The missiles slam into the warlord, momentarily staggering him . His eyes blaze beneath his helmet, as his gaze wavers between Alton and Nicolai ... you can almost see the mental calculation I’ll have to cut down the small one to get to the mage ... Despite the beating he has been taking there is little to indicate that he is badly wounded.
Laithe is both heartened and concerned by the banter of his companions. His relief at hearing Kajetan talking in jest is immense, but while the warlord remained standing, they all remained in grave danger. He launched another vicious bite at the armoured skeleton in front of him, not wanting to leave it standing to flank Pharris.
As the warlord turns back and forth, Pharris waits for the creature to concentrate on Alton then she strikes for his neck. The greatsword comes down like a guillotine..
Laithe bites at the remaining skeleton, but he is unable to penetrate its armour.
As Tamiach turns his back on her, Pharris strikes with the Hawksprey. Her blade finds the gap between breastplate and helm, and bites deeply through the leathery flesh to his spine. The strike would have slain a living man instantly, but Tamiach snarls and wrenches his head away, and although it flops at an odd angle, and leaks dust like blood, and his movements seem somewhat awkward, jerky, he is still very much animate.
Feeling out of the undead warrior's league, Keildrithe continues to stand protectively near Kajetan. He considers pulling the scholar out of harm's way, but also worries that drawing the warrior's attention to the fallen wizard might only result in him taking action against him. So Keildrithe stands his ground with the magical javelin in hand and prays for the best, and starts to recite the verses to The Chosen Ones with renewed fervour, hoping that this will inspire his companions sufficiently to defeat their undead foes...
Tamiach seems to realise that Pharris is almost doing more damage to him than Alton and Nicolai combined. He turns suddenly and hacks savagely into the elf, his black sword tearing through her chainmail. Part of the damage that Pharris caused to Tamiach’s neck begins to knit itself back together.
The armoured skeleton slices clumsily at Laithe-wolf, but fails to get anywhere near hitting him.
Alton flinches as the hit conects with Pharris, a hit that probably would have been directed at him if she had not struck the warlord. Once more he considers that this may be the end of him, but resolves to do as much damage as he can before the warlord strikes him down.
Another strike - Alton is slowly wearing him down.
"NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" screams Keildrithe as Pharris falls under the impact of the warlord's blade. He hurls the javelin at the warlord, then rushes to the elf's side, regardless of risk. Tears stream down the bard's face...
Keildrithe’s javelin glances off the warlord’s breastplate, but the bard near vaults over the corner of the stone slab to get to Pharris.
The elf maiden spins out of hawksprey and for a brief moment her back is to the warlord. That's all the time he needs. His soul-hungry greatsword rips into one shoulder blade and scatters her to the ground.
AS Pharris stops moving, her grey face is turned to the rest, black poisoned veins standing out.
Kajetan lets out a groan of despair as Pharris keels over in slow motion, his mind clouded with his own pain races with all his options, but he comes up blank.
Kajetan mumbles prayers to all the gods he can remember as he desperately tries to touch some part of the warlords lower body praying for a miracle.
Touch Attack, -1 Strength, +1 Inspire Courage, +2 Base attack, -1 negative level, -4 attacking from floor.
He yells in joy as his hand brushes the warlord, hoping against hope that this time the spells magic will take effect.
Kajetan’s spell seems to have no effect on Tamiach, who largely ignores the prone mage for the moment.
Nicholai smirks in satisfaction as his mystic bolts slam into the ancient warlord. He returns the withered warrior's gaze evenly, and sticks out his tongue. He draws breath for another verbal barb, when the undead warchief turns to return the elf maid's attack, and drops Pharris with a single blow!
Nicholai hears someone screaming, "NOOooo!" It takes a moment to realize that it was almost everyone, including him! As Keildrithe leaps to aid the fallen warrior maid, Nicholai snarls in a most uncouth manner. His hands weave a glowing pattern almost of their own accord.
"That's no way to treat a lady!" Nicholai spits as he leans first to one side, then the other, looking for a clear shot.
"You've been down in the dark too long ancient one. Allow me to show you the LIGHT!" He cries as he shoves his closed hands towards the withered figure. He opens his hands, and a brilliant beam if fiery light bursts forth, seeking the armored figure like a moth to a flame,...
:P
Nicolai fires his scorching ray over Alton’s head, the fiery beam squarely hitting Tamiach in the chest. He screeches as the heat shrivels and burns his ancient skin, a flash of fire spreading across his body. When it clears, the warlords pale white skin is blackened, or in some cases burnt down to the bone. He staggers, looking for a moment like he will fall ... but he steadies himself and remains standing.
DM
There is a sudden breath from Pharris and then her eyes go wide open. She winks up at Keildrithe with a tight little smile, and then seeing the warlord above her.
"Just a ...flesh wound. Stings a bit."
Nicolai fires his scorching ray over Alton’s head, the fiery beam squarely hitting Tamiach in the chest. He screeches as the heat shrivels and burns his ancient skin, a flash of fire spreading across his body. When it clears, the warlords pale white skin is blackened, or in some cases burnt down to the bone. He staggers, looking for a moment like he will fall ... but he steadies himself and remains standing.
Laithe-wolf hear's Keildrithe's cry and though he has his back to the combat he knows that another of his companions has fallen. How many would fall to the Warlord while he wastes time fighting it's minions?
With a snarl he springs away from his current foe, trusting in the speed of his wolf form will keep him from the attack that would come as he turned, but beyond caring if it did not. He takes in the scene around him; Keildrithe kneeling beside a bloodied Pharris, Nicolai still down on the ground and Nicolai and Alton doing their best to over come the warlord. He springs forwad, leaping up onto the tomb to bring him up to the Warlords height and snapping viciously at the undead beast, hoping to crush the remaining unlife out of him.
Pharris:
Laithe-wolf turns away from the skeleton (who swings ineffectively at his back side as he races away) and leaps up onto the stone slab and from there onto the warlord, biting and snarling. Tamiach turns, trying to bring his sword up, but his reflexes have been dulled by the beating he has taken, and he appears to struggle to lift the great blade.
Laithe knocks the dragon-helm from his head, and his jaws close over the blackened, charred skull with its hate-filled red eyes. Laithe-wolf’s jaws close shut, crushing Tamiach’s skull – the light fades, the once great warlord’s body slumps to the floor, and long dead skin and flesh fall away as dust, leaving only a partly burned skeleton wearing blackened armour lying on the floor. A faintly seen black mist pours up from the bones, rises to the ceiling and is gone.
There is a clang as the skeleton that was fighting Laithe falls to the floor also, the animating force dispersed.
Pharris quickly gets up swaying as she looks about for any threats, "good work, Laithe Half-wolven."
"Yes!" Nicholai shouts as the warrior topples, followed by the other skeleton. He eyes the dark mist suspiciously, but dismisses it once it passes out of sight.
The dandy grins upon Pharris' rising to her feet, his relief obvious. Then shakes his head at Kajetan lying on the floor.
"Come on lazybones, his girlfriend is still out there! On second thought, take a rest, you deserve it!" He says to both Pharris and Kajetan. He grins at the skinny mage, equally impressed and appalled at Kajetan's courage for diving into combat.
"Keildrithe, make sure that Pharris and Kaj are alright before you let them go anywhere. Laithe, Alton, come on. We have to take care of that skinny witch while she is still under the effect of Kaj's spell!" Nicholai says excitedly, grabbing his crossbow from the floor.
"Kaj, how long does that spell last?" He asks, reloading his crossbow as quickly as he can.
:)
Kajetan staggers to his feet, clutching his chest with his one arm, the pale blue glow still encompassing his other. "A little over half a minute," he answers Nicolia, he tries to grin, but it quickly turns into a grimace. "Thank the gods for the false life, eh?"
"Come on, lets get the b$+~$," he growls and staggers after her.
Pharris quickly gets up swaying as she looks about for any threats, "good work, Laithe Half-wolven."
As the warlord crumbles to dust, Laithe wastes no time jumping down from the tomb on which he stands and reverting back to his human form.
Despite Nicolai's urgings, he pauses, reaching a hand out to steady Pharris as she sways.
"You fought bravely, and make Ehlonna proud" he says, maintaining his grip. Though he faces her, he raises his voice, including everyone in the statement. A light flares briefly from his hand as he calls on the healing powers granted him to ease some of her horrific wounds.
He looks towards Kajetan to offer similar healing, but seeing the scholar on his feet and redy to move he gives his full attention to Nicolai.
"Alright, let's finish this."
There is a sudden breath from Pharris and then her eyes go wide open. She winks up at Keildrithe with a tight little smile, and then seeing the warlord above her."Just a ...flesh wound. Stings a bit."
"The old gods be praised!" murmurs Keildrithe as his tear-streaked face breaks into a beaming smile. As the elf maiden rises shakily, he whispers the words healing again while placing his hands on her wounds. "Steady there, girl, you've been through a lot... to the edge of the grave, if I may say so... Yes, the blade came too close to death, for my taste... Gods you scared me..."
"Keildrithe, make sure that Pharris and Kaj are alright before you let them go anywhere. Laithe, Alton, come on. We have to take care of that skinny witch while she is still under the effect of Kaj's spell!" Nicholai says excitedly, grabbing his crossbow from the floor.
"I'm afraid that I am not much of a healer. I have given Pharris what little I had left. Kajetan, how do you fare? What you did was incredibly brave... I have never seen a wizard rush to the frontline like you did... I shall have to compose an ode in your honour! And Laithe, my brother, thanks for turning to aid Nicolai and Alton with the undying warlord when you did... not a moment too soon!"
Pharris looks down at the wound which was spurting life blood and smiles as the healing magic knits the worst of the damage together.
"Well had I done better, he wouldn't have hurt me so. That magic to a real blessing." She shakes her head at the words coming out of her mouth.
DM
Revived and no longer swaying, Pharris pulls up the greatsword and heads after Nicolai.
Alton shakes his head, a smile creeping onto his face.
'Can't we have a rest? Its always work work work with you lot isn't it? And Pharris, Kajetan, please promise not to scare me like that for a while eh?'
Alton moves after the others, eager to finish off the consort.
"I'm afraid that I am not much of a healer. I have given Pharris what little I had left. Kajetan, how do you fare? What you did was incredibly brave... I have never seen a wizard rush to the frontline like you did... I shall have to compose an ode in your honour!
Kajetan looks over his shoulder as he staggers into the gloom, "I call it foolishness, I would be dead if it was not for my magic," he still clutches his free hand to his chest, "ironic isn't it, that the very energy that kept me from dying, is the same energy that keeps these monstrosities between life and death?" He grins in the half light, "if you do compose an Ode in my honour, can I be a little taller and a lot more handsome?"
Seeing the others apparently ready to proceed, Laithe changes back into wolf form and pads ligthly to the front of the group. He leads them back in the direction they had come, looking for signs of the remaining consort.
Pharris looks down at the wound which was spurting life blood and smiles as the healing magic knits the worst of the damage together.
"Well had I done better, he wouldn't have hurt me so. That magic to a real blessing." She shakes her head at the words coming out of her mouth.
"Cympharrisong, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You took enough blows to fell a hill giant, yet you still stand... and without your sword blows, the fight might still be going on with more disastrous consequences."
Kajetan looks over his shoulder as he staggers into the gloom, "I call it foolishness, I would be dead if it was not for my magic," he still clutches his free hand to his chest, "ironic isn't it, that the very energy that kept me from dying, is the same energy that keeps these monstrosities between life and death?" He grins in the half light, "if you do compose an Ode in my honour, can I be a little taller and a lot more handsome?"
"I much prefer to write of the common folk, whom none would ever suspect of being capable of heroic deeds... particularly when they are short and unassuming. But we'll see what I can do."
Keildrithe looks around the room. "So that's it? Tamiach spent his undying years sitting in his throne with nothing of particular value to protect? Seems unlikely... In the stories of old, the undying of some reputation always had marvellous treasures..."
The bard then murmurs a few words of power and looks around the room...
NIcholai glances back over his shoulder at the bard. His own eyes glint merrily at the mention of treasure.
"I suspect you are right Keildrithe. It would seem most unusual for such a, historic, figure to be buried without something valuable to keep him company. But we should come back and search later. I don't want that witch sneaking up on me again! Those claws were too close the first time!" He declares fervently.
Nicholai shudders at the memory of the outstretched claws, then smirks and raises his crossbow. "We kill the witch, and I'll personally help you to tear that stone throne apart with my bare hands! If you think it will yield us something valuable for our efforts!" The dandy waggles an eyebrow at the bard, then falls into line behind Laithe.
Almost as an afterthought, he smacks Kajetan on the side of the head.
"And YOU,... Don't scare me like that again!" He commands the slender bookworm in a fierce voice.
"It's one thing for Pharris to go charging off into the thick of battle, she's a warrior bred and born! She's probably been fighting longer than you and I have been weaving magics added together! AND she's wearing ARMOR!" HE cries, apparently furious. The dandy stares at the mage for a long moment, but cannot help a smirk that begins to crack his supposedly angry demeanor. He shakes his head in a combined gesture of frustration and admiration.
"Most stupidestArton-blessedBravestThingI'veEverSeen,..." He mutter, still smiling.
"Your going to give me a complex you know?" He asks casually. "How am I supposed to impress the ladies with tales of my heroics if you keep doing things like that?" He asks with a raised eyebrow and a (barely) stifled grin.
Kajetan manages a smile through his pain clenched and grim set jaw, "Oh trust me, I never intend to be that close to an ancient undead warlord again," he turns to the dandy, "but if it means I get more ladies, I might have to try it a bit more often, eh?"
Nicholai fishes in his pack, and brings out one of the clay jars that they discovered earlier. He holds it out to Kajetan and wiggles it slightly.
"It probably tastes like vinegar. If your lucky!" He smirks. "But if it's labeled correctly, it should at least help with some of your wounds."
"Oh trust me, I never intend to be that close to an ancient undead warlord again," he turns to the dandy, "but if it means I get more ladies, I might have to try it a bit more often, eh?"
Nicholai sniffs. "The least you could do is let others take a turn! Occasionally." He smirks.
Nicholai fishes in his pack, and brings out one of the clay jars that they discovered earlier. He holds it out to Kajetan and wiggles it slightly.
"It probably tastes like vinegar. If your lucky!" He smirks. "But if it's labeled correctly, it should at least help with some of your wounds."
Noticing the extent of Kajetan's wounds, Laithe immediately transforms back into human form and moves over to him in concern.
"Your eagerness to push does you credit, but from my experience, the ladies of which you speak may not be too keen while they can see your internal organs almost spilling out!"
He turns to Nicolai and suggests "It may be prudent to save the potion for a later time, considering I have a little healing magic left?"
He then gently lays his hands on the worst of Kajetan's wounds, calling on the powers of Ehlonna to accelerate the natural healing process.
Once the light of the spell fades and he is satisfied that the wound has started to knit back together, Laithe returns to wolf form and sets off after the consort.
Kajetan starts to feeble protest that he is okay, but gives up quickly as Laithe touches him, the warm flow spreads through his body and itches madly as the wounds nit together. Once the process is finished, all is left is a hole in his robes and some dried blood.
"Thank you Laithe, thank you so much." he touches Laithe shoulder as he speaks with his free hand, then drops it a little embarrassed.
"Shall we press on, I fear she many recover from her fear at any point?"
The group, with Laithe in the lead, head back along the northern passage. There is no sign of the witch in the room with the treasure at the end of that tunnel, so it is back east to the circular chamber. Here, the eerie mist that filled this area has dissipated, and the light of Nicolai’s spell shows that the bas-relief of the warrior on the wall bears a jagged crack along its length. There is an unexplored tunnel to the south, or the tunnel to the way back upwards lies to the east.
Keildrithe:
The group, with Laithe in the lead, head back along the northern passage. There is no sign of the witch in the room with the treasure at the end of that tunnel, so it is back east to the circular chamber. Here, the eerie mist that filled this area has dissipated, and the light of Nicolai’s spell shows that the bas-relief of the warrior on the wall bears a jagged crack along its length. There is an unexplored tunnel to the south, or the tunnel to the way back upwards lies to the east.
Recalling the cold he had felt emanating from the bas-relief earlier, Laithe moves over to take a closer look at it now it has a crack running through it.
You can’t see anything unusual about it beyond the fact that it has now cracked. You no longer feel the same chill when you approach the area.
You can’t see anything unusual about it beyond the fact that it has now cracked. You no longer feel the same chill when you approach the area.
Finding nothing of note at the bas-relief, Laithe-wolf peers down each corridor (south and east) and listens to see if he can determine which way the consort fled. Assuming he finds nothing, he begins down the South tunnel.
"That odd, isn't it?" Asks Nicholai, eying the new crack in the bas-relief skeptically.
"You don't suppose, she wasn't IN there the whole time,... was she? And she came out at the warlord's call?" He shudders, and it isn't for dramatic emphasis this time. He was VERY close to that bas-relief earlier when they were first examining it,...
"Right. Better question. Where is she NOW?!?" He asks crisply, turning to the druid for direction.
"Is it just me, or did anyone else feel like those shades stole part of your soul. I feel cold and dark inside as if there is a shadow on my heart. And tired."
Pharris kind of trails behind the more enthusiastic members of the group. She cannot see the black veins standing out across her neck and face.
"Is it just me, or did anyone else feel like those shades stole part of your soul. I feel cold and dark inside as if there is a shadow on my heart. And tired."
Pharris kind of trails behind the more enthusiastic members of the group. She cannot see the black veins standing out across her neck and face.
Kajetan shudders as Nicolia does, "That is what they do Pharris, they drain away your soul, filling it with evil, when their is nothing left of your soul you die and become one of them." He shakes his head sadly, "if your are fit and healthy you can some times shake off the effects, but otherwise you carry their taint forever."
Nicholai frowns, not petulantly as he might normally do, but in anger.
"I suppose it's too much to hope that merely destroying the creatures will restore what they have stolen. But at least we will ensure that no others feel their touch!" He declares firmly.
"The warlord's greatsword is enchanted," says Keildrithe, "though I am hesitant to pick it up, lest it should steal my soul. Is anyone able to determine whether the blade itself is malevolent?"