Whisperslash feels more like a tornado in his hands. It wobbles back and forth, it's so hard to control.
Even though strength isn't what she relies on, her weakened state prevents her from doing much of anything at all. She tries to get opposite of Tal and bound in and out, but she moves far to sluggishly in the process.
Tal and Mera both try to battle the shadows, but in their weakened condition they cannot land any blows.
The blinded thieves retreat from combat.
The shadow continues its assault against Tal.
Richard seems struck by divine intervention and he reaches for a wand. "Edric, this is a wand of Restoration, 10 more uses. Now is a great time! Help Tal!"
With the thieves gone, Sherix sighs again and swaps her longbow for holy water.
Realizing Edric is in no mood to do anything, Richard tries to shake the wand and get it to work on his own.
The shadow that was attacking Edric sees that this battle is almost at an end and pursues the thieves. You cannot have too many spawns after all!
Mera tries to end this thing, but it would appear that luck has currently left the building for the day. She swings her glaive too hard, almost throwing herself off balance and onto the floor in the process.
Tal drops his shield, sword, and backpack to fully withdraw away from the remaining shadow.
Edric takes gets some strength back and Mera attacks futility while Tal withdraws.
The shadow does not like how Edric looks stronger and goes after him instead!
"The holy water... perfect!" Richard takes the vial from Sherix and hurls it at the shadow. He may be weak, but his aim is still good.
Consecrated water splashes through the room. "Sherix, get the other vial, quickly."
For the first time in his life Tal is completely overwhelmed with a combat going on. He stands there eyes darting to and fro looking for shadows within shadows. He hopes Edric can kill the last 2 shadows with his channel as there is nothing Tal can do to help.
Richard damages the shadow with the holy water while Tal waits on Edric's channeling.
When things were at their darkest, Mera nearly began to panic as fear threatened to take her. Realizing she needed to do something and thus far she'd been completely inept, her hands began to tremble.
You have nothing to fear while you wield me, woman. Let me show you how to fell this foe! Swing for center mass when I tell you-
Mera swallowed her fear and tightened her grip while she waited for the call.
Edge growled in her head, its bloodlust and anger raising the volume of its voice to new levels.
She swung the glaive toward her foe at the exact time as instructed with everything she had.
Unfortunately for Mera, the greater shadow does not take as much damage as she thought. . No matter since Edric's channel finishes it off!
"As soon as our strength is restored. We need to figure out why the thieves tried to ambush us. Hopefully they just think we're encroaching on their turf."
Richard ceases his performance, but keeps Whisperslash drawn.
"Good job, Edric! I'd kiss you, but then Mera would get mad. And then it would get awkward."
Sherix pulls out her bow and lands on Richard's shoulder, preparing herself for any enemies who emerge.
"Mera and I could use some help..." Richard pants.
Once the wand restores his strength Tal quickly retrieved his equipment and prepares for the last shadow or another threat. Keep that wand out as we aren’t done here yet. Nice job finishing them off. I need to find a way to be more effective against those shadow creatures.
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Sherix, Richard and Tal ready actions to attack anyone who walks through the door.
Edric taps Tal with the wand.
Edric taps Mera with the wand.
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The shadow reenters the room and goes right up to Tal.
He misses!
The thieves re-enter and shoot crossbow bolts at Edric and Richard.
"There we are!" Richard lashes his magic rapier at the shadow.
After missing again, he begins to Inspire Courage among his allies and attacks the shadow again.
"Tal! Take care of those annoying thieves- we can handle this shadow!"
Sherix counters against the thief who hit Edric.
During her turn, she listens to Richard and fires again.
Readied attack against shadow for
Fully rejuvenated Tal happily complied with Richards request. Taking a step up and lunging as needed Tal attacks the first thief daring to attack them.
Power lunge heroism keen magical for
Iterative for
Arael brought the tray of drinks over to the table of new recruits. He was always surprised how many there were in Westcrown that wanted to make a difference. He looked outside at the setting sun and a look of worry appeared on his face. He had not heard from Tal, Richard, Edric and Mera all day. He had heard the explosion and assumed that they went to investigate. At least that is what he had hoped. He was always worried that some evil befell them. He quickly pushed those thoughts out of his mind. They were all capable individuals and together they were damn near unstoppable. He placed the tray down on the table and smiling at the 'newbies' he asks,
I know why I recruited you, but tell the others why you want to save Westcrown?
Sitting at the table is a tall, thin man. His red hair cut short and has a goatee on his face, swirling his drink in it's glass. He looks the others over and says with a smile "My name is Noah. My parents raised me in this town and I hate what it has become. They were conjurers and binders and it got my mother killed. I've been around these devils my whole life and I can't stand their dishonesty. Every word they say may be true but there is a twist in them when they string them all together. They are slimy doers of evil. I have been given gifts by Sarenrae to show all the redemption available and to those not willing to be redeemed, death." He swallows done the rest of his drink and puts the glass down hard upside down. "Oh that burns so good. Could I have another?" he asks.
Another man with dark, close-cropped hair and a trim beard, has taken a seat as well. He listens intently as the man named Noah speaks, nodding in agreement at a few points.
"Name's Dixon. Most call me Duke, but that ain't no proper title. Anyway, I am also a native of Westcrown, but did my growing up on the road. Lost my family as well - don't know anything about conjurers and binders, but I am certain of rampant corruption in the city. It wasn't an easy life, but I came away cleaning than many others. It makes me sick how some are just tread upon much of their lives, and can't live with myself if I don't do something to help make it right."
Well... I guess it's my turn now, right?
The voice came from the back, from a short individual leaning on a wall. The Elf approached and made a small reverence movement, before continuing to speak. His tone was calm, soothing, and the Elven accent was somewhat heavy, and his choice of words sounded exotic.
My name is Krayn, from the La'Jal family. I didn't actually lost them, but I can still say I had my own share of losses. - he briefly paused - As I started to investigate why some things were happening, it was made obvious to me that a conspiracy was very much alive behind the curtains of everything running in Westcrown. I should say... More than a conspiracy. A Council. A fabled Council, moving the strings of everything we see around us. Something that I have to help stop for good.
Arael brings another tray of drinks. Where he got the coin for such a supply of alcohol, no one knew.
Before he could speak, Tal, Richard, Mera and Edric enter the hideout. They are in rough shape from their battle with the shadows and their close brush of death.
Mera snaps her fingers, Arael! I must bathe and need plenty of drink. I refuse go back to that place. I will wait until some other mission interests me!
She forces the glaive into Edric's hands. Edric! You will stay with me!
It was not a question.
With a smile, he follows the diva to her room. Arael nods to another of the hideout's occupants and a case of wine is soon following in the diva's wake.
Tal! Richard! What happened? I heard the explosion and my spies told me the Lord-Mayor's mansion exploded? Were you there? Tell us all about it!
It is then that he notices the three sitting around the table.
Apologies! Where are my manners. This is Noah, Duke, and Krayn.
He looks in the direction of Mera's room.
[b]Based on that declaration, I guess they will be joining your team. Please introduce yourselves and what in the 5th layer of the abyss happened to you!
Richard is glad to finally sit down. "So long, lovebirds." He waves off Mera and Edric. "Wait, leave the Morrowfell before you ruin another bedroom!"
He groans as his bruises and cuts seethe. "Ah, it's good to relax." He takes a deep breath.
"My apologies, everyone. Where are my manners? I'm Richard Holysmith." He starts to extend his hand for a shake before hesitating. "I'm filthy, sorry."
He turns to Arael. "The Lord-Mayor has already fled. There is a devil sealed underneath his manor, His former assistant, Crosael, is trying to release the devil underneath. Tal has bound himself to a contract to grant us access."
He turns a bit somber. "Crosael is a member of the Council of Thieves. They have been controlling this city from the shadows for years, maybe centuries. We dispatched one of their cronies, Aberton the Dealer."
"Then we were ambushed by some dreadful shadows, some thieves tried to backstab us... Tal crushed them, of course. I was just along for the ride. So here we are."
"And I need a bath."
A lyrakien flies into the room, landing on Richard's cleaner shoulder. "I'm Sherix. Pleased to meet you. I'm keeping Richard on the up and up. But he's tired." You note the tiny longbow strapped to her back.
"I suspected there was an evil underbelly in our fair city, but you are saying there is evil literally underneath the seat of power?!? "
Behind Richard enters a medium sized man with bland colored patched clothes and a large brimmed hat. His face is clean shaven with green eyes. Those perceptive enough can hear the slight sound of metal on metal as he walks in though no metal can be seen upon him. Crossing the threshold and seeing Areal the man raises a hand to his forehead and sweeps the large brimmed hat off his head. Instantly the man changes before you. He grows 6 more inches in height, another 30-40 lbs of muscle and is clad completely in fabulous full plate armor. The visor on the helm is open and you can see the face of the man underneath has a 2 day growth of stubble and piercing gray eyes. On his hips are a long sword and a war hammer. The long sword looks to be of impeccable design. On his back covering his pack is a shield the size of a small door. The man moves easily for all the weight and encumbrances he carried and looks like the armor fits him like a second skin.
The man turns to Arael and nods his acknowledgment while letting Richard speak. As Mera and Edric disappear he simply shakes his head at them but remains quiet for now. Eventually when Richard pauses in his report Tal adds a few insights as well. We had to talk our way past the captain to let us in. He wasn’t happy about it and wished us a happy funeral. Inside we found half the manor blown apart. The rogues were pathetic and the Dealer was a pushover when we cornered him. What is problematic though is we ran into a bone devil and the shadows . THe devil hits hard and often and you need magic to injure it. The shadows were worse though as they sal your strength. We need to be prepared when we go back.
Finally realizing what Arael ended his speech with Tal looks at the three new recruits and sizes them up. If you vouch for them so be it.
Turning for the 3 of you Tal asks point blank, So what do each of you bring to the party for abilities and survivability? What do you consider your strengths and weaknesses?
"Devils, eh? Well, can't say I ever fought one before, but in my experience, everyone has a weakness. But you're fishin' for a resume. Fair enough. My specialty is investigative. Careful observation is key. I also ave friends in strange places, and it often helps tracking down information. When that fails, I am not above sneaking around to do some reconnaissance. Sometimes, this causes a bit of trouble, but I am decent with fisticuffs. I am also pretty decent at disabling traps, which has come in handy far too often for my liking, but I thank the gods for my skills."
Noah tilts his head for a moment and then says "Hmmm. What do I bring to the table? I have divine gifts from Sarenrae and a hatred of these devils. I've been around them my whole life and my parent's conjuring finally cost my mother her life. The devils need to go and the humans using them need to repent. While I can heal, I can also harm. The Dawnflower gave me her firey gifts. Weaknesses, well I can only speak celestial and infernal while engaged in combat and I can only understand celestial. I am not that great at ranged combat either."
Sherix begins tweeting like a bird.
And then she hissing slowly like a snake.
"Richard also understands both languages." She finishes up in Common.
Well... I am not a person of arms at all. I am a scholar... A guardian of the Ley Lines. Someone who made way too many wrong choices in my life, but at least was right about it. But, I also know a good bit about the arcane arts... And hopefully this might prove useful, in combat or not.
As a warlock with an infernal contract, Krayn knows his powers and intentions can easily be misunderstood, despite his truly good heart. With that, he withheld enough details as to avoid dealing with it until he can prove where his loyalties lie.
When the familiar speaks, he smiles at her. Languages had been a passion for a while, and something that came naturally when your life had been dedicated to studies. Books and tomes in different languages have this kind of effect!
"So, are we going after this devil? If so, I would like to do some research on how to beat this thing back to where it belongs. What details do we know at this time? Sounds like asking the Lord-Mayor is out... maybe some of his servants or cohorts?"