Sensing the flutes and wings that can only mean the Piper of Illmarsh, B'yelka says, "The curtain rises, this is our cue!" She begins singing, her voice rising to fill the uppermost floor of the edifice called Harrowstone. Now for the chorus and thunder of percussion to join in! The fight is joined!
[Ooc]Standard Action - Inspire Courage. +1 to hit, damage and saves v fear (hopefully that last one won't be needed! :) )
Tibideau jumps two feet in the air when he glances over and sees Dantrian's new form. "Eeep!"
His attention turns to the sound of wings as he rummages in his bag and pulls out a scroll. "EEEEEP!! Stirges!"
Janos readies himself for the appearance of the Piper, but the sound of Dantrian changing causes him to look back. The Ranger's eyes go wide as he sees their friend succumb to the werewolf curse. He brings up the axe, ready to defend himself. "Uh, Dantrian. Is that you? Are you in control? I hope you're in control."
The Beast is revealed.
Anton remembers his words to the alchemist and the assurances he received that he could control his bestial nature. He hoped they were true.
What is it? What's happened to make you change? the paladin asks urgently.
Surprise Round
"The piper! Prepare yourselves. He doubtlessly summons stirges to his ghostly side." The alchemist then seems about to draw his longspear but his face goes white as he sees a vision of blood flowing from the floor up to the ceiling just across from him, pooling in the shape of his name up above. Shaking his head to clear the vision, he grunts in pain as fear at last conquers his mental discipline. A moment later, and the alchemist's form has shifted dramatically. Now with pointed ears, a fang filled maw, and long claws, he sniffs the air and awaits the arrival of the suspected stirges in a predatory stance.
Sensing the flutes and wings that can only mean the Piper of Illmarsh, B'yelka says, "The curtain rises, this is our cue!" She begins singing, her voice rising to fill the uppermost floor of the edifice called Harrowstone. Now for the chorus and thunder of percussion to join in! The fight is joined!
Tibideau jumps two feet in the air when he glances over and sees Dantrian's new form. "Eeep!" His attention turns to the sound of wings as he rummages in his bag and pulls out a scroll. "EEEEEP!! Stirges!"
Janos readies himself for the appearance of the Piper, but the sound of Dantrian changing causes him to look back. The Ranger's eyes go wide as he sees their friend succumb to the werewolf curse. He brings up the axe, ready to defend himself. "Uh, Dantrian. Is that you? Are you in control? I hope you're in control."
The Beast is revealed. Anton remembers his words to the alchemist and the assurances he received that he could control his bestial nature. He hoped they were true. "What is it? What's happened to make you change?" the paladin asks urgently.
The mournful dirge and the sound of flapping wings grows louder, now audible to everyone. Drosil can feel himself becoming entranced by the music. The music begins to draw him down into a deep well of despair and paralyzing fear. The source of the noise seems to be growing louder when he shakes his head violently, snapping out of the effect.
At the same time this is happening, the skeletons of the former prisoners leap to the feet rushing forward to slam against the bars of their cells. Their empty eye sockets glow with red light, and a hatred of the living. Their dusty moaning provides a macabre accompaniment to the dirge filling the upper floor of the prison. Some of the cell doors are open, and those skeletons move out towards the heroes.
End Surprise Round
______________________________________________
Drosil, having shaken off the effects of the dirge, reacts quickly. His weapons already drawn, he viciously attacks the nearest skeleton.
Janos swings at the Skeleton who charges out of his cell. He swipes at the undead and then back up toward the group.
B'yelka almost freezes when she realizes the snarling and rage are coming from behind her. Still singing, she turns and sees Dantrian in his feral state. The diva weighs her options: stay near the skeleton that surely means to harm her, or trust her teacher to control his beast and move closer to him. She decides to trust Dantrian and shifts closer to him, away from the skeleton. Once she feels safe again, she reaches to her belt and grasps one of the Haunt Siphons. She presents the siphon to the sky and without breaking her rythym says, "This thing cannot be!" When her words are uttered she twists open the seal on the vial and waits for it to work against the Piper's spirit.
Status: 2 rounds of Bardsong used; One 1st level spell used
Dantrian's eyes narrow and a low growl rumbles in his chest as the bones of those long dead rise up against them. As B'yelka nervously shifts back, Dantrian answers the questions leveled at him more with deed than with words. He steps between B'yelka and the approaching skeleton and slashes out violently.
HP: 24/24
AC: 19 (13 T / 16 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +4/+6/-1
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared Mutagen: Dexterity (scent) [X]
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], shield [ ], open [ ], open [ ]
-Ongoing Effects-
Dex Mutagen w/ scent: 2/10 rounds, 0/30 minutes
inspire courage: +1 to hit, +1 vs fear
Anton also takes a step back although from Dantrian or the skeletons, it's unclear. Taking two blunt arrows from his quiver, he fires quickly at the remaining undead.
Tibideau hurriedly reads from his scroll, still peeking over his shoulder at Dantrian.
Drosil, having shaken off the effects of the dirge, reacts quickly. His weapons already drawn, he viciously attacks the nearest skeleton. Drosil's mace takes one of the creature's arms off, and a well aimed stab lands between two vertebra collapsing the undead's spinal column. The skeleton clatters to the floor in a clatter of bones.
Janos swings at the Skeleton who charges out of his cell. He swipes at the undead and then backs up towards the group. The Lopper's handaxe knows its work well, and guides Janos' blow to land directly on the skeleton's neck. Its head goes flying from the force of the blow, and shatters against the nearby wall before the rest of the bones collapse onto the floor.
B'yelka almost freezes when she realizes the snarling and rage are coming from behind her. Still singing, she turns and sees Dantrian in his feral state. The diva weighs her options: stay near the skeleton that surely means to harm her, or trust her teacher to control his beast and move closer to him. She decides to trust Dantrian and shifts closer to him, away from the skeleton. Once she feels safe again, she reaches to her belt and grasps one of the Haunt Siphons. She presents the siphon to the sky and without breaking her rythym says, "This thing cannot be!" When her words are uttered she twists open the seal on the vial and waits for it to work against the Piper's spirit. There is a loud popping sound, and then a rush as a vortex of cold air is sucked into the siphon, whipping past the heroes' clothes and hair.. The sound of the stirges' wings and the dirge grows quieter, almost fades to nothing, but then surges back at the last moment. The haunting melody is much quieter than before she opened the siphon, but the thing isn't glowing green it's just empty, so the Piper must still be there.
Dantrian's eyes narrow and a low growl rumbles in his chest as the bones of those long dead rise up against them. As B'yelka nervously shifts back, Dantrian answers the questions leveled at him more with deed than with words. He steps between B'yelka and the approaching skeleton and slashes out violently. The wolf man catches the skeleton in one claw and viciously bites its head off. The rest of the bones clatter to the floor, no longer animate.
Anton also takes a step back although from Dantrian or the skeletons, it's unclear. He knocks a blunt arrow to his string and moves over next to Drosil to get a clear shot. The arrow flies true and strikes the last of the free skeletons in the forehead. Its skull explodes in a cloud of bone dust and the creature collapses into a pile on the floor.
As Anton is lowering his bow to admire his handiwork, the sound of the dirge seems to intensify for him. Soon it is all he can hear. His arms drop limply to his sides and he stands there, rapt with attention. Anton is filled with deep fear as he experiences a vision of the ghostly Piper himself approaching, attended by a flock of stirges. He finds himself unable to move.
___________________
Her voice still strong, B'yelka steps back again. She feels confident that this time the haunting melody will end. Seeing Anton at rapt attention to the Piper's tune adds a dash of haste to herefforts. The second Siphon is readied, presented and its seal broken. "Welcome to your new cage, Piper!"
Is the Piper's song Fear bssed? Inspire Courage gives a +1 to saves v Fear. :)
Janos smiles as the handaxe cuts right through the skeleton's spine. As he falls back toward the group, though he realizes with horror that it was the same signature cutting stroke the Lopper was known for. Gods, it's turning me into him. I enjoyed that cut.
He turns and faces the still-beastial Dantrian. The Ranger's hand twitches, hoping he doesn't have to use the axe on his friend.
Like lightning, Dantrian's arms dart into the cell to his left, clawing and tearing at the skeleton within.
HP: 24/24
AC: 19 (13 T / 16 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +4/+6/-1
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared Mutagen: Dexterity (scent) [X]
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], shield [ ], open [ ], open [ ]
-Ongoing Effects-
Dex Mutagen w/ scent: 3/10 rounds, 0/30 minutes
inspire courage: +1 to hit, +1 vs fear
Her voice still strong, B'yelka steps back again. She feels confident that this time the haunting melody will end. Seeing Anton at rapt attention to the Piper's tune adds a dash of haste to herefforts. The second Siphon is readied, presented and its seal broken. "Welcome to your new cage, Piper!" Again there is a popping and vortex of air rushing into the siphon. This time the music fades to nothingness, and the siphon begins to glow green. The cap flips back up onto the top of the tube and closes itself. With the end of the music, the skeletons collapse back onto the floor. They have returned to being nothing but old bones.
As the music fades, Anton can feel the fear building to a sudden crescendo which explodes out of him in the form of small holes in the crook of his elbow and along his neck.
The puncture wounds stream warm blood in an amount that makes Anton feel instantly dizzy.
Ack..! Anton's hand's instinctively go to the wounds to staunch the flow of blood.
Thank you. That thing was... inside my head somehow.
He could feel icy claws crawling up his spine as the Piper played. It made him furious becuase this servant of Desna walks with no fear.
Good riddance...
Triumphant, B'yelka grins ear to ear. She takes the newly imbued siphon and holds it tight to her chest as if it were a bouqet from an admiring fan. As Dantrian snarls and punches his claws through the cell doors, her self-satisfied smirk fades and she backs away, further. Standing near Anton and Drosil she waits, concious of both Anton's wounds and Mister Almaeus' exposed beast. Anton has been hurt before, but I have never seen Dantrian this savage
"Mister Almaeus. The Piper is done, his puppets once again dust. Come back to us, Dantrian." Her face is a mask of calm, while her mind races around the thought, What if he attacks me!? Immediately behind that thought is the voice of one of her earliest stage directors, Madame Renau, "Be still child, do not show your quavering heart; the audience demands perfection."
As the bones collapse to the ground in his claws and the rest clatter to te floor throughout the room, Dantrian relaxes and turns back to his companions, conspicuously clustered a safe distance away from him. He stands up straight, abandoning the predatory posture he instinctively fell into, and lets his hands fall loosely to his side.
"I'm still me, though your worry isn't much of a surprise. You've no immediate need to worry though, I may appear a beast but my mind remains my own." His voice remains his own, though perhaps an octave lower and with a bit of gravel in the tone.
He looks expectantly to his companions, awaiting their judgment.
Drosil, who had been concentrating fully on the skeletons in front of him, turns once they fall. He surveys the scene before him and sees Dantrian, changed, but still himself. He hears the alchemist's statement, then clears his throat.
"Da.." His voice cracks a bit, but he takes a breath and starts once more. "Dantrian, we are all no strangers now to strange occurrences. We've seen spirits and undead aplenty, and you've been by our side throughout. That this creature is within you makes no difference - in fact, it may help us deal with what is all around us. As you say, it is still you, and if the professor were here, I imagine he would say the same."
"Good work, B'yelka. Hopefully that's the last we've seen of the Piper." He glances over his shoulder, but doesn't see anything.
Janos breathes a sigh of relief as Dantrian stands up straighter. He recognizes the man's posture in the beast and nods. "It's good to know you have it under control. I, uh, I didn't expect such as thing to be able to be tamed like that. Whatever the Professor did for you, Dantrian, you seem to have been able to keep up well."
The Half-elf looks around at the suddenly quiet hallway and the scattered bones. "Well, let's see what's at the end of the hall. Be ready." He walks down the corridor and tries to open the door.
Still feeling the effects of the blood loss, Anton smiles regardless. The Desnan is ever the optimist.
Im glad you're still you, Dantrian. I know im not one to say anything but you could probably do with a shave haha!
He puts his hand on the small of B'yelkas back as if to steady her and smiles reassuringly.
One down...
Surprised at Anton's touch, B'yelka goes rigid for a second until she sees his smile. She suddenly feels very safe. Is it just his smile, his easy way? He is certainly a vagabond, but more than that, too. "Thank you Mister Klasnic," she nods to Anton and asks, "Are you hurt bad enough that you need assistance?" The diva does not move away from his gentle touch.
B'yelka then turns to Dantrian. "For you, Mister Almaeus, how much control do you have?"[/b]
* * *
"It seems I have used both of the Haunt Siphons I had. Should I take the others for the next spirit?"
I think that's a good idea. In his new state, Dantrian seems more than capable without the siphons. Just how long can you maintain that form? he asks the alchemist.
I think we've nearly cleared this floor. Then there's the attic and down below.
Once more unto the breach my friends... he says, quietly quoting a poem he heard once on the road. He moves toward the door.
Unlike most of the doors in Harrowstone, the door here is stout and well locked. Drosil, taking his time is just barely able to pick the lock. The door opens to the outside.
A large, rectangular block of stone rests on this weather-beaten stone balcony, while ruined wooden benches line the eastern wall under a row of tiny, barred windows above. A stout wooden door sits in the wall near the northern end of the balcony .
There is a large rusty scythe leaning against the weathered stone. A ghostly set of skeletal arms appears floating in the air as soon as the door to the balcony is opened. They snatch up the scythe and float rapidly towards the group.
Anton:
Drosil:
B'Yelka:
Dantrian:
Tibideau:
Janos:
Monster:
Initiative
Party 21
Ghost Scythe 17
"Maintain?" The word is asked incredulously, and without thinking Dantrian slips back into a slightly hunched, forward leaning predatory stance. "This isn't a curse to maintain, Anton. It's not like changing shirts. I've no control over dismissing this bestial horror, and as time wears on it seems to maintain its hold me for longer and longer." A low growl rumbles from within his chest as he stalks forward, and he pokes a sharp claw into the center of Anton's chest. "This curse isn't some useful tool or an affliction to be taken lightly. It's getting worse! Don't you understand? It's getting worse!"
This close to Dantrian, Anton can clearly see some of the changes wrought within the alchemist's body. Though his head is not completely wolf-like, his nose and mouth have stretched into the beginnings of maw, and between his words his teeth can clearly be seen to have sharpened terribly. His eyes, though still clearly human, now appear painfully bloodshot. A light, downy fur the same color as his silver-gray hair covers his face and hands, the latter of which end in long claws.
Dantrian pulls back suddenly from the paladin then, a mixed look of surprise, horror, and shame knit across his twisted face. He takes a step back, standing straight once more, and offers again softly, "It's getting worse." He turns to B'yelka then and confesses, "Not enough, B'yelka. Not enough."
---
Dantrian warns in his gravelly voice, "This looks similar to those manacles and jacket from earlier - an object animated by a baleful will rather than an actual spirit or haunt. It'll be difficult to injure."
Before the object can close with his companions, Dantrian quickly produces a vial of acid and tosses it forward, hoping the caustic substance will damage the scythe without risking catching any of his companions in the splash.
HP: 24/24
AC: 19 (13 T / 16 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +4/+6/-1
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared Mutagen: Dexterity (scent) [X]
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], shield [ ], open [ ], open [ ]
-Ongoing Effects-
Dex Mutagen w/ scent: 1/10 rounds, ??/30 minutes
Janos swings at the floating scythe with reckless abandon, hoping to cut it down before it can do any real damage.
Tibideau adjusts his coat and nods at Dantrian. "Yes, that sounds about right, about the animated thing."
He mumbles and grumbles in a strange language and steps to Dantrian's side.
Anton is somewhat shocked by Dantrians outburst. Then, once the alchemist has stepped back, the Paladin coolly removes his hat and holds it to his breast.
Apologies, Master Almeus. I'll-chosen words spoken in jest, nothing more.
He casts a concerned look at the others however.
Is he truly a beast in appearance only?
----------------------------------------------------------
When the skeletal arms lurch forward, he acts automatically;
Drosil moves to a flanking position and attempts to bring the scythe down.
"Better than another apparition." B'yelka deadpans. She steps forward and strikes at the scythe with her scourge, trying to entangle it enough to keep it from hurting Janos.
Dantrian warns in his gravelly voice, "This looks similar to those manacles and jacket from earlier - an object animated by a baleful will rather than an actual spirit or haunt. It'll be difficult to injure." Before the object can close with his companions, Dantrian quickly produces a vial of acid and tosses it forward, hoping the caustic substance will damage the scythe without risking catching any of his companions in the splash. The vial misses the animate weapon, but some of the acid splashes onto it regardless. The acid seems to have little effect on the scythe.
Janos swings at the floating scythe with reckless abandon, hoping to cut it down before it can do any real damage. His light axe makes a ringing sound as it bounces off the blade of the scythe, though it does no apparent damage.
Tibideau adjusts his coat and nods at Dantrian. "Yes, that sounds about right, about the animated thing." He mumbles and grumbles in a strange language and steps to Dantrian's side. The witch's curse takes hold of the scythe.
Anton fires two arrows, one of which pings harmlessly off the blade. The other misses entirely.
Drosil moves to a flanking position with Janos and attempts to bring the scythe down. The animate scythe nimbly dodges out of the way of his chop.
"Better than another apparition." B'yelka deadpans. She steps forward and strikes at the scythe with her scourge, trying to entangle it enough to keep it from hurting Janos. The whip wraps around the end of the scythe's handle tugging it back and forth.
The haunted scythe now presented with a half-elf and a fetchling as targets, decides to go for Janos. Maybe it's B'yelka's whip tugging it, Tibideau's curse, or maybe it's just Janos' fast reflexes, but either way the rusty blade whooshes harmlessly through empty air.
____________________
Frowning at how ineffective the acid proved to be, Dantrian draws the morningstar from his side as he rushes forward, flanking the scythe with Drosil. He brings his weapon crashing down in an overhead swing with a snarl.
HP: 24/24
AC: 19 (13 T / 16 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +4/+6/-1
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared Mutagen: Dexterity (scent) [X]
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], shield [ ], open [ ], open [ ]
-Ongoing Effects-
Dex Mutagen w/ scent: 1/10 rounds, 3/30 minutes
Disappointed with the party's initial ineffectiveness, B'yelka thinks, Rallying cry? I can do that! Her frown turns to a smirk as she remembers the words to a song that dates back to the Shining Crusade. Her voice rings out in Old Azlanti.
Tibideau laughs uproariously at the scythe's failure to damage his party members. "Mindless metal p*******!" he taunts, shouting a fashionable Taldan curse word at the scythe.
He steps back and bumps into Anton, muttering to himself on the way.
Janos growls at the Lopper's axe bounces harmlessly off the scythe. "If I could have my two-handed axe, I'd make short work of you."
He swings the handaxe with a powerful strike again.
I can't ddamage the damn thing! My arrows bounce off!
The paladin tries again, nothing if not persistent.
Drosil continues his assault on the scythe.
Frowning at how ineffective the acid proved to be, Dantrian draws the morningstar from his side as he rushes forward, flanking the scythe with Drosil. He brings his weapon crashing down in an overhead swing with a snarl. The scythe zips easily out of the way. The alchemist will need to be quicker to catch the cursed blade.
Disappointed with the party's initial ineffectiveness, B'yelka thinks, Rallying cry? I can do that! Her frown turns to a smirk as she remembers the words to a song that dates back to the Shining Crusade. Her voice rings out in Old Azlanti.
Tibideau laughs uproariously at the scythe's failure to damage his party members. "Mindless metal p*******!" he taunts, shouting a fashionable Taldan curse word at the scythe. He steps back and bumps into Anton, muttering to himself on the way.
Janos growls at the Lopper's axe bounces harmlessly off the scythe. "If I could have my two-handed axe, I'd make short work of you." He swings the handaxe with a powerful strike again. This time the bloody blade bites deep into the wooden shaft of the scythes handle leaving a large notch cut from it.
"I can't damage the damn thing! My arrows bounce off!" cries Anton in frustration. The paladin tries again, nothing if not persistent. His first arrow ricochets off the scythe, while the second misses entirely.
Drosil continues his assault on the scythe, swinging his short swords in a whirling mill. The haunted weapon, whirls and twirls easily out of the way.
The cursed floating blade whirls around in a blur, aiming for the neck of Janos. Tibideau's curse wreaks havoc on swing, causing it to go far wide of the half elf.
_________________________
I cant do anything to it! What about holy water?
Anton puts away his bow and draws his Morningstar.
B'yelka stops singing, the song's work continues. Shifting slightly so the reaper's arms are between her an Drosil, B'yelka again lashes out with her scourge again trying to entangle the scythe. The diva calls out, "Again, Janos!"
Janos hacks at the scythe again with the bloody axe in heavy handed strokes. "Just die, spirit!"