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monster
Julius
Cerio/Phantom
Oscar
Mala.
The creature's large black eyes glaze over as Cerio successfully manages to temporarily disrupt it's mental processes.
Oscar will block out the fighting for now and float the key over to his cell.
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Julius grabs the scalpel outside of his cell, then glances at Oscar. "Which do you want, the scalpel or those shears? I want to be ready to jump him as soon as you get this thing unlocked."
Cerio manages to slip past the apparent mental defenses of the creature, only to find that its' neural pathways are alien and baffling to Cerio, and he is unable to gum up the creatures processes. The creature does not noticeably react in any perceivable way to the daze spell.
Oscar doesn't respond immediately to Julius, as his focus zeroes in on the difficult task of manipulating the keys out of Dervak's lock and into the lock of his and Julius' cell. Though the scuffle between Dervak and the monster is intense, Oscar manages to jigger the keys out of Dervak's cell lock and thrust them unceremoniously across the short distance between the cells and into Oscar's own wating hands. He then quickly reaches around and through the bars and unlocks the lock of his and Julius' cell.
"Let's go. We need to stop it or we're all dead." Oscar concludes.
Mala begins to bang on the bars of his cell in an attempt to distract or annoy the creature, while taunting him. "Looks like you've got some problems there, my friend! You should have dealt with me, instead!"
Meanwhile, the eye Spie hovers a moment, uncertain, before floating off to the left side of the cramped basement, past Dervak's cell . A moment later Mala feels a surge of excitement through his empathic link with his floating eye-buddy.
Top of the round, Dervak up.
Monster
Julius
Cerio/Phantom
Oscar
Mala
Dervak will attack, 5' step back inside his cell, and as a move action shut the door to try to gain some cover. He is badly wounded from one swipe of this thing's claws. If he goes negative, he won't use Orc Ferocity this time.
If that hits,
The creature shifts its' weight in preparation to move, just in time for Devrak to chomp on the air his flesh used to occupy. The creature glares at the phantom, shouting "Away with ye! Zandalous promised us the nightmares wouldn't bother us! and with that, he begins a withdraw action that takes it around the foot of the table and over to the side closer to Mala and Cerio's cage, and then it begins to scramble past Mala in a hasty retreat out the side of the room to Mala and Cerio's right.
Mala takes the opportunity to disrupt the creature's escape by sticking his foot through the bars in a clumsy attempt to trip.
The creature cries out as it goes sprawling to the floor, and reactively lashes out a claw towards Mala as it falls.
Next up, Julius.
monster
Julius
Cerio/Phantom
Oscar
Mala.
Julius slams the door of his cell open, handing off the shears to Oscar as he does so. Brandishing his scalpel, he slashes it at the thing desperately.
"Man, this thing just feels...off to me. The balance is all wrong. I wonder where my...my...ugh. I gotta figure out what I need later."
::Niiight...Maaares...:: echoes the phantom as it glides across the floor, pursuing the creature relentlessly.
The word echoes in the white-haired man's own skull, bringing with it uncomfortable memories of unspeakable horrors from his dreams.
They had been dreams, hadn't they?
"Zandalous promised me yer heart, ya filthy mongrel!" he shouts in anger. "Less'n you let us outta this here cage!" He grabs the bars and rattles them furiously.
Julius flails wildly with his improvised weapon, colliding instead with the head of the table. The dead man's head flops to the side, dark thick blood saucing slowly from his pale lips.
"Waaaah!" it cries out and wriggles to the side to avoid the phantom's attack. Cerio's taunt clearly gets the thing's attention, and it seems to scoot as far away from him as it can. It's large black eyes begin darting around the room in fear.
Next up, Oscar, then Mala.
monster
Julius
Cerio/Phantom
Oscar
Mala.
Oscar rushes out of his cell and goes past the creature. He put himself between it and the door, brandishing his shears.
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The creature continues to struggle on the ground, clearly preparing to get up when it gets the chance to do so. Oscar stands about 10 feet away, between the creature and a closed door.
Next up, Mala, then back to the top with Dervak
monster
Julius
Cerio/Phantom
Oscar
Mala.
Mala reaches through the bars with his slender arm as he cackles a bit and brings his possessed down on the creatures head, HARD!
Mala's big burly enhanced arm swings wildly and clangs into the bars of his cell, just short of hard enough to cause him pain.
A moment later, there is a clatter from the room to the right of Dervak's cage. Then a sound like a slender wooden object being rolled approaches from that direction. Anyone who passes a perception of 8 as a free action would notice a floating Eyeball bumping a wooden cane so that it rolls in the direction of Mala's cage.
Top of the round, Devrak then the creature.
Dervak moves to a spot 10' from the creature (hopefully with a flank as well) takes his chain in both hands, and swings it at his prone enemy with a roar.
, or +2 if flanking.
If it provokes an AOO from standing:
That's a miss.
My strange companions. Like before. A summoned eyeball monster? Baby beholder? More illusions from the sick man?
"Uhh...why is there an eyeball coming towards us? What the hell? What's it got there?"
Dervak, flanking with the phantom, manages to land the chain right on top of the prone creature's head. "Aaargh! I was promised flesh to experiment on! Zandalous freed us from petty restrictions! You all were supposed to be MINE!" Angered past the point of rational decisions, it stands up. Dervak's chain goes wild. Mala and the Phantom may also take AoOs. If it survives it will take a 5' step and swipe at Dervak.
Mala hears Julius's inquiry on a eyeball coming towards them and replies with "Sound's like my Spie has found a thing I'd like." He punctuates the sentence by taking an opportunity to slam his fist into the creature, pulverizing it with both psychic and physical might.
As the creature tries to lurch to it's feet, Mala, irritated with his wasted strength, balls up a fist and swings down at the creature. The creature looks up just in time for Mala's fist to slam into it's face with a sickening crunch. It falls limply to the floor, twitching once or twice before stilling.
The basement seems quiet, except for the sound of the cane rolling across the floor towards Mala.
Julius looks around at the others. "Well, thanks for the help there. What on earth was that thing? And where are we, too?"
"Curr, Now. I wounder where they put my top hat?" Mala gasp's as he see's his eye rolling the sword cane towards his cell. "Spie!" His face goes dark for a moment. "Your late and you didn't bring the top hat. The top hat is integral too my character! Sure the cane could have helped but you should have known I would clean up sooner than you could scoot it to me, so basically what I'm asking is will you please go get my hat? My little socket squatter."
The last part is dripping with affection for the floating head orb. More so than one would expect in such a situation. Mala looks over too his cell mate and say's "I love the little guy but he really needs too get his priorities straight."
"Oh, that's YOUR eye. Of course. Why not?" Julius shakes his head, trying to clear it. "So that's your cane, then? Did your...eye...find anything else around here? I feel like I'm missing something, but I cannot for the life of me think of what I need."
Spie whirls in a little spiral up to eye level, then starts floating back the way he came from. It stops once to turn and look at Mala and Julius before floating away again.
Did you feel it? Your death, how close it was? Why do you cling to your weakness when you could be so much more?
Dervak collapses to one knee in pain.
"Beat it again. Wounded again. The man with the hat knows what that thing is. No, wait... There was a man with a hat. But not you? Different. And there was a halfling with voices in her head..."
Dervak shakes his head.
"Maybe I dreamed them. It took my face. You all saw that? Don't know why it would want to look like this. To frighten people, I guess."
"Oh, well, kind of? He sort of does his own thing, cant see through him or nothing. YET." Mala again gasps "But ah! Hoisted by my own petard! What a surprise that would have been to spring on you all." Shaking his head, Mala gives what can only be described as a devious grin too Julius "Suppose I'll have to make up for that by being Mysterious! Should be easy since I cant seem to remember anything about these past couple years."
Looking at Dervak as he collapses to his knee and self deprecates. "You aren't scary to me, faces and looks aren't how too judge everyone good sir, and considering you just saved my life I would say your a pretty damn handsome fellow. Not to mention I would call the way you're speaking right now FASCINATING, strong guys are pretty nice too."
"Well, this was a surprise." Oscar says, walking back up to the group. He drops to his knees next to the strange assailant.
He raises his shears blade and drives it into the creatures neck. Once embedded, he leaves the blade in her and stands.
"Well, she's not getting up again. Good thing too, I have the feeling that she would have been bad news should she have escaped."
He tries to adjust the goggles that arent there, and catches himself in the act. He stares at his hand for a second, puzzled.
Shaking his head, he looks over the group. "I do hope one of you has information as to where we are, or even WHO we are, for that matter. I have no recollection of who I am... Though I do feel like I'm missing something important." he hesitates, looking over the rest with some trepedation.
"Do I.... Know you?" he asks finally.
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Dervak edges away from the phantom, eying it nervously.
"If that thing was your killer it is dead now! Be at peace!"
Seeing everyone else calm around it, he tries to not show his fear.
He turns to Oscar. "I am Dervak. A monster in the eyes of many. Gorum cares not about that, as long as I fight. Cares not about orc or man or monster, just warrior. Praise Gorum for this victory!"
He raises his arms and rattles his chains.
He looks at the dead man on the table.
"Who is he? Do any of you know him?"
He takes the keys, removes his manacles, and begins looking around the room.
Julius eyes Oscar. "We were in the same cell together, which implies that we should've at least been acquainted. But I can't for the life of me think of if I know you. My name's..."he ponders for a moment before his eyes finally light up. "Julius! Got it. Got my name, the...bare...minimum. Oh boy."
He turns his attention to the dead guy on the table, in response to Dervak's question. "I don't recognize him, but that's not saying much. I don't recognize anything around here..."
He looks around the room, looking for anything that might identify where they are.
The room is small and non-descript, dimly lit in this area by a pair of simple candle sconces on the wall between Dervak and Oscar and Julius' celln and to the right on the blank wall next to Cerio and Mala's cell. The room opens up on the far side of the room, on the other side of Dervak's cell in the direction Spie floated, but there is no light source. So creatures without darksight can't make out much. With darksight, the first thing one sees is that the wall directly ahead on that side of the room has been completely caved in, with rocks and debris creating an impasse. Aside from that, just barely visible from where everyone is standing, there appears to be an upended barrel and at least one other still standing to the right of the debris. That barrel has a scattering of junk sitting on top of it. It seems the room there opens to the right and the left. On the side of the room where everyone is standing, down a very short corridor, is the closed door the monster appeaered to be trying to flee to.
Oscar will shrug. "Dervak... And Julius eh? Sounds familiar... But I do not remember."
He gestures to the man on the table. "no clue who he is... Other than dead."
He will walk over to the nearest light source, to see if he can take it to explore the darkened area of the room.
"Look, while this is much to take in, we would increase our chances for survival should we work together. You're all in the same boat as me so I think that trust can be mutually shared. Let us try to find a way to arm ourselves and get out of here alive, and then we can discuss whether we want to continue associating, deal?"
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In the open area to the right of the caved in wall is two barrels and a low table that is built into the wall. On top of the surfaces is piles of stuff, including all of the items on the PCs' character sheets. Spie is perched on top of a fancy top hat, looking as pleased with himself as a floating eyeball can look.
If the time is taken to rifle through the implements on the smaller table next to the tortured fellow, one can piece together enough accoutrements for a healers kit with 2 charges left, as well as surgical tools. The creature has a medical smock with the name "Dr. Irali" embroidered on it, but nothing else.
To the left of the caved in wall, the room opens into a large area that holds a cold and unlit furnace. There are splatters that look suspiciously like blood all over the area here, but little else of note.
Dervak hefts a falchion.
"This feels familiar. If we face any more of those creatures, we may have a better chance."
He also dons a set of studded leather, trying to avoid re-opening the wound in his side.
"YES!" Mala yells as he leaps at the barrel with Spie and his top hat perched atop it. Giving the eye a pat, he shoos him away as to dig out his belonging's. Placing his top hat atop his head he ruffles around for his suit. Finding his suit (An armored fabric bearing ustalavian symbols) there seems too be no delay in striping, and putting the suit on. "Ahh. Much better. Never quite feel like myself without my finery." He punctuates this sentence by striking the ground with his cane and tipping his hat over his remaining eye. Spie can be seen floating up under the brim as he adds. "Now, seeing as the question of our equipment is settled," He raises the brim of his hat too look at everyone, doing it at just the right time as for you all too see Spie poping back into the socket and rolling himself around too face forward. "Let's figure out just what the hell is going on now, shall we?"
Oscar seems relieved and quickly dons his armor and slips on his vest and goggles.
"Relief." he mutters. Stringing his bow, he pulls on the quiver of arrows.
"All right, I'm ready." he states.
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Julius looks into a backpack with the initials "J.A." monogrammed on it, then frowns. He pulls out a chain shirt and a buckler. "Huh, I could've sworn there was more here...aha!" He grabs a thin rapier off the ground and holds it in front of him, grinning for the first time since all this started.
"Now this...I definitely know how to use this!" he exclaims, his hands flipping the sword acrobatically all around him, ending with a flashy salute, the tip of the rapier pointing directly at the scar above his eye.
He sets the sword aside briefly and dons his armor, then picks the sword back up. "Right. Now, I'm not letting go of this thing again. I think I'm ready to go."
The white haired man stumbles out into the hallway, fearful that the door might slam shut and trap him inside the cage once more. "Thank y'!" he says sincerely, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He takes in the chamber quickly, his gaze darting over the crumbled wall, the cracked foundation, the pile of equipment, the furnace. The furnace.
It is significant for him, somehow, but he can't put it into words exactly how.
Ignoring the presence of the phantom for the moment, he shuffles over toward the pile and kicks the items around a bit with his foot. "Lotta good stuff'n 'ere. Might do us some good." He picks up a suit of leather armor, its chestpiece old and worn, with severe claw marks scarring its surface. Whoever had worn it had clearly faced some trials. May be they're in that furnace now.
He pulls the armor over his head, drawing the straps tight, then loosening them a bit. He turns to look for a mirror, and a gleam by the wall catches his eye. An enormous, macabre scythe rests serenely against the stonework. Its crooked, gnarled ashwood handle snakes up the wall as its long blade curves wickedly to culminate in a razor tip.
"A scythe. O' course there'd be a scythe."
He lifts the weapon, surprised by how natural it feels in his grip. He spins around, cutting the air in a long, graceful slash. It feels too familiar, like it would be wrong to remember. A sudden feeling of guilt overcomes him. His inner voice groans again.
"Reaper..." he mumbles. "Y' can call me Reaper. That'll do."
Dervak limps over to the closed door. He turns to his companions.
"Julius. Reaper. Eyeball and Goggles. Do you two have names? I agree with Goggles that we should stick together. Kill these things over and over again until the dreams end.
Are you all ready to go? Should we open this door?"
Donning his equipment, Oscar thinks. "Oscar. I don't remember what, but that name seems the most familiar to me. So I guess that will be it."
"Aha! Not just strong, but smart too. I seem too remember being called... Mala, yes that will do. But of course! Let us go on a blood soaked waltz through this nightmare until we end up on the other side, or die trying! If we fail we shall have a fine tale too tell to Pharasma eh?" Mala straightens the cuffs of his armored suit one last time an begins walking back around. "I'll take point, anything comes about I might be able to talk it down."