Whether by luck or skill, the giant ranger seems to take no notice of Alis creeping along the roof above him. When she pokes her head up to take aim, the giant startles firing wildly pulling the shot and hitting his pet! The giant lizard startles, knocking him over and very nearly stepping on him.
Taking full advantage of her goddess' touch, the injured priness sinks another two bolts into him, plunging one straight into the corner of Cullos eye before ducking out of sight once more. The giant's scream of pain can be heard even by Lureene and Priyya far below!
yes!
yes
"SHAKA," Cullos yells with urgency, "PROTECT!"
Giving a high-pitched whine of concern, the giant beast rushes forward and stands over Cullos, tail waving menacingly as she seeks to protect him from further harm.
MAP: V-Giant Cannibal Village 2, (Round 104)
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Down below, Nylithati glowers in anger, continuing to wring Darvesch's heart with her cruel intent. However she appears to be biding her time.
Be that as it may, another ghoul rushes forward into the breech to attack Talvyra. The creature's claws dig deep, opening a terrible wound on her shoulder. Yet though she should cry out or retaliate, she stands still, rigid as the dwarf behind her!
Will DC 16 (paralysis)
poison delayed 1/2 saves DC 26
-3 penalty
diseased
diseased
paralyzed until round 108
Mal and Sasha race along after Lureene, the shorter ranger nearly plowing into Mal's back as he stops short to avoid running into Lureene. Upon seeing Talvyra's odd behavior, he hisses, "Little Sister!" concern for his feline companion freezing the blood in his veins.
, other Ghouls; Cullos, Alis, Shaka, Mal, Sasha
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 104)
Priyya takes careful aim at Nylithati and looses two arrows, guided by Alita, then steps 5' closer to protect Darvesch and Tal.
FULL RND ACT -
Perfect Strike HIT#1: <-- This one
Perfect Strike HIT#2:
DAM:
HIT: Crit?
Confirm?: Maybe?
DAM:
CRIT DAM:
Rng Inc: 70' | -1/Increment
Lureene follows cloesly behind the dark-skinned priestess. Once Priyya has loosed her arrows at Nylithati, she pauses for a split second, and calls on one of her favorite celestial companions, urging it to attack the ghoul priestess!
Darvesch, overcome by the spell Nylithati has cast on him, paralyzed, helpless, unable to do anything, thinks to himself in fear, Is this it? Is this how I am to end? Not by steel or stone, in battle or with honour, but by slowly succumbing to a paralytic spell from a heretic ghoul-witch?" His fear, after a few moments, turns to anger and hatred, "I'll burn this witch. I'll purge this place of her vile presence, then, one by one, I'll destroy each and every one of these unholy bastards, until the taint has been annihilated. So help me, Kahn. I will be a blight upon evil."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Priyya looses twice. The first arrow ends up striking the ghoul attacking Talvyra, yet the second hits the ancient priestess. A moment later, Lureene's eagle appears, its claws raking harmlessly across her hard flesh.
The moment Priyya's arrow hits Nylithati, Darvesch feels the force gripping his heart release and he can move again!
, other ghouls; Cullos, Alis, Shaka, Lureene, Mal, Priyya, Sasha
Darvesch, seething with anger, steps closer to the ghoul-giant next to him, and slices deep into the ghoul.
Darvesch shoves his way up next to Talvyra and lays into the ghoul before him with his axe. A moment later, Nylithati raises a serpentine talisman clutched tight in her hand and a wave of baleful red energy sweeps outward mending the lead ghoul's injuries and sapping the life force of Darvesch and Talvyra.
Will DC 18
poison delayed 1/2 saves DC 26
-3 penalty
diseased
diseased, poisoned 0/1 saves DC 18
"Come on you bastards! Nylithati! Judgement is coming for you!" Darvesch yells with righteous fury.
Although there is no room for them to come at you, the ghouls injured from earlier bask in the unholy radiance given off my their priestess, their injuries closing.
At Darvesch's challenge, one shouts in reply, "No harm to Mother Invidia while her immortal faithful yet live!"
"Shaka, move together," Cullos says. The gigantic beast gives a sonorous tone in response, tiny eyes fixed on the rooftops for any further sign of danger.
Hmm, I wonder...
Alis moves silently across the edge of the roof, distancing herself from the range of Shaka's tail. Wary for unexpected surprises from Cullos or his pet, she casts her spell carefully targeting the ground below the immense beast's feet.
Let's see how good her footing is...
With the completion of her spell, a spray of slick, golden oil jets from her open palm covering the ground under Shaka's feet. In surprise, the dinosaur flinches losing her footing.
fail!
"Shaka NO! Steady! STEADYYY!!! NOOOuuurgh..."
The whole of the village shakes as Shaka falls to the ground, Cullos' cries stamped out as his pet falls atop him crushing him into a red paste.
In horror, Shaka struggles back to her feet, nuzzling her keeper with her broad snout. However if the smell of blood and sight of broken ribs protruding from his flesh are undeniable. In sadness, she tips her head back and gives a long, loud, piteous cry.
Still unseen, Alis drops out of sight again, satisfied that the deed is done.
Not quite the lay you were hoping for, was it Cullos?
, Ghouls; Alis, Shaka
"Get out of my way!" Darvesch yells at the ghoul as he tries to push him directly into Nylithati, but falls short of hitting his mark. Still, there's not much distance left between Darvesch and Nylithati now. It's only a matter of time before Darvesch will exact divine retribution on the witch.
Trying to keep the dwarf from getting any closer, the ghoul tries to claw at Darvesch, but its claws skitter harmlessly off his armor and he gets shoved back into Nylithati.
, Ghouls; Alis, Shaka, Darvesch
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 105)
Priyya charges dextrously up the hill of bodies, to stand near Talvyra. She calls out. "Punch through and KILL the hag!" She tries to create an opening with Alita's light.
MOVE - push forward, full distance.
STANDARD -
"Won't make you ask twice..."
With a feral gleam in his eyes, Mal shoves his way past Lureene and rushes forward. He vaults over and crawls across the bodies of the downed enemies until he crouches next to his Little Sister, ready to protect her.
Sasha gives Lureene a tweak as she hurries past, bow at the ready. After getting past Priyya, she hops atop the body of the headless ghoul before her and stops.
Not wanting to get left behind, Lureene clambers up beside her more nimble friend to assay the scene with her.
"Hey our guys are all jammed up, I'll have to snipe for now."
Sasha takes aim on the undead priestess and looses, but just like with Priyya, the ghoul in front of her is in the way and gets hit instead.
"Hmmph–"
Once everyone else has moved up, Priyya advances weaving easily thru her close-packed allies, her short stature a much greater asset than Mal's height under the present circumstances. Once she has reached Talvyra's side, she channel's Alíta's power hoping to undo the damage done by Nylithati.
poison delayed 1/2 saves DC 26
-3 penalty
diseased
diseased
paralyzed until round 108
; Alis, Shaka, Darvesch, Mal, Priyya, Sasha
Nylithati sneers at the tiny priestess' pluck.
"They shall all be food for mighty Typhon, my children. Let them rush to their final fate!"
With that, she holds up her talisman again, wholly undoing all the damage to her own kin and racking the rest of you with pain. Lureene's eagle is immediately blown away by the force of the blast. Sasha and Talvyra are also strongly affected, unable to resist the foul energy.
Once she has unleashed the negative energy wave, the priestess takes a step back to allow her children room to maneuver.
Will DC 18
poison delayed 1/2 saves DC 26
-3 penalty
DR 5/cold iron, SR 12, ER5: Cold Fire Shock diseased
diseased
paralyzed until round 108
Thanks to Darvesch's bullrush, the lead ghoul no longer finds himself restricted by the confines of the narrow tunnel in which he was caught. It takes another step back to allow its brethren to help and another moves forward to assist.
The strike as one, the new arrival knocks the dwarf's shield aside just long enough for the other to rake Darvesch across the face with his filthy claws. Once again, the dwarf can feel their numbing touch trying to freeze him in place, but he shakes it off with far greater ease than Nylithati's earlier spell.
Beyond, you can see several more ghouls who are as yet unable to come at you thru the press of undead bodies.
Will DC 16
; Alis, Shaka, Darvesch, Mal, Priyya, Sasha, Ghouls
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 105b)
Lureene sees the group of ghouls trying to protect their mistress, and figures to make them pay for that strategy. She chants clearly, and points at the center of the chamber where a ball of fire erupts!
A wall of heat weather's Darvesch's face as Lureene's fireball detonates in the midst of the ghouls. The reek of burnt flesh fills the air, yet all of the ghouls are still standing. The two before himself and Mal seem to have taken the worst of it though.
Were it not for that damnable Nylithati and her ability to channel negative energy, he's certain they would have gone down already. Of course, he reflects, the same could also be said of your own group and the Surya-ka-Vahaak...
Fort DC 16
, Darvesch, Mal, Priyya, Sasha, Ghouls, Lureene
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 106)
Need to get that behemoth out of here...
Ignoring her injuries for the time-being, Alis stands and gives a loud whistle. When Shaka looks up, she leaps from the roof flying clear over Shaka's head to alight gracefully on he edge of the lodge east of the lighthouse.
Alis waves her arms dramatically to keep the creature's notice and draw attention to the wand she is carrying. "That's right, look at me, Shaka..."
"SHAZAM!" Three missiles streak from the wand striking the beast without fail.
Surprised that this little one is provoking it and already unhinged with the death of her keeper, Shaka bellows with rage and stomps around the gaping pit trying to come at the yellow-haired pest.
As she clears the pit, Shaka swings her tail knocking a large chunk out of the wall by its south-west opening.
, Ghouls, Lureene; Alis, Shaka
MAP: V-Giant Cannibal Village 2, (Round 106)
Roaring with anger, the tall sergeant moves up alongside Darvesh and slashes wildly at the oversize ghoul before him spilling its guts across the floor, it unlife ended. "KILL THAT B1TCH! GO!"
, Ghouls, Lureene; Alis, Shaka, Mal
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 106b)
Darvesch, now with a shot to take down the undead witch, makes is way over the bodies to get to her. He calls upon his hatred of the unholy taint she represents and swings his might axe, "There will be no trial for you. We are your judge, and executioner. May the will of Kahn be done!"
Whether by the providence of Kahn, Súmalya's luck, or sheer determination, Darvesch struggles his way forward without coming to harm. Although they might be undead now, they were giants in their prior life and still moved and fought as such — he was well-trained in how to shrug off their attacks.
The young Hellhammer fends off the blow of the first with his shield, and trusts to his armor to stop the claws of the others. His mithril armor does just that and with a holy oath, he brings the hard edge of his ancestral axe down hacking deep into Nylithati's leg bone!
, Ghouls; Alis, Shaka, Darvesch, Mal
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 106c)
Priyya puts two more arrows in the hag.
FULL RND ACT -
HIT:
DAM:
HIT:
DAM:
Rng Inc: 70' | -1/Increment
The elimination of the ghoul at the tunnel entrance makes Priyya's shot much easier. She aims above the energetic dwarf and puts a single arrow into the undead crone, her first shot having no effect on Nylithati's leathery old hide.
"Ooh! I want to stab some guys too!"
Holstering her bow, Sasha squeezes past Talvyra and Priyya and rushes forward, blades in hand.
"HA!" She shouts, pricking the abdomen of the ghoul by the exit, "Eat steel!"
Sadly the effectiveness of her thin-bladed weapon is not equal to her zeal.
Nylithati gives a loud whistle and the ghouls around her change up their formation. The one that had been standing to Nylithati's right steps forward to take the place of its fallen brother and another steps forward into its place.
On the other side, the one that had previously been guarding the tunnel exit withdraws and is replaced by the one to Nylithati's left. The retreating ghoul circles around to the back.
Upon reaching their new positions, the ghouls begin to claw at whatever and whomever they can. The two new arrivals at the tunnel exit both strike at Sasha. The first misses, the redhead ducking its attack, but the second rakes her across the torso, instantly freezing her in place!
hit
Will DC 16
The ghouls flanking Darvesch, attempt to join forces to grab him, but the one to the north stumbles and only just avoid falling to the ground. Without his partner's aid, the other ghoul's attempt is unsuccessful.
no
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 106d)
Darvesch sweeps his axe at one of the trolls moving past him.
Spying a ghoul trying to sure up the defenses at the entrance to this chamber, Darvesch pivots delivering a devastating backhand with his axe that nearly topples the ghoul closest to Sasha.
Undaunted, Nylithati raises her hand once more and calls out, "Fear not children, Typhon will not abandon you!"
In a wave of unholy energy, the scorching damage from Lureene's fireball and Priyya's arrows is wiped away. While Priyya, Lureene, and King Tut are not in range of the fell energy, Talvyra collapses into unconsciousness, and both Sasha and Darvesch are beginning to look haggard from continued exposure.
Will DC 18
poison delayed 1/2 saves DC 26
-3 penalty
diseased
diseased
paralyzed until round 108, dying
paralyzed until round 109
, Shaka, Darvesch, Mal, Priyya, *Sasha*, Ghouls
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 106e)
Lureene sees Darvesch in the midst of the ghouls and knows that a fireball will hurt him just as much as the enemy. Instead, she recalls another spell she learned recently.
"King Tut, you better stay back here, it's too dangerous for you."
She lets the little creature climb down then moves up to just behind Mal and Sasha.
Oh no, is Sash paralyzed? Mal's pet isn't moving either!
Forcing back her panic, she chants clearly and points just left of Darvesch. As she finishes her arcane words, a blinding bolt of lightning streaks forth slamming into three of the ghouls!
Ref DC 16
no
, Shaka, Darvesch, Mal, Priyya, *Sasha*, Ghouls, Lureene
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 107)
Alis senses a wave of worry from Tut.
Damn, this is taking too long. Hang in there everyone...
As the stonework to her south begins to collapse, the princess races to the eastern corner, hopping deftly across a gap in the roof.
"HEY! OVER HERE BIG GIRL!"
Another three missiles streak from Alis' wand leaving no doubt that she is the source of the dinosaur's torment.
With an earth-shaking call, Shaka barrels forward and rams the corner of the lodge with her hard shell. The old stonework is unable to withstand the abuse and a 10-foot section gives way. Beneath Alis' feet, the ceiling starts to give way, but she skips backward just in time to avoid falling down into a jumble of timbers and debris.
Reflex DC 26 (10 + 1/2 HD + Str mod)
, *Sasha*, Ghouls, Lureene; Alis, Shaka
MAP: V-Giant Cannibal Village 2, (Round 107)
"Fvcking hell Sasha, YOU'RE NOT HELPING!"
With a deafening roar, he steps to the front slashing at both the ghouls before him, his mithril claws severely injuring both.
"DARKMANE!" He shouts, panting, "Put them down before the hag can heal them again!"
,*Sasha*, Ghouls, Lureene; Alis, Shaka
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 107b)
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Smelling the taint of undeath on the hag changes everything for Priyya. While she understands Mal's request, it plays into the hag's game and there is no guarantee that Priyya's power will overcome the ghouls. With her energy almost gone, she chooses to focus on the real threat and hopefully bring the battle to a quick end. "No. Finish the hag first!"
The warrior-priestess waits for the right moment. When the hag is exposed, she casts an ancient spell - summoning all of Alita's glory. Her scarred hand heats up and glows painfully bright. A ravening beam of raw light, like being in the heart of the sun, fires from her hand and hammers into the hag, lighting up the room briefly with its blinding glare. When the power wanes from Priyya's arm, she slaps her smoking hand against her thigh. "Son of b!tch, that was hot!" She surveys the damage to her enemy, hoping to find only a pile of smoking cinders.
With all his might, Darvesch swings at the holy symbol Nylithati is using to recharge the ghouls.
Alíta regards the scene in the ancient temple with a critical eye. "A fitting and worthy battle for a Surya-ka-Vahaak this! Yet where is your hand in all of this? Did we not agree that these two should walk side by side? Were you not the one who suggested as much, esteemed elder?"
Lyria looks up from the ambrosia she was enjoying and bids the lillends attending her to away for a moment. "You do realize that my servants are as vested in this conflict as yours, correct? I can see in her eyes and dreams how precious your servant's honor is to her. Would you begrude my servants the chance to avenge their honor?"
The sun goddess stiffs a bit at the implication, her attention to Priyya's attack wavering slightly. "No, of course not."