Vordakai spared a glance for Kip, but it was a glance filled with contempt as the Lich turned his full attention to the Paladin before him. Refusing to relinquish his bottleneck, Vordakai carefully cast a spell as the Paladin closed, his many forms shifting as Malthir sought an opening that never came to strike true. With no physical components, a whisper and a gesture was all it took to cast this particular spell. Vordakai's right hand claw pulsed with enhanced necromantic energies and the Lich brought it to bear- grabbing Malthir's sword arm as he raised it to strike. The First Sword of Iomedae felt terrible pain wrack through his body, as though his life force was ebbing away even as his limbs threatened to seize up once more...
The spell cast was Vampiric Touch
_
_
Round 6-
Ordered Initiative-
Kip- 24
Malthir- 19
Vordakai- 15
Fenna- 14
Water Elemental- 13
Casimir- 12
Ricter- 8
Kalev- 7
Active Effects-
Mirror Image (Casimir)- 1 images remain
Magic Circle against Evil (Kip, 10 feet)
Displacement (Vordakai)- 50% miss chance
Prayer- +1 to most rolls, -1 to most enemy rolls
Longstrider on Kalev
Smite Evil (Malthir)
Inspire Courage active until end of Casimir's initiative
Paralysis (Ricter, Malthir!)
Map-
Round 6 Map (I14)
Narrative-
Try as he might, Malthir felt his limbs lock up once more, his body refusing his commands as necromancy rendered his body utterly useless. The Paladin stood helpless and frozen beside Ricter, their bodies stuck in heroic poses- weapons raised but neither one at all able to finish their intended blows upon the Lich.
As both Ricter and Malthir succumb to the numbing touch of the mighty lich, Fenna turns to the invisible servitor following her. "Find another scroll marked remove paralysis from my pack," she commands before returning her attention to the struggle.
Seeing the roiling mass of water drawing back for another assault on the badly wounded Kalev, Fenna speaks a prayer in hopes of providing a momentary distraction. "Great Artist, please show this creature some measure of your great works."
Fenna swiftly conjured a dazzling pattern of rainbow-like colors, the illusion visible to all but focused around the elemental. The watery creature ceased paying any attention to its surroundings as it quietly stared at the colours.
Before deciding on a course of action, Casimir casts a quick glance around to see if he can spot the fallen wand of haste.
The wand is in square G20.
Casimir slashes again at the towering mass of water before him.
Kalev strikes with his remaining strength at the watery beast.
Seeing the situation is extremely dire, Kip desperately articulates the words required while pointing at the towering colossus of water. Four force bolts leap from his outstretched hand, streaking across the chamber before striking its mass dead center.
Relieved the elemental is destroyed, Kip attempts to help Ricter and Malthir. Realizing Vordakai can easily kill either of his helpless friends he takes desperate action. Casting a spell, he opens a pit under the feet of his comrades. As they disappear down the hole he whispers, Forgive me.
Casimir found his blade defeated by the elemental's fluid form and struggled to land a meaningful blow. Drained, covered in blood and gasping for breath, Kalev just barely managed to dispatch the elemental. Perhaps surprisingly, its form did not dissipate from the material plane, but rather shrunk in on itself into a small puddle.
As Vordakai reached out to finish off Malthir, Kip hastily took action; his familiar extradimensional pit opened up beneath the two paralyzed warriors, who plummeted, armour and all, 40 feet down to fall flat on their backs in the pit below. The impact would have been painful, if either warrior could actually feel their bodies.
Round 7-
Ordered Initiative-
Vordakai- 15
Fenna- 14
Casimir- 12
Ricter- 8
Kalev- 7
Kip- 6
Malthir- 5
Active Effects-
Mirror Image (Casimir)- 1 images remain
Magic Circle against Evil (Kip, 10 feet)
Displacement (Vordakai)- 50% miss chance
Prayer- +1 to most rolls, -1 to most enemy rolls
Longstrider on Kalev
Smite Evil (Malthir)
Paralysis (Ricter, Malthir!)
Conjured 40 foot deep pit- F,G/18,19
Fatigue (Kalev)
Map-
Round 7 Map (I14)
Narrative-
Robbed of his intended victim, Vordakai resorted to creating a pale grey bolt of negative energy and launching it at the true Casimir rather than his remaining image. The Spymaster saw the telegraphed movement and easily ducked under the ray. The ancient, Undead cyclops paid little attention, having already begun to move towards Kip...
The spell was Ray of Enfeeblement. Perhaps Vordakai has already tapped most of his more powerful magic?
Trying to sap his strength with a minor spell? Is the mighty Vordakai running low on spells?
Casimir's shoulders sag in visible relief as the water elemental is defeated and the two paralyzed Guardians fall to relative safety.
Just you left, Vordekai! Prepare to pay for all your horrid deeds.
Fenna takes the second scroll from Casimir's conjured servant in her left hand, while reaching out her right to channel further healing into Kalev.
"Merciful Shepherd, please lend this brave defender of your flock the strength to fight on."
Casimir steps closer to the wall, so Vordekai no longer has a clear line of sight to him.
Then he extends his hand and pulls the dropped wand of haste to his grasp.
Kip, get over here! Together, we will defeat this sad tyrant.
Seeing the pit blocking his path to the undead threat, and clearly unable to clear it in his fatigued state, Kalev drops Cleft and moves to a better position while drawing his bow.
He nocks an arrow and and pull back the string, though it proves almost too much for him, while calling on the magic of the Stag Lord's helmet.
Seeing Voradakai closing in on him, Kip casts another spell and takes to the air. Heeding Cas' call, he then makes for the other room to rejoin the others. Not sure this is a good idea, he frets as he goes.
The freshly healed Kalev had his arrow soar past Vordakai, the Lich's shimmering form foiling the attack on him entirely. Kip joined the rest of the party, soaring over the conjured pit to regroup with the others.
Round 8-
Ordered Initiative-
Vordakai- 15
Fenna- 14
Casimir- 12
Ricter- 8
Kalev- 7
Kip- 6
Malthir- 5
Active Effects-
Mirror Image (Casimir)- 1 images remain
Magic Circle against Evil (Kip, 10 feet)
Displacement (Vordakai)- 50% miss chance
Prayer- +1 to most rolls, -1 to most enemy rolls
Longstrider on Kalev
Smite Evil (Malthir)
Paralysis (Ricter, Malthir!)
Conjured 40 foot deep pit- F,G/18,19
Fatigue (Kalev)
Map-
Round 8 Map
Narrative-
The skeletal Cyclops seemed frustrated at Kip's escape and moved back towards the pit. Vordakai sent another pale bolt of energy through the shattered doorway at Kalev; clearly the same spell he had tried to hit Casimir with...
This time, his aim was steady and the bolt struck the bow-armed ranger right in the chest. He felt the bow in his hands become even heavier to lift, his armour weighing him down, his fatigue seeming to mount as the strength left him in a cold rush of air.
Casimir speaks the command word to activate the wand in his hand, then drops it again.
Then he reaches into his bag of holding and produces Agai's magic greatclub. He holds out the weapon and issues a command to his unseen servant.
Servant, Marshall Kalev seems to have misplaced his weapon. Please deliver this to him. Fenna, see if you can strip some of Vordekai's magic defenses.
Despite his weakened state, Kalev attempts to jump the pit created by Kip's magic, once Casimir's magic club is in his hands.
Landing on the other side, he swings the enchanted club with what strength he has left.
Fenna nods to Casimir, though the strain of channeling so much divine energy is clear on her features.
"Oh clever Thief, I ask that you steal away this villain's protections, that we might cast him down."
The magical energies surrounding Vordakai were warped and twisted for a moment as Fenna attempted to dispel some of his magic, but it was to no avail, Vordakai's magic seeming too strong for her. Even as she reeled from the mental effort, Kalev leapt the pit, swinging the borrowed club with gusto.
The club struck the true Vordakai; but as Kalev forced the weapon through two layers of invisible, yet tangible, magical defences, it lost much of the strength of the blow. The club thudded into Vordakai's ribcage, causing no real harm.
Fighting on the edge of Kip's conjured pit was no easy feat, especially when Kalev was already weary and focused on the Undead before him. A quick duck underneath a swipe of Vordakai's claw put him off-balance; and the ranger tumbled into the pit on top of the frozen Malthir and Ricter.
Seeing Kalev's suicidal run and leap over the pit into the waiting clutches of Vordakia, Kip screams out in bewilderment, What in the nine hells?! Kalev's ineffectual strike with the comically small club and his subsequent slip into the pit, causes Kip to scream out again, this time a long string of profanity. After nearly bursting a blood vessel with his tirade, the diminutive sorcerer growls out the words necessary, and gestures angrily, conjuring another pit. This one under Vordakai's feet. He then floats back to Fenna.
In a desperate effort to make Kalev's reckless charge count, Casimir expends yet another of his magical inspirations.
Kalev, strike true!
