Monday flanks with Tal but even so the distracted lemure in unhurt by her attack.
Monday tries to slam the lemure with his fists, but does not do the damage he thinks he should have.
Naberius moves away from the lemure hoping to get away from its claws.
The least of devilkind, lemures roil forth from the ranks of souls damned to Hell, shapeless masses of quivering flesh. What spark of instinct or memory lingers on within a lemure's semi-consciousness regularly shapes its features to mimic those of its tormentors or the tortured souls around it. Grotesque and useless, a lemure's features speak nothing of what it once was. Many exhibit multiple terrible visages or are nothing more than churning pillars of cancerous flesh. Only their knobby, flailing limbs work as they should, and those they merely use to destroy any non-infernal life that draws too near. Moving lemures typically congeal in forms over 4 feet tall and weigh upward of 200 pounds, though when at rest these disgusting fiends often appear to be little more than lumps of melted flesh and malformed features.
Although among the most loathsome creatures in existence, lemures serve a vital role in Hell's perverse ecology. When at the end of a mortal life a creature's soul is damned—whether because it revered diabolical forces or failed in the worship of another deity—it joins the masses of suffering souls filling the plains of Avernus, Hell's first layer. Here a soul's torments begin as lesser devils marshal it along with similar spirits in preparation for a long, perilous journey to one of Hell's deeper layers—typically one suited to the punishments appropriate to the soul's crimes, or merely the domain of a devil who has need for slaves. Upon reaching the realm of their damnation, souls face untold lifetimes of torment at the hands of devils, other fiendish beings, and the deadly machinations of Hell itself. As the formerly mortal essences slowly go mad, they forget their lives, grow bestial, and eventually become little more than automatons of fear and hatred. After ages of such existence, the cruel processes of Hell either utterly annihilate the soul or—in the cases of the most profane spirits—reconsecrate such forsaken beings into lemures, the building blocks of devils, unthinking waves of filth and diabolical flesh. Such repulsive beings assemble in vast mobs, waves of putrescence thousands upon thousands strong. Greater devils can spot the most corrupt of these fiends and, either through mysterious tortures or the powers of Hell itself, reshape them into true devils, newly born and ready to obediently serve in the legions of the damned.
Thesing tries to calmly leave the stage at this point, but does an abrupt about-face and flees the stage.
The audience is disgusted by the misshaped children and some start retching.
From Monday's vomit, another lemure appears.
Mera cries out when struck by the vomit-monster's claw. She holds her wound and takes a step backwards (E-11) and begins to sing out a song she deems fitting.
"I'm taking a stand to escape what's inside me.
A monster, a monster,
I've turned into a monster,
A monster, a monster,
And it keeps getting stronger.
Inspired by Mera's song Tal lashes out at the lemure next to Mera again and continues the follow through into the lemure in front of him.
Power cleave attack for
Cleave attack for
Tal felt the impact and smiled at grim satisfaction as the lemures were both injured. Sparing a moment to rejoice Tal flicks his sword covered in grime at the audience hoping to hit some of them that pelted him with eggs.
Mera steps back and begins singing. Tal attacks Mera's 'child' and then attacks his own. He is unable to bring either down.
Naberius' lemure takes a step forward and again tries to claw the mage.
Both claws penetrate Naberius' costume.
The lemure on Tal attempts to claw his daddy.
He is unable to and his claws just dully scratch Tal's armor.
Mera's lemure takes a five foot step and attempts to claw her.
He is again unable to penetrate her costume.
Monday's lemure sees Monday distracted by the lemure at her back and tries to use that advantage.
Even with the advantage, he also is unable to penetrate her costume.
Calseninica's lemure wants to kill her so he takes a five foot step.
She is also lucky as the lemure's claws do not do any damage.
Calseinica takes a step next to Tuesday, using him as a shield.
"Ha! Picking on someone your own size now, eh?" Monday haughtily says as she steps over over and strike the one facing her brother.
Arching a brow at the fiend Tuesday swings his arms out wide in an obvious show of trying to deter the creature from trying to step around him again.
Naberius wipes the rest of the bile off his lips, staggering further back to get away from his pursuer. He throws up his hand and thrusts it forcefully towards the lemure attacking him, tugging at the strings of quintessence connecting the hellish wretch to its summoner...
Monday slashes the lemure in front of her brother and damages it a little. Tuesday attempts to pound the lemure in front of him, but the fist that he connects with does not do any damage.
Naberius moves away from his child and tries to control it.
and instructs his baby to attack Tal's baby.
Vestus Savaska was not happy. As a high level priest of Asmodeus, he recognized Naberius spell for what it was. Not that he had any ill-will towards the performers, his reputation was on the line and he would be damned if it was said that he lost control of his creature! Since there were no more lemurs to summon, Vestus decides to regain control of his pet.
He chuckles to himself as he regains control of the creature, then offers Naberius a silent salute from behind the curtain.
The lemur in front of him having fallen and the effects of the egg having worn off a sell Tal feels more than apsatisfired with this act. Smiling he brings the sword around at the lemure on Mera hoping to finish it and focus on the remaining threat on this side of the stage.
Power attack for
Again the sweet sensation of his blade cutting through his foe is bliss after the hellish torment of the acts. Let the audience throw eggs and garbage at him. He knew his worth and his purpose here. The fact that the others would survive this and him as well was enough to sustain him through this and the last act.
Mera finally gains enough of her senses to slip the dagger into her hand and fall in behind the Lemure to the west of Tal. She moves in behind and begins to wave her dagger around and continue to sing loudly, hoping to draw it's attention to her and off Tal.
"Can I clear my conscience
If I'm different from the rest?
Do I have to run and hide? (oh, oh, oh, oh)
I never said that I want this,
This burden came to me,
And it's made its home inside (oh, oh, oh, oh)"
Mera tries to set up a flank on Naberius' lemure. Tal tries to finish off Mera's lemure but is unable to. Mera's lemure will try to hurt the human that is hurting him so and will try to attack Tal.
He fails spectacularly.
Calseinica's lemure takes a five-foot step to get at Calseinica.
One of its claws rakes her.
The audience takes great delight in seeing Calseinica and her lemure race around Tuesday.
Monday's lemure attacks its mama.
It greatly misses its mama both figuratively and literally.
Naberius' lemure decides to attack Mera.
Both claws solidly connect on Larazod!
Calseinica takes another step around Tuesday.
"Stop that!" Monday growls out as she repositions to be on the other side of her brother again.
Visibly and audibly snarling at the fiend Tuesday lashes out at it again.
Naberius frowns as he feels control slipping back to the priest behind the curtain. What in the Nine Hells was a theurge of this calibre doing at such a farce?
With a flick of his wrist, a familiar wand appears in his hand. The wizard flings a magical projectile at one of the quivering mounds of flesh attacking the group.
Trying not to break character, he yells, "A silver weapon might do the job faster than mere steel!"
Monday flanks with her brother killing Calseinica's lemure. Tuesday steps to Monday's lemure and slams the shapeless creature actually doing some damage to it this time.
Naberius sees that Mera's lemure looks like its near death and with a magic missile sends it to eternal rest.
Taking advantage of the flank and aid provided by Mera Tal makes the most of it as he drops his shield to attack the lemure with both hands on his sword. taking a big overhand chop Tal hopes to end this quickly and move on to the last creature.
5ft to flank with Mera
Move action to release shield
standard two handed power attack with flank and aid for (bab, str, MW, focus, flank, aid, inspire, power attack) (str, two handed, power attack, inspire)
With Tal dropping the creature in front of her she scrambles forward (I13) to the opposite side of Tuesday and begins the same distracting motions with her blade as before.
Mera finishes her song, the remnants of her voice carrying throughout the theater.
Tal devastates Naberius' 'child' as Mera goes and helps Tuesday with the last remaining lemure.
Monday's lemure sees that Tuesday is standing between him and his mama tries to remove the obstacle.
His claw rakes Tuesday.
Calseinica, seeing how the lemure ignores her, stays where she is.
Naberius turns to the audience with a tilted smile and a shrug. "On second thought, mayhaps silver is best used for jewelry...."
Monday attempts to slash her child, but is unable to. Tuesday solidly connects with one of his fists, but the lemure isn't as hurt as it should be.
The audience roars with laughter over Naberius' ad lib.
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Mera continues to dart about and flash her dagger at the lemure, hoping to draw it's attention enough to open a weakness for Tuesday. The sounds of her voice still echo throughout the theater, but are fading quickly. She mutters softly to Tuesday, "Pretend it's Thesing, it's what I'm doing. Both are made of vomit."
Tal rushes over having dispatched the last of the lemurs on this side of the stage. Forgoing his shield again he reaches the last of the vomit children and brings his sword down in a mighty arc.
power attack for
Unfortunately in his hurry to reach the lemure he overextends his reach and the blade goes harmlessly past striking the stage leaving an impressive gouge in the wood.
Mera hopes that by flanking with Tuesday, this lemure will go down.
Tal tries to do the job but misses. As his sword gouges the wood, Robahl can be seen off-stage slapping his forehead with his palm and muttering curses.
The audience jeers Tal's miss and many think he should go back to using the whip!
Monday's lemure still tries to get at the obstacle that prevents him from getting to his 'mommy]
He fails miserably.
Naberius damages the devil as Monday tries to finish it. She strikes it but the lemure is unhurt. Tuesday delivers two powerful slams that splatter the creature on the stage.
The audience erupts in applause. Thesing comes out onto the stage and ad libs, Looks like Larazod has another convert! You now will share his tortures instead of torturing us with your horrendous bagpipe playing!
The audience erupts into laughter at Thesing's joke and he gives a slight bow in acknowledgement.
At Thesing's insult Tuesdy promptly goes back to playing the bagpipes, trying to be as horribly intune with the man's movements as he can.
Near mutters to Tuesday, "I give you full permission to shove those pipes so far down his throat when we are done that he will be playing them for the rest of his days."
Tal grabs his sword and sheaths it as he goes to retrieve his shield. Remaining stoic he straps it back on his arm providing a safe location to hide from the audience and relax from the fight. As soon as he is able to he returns backstage with the others to prepare for the las tof the trials that they are aware of at least.
Tuesday gives Mera an acknowledging wink while keeping up his playing.
Loking at the corpse of her 'child'. Calseinica says, No! My child! Forgive me! You’ll pay for this, Haanderthan— with your heart’s blood, and with every shred of your soul.
With that, the curtain closes. Delour steps out to sing her songs while Garrard begins cleaning up the remains with a wheelbarrow and shovel.
Thesing smiles and says, The last act made me hungry! Don't you all agree?
Mera pulls out the wand and drops a heals on the most injured: herself, Tal and Calsenica.
Naberius comes backstage shaking his head incredulously. He motions toward the relative direction of the Asmodean priest, as inconspicuously as possible.
"My apologies," he says. "I did not realise there would be such a powerful summoner at work here. The mayor must have made a sizable donation to the Church of Asmodeus to ensure their presence..."
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Vestus Savaska nods at Naberius. No apologies are necessary. I was quite concerned there for a moment. Yes, a sizeable donation should result in spectacular 'props' he says with a chuckle. You are quite talented. If you ever wish to mix the arcane with the divine as a theurge, please come see me. We would definitely make room for you in the ranks of the faithfull! He holds out his hand. My name is Vestus Savaska. Well met Naberius Belthrune! He smiles slyly. Yes, a sarglagon has told me quite a fascinating tale about something he heard from the soul of a drowned hellknight in Egorian.
Naberius nearly jumps at hearing the priest's voice behind him, but manages to maintain his composure. He turns around with an apologetic bow, respectfully avoiding eye contact.
"I have no idea what you are talking about," he says coolly. "You must have mistaken me for someone else. My sincerest apologies, Your Unholiness."
Monday wryly shifts her eyes back and forth between the arcane and divine diabolists.
Vestus nods. Well I suppose that devil was mistaken. If you can't trust a devil, who can you trust, eh? His eyes bore into Naberius. My offer still stands regardless. The church of Asmodeus is very influential here. A cleric of the church need never to worry about Hellknights ever again. He then bows to Naberius, Even if they are drowned!
"I shall keep your gracious offer in mind," answers Naberius, retaining an impassive tone. "Now, if you will excuse us..."
The wizard bows once more and moves purposefully towards the stage...
If possible Tal will back away from Monday before she has a chance to cast her spell on him. Please do not use that right now. I would prefer that you save it for an emergency should one of us fall in the last act. I know I could use the healing but I trust in my armor and shield to protect me. I would hate for our foes to get a jump on us and fell one of us before I had a chance to interpose myself.
Turning to Naberius after Thesing makes his comment he asks loud enough for Thesing and Vestus to hear. Hypothetically speaking, what is the penalty for rendering a man unconscious with one's bare fists? Is it a fine, jail time, or something worse?
As for the next act Tal will sheath his sword and pull out his warhammer and ready his shield before taking his place to head back on stage.
"He gets dragged to Hell at the end of the play doesn't he? Does he get set on fire then or can we do it?" Monday adds on nonchalantly.
Realizing he was mistaken in what was going on Tal looks sheepishly at them all. Sorry, I am still not familiar enough with magic to know exactly what your all are doing most of the time. I will have to pay more attention and learn some of what you are all talking about. Ignoricnce is bliss but it can also get you killed. Naberius, if I could get you to tutor me in this it would be greatly appreciated.