Piter spies the nameless newcomer with distrust, now that others seem to be threatening. He draws his bastard sword as he watches to see if the newcomer attacks whatever's in the shadows, attacks the group, or runs away.
Initiative:
Cakkarak had taken a step closer to the dark elf, about to feed him his teeth. If this softskin thought he was going to be treated like a tongueless slave, he was about to be mistaken. The iksar was simple going to shove the Teir'Dal's teeth down his throat
At the sound of the new voice, the Iksar's eyes snap into the blackness for the owner of the voice. Not seeing any source of heat, the monk raised an eyeridge. Either it was a being that could hide it's heat signature. From what it was talking about them being food, he was guessing some kind of undead.
"I will deal with you later." the iskar says coldly to the still nameless newcomer. The iskar's tone carries the visions of a great deal of physical pain in the near future. If he even suspected that the dark elf was going to attack them, or had intentionally lead whatever to them, it would be over. He would take a degree of pleasure in seeing how many bones he could break before the elf died. Once they had dispatched whatever was thinking about eating them.
"Loki! What do you see?" Cakkarak inquires of the necromancer, speaking his own tongue. While he was capable of fighting without any light, he didn't think Pieter and Kur'Plugh were similarly trained.
"Elongated teeth dripping with blood. Pale skin."
Loki seeks out the dusty recesses of his studies, in an attempt to discern what they face, and more importantly what weaknesses they might exploit.
Monster Lore (Undead):
Addressing the newcomer he whispers in Dark Speech, "You asked of my house. I am an illegitimate child of Thex."
Bluff:
A child of Thex........best to keep this one close
In his mispronounced Common Nalun says
Beware the bite of the.....vampyre. It can be fatal. Aim for the throat.
In the Dark Tongue
Du'ased a Innoruuk l'dalhar d'Thex
Blessed by Innoruuk the child of Thex
He gives a half bow to Loki and then prepares a blessing of the Dark Father.
Kur'Plugh gives a grunt, then engulfs himself in the spirit of fire, the ogre produces enough light the to see the vampryes. The flames deal no damage to the ogre and produce no heat, you can see a larger being outlining Kur'Plugh.
There are a total of 4 vamprye's one has landed from a ledge that is thirty feet away from the party, and 20 ft high. The others are on this ledge still. The visibility is 120 light, from the noonday sun.
The vampyre's are a bit on the shocked side of things, but the light also gives them a target to focus on.
The lead vampyre moves forward to attack Nalun
bite
damage
Two of the vamp's start chanting spells one of them, sends a bolt of artic fury at the Ogre, hoping to kill or at least weaken the light the ogre has brought. The fire surrounding the shaman absorbs the cold with no real effect, the fire dims for a brief moment then starts up again. The 4th vamprye decides to turn into mist.
Nalun shouts a Teir'dal warcry in his native tongue and attacks with the blessings of his Dark Father.
Zotreth xuil natha xukuth d'plithut!
Nalun channels his hate into his strike. Nalun's cry is a yaulp of power.
Nalun: the vamprye on you takes another bite at you
damage
please provide me with a fort save DC 18 vs paralyze
Loki: You know much about the undead of Luclin, vamprye's had been part of your training. The vampyre's of Luclin are similar to Norrath ones, they enjoy mesmerizing their opponents then biting and draining them of there life blood.
Those that are drained, become spawn; they also are resistant to damage,
Damage reduction 5/special, daylight Damage reduction 5/+1 and special, daylight Damage reduction 10/+2 and special,
vulnerability, infravision, lightning vulnerability, infravision, lightning reactions, daylight vulnerability, infravision, lightning
reactions, mist form.
As the vampyre bites into Nalun's exposed flesh he cries
Fa'la zatoast klu'chud d'e'trit!
Loki (56/56 hit points, 80/80 mana) glances about the area that they were fighting in to get a better lay of the land, wondering if anything in their surroundings could be used to their advantage. If they were in the Nexus, there had to be a militia, or guards of some sort..
Newly found respect could be extended to the vah shir for building Shar Vahl on the dark side of the moon where apex predators like these vampyres could hunt without ever fearing the light of a sunrise.
It appeared that this shaiith olath darthirii / nameless dark elf had brought this fight to them. It intrigued him that it was "more" food, which suggested that this was not the first time this scene had played out. Since he fought, ineffectively thus far but Loki believed the truth of his actions, it appeared as though others had been set upon due to the actions of this unwitting Teir'dal. Loki tsks and shakes his head: his race was meant to be the orchestrators of plots, not the pawns moved by undead hands.
Sense Motive:
In the common tongue he provides the others with advice on how to best proceed, "Meet not their eyes. Come to the aid of any that are bitten before they can be drained of their blood. Use wooden piercing and slashing weaponry for maximum effect."
He doubted he needed to mention the ability to turn to mist, since they had just seen it happen before their eyes, and only Kur'plugh seemed to travel with the ability to generate daylight with his magics.
The necromancer remains invisible (at will Invisibility vs. Undead), but moves aside (move action) after he speaks so no one can target the area he was just standing in.
Sneak:
Two casters were launching spells their way, and he wanted to know the truth of them.
Spellcraft (to identify spells):
Spellcraft (to identify spells):
(held action)
Loki: Shock of Ice 3d10 cold damage
Holy armor for the other spell caster.
The one vampyre was a wizard, while the other was a cleric. The necromancer wondered what sort of dark god would still hear the call of their faithful after death.
Loki ponders the shaman's spell, as he had the others that had been cast by their foes.
Spellcraft (to identify spells):
Kur'Plugh summoned Loa Spirit, using a spirit of Fire to augment himself, Fire Resis (30) Cold Absorb (24). Not in the Player's handbook, DM storytelling ability
Piter wonders how vampires can prance about in the midday sun. Was he mistaken in his belief that sunlight kills them?
Knowledge/Monster Lore/Undead:
No matter now. As a hissing, whispering chant emerges from his throat (Chant of Battle, +1 Dex, +1 Str, +1 AC mana 27/28), he attacks the one on the newcomer with both his sword twice and shield. The shield is made of wood, though he is not sure if that will help.
Sword Attack 1:
Sword Damage 1:
Sword Attack 2:
Sword Damage 2:
Shield Bash:
Sword Damage 2:
(AC: 23, HP: 85/85, Mana: 27/28)
Piter:
Sword Attack Crit confirm:
Sword Damage Crit confirm:
Piter: Undead are not subjected to Crit threats, or backstabs or stunning effects.
Close at hand to the dark elf that was currently enjoying the attentions of the pale being that had latched onto his neck, the iskar snaps into motion.
The iskar monk slams his fist into the side of things head. Cakkarak had the sneaking suspicion this was going to be a fierce battle. The spells being flung were a good indication of that, and one of them had turned into mist. The monk didn't want to loose sight of that one for any long period of time.
Outnumbered they were not, but from what Loki knows about vampires this was a losing effort.
He continues his search for information on his surroundings, especially focusing on ways of escaping this encounter with the damned.
Kur'plugh points his finger at one of the vamprye's on the ledge, the light surronding the Ogre dims down to 60ft
Nalun, feeling his lifes blood draining from the bite takes a step back and speaks the words of restoration.
L'vlos d'udossta ilharn Innoruuk
Nalun then, noticing that the Human with the sword had attacked the vampyre begins a spell to improve the human's health.
Vamprye's round:
The vamprye turns, everyone notices that he has started to take damage from Kur'Plugh's spell, then starts to move slowly as the spell takes a hold of him.
The Vamprye that was facing Nalun, turns into a pile of ashes from all the damage coming at him. Everyone hears a screech as everyone's attention is now focused to the vamprye's on the ledge, as an entire swarm of Shik’nar start to tear into the vampryes on the ledge.
These large insect-like creatures are found throughout the dark side and twilight regions of Luclin, both on the surface and in underground tunnel complexes. They are large creatures, with reddish abdomens and upper bodies armored in bluish chitin, sporting a pair of greenish vestigial wings.
Highly intelligent (for arthropods) and social, shik’nar maintain a sophisticated hive culture, with adults assigned to duties as nurses for the young, harvesters and herders, as well as warriors dedicated to the defense of the hive. Only the larger “noble” shik’nar can reproduce, and hives are under the control of a single large individual dubbed (by
the other races of Luclin) the warlord.
As a rule, shik’nar hives are relatively peaceful, with workers going about their daily routine and staying clear of outsiders. If attacked, however, shik’nar fight with frightening precision, closing off the entrances to their hives, fearlessly battling foes, and sacrificing themselves to keep the young and reproductive nobles safe. On occasion, though, shik’nar have been known to act more aggressively, exploding from their hives and attacking neighboring settlements. No one is sure why this happens— scholars in Shadow Haven postulate that it may
be the result of some point of critical population density among the insectoids, or perhaps some little understood migratory instinct, but no one has yet found a definitive answer.
END OF COMBAT
Nalun speaks to the Human and Iksar in front of him in his badly pronounced common
My thanks. These creatures come in droves. We are not safe in this place. May I travel with you for a time? I feel our destinations are aligned
They are not enemies....yet.
Nalun casts a minor magick upon himself and also Innoruuk's blessing upon the Iksar and himself. .
HP 50/40 (53) Mana 14/40 AC 21 Center 50 mins
The cavern: It is a sphereical cavern, ledges on the walls 20 ft up from the ground, at least 200 ft around. At least two other entrances, one where the beetles are at. In the south east corner of the room, Loki you see something that could be a shut door, it is hard to tell
Piter is more than a little surprised by the turn of events. He keeps a wary eye on the deadly and swarm, and make sure he's far enough away from them to be safe. It takes him a minute to come to terms with it all, but then he hears the thanks and a question from the unnamed newcomer, and turns to him.
"I would not mind having you along. Do you have a name, traveler?
He looks around to see what his surroundings look like.
Active Spells on Peter:
(Kur'Plugh) Talisman of the beast +3 Str (10 min/L)
(Nalun) Center +1 AC +13 HP (10 min/L)
(HP 97/85, AC 23, Mana 27/28)
The Nexus was supposed to be a city. They appeared to be in the wylds of Luclin, and he would be much more comfortable putting as much distance between himself and the insect-like creatures.
Loki remains silent, permitting this shaiith olath darthirii to come to terms with the others, for the conbluth were the linchpin in whether this union was even a possibility. The necromancer keeps his glances fleeting, but he steals enough of them Kur'plugh's way to make it clear that he was back to not trusting the shaman. Time and again this being just cast impossible spells...
Migrating a bit south the Teir'dal summons his pet to his side, casts a shielding spell and then moves a bit closer to see if he can discern whether what he is seeing is a door or not.
Kur'Plugh is longer glowing, there is at least 200 ft that can easily be explored, unless the party wants to fight an entire colony of Shik’nar. As you get closer to the one possible way out, you see a stone door. There is a hand print impression, it looks like there are four sets of hand impressions, one is large sized on the door.
Loki: Normally you would have arrived at the Nexus, the city itself, this portal took you from Norrath, ported you to Nexus, now you are in another part of Luclin. From what you have gathered, you are perhaps a few days march away from Shadow Haven. You also see that Kur'plugh had lost something of himself from that little display, but isn't talking about it, the ogre shaman is walking with as much vigor as usual. Also the normal twitches that he display's are absent. You surmise that something must have used the ogre as a conduit, which was damaging to the shaman.
If Kur'Plugh wasn't talking about it nor bringing attention about it you put it to the back of your mind to ponder later. As you have approched the only exit out of this place that will not result in combat, you notice that there is a blue light spilling out of your back pack. Pulling your bag off your shoulder, you see that your journal is glowing in a blue light. A quick experiment, proves that when you face away from the door, the journal stops glowing.
Nalun responds to the Human, but his eyes continue to travel to Loki.
My... name is Nal'un. We must leave, hastily...er quickly. The creatures will return.
Do they not know they travel with a childe of Thex?
Cakkarak looks at Kur'Plugh for several long moments, much longer then his normal bored gaze tended to be. The Iskar's green eyes were almost on fire. With curiosity. The shaman continued to surprise, and the spirits he dealt with were nothing to dismiss. All in all, the ogre was quite the threat. Cakkarak's scaled lips twitched, almost grinning. 'Glad he is on our side,' the monk thinks.
Freeing a small sack from the depths of his backpack, Cakkarak gathers a few handfuls of ash and quickly catches up with the others. He didn't want to stay around with those..., bugs. If they were capable of taking apart a vampire, the iskar was certain his scales wouldn't offer any real resistance. Glancing over his shoulder, Cakkarak had a feeling he was going to get the chance to test his skills against the bugs. Whether he wanted to or not.
Simply nodding when when the dark elf, Nal'un, asks to travel with them, Cakkarak keeps his earslits open. He didn't suspect that the Teir'Dal would try anything, at least not right away. And after the vampire had bitten into his neck and supped, Cakkarak felt it extremely unlikely that Nal'un led the vampires to the group. Especially, since that had just portaled in.
Reaching the door, the iskar looks at the different hand print impressions in the stone door.
"Well, that means what we found in the sarcophagi was not part of an elaborate trick," Cakkarak says quietly as he looks at the four impressions. He was interested to see what lay behind the door. It seems this was one of the spots that they had left for themselves more then a 1000 years ago.
Wrapping the journal up tight, he tucks it deeper in the pack, and nods in full agreement with Nalun's assessment.
"This way."
Loki leads them to the door as quickly as possible while still maintaining a modicum of stealth.
Four sets of hand prints reach out to touch the impressions, the door slides downwards after a brief delay. As soon as the group walks past where the door had been, it rises back up as smooth as silk.
Time has not touched this tomb, although there are signs that someone still walked these halls, something dead, perhaps someone had made sure that this tomb would not be robbed. The hall leads into a carved tunnel for half a mile. The feeling that most of you have walked this tunnel before is both comforting and worrisome. What ever had made those tracks in the ground went the same direction that you are going. The tunnel is 30 ft high, well within you sight range. After traveling the half mile you reach an impasse, another tunnel branches off to the right, where the tracks go into, the other continues straight head.
Loki (56/56 hit points, 75/80 mana, minor shielding, invisibility vs. undead) gazes at the door for a moment, absently running the index and middle finger of his right hand along his lips and down to his chin as he considers a door on the moon seemingly only able to be opened by them. Their aged bodies had been teleported from somewhere.
Four hand prints. Four bodies. The necromancer chews on the details for a few moments and then comes to a realization: Nalun had not been laid to rest along with them, nor was he a crucial part of the opening of the door.
He had sensed no obvious deceit, but that was a foolish proposition from his people. It was likely that this cleric of Innoruuk was simply a more practised liar than he was capable of detecting. Perhaps Nalun's destination lied along a different path, or when the others had fallen he still remained alive. Such conjecture could only bring someone so far, and then they required more information to narrow it down to the most likely scenario.
Glancing at the fellow Teir'dal he holds his gaze for a few heartbeats before turning back to more pressing concerns.
Loki gazes at the door, wondering if they were now trapped within, or if there was a means to open it from the inside. They had seen the thickness of the door, and with that in mind he looks at it for any magical emanations, suggestive that it was tougher than its thickness suggested.
A torch need be lit for the human to see, and Loki moves as far away from it as possible.
As the tracks are found he asks the others if they can tell them more of the being that walked the halls, so he could attempt to match it up to an undead he has read about or encountered.
Knowledge: Monster Lore (Undead):
This tunnel was familiar, but he set out to draw in enough details to determine if it was identical to the one they had just descended.
As they reach the choice of direction the necromancer suggests they halt here, rest up, meditate, and draw in information of the movements of the denizens of the darkness. Loki had some studying to do. Turning opposite the chosen path, after doing a quick sweep to see if the glow of the journal revealed the correct direction, he studies the book, cross referencing it with the tome, for some clue of what was transpiring.
Piter, enters the portal, and watches carefully as it closes. The one vampire had been in mist form, so Piter assumes the insect things could not touch him. He eyes the very air, looking and sniffing for a corrupt presence. "The one vampire was in mist form. Keep cautious, as it may have followed us in here. If anyone has a way to sense it, now would be the time." He looks questioningly at the cleric.
He too, shows interest in the tracks. After entering the portal, he looks at them, and tries to determine what they are, and if they also entered through the portal.
Knowledge: Monster Lore (Undead):
Wilderness Lore (Track):
He fingers his permanent ring as he traverses the tunnel, wondering if it could tell him anything. He keeps an eye on the cleric; Nal'un, his name is.
Nalun (HP 50/40 (53) Mana 14/40 AC 21 Center 50 mins) follows close behind the human and the Thex. He hears the human's question but decides to stay silent, he has nothing constructive to add. He notices the softly glowing journal that the Thex refers to, and although intrigued knows better than to ask questions of his superiors. He hopes this path will lead him to the tomb of which he seeks.
"Good point, I am unsure as to the "sunlight" created by Kur'Plagh would effect it the same way as it would the others. And I think it would be unlikely that this place is completely sealed," Cakkarak speaks quietly. The iskar didn't want to further advertise their presence here. The light was signal enough.
"As far as resting, here is as good as place as any," the monk says with nod in the necromancer's direction. Cocking his head slightly to the left, he looks over at the second dark elf.
"Perhaps Nal'un would tell us more about why he is here. Since we are not going anywhere for a while," the iskar looks at the Teir'Dal as he leans up against the wall.
"I would know why those vampyres were after you Nalun."
Loki seeks out any deception in the cleric's words or mannerisms.
Sense Motive:
Nalun goes a little rigid upon being addressed by the Thex
He responds in the Dark speech.
Usstan lac biu bol nindel zhah sslig'neus a nind ka'lum.Usstan helothanninus areion nind mir
Nalun gives a little shrug.
Nalun continues speaking...
Ele 'udtila natha Thex helothannin xuil colnbluth
Nalun's eyes travel over the assembled group of beings.
Loki translates for the group and repeats the truth that he traveled the road with those that shared his destination, and each and every one of Tenebris Anima had shown their mettle to him time and again.
Speaking of being a Thex was the only lie in that exchange.
The cleric was learning on the armour of his every word, probing for weakness. Such scouring must be countered lest Nalun discern the truth behind the lie.
While a commoner the necromancer had spent years among the elite, nobles and royalty alike, which lent his words extra validity, "This is the last that will be spoken of my lineage, and you must treat me as you would any other commoner of Neriak, for to do otherwise endangers me. Such deference marks me as a high priority target, and that is something I cannot abide."
Bluff:
Speaking in the iksar tongue well enough only for simple concepts he hisses, "He is but a hatchling, as am I, and as I learned to see the tactical advantage in forming an allegiance with other races so much he. Your people are even more xenophobic than mine, so I am sure that his position is something you have grown up with."
Either Nalun would extend the respect that the others had earned, or he would not.
While their people tended to hate everyone equally, a short-sighted outlook and part of the reason why the necromancer had his sights on dethroning Innoruuk, but they were generally intelligent enough to conceal their disdain when it suited their purposes. Working together with other races, but only doing so in the belief that such an allegiance suited their personal plans, was not uncommon among the Teir'dal.
Absently chewing some bland rations, and slaking his thirst with short pulls of his waterskin, he continues to stare at Nalun waiting for him to field Cakkarak's question. The lightning-fast monk came from a pitiless people that brooked no disrespect. Loki My'thrandr, of no house worth noting, had done well to stay out of that iksar's path, and Nalun would be wise to follow suit.
To lubricate the conversation he asks the cleric, and he was obviously a cleric for no other Teir'dal vocation could heal others without causing pain, the questions that Nalun had asked him:
He leaves questions about Nalun's mission to the others.
Nalun was taken aback by the Thex's proclamation. Treat him like a commoner, never Nalun noticed the way that the Thex spoke with his companions and found it, odd. Why would one such as he converse and actually defer to such outsiders? Perhaps a plan of subterfuge that I do not understand? Yes, this is likely, the Thex are devious
Addressing himself to the Iksar, Nalun replies in the vulgar common tongue
I am....in this...place in search of an item. An...idol of age...ancient... made by the Combine humans. My house ... sent me away, I did not...represent their interests. The Master of... Arcanists sent me to ...Luclin in search of the idol.
Loki continues to hold Nalun in his eyes as he patiently waits for his questions to be answered.
Loki: The undead that comes to your mind would be a large 'intelligent' skeleton or perhaps a walking zombie that has been augmented to be able to handle simple commands. Commands that you more then likely have set up, you have a tickling sensation that you have created this thing in the past, when you were at the height of your power. Knowing that you needed to protect each tomb, you must have set up some fail safes for your possible return, also there was some.
A page from your journal comes to your mind, while waiting for the cleric some answers.
Kur'Plugh's ramblings before the end were true, we would need to figure out a way to set up a guardian. He had created a guardian spirit of fire that would come to his aid when and if we were needed to return. I've created an undead creature that will answer to my call when I return, TENEBRIS ANIMA excitatus advenire, quo fata ferunt, quousque tandem?
Quodcumque dixerit vobis, facite.
Sensing the expectation in the Thex's eyes Nalun relates his story beginning with his apprenticeship with Perrir Zexus and his being cast out of Neriak to his travels on Luclin searching for the idol of power. Nalun ensures that he does not spill secrets to the non Teir'dal such as the hidden locations of Neriak's entrances and the myriad plots and designs that his house had upon Neriak and Norrath proper.
If Nalun is expecting judgement for being an outcast from Neriak it does not come from Loki. If anyone could commiserate with being out of step with the Teir'dal it was the necromancer.
He simply looks the cleric in his eyes and says, "We walk with powerful allies."
The shielding spell had been refreshed.
With that Loki (56/56 hit points, 80/80 mana, minor shielding, invisibility vs. undead) climbs to his feet and points down the pathway that the skeletal step had traveled.
It was easy to walk down dark passages when you were invisible to the eyes of the damned.
Used to the near silent communication that had evolved within Tenebris Anima, Cakkarak nods. The iskar eyes the skeletal footprints. He noted that the necromancer had them following that path. Not that the iskar was surprised by that in the least.
Cakkarak sticks to the right of the tunnels as he begins to move out.
The passageway to the right, goes for another mile, twisting slightly, you have the sense that this is a spiril passageway as it has a slight downwards feeling to it. No light expect for the whatever source is illuminating for those that don't have infravision or ultravision.
As the group moves forward, the feeling that you are being watched and perhaps even silently being judged by a source you can not place creeps up your spine. Even spending a few extra moments to look around just to satisfy the feeling that you are alone, doesn't put that nagging feeling down.
Once you reach the bottom of the passageway another door is sighted, this door has a set of four hand prints, Along with the words " Four have arrived, any damned fools that walk this pathway without the the four shall perish and arise as guardians of this tomb. You also notice a hulking skeleton to the left of the door, waiting for someone to try and open the door.
The passage way down was 20 by 30, large creatures could walk down here single file without an issue, side by side they would be squeezed. The skeleton's eyes flash from blue to crimson.
You have a few options, fight, flee, or say the words in the correct order. Choose your action now, Loki will go first then the rest of the party.
Piter steps back. "Loki, do you know the words?"
He holds his shield up, and pulls out is flail.
It is best to appear mysterious and more important indispensable.
Loki whispers to Piter, "Quodcumque dixerit vobis, facite", in answer to his question about the four.
Piter looks at Loki and then just watches him, and the skeleton.
The monk's cold green gaze narrows. His stance changes ever so slightly , reptilian eyes never leaving the massive skeleton. The monk could see another of the door that required their hands to open. 'Rather ingenious, actually,' Cakkarak thinks to himself.
Snapping his full attention back to the skeleton, he waits a dozen heartbeats before slowly walking towards the sealed door. Cakkarak's eyes never leave the old skeleton. If it attacked, the monk wanted to get out of it's way as quickly as he could.
Nalun watches the threesome warily. It seems the Thex has them under his thrall. This could be good or bad, must wait and see.