak, barely even holding up her cloak. But she can feel the blood being spilled around her, every splatter of it ringing in he ears like like the singing of a choir.
Her arm comes back up, her wounds still continuing to heal on their own, as she shouts again "Still!... Not!... Good!... Enough!" And with that the blood smearing the floor and walls rises into the air, hanging for a moment as crimson beads, and then bursts, releasing a soothing red light as each of the parties wounds begin close.
|
She raises her had to cover her eyes briefly as the light flashes inside the room, and them she hardens her resolve to resist such mundane attack. Catcher is unsure of what to do. Having already failed once to cast a spell due to her armor, for the first time she almost regret using it, almost.
”Which master? That big and pathetic tentacle monster we just killed down there alongside with mindflyers and devils?” and only after she said that, she notices that maybe wasn’t the smarted move on this particular situation.
Ah, who cares! she thinks stepping forward and trying to help Gromff deal with the golem.
Greatsword :
Greatsword :
Round 2
"Aye," is all Gromff can get out. The last attack left a gash deep enough to bleed. He had to grit his teeth to stop from crying out in pain. Thankfully Veronica's healing stopped it before it could bleed too bad. In return, he swings at both giants hard, ice now coating his hammer head.
----------
Seeing that Gromff had done such excellent work in cracking the glass frame of his combatant, Roland knew he had to catch up on his own. His long-hafted hammer hummed a song through the air with every chop, cracking the glass faux moonbeast.
North Golem = taken 0 damage
South Golem = taken 26 damage
----------
The floating orb creature yelled out "Halt!"
The glass monsters went rigid. They took no further action, standing firm like a pair of glinting statues.
The orb's singular central eye focused solely upon Catcher.
"What do you mean "pathetic tentacle monster we just killed"...alongside mindflayers... did you slay the master?!"
In the sudden moment of respite, the party was able to take a look beyond the horrible monsters to see a pile of treasure sitting in the back of the room; a large pile of coins, a jeweled silver scepter, a handful of weapons all lay upon a wide slab of what appeared to be silver...or possibly mithril.
North Golem = taken 58 damage
South Golem = taken 26 damage
|
|
”Huh? I dunno which one was you master, but yeah, we killed a bunch down there. Not our fault mind you. They did exactly as you are doing right now: Attacking us without any reason at all. So, what’s gonna be? Should we kill you as well?” She ask offhandedly holding her attack just to see the one-eyed monster response.
”Because, you know, if your master couldn’t stop us, what chance do you have?”
Roland is speechless with the clever attitude from the wizard. Of course, he is also motionless which indicates something is wrong with him. But after some time he show he has gathered his wits to be able to join the fray once more.
---------
”Huh? I dunno which one was you master, but yeah, we killed a bunch down there. Not our fault mind you. They did exactly as you are doing right now: Attacking us without any reason at all. So, what’s gonna be? Should we kill you as well?” She ask offhandedly holding her attack just to see the one-eyed monster response.
”Because, you know, if your master couldn’t stop us, what chance do you have?”
The hovering creature did not hesitate in its reply,
"The golems are quite formidable, but so are you apparently. You are undoubtedly correct in your assessment. As to engaging you without reason, please understand that I am...I was bound to defend this lair and its worldly treasures, so there was indeed a reason for the assault."The four tentacled eye stalks began looking around the room, as did the central large eye in the center of the creature.
"Yes, quite correct. I can now feel that the binding has been removed. Quite fortuitous indeed! I believe I shall leave now, if that is acceptable to you, my gracious liberators?"
It hung there with a half smile, waiting for a reply. The large crystalline mirror monsters maintained their rigidity; the only movement about them was the party's blood running along the sharp edged arms, and the reflections of those nearby.
|
|
”I don’t have anything against you leaving. If we were to kill every sentient creature we encounter while exploring unfamiliar places we would take a quest upon ourselves to exterminate everything what isn’t similar to us.” she look around to the others and continue ”but I’m not the one that needs to be convinced, you should focus your attention on him” she points the dwarf ”he is the judge, or something like that.”
She doesn’t put her weapon down and think of other possibility ”On any event, I do require some compensation for all the harm you caused to me and my friends and my familar, even tho you were only obeying orders: The control from these automatons.” she points to the golems ”I have something in mind for them.”
Gromff looks at Catcher then the golems then the eye monster. "Unless I missed me guess, ye leave and the golems'll keep attacking again. I agree with the lass. Hand over control or destroy them. That's the deal fer leavin."
|
|
"If you say you can only destroy them things gonna get real bad, because your master was able to give you control, then there must be a way for you to pass control to us as well. We are all dealing here in good faith, and my big friend here" she says walking to the dwarf and tapping in on the shoulder ”can tell if something is fishy miles away. So don’t try anything funny.”
"Jolly good! There is no need for further veiled threats, as I have no further need for the golems."
The floating creature glided silently through the air toward the pair of glass golems, placing itself conveniently near the exit chute but amongst the party so as not to arouse too much suspicion.
"Slicer!! Dicer!! Your new masters are here before you - the dwarf and three humans there. After this command you will no longer obey any of your previous masters, myself included. Henceforth you are theirs to command."
The orb creature turned toward the mage and smiled a pointy tooth-lined grin. The golems remained still as death as more blood dropped from their cutting edges into growing pools on the stone floor.
"Sit." Gromff commanded before the eye thing could get away. He wanted to be sure things went smoothly.
Roland resumes moving, but he does indeed holds his earthbreaker in one hand, just in case. Since the deal has been made, he does not demand anything else, but simply asks the now free spectator? If the creature was true to its intentions, it would have no problem in answering it. "What were the white beast plans regarding the slaves all around the underground?"
CLANG!
CLANG!
The pair of glittering golems obeyed the warpriest's command straightaway. As they sat upon their hind quarters several shards of broken glass tumbled to the floor that were hanging precariously from the recent combat damage. Afterwards they sat motionless.
Veronica was ready to close wounds, to summon forth even more red hot blood in the names of the Gods! She could feel it flowing through her, pulsing and writhing in her veins like the might of the Gods them... selves...
And then everything stopped. She stood there, adrenaline still pumping, still hyper-aware, as they went to parley again.
She takes several deep breath breaths, calming the power flowing through her, the blood dripping from her eyes slowing, and then stopping. The blood covering her face quickly browns, dries, and flakes away as if carried by some unfelt breeze.
She stands there for a moment, closing her eyes and concentrating on the tender tatters of skin in her shoulders and sides, the wounds beginning to heal just as her armor and clothes begin to knit themselves back together.
And then she nods at Roland's question, and adds "And how didst thee become its servant?"
|
|
”Slicer, you shall answer only to Glossy from now on. Dicer, you are now Sheeny.” she says without turning back and walking inside the small mithril cave. ”After the big-eye creature answer the question he is free to go, but you are to exterminate him if he attack, or use any spell on us.”
After that, she kinda ignores the spectator, to search for any piece of information or anything that can point them towards anything useful.
"What were the white beast plans regarding the slaves all around the underground?"
"The master was a moon beast, hailing from a distant plane that only exists in dreams. Mundane metals of our world are rare commodities in its realm, and so it used its myriad battery of talents to coerce and enslave a host of laborers to pull forth the minerals from the ground. The moon beast has the ability to jump between worlds with but a thought, and it regularly brought loads of these precious commodities to its home where more slaves were at work creating a lavish palace for the beast to one day rule from."
"I do believe your actions here today will have repercussions on many, many lives. Positive repercussions, if I do say so!"
Though none of it radiated magic, there was a sizable pile of treasure at the back of the ovular room, gleaming brighter and more fiercely than any pile of gold ever had.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Catcher moves about and pick up the two daggers, placing it on her belt, preferably on a very visible place. Then she pick up the longsword, and tie it to her side and the greatsword goes into her back, where she usually carries the old one she’d been using since the start.
She steps on the mithril slab, raising high the scepter and says ”All hail the Mithril Queen! Travelling from distant worlds to enslave poor souls to do her bidding!” and she looks expectantly to the others, maybe they will enjoy the joke, but most likely they will only complain about her attitude her.
Gromff's face tells Catcher that he is not amused. So he ignores her and turns to the Spector again. "If ye say so. Ye held up yer end o the deal. Don't cause no trouble on the way out. Me spells ain't all taxed yet." Gromff watches it out but makes no move to follow or attack. The dark folk and slaves should be long gone.
He then turns to the golems and scratches his chin. Never thought they'd get such powerful guardians. He wondered if he could order them back to Kharouk-Khozil? Or maybe Archdale. They should really get in contact with the place. For now they'd just be guards. "Both o ye 'r on guard duty. Ye never attack us. Ye attack others only if they attack us or yerself. Nod if ye understand." That sounded concise enough.
----------
Slicer and Dicer, now called Glossy and Sheeny, each turned toward Gromff and nodded their tentacle-covered heads. The movements caused an array of sparkling reflections around the room.
The spectator smiled a bit wider at the obedience of the golems to their new masters.
"Right. Well, it appears every thing is in order? Unless there is something more I can help you with, to ensure my safe departure from this chamber and exodus from this portion of my existence?"
"Farewell then, surface dwellers."
The silent hovering spectator then glided safely out the chute exit and was out of sight.
Roland does not make Gromff's face, but rather one of pity. He always knew the girl had daydreamed about being someone important, but from there to a mithril queen there was still a lot of childish to become. He smiled but soon after realized that maybe this creature could still serve their purpose. After all, keeping secrets was never his forte.
"Do you by chance know how do we find the spear of destiny?"
The spectator was departing then turned back toward the group at Roland's query. It raised its scaly eyelid and puts on a face of playful curiosity,
"The Spear of Destiny? Is that what you seek? If the gods are with you then it is no wonder why the master fell so ignominiously here today."
"I have heard old rumors and older speculations, but alas, no, I do not how one goes about the discovery of a weapon of legend."
After studying the 'bones' of this chamber it occurs to you that its ovular shape and mithril veins will act as a magical conduit of sorts, harnessing and enhancing magical energies in ways that would be very difficult to reproduce artificially, outside of a chamber such as this.
-------
-------
|
|
”You guys are no fun at all.” she says to her grumpy allies. She doesn’t take out the decoration tho, if they don’t want to have fun, it is their loss.
”We should take this opportunity to rest here.” she looks around the room and continues ”There’s a very good effect for spellcasters that meditate and rest inside this room. Your spells will more… potent and last longer.”
Gromff follows the eye beast down the tunnel, both to make sure it doesn't pull anything on the civilians down there and to check up on their companions and the Pech. He speaks to the Pech guides, "Ye likely want ta get yer own home. As long as one o ye can get us a the surface the other can go ahead get a head start if ye want."
Several gasps of shock and discomfort call out from the assembled pech at the sight of the floating aberration. The spectator creature spoke to them in terran, switching tone and accent with the skill of a learned linguist -
"Fear not, good pech! I am your enemy no longer. I too was a thrall of the master, and I too have been freed by these good folk from the surface world."
Seeing that the pech remained suspicious despite the spectator's words of comfort, it continued on to say "Well then, I shall take my leave of you. Safe travels to you all, I hope."
The orb turned and looked once more at Gromff, nodded in mid air, and departed through an adjacent cave.
Gromff follows the eye beast down the tunnel, both to make sure it doesn't pull anything on the civilians down there and to check up on their companions and the Pech. He speaks to the Pech guides, "Ye likely want ta get yer own home. As long as one o ye can get us a the surface the other can go ahead get a head start if ye want."
The two pech guides, Murk and the unnamed fellow who accompanied the companions here, looked to one another and conferred briefly on the dwarf's words. After a brief discussion Murk waved goodbye to the other guide as he and their people made their way out of the cavern, back toward their humble city of Kurrackenkor to the north.
"I will stay with you to lead you to the surface," said Murk.
----------
With guidance from Gromff and Murk, the frail old man and energetic elf child climbed the blunted spikes of the near-vertical chute, arriving at the impromptu group camp site.
"Whoah!! Those are cool!! Walker, lookee! I can see a hundred of me and a hundred of you!"
Aersensi was baffled by the majestic flashiness and multifaceted reflections given off by the glass golem guardians and made multiple attempts to touch them, each time thwarted by cautious companions who would prefer the child undamaged.
After sharing a meal and conversation, even the marvelous golems lost their luster, so to speak, and the child was fast asleep on Catcher's lap in short order. Feeling a bit taxed from the day's combats and marching, everyone else was similarly ready to rest and put their boots forward to the next leg of the journey.
As the drowsiness began to overcome the spellsword, her eyelids mercifully sagged and nearly took her off to sleep when she heard an odd sound come from the child in her arms - a sort of shink! sound, akin to a dagger being drawn from a tight sheath. She opened her eyes fully to see what had occurred when she noticed that Aersensi had sprouted vicious claws from her fingertips - claws that were three inches long and glowed red hot.
A quick inspection revealed that the child was clearly asleep, though she began muttering words under her breath in the language of magic, interspersed with the dark infernal language of hell. The claws suddenly retracted while she reverted back to the common tongue and giggled sweetly, offering a disturbing dichotomy for those who witnessed the oddity. All the while remaining asleep, the muttering stopped while being replaced by a soft childish snore.
---------
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Veronica nods at Catcher's desire to stay, adding "We could use the rest, everything given. And this place seems safer than any we've run across so far."
Once they decide to settle down, Veronica sets to seeing about everyone's wounds, with both magic and simply her skilled hands.
Their wounds now gone or bandaged, Veronica finally collapses to a corner of the cavern, her robes squishing from all of the blood coagulated within it at this point. Laying her head back, she laughs for a moment before saying "This... has been daunting encounter. And it has been such a long time since I have had the opportunity to supplicate so intensely!"
And the contrast between her almost giddy voice and her form, her armor and clothes ripped and torn, her body covered in slowly healing wounds and blood both old and new, could not have been greater.
|
|
Before sleep, the mage proceed to use all her remaining magic spells to somewhat repair the Golems. They might lose a bit of their original shape, but that is only an improvement she thinks.
She approaches the golems and commands ”Glossy, Sheeny. I’m going to cast a spell, don’t resist, don’t fight back.”
After all the spellwork she nods to herself ”Looks better.” The wizard also gives all the respective loot to the interested parties; she has no need for overly expensive weapons.
Veronica’s voice catches her attention as well, the woman seemed surprisingly happy with all her injuries and loss of blood.
Yikes! There’s no chance I’m letting her do that to me!
She sits down, comfortably holding the little girl on her lap, messing with her hair until the elf child is asleep. Catcher looks at the others, more than once she wanted to talk to them, explain things, and more than once she gives up the idea.
Blind leading blind.
Her thoughts slowly drift away, as sleep drowns her mind. Deep down, she regrets all of this. It would be some much more easy to deal with had her not gotten emotionally involved. The future possibilities terrorized her, because she was powerless to interfere, at least not without great personal pain and suffering.
That’s when the unusual sound draws her attention, and red glowing nails makes her fully awake. The mage edges her head closer to the girl, trying to hear and understand what she is saying, while carefully placing her hand on the yellow gemstone, which they believe is related to Aersensi.
Then it’s over and if the others didn’t notice anything, Catcher doesn’t say anything as well. There’ll be time to deal with this, but she still had time, they aren’t even close to their objective.
Gromff watches the Spector for a minute after it vanishes and minute after just in case. A faithful servant of a good god he may be but that doesn't mean killing things just because they appear to be evil or most of its kind are evil. Both have probably done something considered evil at some point but he had no proof and thus no cause for action. He hoped he made the right choice.
He returned to the cavern of mithril and looked around impassively. This one vein could fill the coffers of a dwarven kingdom for at least 5 generations depending on how deep they went. He took it and the golems as good signs.
At Veronica's gory, yet happy, proclamation, Gromff stares openly but does not comment. The gods required different obediences for their followers. Some where weird. But it payed off in that fight so...
Later that night, Aersensi was also doing something weird. It was such a subtle sound he wasn't even sure where it came from. But in the darkness of the caves, the red hot glow of the claws was easy to follow. He and Catcher shared a concerned look. "She ever done that afore?"
"Aye. And she twere awake and not babblin."
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
”The other one and her name fails me now,” she says about the other Harbinger, the one that is posing as a green dragon ”displayed similar abilities and powers, combining two set of opposite influences. For some times now, I think we have the wrong idea about the harbingers, or the legend is simply wrong, what if they are not angels? For some dark sects or obscure knowledge, fallen angels and devils are one and the same.”
Fire bolts, bursts of flame, super heated touches raised the temperature in the room significantly. The cold that so strongly permeated the underground world was snuffed out and replaced with a toasty warmth that helped the party feel snug in this alien environment. Catcher's magic was thrown against the golems, each time melting some of the cracked glass, allowing it to reform closer to its strong original shape and function.
Aersensi spouted off words in the language of magic as well as infernal. Much of the one-sided conversation was gibberish, containing syllables and nonsense words made of the respective syntaxes. Some of the arcane words you did recognize were "imprisoned", "shape", and "escape". Some of the intact infernal words you interpreted were "lover", "spawn", and "murder".
|
|
The young wizard contemplates the words she heard thinking about a possible meaning for them.
So, she is imprisoned on the current shape and needs to escape? But what about the spawn, and murder? she looks around sighs deeply and try to formulate it from the other way around ”The Devil is imprisoned in this shape and wants to escape.” she says to no one in particular ”She was once his lover and spawn, and now the devil is trying to compel her to murder its current prison.”
She looks at Gromff with an even more concerned face ”I think the imprisoned devil inside Walker is trying to compel Aersensi to kill the old man.”