"Beware the lady, as well as the warrior!" He hisses as the elf and the gnome charge up the hall past him.
"I'm sorry sir! I don't speak ancient gibberish. Perhaps you know of a more recent tongue we can converse in?" He asks as he tries to get a clear shot past his friends.
"Didn't think so, just a thought, really." He mutters.
"You're going to tire of my peoples' battle hymns soon," mutters Keildrithe to Laithe and Pharris before reciting yet again the words to The Chosen Ones. He stands fast beside the amazon, ready to defend her flank. He is not sure who he should keep his eyes on -- the warlord or his consort... The words the bard recites steady his faltering courage...
Nicholai Shrugs. "I tried to be friendly. Have it your way then."
And the Dandy turns to face the bony lady, and fires his crossbow,...
Nicholai raises his free hand, holding aloft his glowing coin. He shouts to the specters, unconsciously falling into the rhythm of Keildrithe's now-familiar battle hymn.
"Know this death-spawn! I am Nicholai Auf derMaur! Servant of light! I shall burn your bones with light, and scorch your essence with holy fire until I have torched the stain of your evil from the very earth itself!" He declares vehemently. For a moment you swear you can almost hear an echoing cry, like the hunting call of an eagle, from above,...
Laithe is heartened at Pharris' cry from up the corridor, and then further still as he hears Keildrithe's clear voice fill the room with his battle hymn. The music of his ancestors fills him with courage and he eyes off both opponents, wondering which he should target. His eyes tell him the Warlord should be his target, the one in position of power. Yet he was not sure to trust his eyes, given the amount of deceptions they had already encountered in the tomb. Perhaps the warlord was a diversion, and the consort was the real threat?
Deciding, Laithe leaps down behind the stone slab before him, and when he reappears he has transformed into the grey wolf, and charges in at the consort.
As Keildrithe’s strong voice rings out, reciting the old Karandic ode, behind him Nicolai raises and sights along the stock of his crossbow, then lets fly with the bolt. The arrow whizzes by Keildrithe’s ear and narrowly misses Laithe before embedding itself deeply into the chest of the undead woman, raising a cloud of greyish dust. She staggers back a pace and howls, and her eyes blaze, but otherwise, this shot that might kill or seriously injure a normal human seems to cause her only relatively minor discomfort.
"#*&%$!" Kajetan swears as the room is plunged into darkness only the pale blue illumination from his glowing hand allowing him to see his footing. He blunders after them, slowed down by the weight of his equipment. "Come on Alton," his voice cracks at the plea for the Halfling to follow him.
First round, single (20') move to J8.
Round 2, double move (40') to G15.
"Wish me luck," Kajetan mumbles to Nicolia as he blunders past the dandy, the blue glow flaring slightly as he sights the undead monstrosities.
*Knowledge (Religion) : +7 (+4 Int, 3 ranks) for warlord.
*Knowledge (Religion) : +7 (+4 Int, 3 ranks) for consort.
[ooc[Although they sound like the same creatures, so that might only be the first roll. An excellent description of them by the way, they sound like incredibly scary Wights, I so wish I had gone for two spectral hands.[/ooc]
"#*&%$!" Kajetan swears as the room is plunged into darkness only the pale blue illumination from his glowing hand allowing him to see his footing. He blunders after them, slowed down by the weight of his equipment. "Come on Alton," his voice cracks at the plea for the Halfling to follow him.
First round, single (20') move to J8.
Round 2, double move (40') to G15.
"Wish me luck," Kajetan mumbles to Nicolia as he blunders past the dandy, the blue glow flaring slightly as he sights the undead monstrosities.
*Knowledge (Religion) : +7 (+4 Int, 3 ranks) for warlord.
*Knowledge (Religion) : +7 (+4 Int, 3 ranks) for consort.
EDIT: Found it;
1d10 + 4 = 8 temporary Hit Points.
Alton quickly moves to follow the light down the passage way after his companions. He runs on his short legs to catch up to the group, before turning to face back down the corridor, watching for what may be approaching the rear of the group.
Kajetan and Alton both hurry forward into the passage, the halfling reaching the rear of the group then turning to face whatever might be closing in behind them, Kajetan squeezing past the others, his hand glowing from his spell. .
Laithe shifts into the familiar form of the grey coated wolf, and leaps to attack the undead woman, his teeth sinking deeply into her arm. As his mouth fills with the taste of age and dust, he shakes his head, near ripping the arm off before she manages to pull away.
Kajetan stares at the scene, trying to work out what manner of creatures he faces exactly, but his mind is clouded by the horror of the situation.
Reckless and daring, Pharris shouts, "do you want to live forever?" then charges the warlord.
As she moves Pharris puts the sword into a quick one-two kata aimed for the undead head but finishing somewhere between its legs. She puts everything into the blow, hoping to catch the warrior off-guard.
Pharris charges in, sword swinging, going for the legs – but her blow clangs off the tarnished but still functional greave of her foe’s armour.
The warlord groans something in his strange language, and swings his blade in return at the elven swordswoman, but even off-balance from her charge, she manages to dodge aside from the heavy blow.
So focused is the wolf-druid on his attack, that he does not notice the dead woman’s other arm swinging around to whack him with surprising force in the side of the head – not even his heightened dexterity allows him to dodge aside. However, it is not so much the force of the blow that shocks, but the soul chilling numbness that spreads through his body from the point of impact. As Kajetan and the others watch in horror, they see some of the tearing caused by Laithe’s bite begin to knit back together, the dead flesh repairing itself in a gross parody of life.
....
"Laithe!" Nicholai cries as he sees the wolf get hit. His eyes widen in fear, or fury, as he sees Laithe seem to wither a little from the blow even as the ragged form of the woman repairs itself.
"Undead leech! Suck on this you vile hag!" Nicholai cries with uncharacteristic vehemence as he shoves his hand forward. Two glowing motes of light appear and streak forward, dodging between the dandy's friends, to strike the withered form. His look of smug satisfaction is replaced by one of confusion as Kajetan darts past him into the room.
"Kaj! what are you,...?!?! Alton! Don't worry about what's coming! It's probably just another magical distraction! We need you in here!"
Nope, it was two of the front line people, Pharris and A N Other I think, possibly being Laith, but I am buggered if I remember correctly, as the battle against the shadows ended so quick I don't think it was actually decided.
Seeing the long dead woman strike his Karandic brother, Keildrithe feels a stone settle in his gut, but becomes inspired by Kajetan's own willingness to brave the front lines. The bard's resounding ode fades momentarily as he yells a battle cry at the top of his lungs and charges into the fray with javelin held high, trying to pierce the horror through the chest.
So focused is the wolf-druid on his attack, that he does not notice the dead woman’s other arm swinging around to whack him with surprising force in the side of the head – not even his heightened dexterity allows him to dodge aside. However, it is not so much the force of the blow that shocks, but the soul chilling numbness that spreads through his body from the point of impact. As Kajetan and the others watch in horror, they see some of the tearing caused by Laithe’s bite begin to knit back together, the dead flesh repairing itself in a gross parody of life.
Laithe-wolf reels under the Consort's blow, his mind feeling the numbness that creeps through his body. His already grey coat appears to take on a lighter shade of grey, slightly closer to white. He shakes his head, trying to clear away the fog. Dimly he registers the arrival of his companions and that lends him some resolve against the doubt that has crept in with the cold.
Nope, it was two of the front line people, Pharris and A N Other I think, possibly being Laith, but I am buggered if I remember correctly, as the battle against the shadows ended so quick I don't think it was actually decided.
Nicolai’s missiles streak past his companions to strike the wytch-woman, knocking her back from Laithe but not taking her down.
Keildrithe charges forward with a cry, seeking to plunge the javelin into the dead woman’s non-beating heart, but his weapon, designed to be thrown, not wielded in melee, is awkward in his hands, and the sharp point skids off the wight’s leathery skin.
Heading Nicolais words, Alton pushes past the dandy, running towards the warlord facing Pharris. He calls over his shoulder 'Dont linger in the passage Nicolai, incase your wrong about it being another illusion!'
Keildrithe charges forward with a cry, seeking to plunge the javelin into the dead woman’s non-beating heart, but his weapon, designed to be thrown, not wielded in melee, is awkward in his hands, and the sharp point skids off the wight’s leathery skin.
Though Keildrithe's blow fails to damage the Consort, his arrival beside Laithe has an positive effect on the Karand. The words of the bard's ballad continue to echo through his mind, all the more so now that he stands side by side with his countryman. With new resolve he shrugs off the unnatural cold creeping through his body and launches a counter-attack at the withered princess.
Laithe’s teeth tear into the ancient princess, ripping her apart. A sigh escapes from her withered lips, followed by a barely seen black shadow that rises up to and through the ceiling of the chamber, as her remains slump to the floor.
Pharris moves well now that she is combat and starts to enter the battle dance again. She tries to be a Blade of Death weaving the greatsword back and forth, looking for a weak defense before striking. All is a ruse though, Pharris simply sets up her defence and sidesteps to allow others to flank the warrior.
Kajetan is emboldened by the fall of the female undead and the power of the bards music and closes on the warlord attempting to touch some part of him with his glowing blue hand while avoiding the reach of his weapon.
Touch attack +2 (+2 Base Attack, -1 Strength, +1 Inspire Courage)
As Pharris steps back into a clearly defensive stance, Kajetan uses the distraction to dart forward and place his glowing hand on the ancient warrior’s arm – to little effect.
Rather than drop his sword and run, the warrior turns his head to face the mage and intones, “Azou farash teken m’gebrakan?” then lashes out suddenly with his great blade, savagely hacking Kajetan down. The mage falls in a spray of blood, as both the severe physical wound and the life force that is drawn from him through the very blade bring him low.
Nicholai just, stares, unbelieving,...
Rather than drop his sword and run, the warrior turns his head to face the mage and intones, “Azou farash teken m’gebrakan?” then lashes out suddenly with his great blade, savagely hacking Kajetan down. The mage falls in a spray of blood, as both the severe physical wound and the life force that is drawn from him through the very blade bring him low.
As the consort crumbles to dust, Laithe turns to see how his companions are faring against the Warlord only to witness Kajetan's fall. Any elation he had been feeling at dropping the consort disappears at the sight. The cold from his wound at the princesses hand's returns full-force, as if she were still there, clutching his heart in her icy grip.
Laithe (and quite probably Keildrithe) hear something clanking towards them from the corridor to the south. Nicolai hears a whisper of movement in the passageway behind him.
"no. no,..." Nicholai mutters, willing the vision of Kajetan being struck to be just another false image. He turns to look over his shoulder at the slight sound behind him, more to avoid facing the disturbing image of the bloody mage than any real interest in what might be in the hallway,...
Another withered dead woman wearing a faded and rotting once white gown, and a heavy iron key on a thong around her neck, ghosts down the passage towards Nicolai, clawed hands outstretched and a look of hate on her ghastly face, almost reaching him before the wizard notices her.
Moving up the passage from the south come two armour clad figures, wearing rusted scale and less ornate versions of the helm worn by the warlord. A dim red light glows from the empty eyesockets of their skulls. Their bony hands clutch rusty longswords and stained shields. They march towards Keildrithe and Laithe.
Laithe-wolf turns away from his fallen comrade at the sound behind them and his heart sinks further as the new combatants enter the room. He looks up to Keildrithe and then back at Kajetan, wanting to go to the fallen scholar but not wanting to leave the bard to face these new foes alone.
Keildrithe also feels a morale boost as the consort crumbles to dust, which turns to despair as soon as he looks over his shoulder to see Kajetan fall and other undead arrive. "Cover me," he says to Laithe. "I too have some words of healing... I hope I can reach Kajetan before it's too late."
Pharris' mouth drops open as Kajetan falls, "not him of them all! Not him! You fiend!"
She turns the defense into attack and tries to take the warlord's attention.
"I am death," she mumbles at the armored clad warrior, Pharris starts to see her life flash before her. And her death.
Alton gasps in shock and disbelief as his friend falls to the ground. His whole body begins to shake, out of fear or anger, even he cant say. He takes in the new arrivals to the room in an almost detached matter as he stalks around the throne to the rear of the warlord, and quietly promises to himself that if this is to be the end, he will at least send this creature to a more permanent death.
Kajetan touches the undead fiend seeing the glow transfer from him, he almost gets a triumphant "yes!" out of his mouth, before the fiend brings the sword sweeping across his chest sending blood spouting from the wound and cracking ribs. The intense pain rips through his body and a cold blackness spreads out from the wound driven by the supernatural evil of the undead blow. Shivering from the pain, chill and shock Kajetan keels over, swooning. His head clonks painfully of the caverns floor and stars pass over his eyes. "so this is what it is like to die?" he thinks as he lays there staring, unseeing at the long dead warriors feet. The sound of combat replaced by the rush of blood in his ears.