"No! Keildrithe! Don't listen to it! The knockers are not our enemy! It's affecting your mind! Fight it!" Nicholai shouts. Wide-eyed the dapper caster looks decidedly frazzled as his head swivels back and forth from Chain-covered doll to flying, glowing imps to enraged Keildrithe. Faint energy glows at his fingertips. Raw magic answering his call, unsure of where to go.
Laithe becomes increasingly concerned as the chain-demon's onslaught begins to take affect. With the table effectively blocking his access to the creature, he decides to use it to his advantage. His sword abruptly blinks out as he wills himself into wolf form. Lower to the ground he moves under the table towards the creature.
He charges in at the chair upon which the devil sits, hoping to knock it and the devil to the floor.
Shocked by the sight of her mother Pharris starts to speak, "[i]mathre-,
DM
then she stops and wags her head, "not mother, she gave me time to fight the likes of you."
One imp flies away and the other dodges her sword, stabbing its poisonous tail into the amazon's neck. Pharris feels colder but does not succumb to the venom .
Glancing between the doll-sized figure and Keildrithe, Nicholai is galvanized into action by Laithe's sudden shifting and charge. He grimaces and snarls a word that most people don't use in polite company. Then raises his right hand and rubs his fingertips together while tracing a small circle in the air. the magic leaving tiny sparkles of light in it's wake. He reaches out slowly and touches the bard's shoulder with two fingertips. There is a brief shimmering around Keildrithe as the magic takes effect.
Nicholai speaks softly, but urgently to the bard. "Keildrithe, it's trying to turn us against each other. It knows the knockers can defeat it!" NIcholai slowly moves his fingers down Keildrithe's arm to his elbow, and gently pushes on it, trying to get him to move his sword away from the knocker's throat.
"Sing with them, help them!" He implores fervently. He glances at Chupo, and nods slowly.
"Say the words Chupo, Be the leader your people need!"
He looks back at the bard,...
Laithe-wolf charges under the table, barging into the chair holding the tiny devil. As he does, one of the thin silver chains around the creature’s wrist snakes out towards him, growing tiny barbs and spikes as it goes, lashing weakly at his muzzle .
This does not stop the wolf’s charge. The chair and its occupant go flying backwards, the devil landing in a heap of cushions, coins, paper and knick knacks that was beside the chair
One imp flies away and the other dodges her sword, stabbing its poisonous tail into the amazon's neck. Pharris feels colder but does not succumb to the venom .
Keildrithe, you feel the thought that the kobolds are about to betray you fade.
A look of bewildered anger crosses Chupo’s reptilian face as Keildrithe turns his blade on him.
“Idiot human!” shrieks Raspit, sounding scared. “Itsss the devil tricking you!” He looks across at Chupo and begins hissing something at him rapidly in their own tongue.
Meanwhile, Nicolai’s spell ends any thoughts Keildrithe had of attacking the knockers, but Raspit and Chupo both continue to look angry and scared. Behind the bard, Lumbie looks slowly around at his ‘friends’, holding the box with shaking hands and looks like he’s about to cry (if these creatures can in fact cry).
Pharris slashes at the imp, silver sword glitters hard.
Pharris’ silver blade barely nicks the imp, causing a small scratch, though by the howls and cries that the imp emits anyone would think it a far more serious wound.
However, as the group watches, the imps wounds – from Pharris sword, Laithe’s flaming blade, Keildrithe’s holy water – are beginning to slowly but surely close up, heal.
Kajetan is initially buoyed by the success of his spell, but that turns to dismay when he sees the face of his first ever "murder" on the chain devil, "Liar!" he screams at the devil.
"Urrghh!" he yelps in pain and panic as the chain rips into him, he blesses the wisdom of drinking the potion of healing earlier.
"Use the box, Use the box!" he howls in terror and tries to get close to defend the knockers.
I'll ready my last offensive spell, colour spray, if anyone attempts to harm the knockers.
Alton pushes through the throng to attack the nearest devil – the one attacking Pharris – with his new silver dagger. He hits, but the damage appears minor.
The chain devil fights its way to its feet , screaming something in a foul sounding tongue, whilst the chains hanging from the ceiling writhe and strike at various combatants; two strike at Laithe, though only one connects ; another lashes down at Keildrithe, but seems to skid aside on some unseen barrier just before hitting him; the last cuts into Nicolai
The two blinded devils now flap feebly around near the wall . “The box?!” one of them screeches, before jabbering something further in a strange language. The flapping of the pair becomes more agitated and frantic.
The last imp keeps stabbing frantically at Pharris’ neck with its tail stinger.
She is too busy to worry about the box, and unleashes on the imp before her a high-low combination aimed at putting him off balance even if the sword doesn't strike home. That tail is deadly!
Nicholai shouts in pain as the chain tears his side. Gritting his teeth, he hisses as he tries to avoid more, and sees the chain flailing at Keildrithe turn aside at the last moment,...
"Keildrithe!" he whispers through the message spell, "The protection spell prevents the devil's attacks from affecting you! Protect the knockers, Get Lumbie singing! We need that box! It's our only hope!"
Nicholai looks around the room, then at Kajetan as the mage screams and backs towards the knockers.
"The other net! We have to get the imps before your spell wears off!" As Kajetan looks at Nicholai, he sees, something, pass through the dandy's eyes. Was it a flash of fear, or resignation?
"We've got to hold them long enough for the knockers to work the box." He murmurs. Then grimly nods to Kajetan. "We've got one chance. We need a target."
Turning back to the battle, Nicholai calmly, and loudly, casts his protection spell again. Deliberately rubbing his fingertips together in a circle, leaving sparkles of light in their wake.
The two blinded devils now flap feebly around near the wall in A2. “The box?!” one of them screeches, before jabbering something further in a strange language. The flapping of the pair becomes more agitated and frantic.
Touching himself on the chest, Nicholai glimmers with a sheen of light as the spell takes effect.
"That's right! The box!" He cries, raising his crossbow. "I am Nicholai Auf der Maur! And I bring your doom! My family has been sending your kind back to the pits that spawned you for 7 generations! I stand before you as proof that no matter what evil you bring, we will always be here to send you back where you belong!"Nicholai stands straight. Glimmering in the faint light of his protection spell, crossbow cradled in one arm, ignoring the blood from the wound in his side, and straightens his ascot.
"Cringe and beg for mercy you cowardly spawn! For your end is nigh!" He Declares.
;)
:D
Laithe snaps at the chained devil as he stands up, not sure if his jaws will have mush affect, but willing to give it a go. However, just as he lunges in, another chain slashes at his back, connecting painfully and throwing his attack a little off course.
"The other net! We have to get the imps before your spell wears off!" As Kajetan looks at Nicholai, he sees, something, pass through the dandy's eyes. Was it a flash of fear, or resignation?
Now when I said that this is the last round that glitterdust was active, that wasn’t quite accurate; actually it lasts till Kajetan’s init on round 4; what I should have said was that this is the last round that it will continue to effect the devils in any meaningful way as far as the party is concerned. It will end just ahead of their action in round 4.
So the spell was cast during the good guy’s turn in Round 1. The bad guys act after you lot, so it affected them in round 1, round 2, will continue to affect them in round 3, but will not in round 4. Duration: 3 rounds.
It's worth keeping me on my toes about these things though, as sometime I lose track when things were cast and such.
She is too busy to worry about the box, and unleashes on the imp before her a high-low combination aimed at putting him off balance even if the sword doesn't strike home. That tail is deadly!
The warrior woman just does not seem to be able to score a solid blow against the small and agile devil.
Protect the knockers, Get Lumbie singing! We need that box! It's our only hope!
Cast last 1st lvl spell for Prot/Evil on self. He did not move, and it's not (strictly) allowed, but if he could squeeze in drinking that heal potion, he would very much like to do that please! He is down to 7HP! Those chains HURT! ;)
Laithe snaps at the chained devil as he stands up, not sure if his jaws will have mush affect, but willing to give it a go. However, just as he lunges in, another chain slashes at his back, connecting painfully and throwing his attack a little off course.
"The other net! We have to get the imps before your spell wears off!" As Kajetan looks at Nicholai, he sees, something, pass through the dandy's eyes. Was it a flash of fear, or resignation?
You could probably get the net, but, to be properly effective, a net needs to be specially folded before it is thrown; it needs to be re-folded after every throw, (or else you take a further –4 on attack rolls with it, on top of non-proficiency penalty) and it takes 4 rounds for a non-proficient user to fold properly.
You can target any devils that share a square, eg the two in A2, but not those and the one in A1.
You could probably get the net, but, to be properly effective, a net needs to be specially folded before it is thrown; it needs to be re-folded after every throw, (or else you take a further –4 on attack rolls with it, on top of non-proficiency penalty) and it takes 4 rounds for a non-proficient user to fold properly.
You can target any devils that share a square, eg the two in A2, but not those and the one in A1. [/ooc]
Laithe-wolf wills himself into human form once more, his flaming blade immediately springing back into life. He glances briefly across at Pharris' hurled net lying next to him on the table. His heart sinks as he sees the tangled mess it's in, knowing it would be futile to try and reuse it against the devils.
Instead, he swings his blade in at the blinded devil he hit earlier, hoping to take it out of the fight before it can regain it's sight. He trusts in the others to get Lumbie singing and the box working.
As Laithe strikes furiously at the chained devil, he shouts over his shoulder "A little help here! Alton!?" He can feel the drain from his mounting wounds starting to take their toll.
Kajetan looks around in wide eyed terror, his robe shredded and blood caked (by my calculations I am on 4HP), casting Comprehend Languages he grabs hold of Lumby and shouts at the other knockers "Tell him to use the box, NOW!!!!" the last cry of now is high pitched and hysterical.
Laithe’s flaming blade chops into the imp again; another accurate cut, but again the flame does not appear to do as much damage to the creature as it should, merely singeing the thing. Still, it appears to be in a bad way.
Kajetan casts his spell and grabs Lumbie’s arm. The over-sized knocker is shaking, whispering something to himself barely heard over the din of battle, even if one did understand the language.
Kajetan:
Kajetan casts his spell and grabs Lumbie’s arm. The over-sized knocker is shaking, whispering something to himself barely heard over the din of battle, even if one did understand the language.
Keildrithe blinks a few times as Nicolai frees him from the devil's spell. With the latter's aid, Keildrithe slowly lowers his sword away from Chupo's throat. "How long have I...," he murmurs as he touches his hand to the gaping wound on his neck and side of his face. He quickly regains his senses, and seeing the fear in Lumbie's eyes, begins to encourage him in a firm yet soothing voice to start singing the chant that will activate the devil box, while also trying to bolster the morale of his allies. "Come, Lumbie, you can do it... I will do it with you... there is strength within you... you are the chosen one... remember the words, I will say them with you... My friends, stand fast, Lumbie will help us prevail... Ehlonna is with us... Fear no evil... Lumbie will succeed with our aid..." The bard looks Lumbie in the eyes, then looks over his shoulder, ready to defend the knocker from the devils.
In terms of speaking, you can do both; say the words in the post above and then recite the rhyme with Lumbie. But in game terms you can only take one standard action in a round, so need to choose between Inspire Courage or Aid Another ... I take it you'll go with the latter?
As Keildrithe talks, Lumbie looks up, his sad lizard eyes looking into Keildrithe’s. The bard gets the sense that this is maybe the first time that the knocker – sold by his clan, raised as a freak – has ever had someone tell him that he could succeed at something.
Sensing that Lumbie is ready, Keildrithe begins reciting the unfamiliar draconic words, his bardic skills helping him even though he does not actually speak or understand the language.
Lumbie holds up the box and begins reciting the rhyme along with Keildrithe, quietly at first, but growing louder and more confident.
The lock on the box rattles, and there is a whistling sound from some indeterminate source, quiet at first but soon growing louder, like a great wind rushing through a forest, though no one feels any air movement.
The two imps nearest Lumbie (the ones that Laithe is fighting) scream, flapping their wings frantically as they are drawn through the air towards the box. The lock clicks open, the lid lifts to reveal a dark interior, and the imps are drawn inside, howling and screeching. The lid snaps shut, and the lock engages.
The chain devil seemed to take an involuntary step towards the box too, but, perhaps being stronger willed than the imps, seems to resist being drawn in … for now at least. Its chains rattle and it lets out a fearful sounding howl.
The imp fighting Pharris seems likewise unaffected, but its flapping becomes more frantic as its fellows are swallowed up.
Alton, seeing that the imps over the other side of the room are gone, continues attacking the one troubling Pharris, but he fails to reach the high flying devil with his small dagger.
Raspit, emboldened by Lumbie’s success, steps forward and stabs at the tiny chain devil with his rapier, but does not appear to do any damage to the creature. Chupo, seemingly unsure as to what exactly is going on, keeps looking suspiciously at Keildrithe, seeming ready to strike out at anything – devil or human – that should attack him.
Fear of the Devil Box seems to outweigh the remaining imp’s hatred, despite the fact that the wounds it has incurred so far seem to have all but healed – it seeks to flee. Flapping away from Pharris, it dives towards the floor and disappears into one of several rat holes scattered about the edges of the room.
The chain devil seems to want to get away too … but not before taking a last swipe at its opponents. It appears unable to see Lumbie and the box from its low vantage point, and with several opponents in the way, or perhaps it is distracted by Nicolai’s challenge, but two of the ceiling chains whip towards Keildrithe and Nicolai; despite the protective spells, both men are hit
The other two chains strike out at Raspit, who stands in the devils way. The little kobold goes down in a lacerated, bloody heap, and the devil runs across him, into another rat hole behind the kobold.
Pharris backswings the sword as the imp attempts to escape.
AoO, should be Attack roll=25, Damage=8pts (no bardic bonus I realised just after I had rolled)
The glittering blade goes in.
The chain devil seems to want to get away too … but not before taking a last swipe at its opponents. It appears unable to see Lumbie and the box from its low vantage point, and with several opponents in the way, or perhaps it is distracted by Nicolai’s challenge, but two of the ceiling chains whip towards Keildrithe and Nicolai; despite the protective spells, both men are hitThe other two chains strike out at Raspit, who stands in the devils way. The little kobold goes down in a lacerated, bloody heap, and the devil runs across him, into another rat hole behind the kobold.
"NOOOO!" screams Keildrithe, feeling another chain lash across his back while seeing both Raspit and Nicolai drop and the devils on the verge of making their escape. Despite his grievous wounds, the Karand attempts to pounce on the chain devil as he races by, but fails to find purchase and nearly collapses from the pain. "Lumbie! Come forward with the box, and keep chanting! Keep chanting the words with me! You did it once -- you can do it again! Kajetan, he might need your help! This might be our last chance!" Keildrithe fumbles for the healing elixir that hangs at his waist, and begins to recite the Draconic chant anew...
Kajetan starts away from Lumby to aid his fallen comrade, but on hearing Laith he turns back to Lumby and tries his best to put on a brave smile while he mumbles badly through the chant he has heard the bard just utter.
"Come on Lumby, you are the best, you can do it, yes, go on Lumby," Oratory is obviously not one of his strengths.
"These holes, are they on the same side as the holes in the river bank that we blocked? he asks, stopping his encouragement for a moment.
Nicholai's eyes light up as he sees the effect that Lumbie's chanting has, and lets out a shout of triumph as the two devils are drawn into the box.
"Yeaah! Great Job Lumbie! We'll show these refugees from the lower planes who's in charge!"
Nicholai crows with a broad grin.
"Hey, where are YOU going? You don't wanna miss the fun!" He cries at the last Imp, flapping frantically towards an opening in the floor. He makes a quick gesture with his arm, jabbing a fist towards the opening and flattening it out. In response there is a slight shimmer that starts to form in front of the Imp.
But in focusing on the Imp, he has taken his attention away from the immediate danger. The sudden, desperate flailing of chains draws sparks as they penetrate his spell-shield.
With a grunt, Nicholai loses his concentration and the shimmering disappears. He looks down at his now bloodied torso in surprise. He wraps both arms around his mangled midsection as he falls to his knees. With a confused look on his face he tries to speak. But all that comes out is barely heard whisper.
"no. not like this. can't be killed by devils,... was promised,... prophec,... Wij'kan,..."
Still clutching his stomach, Nicholai topples to the floor.
From outside the building, there is the faint but distinct scream of an eagle,...
:)
Kajetan starts away from Lumby to aid his fallen comrade, but on hearing Laith he turns back to Lumby and tries his best to put on a brave smile while he mumbles badly through the chant he has heard the bard just utter.
"Come on Lumby, you are the best, you can do it, yes, go on Lumby," Oratory is obviously not one of his strengths.
"These holes, are they on the same side as the holes in the river bank that we blocked? he asks, stopping his encouragement for a moment.
As one of the winged devils flap past, Laithe's initial instinct is to swipe at the fleeing creature. However, before he commits to the attack he notices the chained devil also glancing towards one of the holes. Determined not to let it escape, he lunges back with his other hand, attempting to grab and restrain the fleeing creature as it turns to run.
He feels his hand close on one of the creatures chains and he grabs hold. Muscles straining, he then struggles to keep hold.
"These holes, are they on the same side as the holes in the river bank that we blocked? he asks, stopping his encouragement for a moment.
Pharris and Alton both strike at the imp as it seeks to escape. Both warriors hit and wound it with their silver blades – but they do not do enough damage to finish it, and it vanishes into the rat-hole.
The chain devil’s hesitation in seeking to escape – the force of will it requires to move the chains that strike down Nicolai and Raspit – gives Laithe enough time to pounce on it when it does begin to move. The barbed chain that he grabs cuts his hand , but he holds the small creature fast.
Nicolai falls; the remaining imp escapes into the rat hole; Laithe desperately leaps onto the escaping chain devil; the glittering dust of Kajetan’s spell fades away…
Lumbie steps forward, the box held out. With Kajetan and Keildrithe’s encouragement and assistance he is now fairly shouting out the words of the rhyme. The box creaks open, and the rushing sound begins again. The remaining devil’s chains begin unraveling from around its form, drawn towards the box; it screeches, a shrill, otherwordly sound, and then it is plucked from Laithe’s grasp and hurtles towards the box. The lid snaps shut. The chamber falls silent …
Pharris screams as the last devil disappears out of sight. "It got away! it got away!"
"Never, no never have I fought so badly!" She flings the sword into a corner in anger.
Then the woman rushes over to help the fallen. Pharris searches Nicolai and will administer a potion to him, hissing to herself, "useless, useless, useless!"
Then the woman rushes over to help the fallen. Pharris searches Nicolai and will administer a potion to him, hissing to herself, "useless, useless, useless!"
As the chain devil is plucked into the box, Laithe sags in relief for a moment. However, there is no time to celebrate, and he quickly picks picks himself up and rushes over to Nicolai's side. As Pharris searches his pack for the potion, Laithe calls on the minor powers of healing he has left to staunch some of the blood flow.
"Ehlonna, this man has suffered grievous wounds battling these abominations of nature. Lend me your strength so that he may continue his noble course.
Pharris screams as the last devil disappears out of sight. "It got away! it got away!"
"It might not be out yet - we did our best to block up the holes. Alton, guard the door lest it tries to slip back out this way. Keildrithe, continue your chant in case the box is able to drag it back. Kajetan, do you think the devils require air to breath? If so, help me gather anything in the room that is flamable - we may be able to smoke it out?"
"Come here quickly, Lumbie, bring the box by the hole... and keep chanting! You are the greatest, a hero among knockers!" Keildrithe continues to chant along with the kobold...
Pharis stops what she is doing, and dives over to Lumbie.
"I hate magicks but this cannot be."
She begins chanting next to Lumbie, chanting out loud as she places a fine-boned hand on the box.
"Mathre-feardilis, feylauthin mystskyllamor shashdene!"
DM
Pharris closes her eyes and continues chanting quietly words of magical strength.
As Keildrithe and Lumbie capture the chain devil, Pharris begins searching Nicolai’s pack for a healing potion, which she administers to him, whilst Laithe kneels beside the mage, staunching his bleeding wounds with a minor spell.
On Laithe’s suggestion, Alton positions himself in front of the closed door, lest the invisible imp should slip from one of the holes and try to escape that way.
As Nicolai drifts back to consciousness, Keildrithe, Lumbie and Pharris head towards the hole where the last imp disappeared, trying to use the box to draw it back … in vain. Perhaps it has moved out of range of the box, which Raspit (who is currently lying bleeding on the floor) mentioned was fairly short.
Kajetan, do you think the devils require air to breath?