Markus says one word, a glow going over his features as a ethereal shape of armor forms over him for a brief second. looking at the Krup he starts to cast a another spell, directing the mana to hit the Krup's movements.
Quickened spell spirit armor lasting 100 minutes (10 minutes/level)
DR 7/- Mana cost of 36
channeling check if needed
Root: Alteration (specialty)
Mana cost 5
Casting time one action
Recast: instant
Range: medium (100f) + 10 Ft/leve)= 200 ft
Target one creature
Duration 1d8 rounds
Saving throw: Reflex( Negates) : DC 18
SR: Yes
page 309, GM rolls the duration of Root
Channeling check if needed
Kspress looks scary, but potentially a little silly in his executioner's hood. No matter, it augments his abilities, and so he wears it.
He chooses the leader as his target, and hurls a javelin at him, putting a stabilizing spin on it which happens to make the hole bigger.
Attack:
Damage:
(HP: 110/110, AC 27)
Kspress also keeps an eye on the one Froglok closest to him, designating it his opponent for Dodge and Improved Dodge (AC 30 vs. that Froglok).
Markus draws his morning star and shield, and casts another spell this one targeting Kspress, Markus knew that the the few offensive magics he had, would due no real good, cursing his lack of insight at not memorizing a more balanced approach for combat.
spirit armor, DR 7/-
channeling check if needed
Javelin after javelin finds purchase in Firiona's flesh.
Fearlessly the princess of the Koada'Dal throws herself into onrushing hoard. There is a coldness to her fighting style, as she exploits every opportunity presented, effectively using their numbers against them as she agilely dances about the battle field. This is an exhausted warrior though, fighting without armour, or her chosen short sword, and it shows in the injuries that accumulate on her body. She urges the others to ignore her plight and focus only on the foe before them, for if the Krup does not fall the battle will be lost.
Frogloks swarm, and are cut off from the trio by the princess, who does something that enrages them such that they only focus on her (AoE taunt).
(feel free to use the battle between Firiona and the frogloks as a backdrop for roleplaying in your post, assume that they are engaged in an incredibly savage exchange)
---
Velkuriss finds that he has no language in common with the froglok, but anger and threatening gestures are fairly universal (+5 to language check).
Language Check (Velkuriss vs. DC 15) (success)
The Krup's charge is momentarily slowed (shaken for 1 round: -2 to attack, damage rolls and skill checks), and it looks at the other shadowknight with newly-found respect.
Will Save (Krup vs. DC 33 intimidate) (fail)
Shaken Duration (1 round)
The iksar shadowknight's spell is partially shaken off, but though he expects it to be hurting the creature he sees no effects of it (resistance: fire).
Fort Save (Krup vs. DC 18 Heat Blood) (success, half damage each round, no effect)
While the undead minion blow bypasses the creature's small size, and agile moves, it is fended off by its small masterwork breastplate.
(Velkuriss please include a DC 19 Fort save vs. Envenomed Breath in your next post for half damage. Initial poison damage (halved wish successful roll) is 4D6 and 2d8 damage per round for the next 6 rounds, please roll and track the damage as you go)
--
Markus protects himself and the monk, then tries to adhere the most powerful froglok in place, but his spell has no apparent success.
Reflex Save (Krup vs. DC 18 Root) (success)
(Markus please include a DC 19 Fort save vs. Envenomed Breath in your next post for half damage. Initial poison damage (halved wish successful roll) is 4D6 and 2d8 damage per round for the next 6 rounds, please roll and track the damage as you go)
--
Kspress easily bypasses the Krup's defences and holes his side, then makes sure that the attack is not returned.
(Kspress please include a DC 19 Fort save vs. Envenomed Breath in your next post for half damage. Initial poison damage (halved wish successful roll) is 4D6 and 2d8 damage per round for the next 6 rounds, please roll and track the damage as you go)
---
There is a flash as its masterwork broad sword catches the half light as the Krup (krup: 14 damage taken) splits its attacks between all of the group.
Masterwork Broad Sword 1 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 2 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 3 (Kspress)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (success)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 4 (Markus)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 5 (Markus)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
It then reaches out and harm touches the monk.
Harm Touch (Kspress)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage: 30
(Kspress: please include a DC 23 fort save for half damage from the harm touch)
As the Krup's blade hits Kspress the first time you watch most of it's wounds close and transfer the javelin strike to the monk instead (krup: 4 damage taken). The speed of this tiny froglok takes your breath away, demonstrating just how powerful it is.
(end of round)
(start of new round)
Markus shrugs off the blow from the Krup's broad sword, his god's magics protecting him from the blow. Bringing his morning star to bear he takes a swing at the Krup, feeling the sting of the poison hitting the cleric, grimaces in pain at the feeling of the poison.
fort save vs poison
combine morningstar
damage
Swing number 2
damage
Kspress watches with amazement as the Krup's blade flashes almost faster than the eye can watch it.
Before he reaches, though, some kind of poison gas comes from somewhere and blasts Kspress and his allies.
Fort save vs. Envenomed Breath DC 19 (success)
Damage this round: less Poison Resistance 4 = 8 damage
6 rounds remaining.
Too soon the Krup's expert blade reaches him, and sucks the life right out of him, even though the blade itself does not penetrate Markus' magical protections on him.
10 damage from Shroud of Death
7 damage from sword (less DR 7 from Spirit Armor) = 0
As if that's not enough, the fast frog sticks out his hand and Ksrpess can not move fast enough. The deadly negative energy of Harm Touch makes Kspress cringe in pain.
30 Damage.
Fort save for harm touch, DC 23: (failed)
Sucking it all up, Kspress realizes he must do whatever he can to drop this Froglok as soon as possible. Firiona is holding up her end of the fight courageously.
He moves slightly, to try to flank the Krup.
Then he does an all out attack on the Krup with both hands, and decides to forgo the kick (+3 Dodge and Improved Dodge target is Krup again)
Attack 1
Damage 1
Attack 2
Damage 2
Attack 3
Damage 3
Attack 4
Damage 4
Attack 5 (off hand, dual wield)
Damage 5
Kspress' body naturally heals some of his injury (10 hp healed)
(HP: 72/110, AC vs. Krup: 30)
Spirit Armor for 100 min.
At the speed at which the froglok moved, Velkuriss was almost impressed. When it danced around and managed to strike all three simultaneously poisoning them, his impression shifted. Velkuriss was willing to admit to himself that he was a tiny bit impressed. They fought an accomplished foe, not to dismissed like the others. Something that would test their abilities after rotting in the cells being tortured. His maw splits even wider, even as the poison seeps into his body. 'A nice surprise coming from a Froglok,' the shadowknight raspy laugh is heard once more.
Velkuriss was nowhere near as fast as the the monk or the Krup. But speed wasn't the most important factor. Unlike the frog, they weren't spreading their attacks out. They could focus on the krup. A glance at the elf revealed that she was a capable fighter in her own right. Even wounded, slowed by water, and fighting with a heavy weapon the elf was given the mob of frogs much difficulty. Almost working them into a blind frenzy. 'Most impressive,' he thinks to himself.
Seeing Kspress slightly shift his position, Velkuriss takes a step to better flank with the monk. His skeleton moves slight to flank with the human, effectively pinning the krup between the four of them.
The ash-gray iksar narrows his burning dark blue eyes. His black metal scythe gripped firmly in his hands, Velkurss lashes out with two powerful blows. Black lightning like energy coils around his left arm as the shadowknight sets about reaping the life from the krup. Following his second blow, Velkuriss left hand rockets out to backhand the froglok noble. The black energy coiling up his arm rushes to dance over the flesh of the krup.
Following the bidding of the dark one that freed him, the skeletal iksar digs into the flesh of the kurp. It is seeking to rip the life from the froglok. Each handful of the krup's skin that was torn away was be an offering to the one that freed him.
Markus connects with one of his two blows against the agile froglok shadowknight (AC 22) and feels the satisfying crunch of flesh under his hands. Though the cleric is able to ward of much of the effects of the shaman's spell when ranged attacks were still being exchanged, he feels the lingering effects (successful save vs. DC 19, half damage).
--
Nearly all of Kspress' attacks find the mark, with heavy blows time and again bringing deep bruises to the surface of the Krup. The monk had been poisoned, but had fended off much of its intensity (Kspress takes half damage from the poison with a successful save).
--
Velkuriss' pet is but an annoyance, but the intimidating iksar is incredibly effective with two deep slashes into his opponent's torso and face. While much of his death energies had been resisted by the Krup, enough go in (successful save vs. HT) to tear a nice little hole in the creature's side.
---
Finding that he cannot really wound either cleric or monk, the heavily-damaged krup (117 damage taken) focuses on his fellow shadowknight instead.
Masterwork Broad Sword 1 (Velkuriss)
Critical Confirmation (Velkuriss) (confirmed)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 2 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 3 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 4 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 5 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
With a loud froaakk, healing magics are cast upon the leader by 3 of the shamans that had poisoned the party previously.
Light Healing:
Light Healing:
Light Healing:
While a useful tactic, it is not completed without its costs, for the shaman have now identified themselves to the very dangerous princess, and will be targeted as priority targets. No future spells of healing will come from these three.
(forgotten errata for save vs. Velkuriss' Harm Touch, and confirming the missed critical against Kspress from the previous round)
Fort Save (Krup vs. DC 18 Harm Touch) (success, half damage)
Confirm Critical (Kspress) (confirmed)
Damage
(Krup - 71 damage taken)
(end of round)
(start of new round)
Building up momentum, Velkuriss continues his brutal assault on the krup. He had felt the blows that lashed into his frame, one of them completely slipping through his guard. The shadowknight wasn't about to be lose to a froglok.
Suddenly noticing some of the krup's wounds close, Velkuriss glances over to see several shamans healing their noble. He notes that Firiona sees them as well. Which marks them to be slain next.
Once more the ash gray iksar tears into the krup. Velkuriss slices into the other shdaowknight with an evil grin upon his maw.
Not stopping, the skeleton continues to try to tear the krup apart. It was all that mattered.
Markus nods at the tactics that are happening, knowing that the group would need to end this battle with the Krup so they could focus on the rest of the creatures. Still Markus keeps an eye on Velkuriss' wounds knowing that keeping the Iksars alive was one of his goals; Markus brings his morning star around for another round of blows.
last round rounds' acid damage made fort save
this rounds:
to hit with flank
damage
second attack
damage
Markus feels the shaman rot tearing through his body as surely as a hot knife. He gives as good as he gets though, using his morning star effectively the first time at least.
The skeletal pet finally finds purchase, opening a small gash along the froglok's leg, tactically-positioned to maximum effect as its shadowknight master tears into the Krup twice in close succession.
(Krup - 128 damage taken)
Kspress feels the poison coursing through his veins. Initially, his magical protections were able to reduce the effect, but now the poison keeps working, full force.
Poison damage (halved):
The Krup is injured, and though his faithful clerics open themselves up in order to heal him, Kspress is confident the Krup's lifespan is now measured in seconds. Then again, he thinks, perhaps he is worth something, strategically, alive. Looking at how the Krup is fighting, he decides the non-lethal attacks can wait for the time being. He will continue to make his attacks lethal.
He glances at the warrior Firiona to see how she is doing.
Then he does another full attack on the Krup with both hands, this time adding the roundhouse kick, and taking advantage of the fact that the Krup is surrounded (+2 for flanking). (+3 Dodge and Improved Dodge target is Krup again, so AC 30)
Attack 1
Damage 1
Attack 2
Damage 2
Attack 3
Damage 3
Attack 4
Damage 4
Attack 5 (off hand, dual wield)
Damage
Attack 6 (Roundhouse kick, all attacks at -2)
Damage
He says to the others, in Iksar, "If he drops, kill him not."
Again, Kspress' body naturally heals some of his injury (10 hp healed)
(HP: 83/110, AC vs. Krup: 30)
Spirit Armor for 100 min.
Kspress presses the action, landing 4 solid blows himself.
(Krup - 181 damage taken)
Though the froglok before you has taken abuse that would fell any of you with ease, it continues to battle, but it is bright enough to understand that tactics are required to win the day. The first spell is cast too quickly for words (quicken), and the second requires some finesse.
Cast Defensively (Krup) (success)
Thick globs of oily blue-black mana coalesces about it's fingers, which it points at Markus, since it is an attack of the body, not the mind.
(Markus: please include two Fort saves vs. DC 23 spirit taps in your next post for half damage)
Quickened Spirit Tap Damage (Markus)
Spirit Tap Damage (Markus)
Markus feels the horrific drain of his very lifeforce being drawn out of his own body to nourish the Krup.
Firiona had sacrificed her superior position to down both shaman, and down them she had, but the sacrifice left her wide open to being blind-sided. You hear the sickening crack of her skull fracturing, and turn you head in time to watch her bonelessly fall to the ground without trying to brace herself.
As she sacrificed position, so must you to surround the princess before she is stabbed through the heart (need move action to get to the princess, will incur an AoO).
(end of round)
(start of new round)
As much as Kspress would like to finish the business with the Krup first, he realizes Firiona's life is in danger. He moves quickly to protect her (AOO)(move action).
Fighting to minimize his chance of getting hit (using Parry, +2AC, -2 attack), he strikes out at one of the frogloks attempting to kill Firiona. (Dodge targets: Krup and two of the other frogloks closest to Kspress after his move, +1AC vs each of them)
(AC 29; AC 30 to Krup and other two dodge targets)
Attack:
Damage:
Kspress healing: (10 hp healed)
(HP: 93/110)
Spirit Armor for 100 min.
Markus sees the princess go down, taking a step back from the Krup, knowing that the little damage that he can inflict would do no good. Casts a spell with a word targeting Firiona, then himself using his shield as a buffer, while trying to get to Firiona
5ft step back
quickened Light healing channeling check for defensive casting
on Markus:
life restored
mana cost of: 12
heal spell on Firiona defensive channeling
life restored
mana cost: 9
The iksar's dark blue eyes sweep over the battle as he readies for another series of strikes. While he noted that the shamans where taken care of, it had cost the elven warrior. He was about to send his skeleton out to keep the frogs off of her while she recovered, when Kspress darted off.
The krup took advantage of the opening to heal himself at the humans expense. Velkuriss was a bit surprised at the rapid fire casting of the krup. More annoyed, actually. The krup had managed to extend his life by a few moments. Still, the spell that the frog had cast was interesting. The shadowknight would have to investigate the rapid casting that the frog displayed, that was a useful trick.
With a glance to make sure that Kspress won't be dallying too long, Velkuriss and company tear into the krup once more. After he had taken a step to continue clanking, this time with the skeletal iksar.
Following the shadowknight's silent instructions, it shifts it placement to better attack. Roaring silently, the undead iksar lashes out with it claws.
Hp: 52/52
AC: 15[ooc]
"Kspress, once the female is stable, switch places with my skeleton," Velkuriss hisses to the monk. The shadowknight would would be able to fell the krup much faster with the monk's aid. While his skeleton was useful, it was no where near as powerful as the other iksar. 'At least, not yet,' Velkuriss thinks to himself briefly.
Kspress is unsure if he'll be able to fend off the frogs by himself. If only he had some magic to help.... But, that is not his way. They will have a tough time with him, even alone, he hopes.
"Stable and out of danger," he calls back to Velkuriss.
Upon hearing those words, Markus nods, getting ready for the coming blows heading his towards him, wishing for a moment that he had cast a different spell. Markus had to trust in the magics that he had cast, that he would be able to survive another round. If the Frog would stop draining Markus life force they might have a chance.
Kspress opens himself up to counterattack, as he rushes to help the princess, and true to form the Krup does not ignore the opening.
AoO (Kspress)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
He snaps out an attack, bloodying the protuberance where he imagines a nose might be on the frog.
(need to include the poison damage from the dot for this round)
--
It did not feel comfortable being a lifeforce meal for a shadowknight.
It is good that the monk attracted the attention, since it affords the heavily-damaged enough of a diversion to avoid getting smacked (using a move action since you mention both taking a 5' step and a move actions, which cannot be done in the same round, AoO incurred, no AoO since it had already been expended on Kspress).
The cleric joins the iksar monk to form a partial defensive shell around the princess. His spells restore a great deal of his own energies, and the princess as well, though she remains unconscious. Of luck is that her head is above water, it initially looks as if her head was resting on a twig, but closer inspection reveals that the fully-submerged Widget is working to prop her head up.
Firiona will not die, but the broken skull will keep her unconscious for an unknown amount of time.
(need to include the poison damage from the dot for this round)
--
Much of the advantage that had been realized from the attacks just a moment prior had been lost, as the Krup had transferred Markus' lifeforce into himself. Though Velkuriss attacks twice, and his pet misses twice, more wounds are closed than open.
---
(Krup - 148 damage taken)
The Krup releases and other spell in just a word or two, which requires a jasper as a reagent, and then another spell at the usual pace one expects magics to be unleashed upon the world.
Unknown Spell
Channeling (defensive casting) (success)
Spirit Tap Damage (Velkuriss)
(Velkuriss: please include a Fort save vs. DC 23 spirit tap in your next post for half damage)
Blows come in from all angles leaving the duo around the princess far from unscathed.
Damage taken (Kspress)
Damage taken (Markus)
(end of round)
(start of new round)
Markus gives a grunt feeling the damage slip past the spell he had cast, as the poison keeps going. Seeing that Velkuriss getting hit by whatever this reaving ability that the frog has is doing. Markus starts casting, keeping in mind that at the moment Velkuriss up and fighting might be one of there best options.
heal on Velkuriss
casting on the defensive:
quickened casting on the defensive: Target Markus
Divine Armor
Karana provides a boon to Velkuriss, which restores some of the damage wrought by the necrotic magics.
Though Firiona had dropped her fair share of the amphibians a few more appear to have joined in the fight. Heavy blows fall upon Markus from numerous angles, but he is in the embrace of Karana, and his protection is total (no damage).
Though the cleric is safe from further damage the shamanistic poisons coursing through his veins could turn out to be his downfall, since he cannot cast spells in the meantime and to cancel the spell early takes time (dismissing a spell is a standard action).
(Markus takes a -2 on AC while protecting the princess)
Kspress hates the feeling of the poison running through him. It is not just the pain, it is the thought that it continues to eat away at his insides.
Last Round poison damage:
This Round poison damage:
(3 rounds of poison remaining)
The cleric's spell protects him as the krup gets slices at him as he leaves his vicinity, but this time it gets through (3 damage taken). Kspress is glad he chose to use lethal force; it was the right decision, in hindsight.
Now the frogloks are all around. He designates one of them as Dodge target (+3 AC vs. it), as he lets loose on them, focusing on one at a time until it drops (but not the Dodge target unless all others on him drop), then moving onto the next.
Attack 1
Damage 1
Attack 2
Damage 2
Attack 3
Damage 3
Attack 4
Damage 4
Attack 5 (off hand, dual wield)
Damage
Attack 6 (Roundhouse kick, all attacks at -2)
Damage
As he fights, he tries to count the frogloks.
(HP 51/110, AC 30 to one designated opponent)
Spirit Armor for 100 min.
All the little croaking bastards look the same, and they dance around so erratically, splashing the ankle-deep water high into the air, making it impossible to get a definitive count, but Kspress is confident that he has identified at least 12 novel frogloks. There might be more, but definitely there won't be less.
Until after he unleashes 5 accurate blows.
The first 3 connect on the one with the bleeding snout, the last of which causing an extremely loud snap as its backbone is left in twain.
There is one less.
His roundhouse, followed by an off hand blow starts the process of sending another froglok to the grave.
Between Markus and Kspress not one of their foes is paying any attention to the helpless princess.
(Kspress takes a -2 to AC while protecting the princess)
Growling, Velkuriss continues to rip into the krup. Summoning his ally had drained him a bit more than he cared to admit. Not that the iskar was about to give up. He would admit to being a tad envious of the rapid ability the the frog used for casting his magic.
The shadowknight will have to search for the key to such casting on the corpse of the frog.
The skeleton continues ripping into the froglok as was the command given to it.
The tactics on how to best work together, complementing each other's strengths, while covering for each other's weaknesses, is something forged over many years.
Hopefully you live long enough.
Air is found more often than flesh by the skeletal minion, and while Velkuriss' first attack bypasses the creature's defences, it is completely blocked by something else (rune), which also partially blocks his second attack.
Velkuriss feels a little weak in the knees from the Krup's lifetap spell (failed Fort save), which he recognizes the nature of instantly.
---
Despite how much healing the Krup (123 damage taken) has received, he is looking much the worse for wear and exhausted (out of mana).
It's lip curls, tired of the insolence of a weak skeleton touching its flesh, it unleashes something that catches the breath of those nearest.
Masterwork Broad Sword 1 (Velkuriss) (critical threat)
Critical Confirmation (Velkuriss) (confirmed)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (success)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 2 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 3 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 4 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (fail)
Damage
Masterwork Broad Sword 5 (Velkuriss)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): (success)
Damage
Velkuriss feels the power of this fellow shadowknight, understanding how close he took it to death, and stood toe-to-toe with it for several seconds, with limited magical support, before it overpowers him from every angle. He falls (-7/140 hit points), and his pet collapses into disparate parts.
Glancing down at its fallen foe, the froglok (113 damage taken) cricks its neck, offers Velkuriss a salute, and then turns its head to gaze at the other two. It stops in mid-step (5' step), makes a strange burbling noise and all frogloks abandon the group, diving into the deeper waters and disappear.
(end of combat)
Glancing up you see singular iksar casually leaning on a staff made of a dull transparent crystal. It glances at you with impassive slitted eyes. Kspress recognizes him instantly. This is Grandmaster Cheiron, exiled from Cabilis 3 years prior for some reason not privy to a hatchling, or even a broodling. They are as babes before this creature that is powerful enough to so scare the frogloks. Though an exile, looking this one in the eyes is probably not a good idea.
With eternal patience Cheiron waves for Markus to care for the wounded.
Poisons run their course, after Markus has healed himself and Velkuriss (out of mana) they are barely conscious.
Cheiron crouches down, with preternatural hunting cat agility, to glance closer at the princess' face, wiping a leaf from her cheek, then whispers but a single word, "Explain."
Markus spends his time looking over the other's wounds, wincing every so often as his own movements make each of his own wounds remind themselves of their presence. Looking over Velkuriss' wounds with more care, he knows that the Iksar will need more spells then he has the mana for at the moment.
Glancing at Kspress with a questioning look, that says ' Who is this Iksar?' Makrus wonders if he should answer or if this is a question that only his two Iksar allies should answer, Markus is worried, but then he at this point if he is going to die, at least he would as a free man.
Kspress feels beaten, because they were beaten. By frogloks.
He looks at the feet of the great Iksar and decides he, a member (or former member) of the same caste, should reply. He sticks to simplicity and, of course, honesty; and avoids titles and ceremony.
"We four were in the Cabilis jail. Another group of unusual Iksars, possibly humans in disguise, set us free, putting us here via magic. We are heading to the Elven city to bring this Elven woman home."
If he wants details, Kspress can provide more, he thinks.
Velkuriss was still holding his freshly healed throat, and staring at the direction of the fleeing froglok when he caught sight of the approaching iksar. His dark blue eyes blink slowly a few times, as he briefly puzzles out if actually seeing the iksar, or hallucinating. Stuck with the fact that he had been bested by a frog, the painful memory of it's blade slicing across his windpipe would not be one he forgot. No more then he could forget that they had been beaten by damn frogloks. It was humiliating.
Coughing some leftover blood out of his mouth, Velkuriss steadies himself with his scythe. The pain from his freshly healed throat was incredible. Coughing had not been a good idea. Talking wasn't about to be much better. 'At least we're alive,' the shadowknight thinks, glancing at the elder iksar. It slowly dawned on him just who the iksar might be that frightened off the frogloks. Velkuriss drops his eyes respectfully.
Listening to Kspress, the shadowknight nods. Feeling the need to explain why they were imprisoned, Velkuriss does so.
"We were imprisoned for doing what was commanded of us. During our broodling rites, we found the resting place of after we had found the resting place of Emperor Ganak and Jaled'Dar. The Scaled Mystic allowed us to bring back one fang after marking our foreheads with her blood." The shadowknight traces the nonexistent symbol. It had felt like it had been burned in, though there was not a mark on his ash-gray scales. "At the end of our rite, Overlord Velkin had us return to the site, he brouth a necromancer with him. The female guarding the site allowed us to find the emperor's final resting place once more at nightfall."
"The two of us were allowed to find the body and remove the crown. Of which Velkin wanted a shard of bone," Velkuriss pauses, his raspy voice was somewhat choked from his healing throat. "We gave the shard to Velkin and he sent us out to find the still beating heart of Emperor Rile Sathir. He lay off the coast of the city the softskin elves had foolishly built. Right where his fleet had been sunk." There is a sense of pride in his retelling. It had been a near impossible task that they had succeed.
"We succeeded in finding the still beating heart of the emperor, and we traveled back, giving the heart to the Overlord," Velkuriss pauses for several moments. "To be rewarded with torture and imprisionment like some sort of criminal." Anger flares within his chest at what had happened.
"We encountered both the human, Marcus, and the elf, Firiona in the jails. Marcus was chained to us. The four of us were working on a plan when the disguised smoothskins where thrown in our cell," Velkuriss pauses a few moments thinking about the strange iksar's. "Magic had to have been used, the even had the correct scent. The just acted a little .., off."
"They gave Marcus a magical stone and pleaded for us to return Firiona to her people." A faint smirk runs up Velkuriss' scaled maw. "Since I 'm hunted and I'd guess exiled, I figure if it angers my former captors, so much the better."
Tale told, Velkuriss waits, trying to not leaned on his scythe. He hadn't really meant to tell Chieron everything, but it sort of rolled off his tongue. Maybe it had something to do with not being tortured for the information.
Markus has stabilized Firiona, though she remains unconscious, and sees the materials to make a crude litter. Widget crawls onto a nearby branch and works to purge himself of water and mud.
Losing to frogloks was something the iksar have been doing for decades. These are no minor foes, lest they would have been expunged years ago, which is why the could be found so close to the iksar home city.
Cheiron's hands tighten almost imperceptibly on his crystal staff as Kspress explains that the group is in league with the enemies of Cabilis. You know not if the Swifttails' Grandmaster was angry with the group for siding with their enemies, or the iksar for enslaving their own people though.
Not one to act without considering it from a number of angles, and to give himself a sober second and third reflection, the elderly monk stands as a statue, taking the group's measure with an inscrutable gaze.
Your downcast eyes honour his station, showing respect that has been ingrained in your from the time you hatched. You have ever been beneath notice, which is why you are still alive, despite being a genetically superior specimen, and exploits far beyond those above your station.
His cold voice is a whisper, "Follow." He only address Velkuriss and Kspress. Removing a wicked blade, obviously magical, considering the runes that bedeck its fine edge, he approaches. Once out of sight of the foreigners he has each fall to their knees.
The coming of age ceremony, where you would stop being referred to as a "broodling", "hatchling", or any of the other names that demonstrated how much support you required to continue to draw breath in the pitiless iksar society, is a mystic, terrifying and horrifically painful affair, performed upon those that have earned it.
Monk and shadowknight walk back to the cleric alone, both bear obviously magical scars on their legs, the pattern different for each, denoting this important step in their maturation. They can now look any iksar in the eye.
Cheiron does not return with them. He cryptically told them that some exiles were doing the work of their god, and though the path was treacherous, and the hatred of their people a burden almost too heavy to bear, the rewards would be endless.
An hour and more had passed with the duo gone, giving Markus time to fashion a crude litter for Firiona, and to recover some of his energies (1 hour's meditation).
Markus looks at the litter, not thrilled at the fact one was required for transportation of the group's charge. As the hour has passed; Markus spends a while checking on Firiona's wounds hoping that such a blow didn't have a permanent toll on her.
heal spell
Deciding to speed along the recovery process Markus casts another spell of healing on Firiona, knowing that at least 6 hours will need to pass before the cleric will be at full strength for spells. When his two traveling companions return, he nods respectfully at them, not clear on what happened, but choosing not to pry.
Kspress follows Cheiron, along with Velkuriss, wondering what is going to happen. When the Grandmaster begins the ritual, Kspress hides his surprise and suppresses his pride. Those feelings have no place here.
Grandmaster Cheiron's cryptic words speak to their pride nonetheless. Whatever they do, they do with honor, and they do it for the people of their home, and their race. No matter what the leadership thought. No matter that they were exiles, maybe never welcome in their homeland. No matter that they would be called traitors. History would speak, and the truth, hopefully, emerge. But even that is pride, thinks Kspress. History's voice could be lost to time, but the only important thing would be that their race survived, learned, thrived.
It is with these thoughts in his head that he returns to the human and elf. The pain of the ritual is now receding, though its memory will remain forever. He looks down at the scarring, vaguely resembling a tree and its roots. This would be the Iksar people; the roots strong and healthy, solidly entrenched in history and with tradition; and the branches and leaves reaching in the air, to the sky, taking in the sun and the air and the rain to grow even more.
Figuring that he was about due to have his throat slit for the final time, Velkurris follows after the other two iksar. While the walk the short distance, the wild thought of beheading the exiled elder springs in his mind. The thought is dismissed almost instantly. If it wasn't going to be Chieron that slew him, it would be another. The defeat at the hands of the much more powerful shadowknight had turned his thoughts dark.
When the elder began the rites of adulthood, Velkuriss' jaw had dropped open in surprise. The long delayed ritual of adulthood was the furthest thing on his mind. As the elder begins, Velkuriss watches respectfully as he begins to carve upon Kspress' leg. With the ease that the blade parted scales, the shadowknight could guess that it had been enchanted long ago.
Finished with the monk, Velkuriss takes his turn, watching intently as his own scales and flesh were parted. Enduring the painful procedure without complaint, it is a sense of pride that fills the shadowknight's chest. It washes away the sting of their recent defeat and takes the bite out of his recent imprisonment.
Once the ritual is completed, Velkuriss bows to the elder, looking him respectfully in the eyes. The shadowknight absorbs the elder's wise words that were offered the two. At least someone else believed that they were doing what was right for their people. They were more or less hatched for this task.
As the two walked back to the rest of the party, Velkuriss takes a moment to look at his own scar. It was a masterfully rendered depiction of an iksar skull. He was a bit taken back by what he upon the skull. It looks to be a near perfect rendering of the crown that had been on Emperor Ganak's burned and blasted corpse. Vulkuriss raises his eyes, puzzlement dancing within his dark blue orbs.
Greeting Marcus with a nod, he looks at what the human had accomplished in the time the two had been gone. Marcus certainly didn't waste anytime. Firiona looked to be fit to travel, as much as she would be able being carried. At least the elf still drew breath, a testiment to Marcus's skill as a healer. He catches the healer's question look.
"We're considered full adults now," Velkuriss says with a faint grin upon his scaled muzzle. He points at his still fresh cuts. "So, if we weren't hunted exiles that would mean we have full rights as adults. Still, I won't have to stare at my feet if we run into any Iksar."
Firiona's skull has been held together by a wide bandage, truth of the cleric's ministrations. Physically she much better than her unconscious state would suggest. Several skull plates had been cracked, which only time could mend. Some remain in their coma for a day, some a month, while still others never regain consciousness.
The makeshift litter should keep her upper torso free of the waters.
Two tendays less four pass, as the strange group fights their way free of the wilds of the swamps, dodging patrols, large predators, deep bogs, and nearly constantly battling a creature of some sorts. Widget's ability to perfectly discern direction is invaluable for the maze of the swamps, when everything is mist and fatigue, is at times overwhelming.
Firiona remains unconscious, though there are signs that she is getting better.
The shift away from waters to dry is gradual, but eventually you find yourself on solid land with only solid land ahead of you.
Wending your way through a maze of ruins, drolvargs, drachnids, and giants, you find yourself next to a raging freshwater river, which climbs down the hill from the area around the Lake of Ill Omen to flow southward into the Timorous Deep near the city that bears the princess' name.
Patrols of goodly creatures are everywhere.
As your eyes flit to the city you see the immense mithral and marble statue, which bears a startling resemblance to the unconscious high elf you are carting about.
Markus stops for a moment, just at the sight of a city, after two tendays of traveling in the swamp, then the wilds, this was a welcome sight indeed. Of course that welcome sight would be much better if Firiona would wake from her slumber.
While the coma was not unexpected for such a wound, Markus hoped that she would wake, the traveling had been challenging enough. The care that was required for one that was comatose wasn't too much of a challenge for the cleric.
" Well perhaps I should lead us while we are traveling to the city, having both of you carry the litter. I think there will be less chance of the patrols shooting first, at least this is my suggestion. " Markus trails off when he notices that statue.
Well of course she is important; that is why she was held prisoner. Markus thinks to himself, his surprise almost complete at the resemblance of the statue and Firiona. Shaking his head he pushes his astonishment to the side and focuses in on the trail.
" Perhaps we should also take her to the guard if we are not stopped by patrols. As soon as we get into the city we will more then likely be stopped, I would say that we do our best to remain calm and hopefully we can get Firiona help and back to her family." Markus says trying to figure out the quagmire of events that are sure to follow.
" I'm not sure this is going to be the best plan, but we don't have many options at the moment, I'm not going to split us up, that could end quite poorly." Markus finishes, rubbing at the new growth of a beard, while thinking about what other options they would have.
Kspress spends much time carrying one end of Firiona's stretcher. Luckily she has no armor and is not too heavy. It's a good workout for getting back that muscle mass lost in the jail.
He is very relieved when the group makes it out of Froglok territory. He wonders if a treaty with those amphibious creatures could ever happen. Perhaps.
When finally they reach the city they recognize, and see the statue, Kspress' suspicions are confirmed. This Elf looks remarkably like the statue he had all but ignored in the past. She must be a sister, or, considering her name, the princess herself. Firiona Vie. Perhaps, for her own safety, she lied about how common her name is. Kspress supposes royalty must be trained to do such things when facing those they cannot fully trust.
Markus' words make sense to him, to a point. "Yes, you lead. But perhaps we should remain here, lest we be taken to prison in there. Velkuriss, what do you think? If Markus can convince them, or if Firiona awakes, we may yet be let in, if not trusted completely. But until then, we are seen as the enemy of these people."
Though patrols are commonplace, getting to the city is another matter, since the accumulation of extremely powerful monsters in this area are truly nightmarish.
You still have a couple to few miles before you reach the city guards.
Looking between the statue and the unconcisous elf, Velkuriss can't help but chuckle quietly to himself.
"It seems Firiona lied to us," says the shadowknight with a shake of his head. Pointing at the massive statue, his muzzle twists as a slight grin takes hold. "I don't think they name cities or build statues of a queen's trainer."
Listening to the two, Velkuriss shakes his head.
"I don't think splitting up would be a good idea. After all, our people s are at war with each other, and two iksar sitting by themselves ask for "kill first and question the corpses." I would prefer to avoid that myself," Velkuriss states, eyes sweeping the surroundings. He thinks for a few moments.
"I think our best bet is to just carry Firiona up to the castle gates, with Marcus leading," the iksar pauses for a few moments. "At least that way, we'll either end up in a cell, or dead. Takes the guess work out of everything."
The big ash-gray iksar looks at the elven princess.
"I wonder if Firiona is in the need of a shadowknight's service," he muses out loud.
The group does indeed end up in separate cells from one another. Hours of interrogation follow. No matter what you say, no matter how many times you say it, the questions are answered again and again. Sleep is not permitted, neither is water or food.
This is a familiar situation, and strangely making you miss the cells of the iksar, for at least it was warm there.
Time and again you are told that the second the princess dies, you will follow. A day or two pass, and then you are released, cleaned, handed back your gear and escorted to the largest building in the area. You have been conveyed to a small waiting room, with a very familiar group, less one foot, waiting as well for an audience with royalty.
Revery has a new "foot" now, though this one is made of wood, and is craftily strapped around his calf (roleplaying mechanism, affects not stats).
(groups have merged)
Sajeek had kept himself mostly out of trouble while Rev had been healing and recovering from a near lethal infection. His meager skills had barely helped during the travel to Firiona Vie. When Alric had shown up to see that they didn't have his niece, he seemed to take it well. Meaning the elf didn't incinerate them on the spot. Perhaps he had still believed they had delivered the race killing poison.
Nursing a bit of a hangover with a cup of spiced wine more or less was sitting at a table in the inn, half listening to the conversation going on. It did seem unusually busy this morning, everyone seeming particular.., gossipy. Perhaps if his brains weren't so fuzzy, he would have been more interested, but currently, it was background noise. If it wasn't for the sleepy tiger curled underneath the vah shir's table, he would have had people at his seat whether he wanted them there or not. 'You'd think it was a festival night. Not that this city has much to celebrate,' he thinks sourly. The war had taken a horrific toll. The odd thing was, there actually seemed to be few iksar. It was more like the Kurnak had risen against the intruders.
Slowly, Sajeek realizes that it had fallen silent in the inn. Completely silent. Feeling eyes upon him, the beastlord looks up slowly. He spies some important looking guards, not that they hard to miss, considering they surrounded his table.
With no time at all, he and Bast are escorted to the largest building in the city. He spies his two friends sitting their waiting. Waving to them, he goes and sits down after he is asked to wait in the sitting room. He did feel it was a bit odd being asked by the guards, not commanded. Shrugging his shoulders, Sajeek sits down and chats with Rev and Kwen. He was glad to see them in good spirits, especially Rev. He had taken to the to his foot replacement with his usual calm.
Bast sniffs the enchanter new foot and looks at in quizzically. He bites the booted wooden foot a test bite before going over to lay down near Sajeek. The big orangish red tiger stares at the foot with almost single minded focus. The tip of his tail flicks back and forth.
It wasn't until the door opens and three very familiar figures walk in. Sajeek blinks a few times and a wide smile grows across his furry features.
"Yes!!!! You all survived!" The vah shir does a crazy little dance in a circle. The fact that the iksar were walking around meant the princess must still be alive and more importantly safe. Well safer than she had been. "I'm glad to see that you three are still alive." He looks at the big ash-grey iksar. "Although less excited that he's here. Mostly because he could give a troll nightmares. And probably does for fun." The vah shir looks at the big iksar seriously for a few moments. Than a big grin splits his face.
Sitting in the rather cool cell, Velkuriss can't help but be surprised that the torturers had not be brought out. It wasn't like he couldn't see the hate and fear behind the eyes of interrogators. The looked like they where looking for an excuse to kill the iksar. The shadowknight would be damned if they thought where going to get it from him. He sat during the repeated questioning like the patient predator he was. Velkuriss had repeated the same answers to the same questions, rather bored by the process. They seemed trying to trip his story up with their questions.
When the sleepless night had finally passed he hears noises outside of his cell. He was facing away form the door, staring out the small window where he had watched the moon sink into oblivion, fleeing the daylight. The iksar turns his head slightly looking over his shoulder. A dark blue fixes on the unarmored elf standing at the opened door.
"Yesss?" the shadowknight rasps. While his throat had healed, his voice had remained sounding like it was coming from behind the lips of someone being hanged. He noted the barely concealed shudder of the elf. The elf informs Velkuriss that he is free to go. The elf seems slightly hesitant to add the following. Velkuriss presence was requested, after he made himself more presentable. The last the elf added with a sniff, and an expression that seemed to say that no about of cleaning would be enough. Velkuriss muzzle twist as grin runs along one side.
After gathering his gear, he is "escorted" to a room. The shadowknight is fairly certain that he is being walked in the back streets of the city. Not that it was overly surprising to him. There were a number of being here out for blood. Of course, that was normal for the iksar. Velkuriss immediately drops his gear on the floor and strips when he spies the steaming bath. Sinking under the water he let's the warmth seeping into his body until his lungs force him to the surface for air.
It isn't until he stands out of the tubs, water draining off of his ash-gray scales does he notice that all of his equipment had been cleaned as well. Looking at his gear curiously, he wonders why they were so interested in appearances. 'Must be a softskin thing,' Velkuriss thinks to himself as he equips his gear. Making sure everything is secure, the shadowknight leaves his chambers. Aside from the smattering of guards, he spies his allies.
Walking over to Kspress and Marcus he nods to the two.
"Does anyone else find it odd we were not tortured?" Velkuriss asks of the two. They are left to talk among themselves, the guards staying a respectful distance away from them. The shadowknight suspects that they had been assigned to keep the three protected. The guards didn't seem overly interested in the two iksar and human. They were more focused on preform their assigned duty. The iksar could respect that. "It is a pleasant change to go from prisoner to guest so quickly."
After they were given what was deemed denough time, they three were escorted out. They were taken to the largest building in the city. Entering a small room, Velkuriss saw a human, a cat person and another four legged cat, and one of the big heads. 'An erudite if I remember correctly,' he think to himself as he looks over the three. He was beginning to get the nagging sense that he had met them before. Something about the bloody looking strips on the dark grey furred one. It was until he spies the white clawprint on his arm that he knows who they are. The fake iksar.
Velkuriss is left staring at the vah shir after he does his flaying dance. He blinks twice.
"You! You were the three that broke into the jail!" He rasps, pointing at Sajeek. His eyes narrow slightly as he looks at the three. "Who exactly did we end up saving. She certainly is not the queen martial trainer. They don't build them statues or names cities after such persons, no matter how good they are."
Sajeek looks back at the big iksar and blinks.
"Uh, shes the princess whose kidnapping started the whole war with your people and the high elves," the vah shir says raising his eyebrows. "I'm guessing by your expression that's not what she said."
"This isn't the first time you've been lied to by a woman is it?" the vah shir laughs in amusement.
"The what?!" Velkuriss exclaims, surprise actually showing on his scaled features. He thinks it over for a few seconds. "Well, that does explain a lot of things actually."
"I am curious to hear how the lot of you made it into the jail. Not to mention how you came about your disguises," Velkuriss asks, leaning against a wall.
No word of the princess' return had reached the general populace's ears, to your knowledge, and the mud-caked body that was dragged in atop the litter bore little in the way of resemblance to the stunning creature that the statue honoured. As far as the populace is concerned, the princess is still lost to them. The jaded part of you wonders if they are doing it on purpose to continue to fuel the war effort.
The room you are in is small, a sitting room of sorts, without food, drink or chamber pot. It does, however, have pomp, frills and ornate chairs to sit upon. You get a hint as to how well built this building is made, and how sturdy the doors, by the lack of ability to hear any noise from beyond either locked door.
You had been conveyed by guards with unreadable expressions. It is difficult to know if you are here to be congratulated, exiled, or poisoned.
"Were you not questioned about the princess? I suppose that is an interrogation technique, feeding different information to different prisoners..." says Kspress to Velkuriss, feeling better and cleaner than he has in a very, very long time.
He had been upset that they had been incarcerated, though not really surprised. And the cell hadn't been too bad, aside from the cold. Without his medallion, the cold came right into his muscles and bones, chilling him. He had been forced to use his training to keep warm, which, in reality, involved moving around a lot in his small cell.
Without torture, the experience was soon forgotten. As he was brought with Markus and Velkuriss to another building, he gained confidence that they would be released, or perhaps be given some work to do. He thought it was likely the princess, as they had revealed, truthfully or not, had recovered under the care of the best healers of the city.
Now here he was, with three strangers that Velkuriss is talking to. Shortly, he realizes these are the three "Iksar" who freed them from Cabilis.
He steps up to them, all three, and bows a deep bow. In common he says, "I thank you for your courage in releasing us before yourselves. It is courage I might expect of an Iksar." This is meant as a compliment, of course, and comes out with a sideways turn of the head and, to Iksars at least, a wry expression. They had been Iksars for a time...
With formality he says, "Introductions in a proper surrounding... This is Velkuriss, and this is Markus. I am Kspress. Indeed, we delivered your Elf to this city, alive but gravely injured. How did you manage to escape?"
Kwen had been wondering the city, keeping an idle eye out for more supplies, his stores had been running low on poisons. Of course looking was not the same as buying, and the rogue found himself spending tome playing dice.
Managing only to break even was much more difficult, but then the rogue never bothered with trying to make money by gambling. Losing interest quickly, the rouge went back to check on Revery, and to do a little bit more reading.
Kwen had been spending his time at odds with what had happened, the victory felt hallow to say the least. Yes they had survived, but the nagging doubt that things could still go poorly. Perhaps the two Iksar and the human had enough and left Firiona on her own.
Shaking these thoughts from his head, the rogue boredom sinking in, where nothing seemed to fill the time for the rogue. He hated to admit it, but Kwen wanted to be traveling again, of course that feeling changed when the guards asked him to come with them.
Kwen had no choice in the matter and followed, rather then trying to escape, for this time Kwen was sure that if they were going to en-prison him, they would have waited until he was asleep. The chance that this was going to go poorly for Kwen, was low he reckoned.
The trek to the city guard was thankfully safe from incident for a change. Markus was glad that there was some reprieve from the constant attacks that the group had suffered. Of course the guards methods at arresting the trio wasn't as bad as it could have been.
The spending the rest of the day and night being asked the same questions had been old, but compared to the time spent in the Iksar prison, this was simple. Still Markus had nothing to hide, told them the same things over and over again. Informing the guards of Firiona's condition was told, what had happened to Markus and his squad before he was kept as a prisoner, for the last few years and the escape from the Iksar prison.
The next day Markus was told that he was going to meet with others to discuss the next steps, but first Markus would have to bathe and be presentable. For the first time in a number of years Markus was able to clean the grime of his time in the cells, not the lack luster freezing water that he had bathed in.
Spending time with a mirror and a razor the cleric was able to change his features, going back to a head free of hair, along with a beard that was much more even and short. Markus noticed that his clothes had been cleaned as well, and for once felt good about the prospect of the future.
Following his former cell mates, Markus notices that the three new comers were familiar in manner, and quickly figures out that these three were the ones that had opened the locks and helped all of them out. Markus says " Please tell us more on what happened after we left."
Kwen smiles at the words, having all three of them ask how they managed to escape was enjoyable to say the least. Kwen tells the three the tale of how they managed to escape, the sacrifice that Revery had gone through, the spells being cast before the poison grenade had gone off.
Kwen wasn't a bard, but he did have some ability to tell the tale with a bit of a style. He might not have enjoyed some parts of what had happened, but there was something thrilling about reliving so of what had happened.
" After that, Revery gated back to a safe location, I managed to stay hidden long enough to get the drop on two guards. I leveled the playing field by using some poison that was rare, but it allowed Sajeek and I to disguise ourselves. The next hardest part was the necromancer's and her friends; that was another close one to say the least." Kwen says with a wry smile yes, there was the thrill of what had happened along with the knowledge that the rogue would be taking away from that little jail break.
Upon hearing Kspress words Kwen merely shrugs, not sure if he felt brave about what they had done. " Of course, Kspress, I'm glad to see that you managed to make it here with out dying." Kwen says with a smile
Revery has been practicing walking and even running, but he stilll feels that a Gnomish replacement would work better.
When, after waiting for some time, he finally hears that the princess might be okay, and here, he is ecstatic. He greets their rescuers warmly and asks them about their journey with the elf.