Ayesha felt the cold of the chimera's breath weapon, followed by a nasty set of attacks. Bleeding heavily, she pressed the attack, charging her sword with a touch more of her personal aura. Two strikes lashed out, followed by another charged with electricity.
HP 16/58. Current AC: 23/19/19
Active conditions:
Active spell effects: enduring armor (mythic), haste, bless, ap(+2), banner
Arcane pool: 5/8 left today
Spells remaining: 1st 4/5, 2nd 3/4, 3rd 2/2
Black Blade arcane pool 2/2
Mythic power: 4/5
Radiance flashes in the light as Nilus sweeps down brutally on the back of the chimera. All three heads arch up and roar in pain before Jinxx pounces on its back, clawing and biting at its neck. The chimera throws Jinxx off and then raises all three heads, preparing to finish off Ayesha.
However, as it pounces, Darb N'ssiar flashes in the dim light of the worldwound, and slams into the leopard head, splitting it open. The chimera lunges back, almost yanking the black blade from Ayesha's hand. It thrashes around, spraying blood over the bridge before its other two heads let out one final roar, and it collapses.
End of Combat
With its noisy death there's a sudden sound of screaming from all around you. Strange wisps of energy begin to escape from the body of the chimera, flitting around the area. You see the faces of horrific demons in these wisps, their souls finally unshackled from the mythically-powered chimera.
Finally, they are gone, and there is silence. The fight is over as quickly as it began.
Ayesha slumped to the ground as she completed her attacks. The sounds of the dying chimera couldn't overpower the thundering of her heartbeat in her ears. She hurt and she was cold...so cold. Still, a distant voice in the back of her mind whispered something that sounded suspiciously like well done.
Ayesha 40 (19+21)
Sarkast 23 (2+21)
Jinxx 14? (7+21-14?)
Nilus 21
Ronan 21 (11+10)
Dejik 55 (34+21)
Dejik sinks to her knees, pained that she had to let her friends down when they needed her most, and well aware that she couldn’t help with the combat. Worse still, she needs to tend to her own wounds before she can help them.
She crawls over to the dancer. I’m sorry I abandoned you. You were magnificent. She restores the link between them, then casts a healing spell.
When the worst of Ayesha's wounds are tended, Dejik looks up. Is everyone strong enough to make it back to the army?
Ayesha 21 (40-5-14)
Sarkast 23 (2+21)
Jinxx 14? (7+21-14?)
Nilus 21
Ronan 21 (11+10)
Dejik 21 (55-28-9+5)
Nilus can channel to heal his allies
Despite his fatigue, Sarkast scans the area, watching for signs of further trouble.
"While we had intended to secure the graveyard, this last battle took much from us. It might be best to rest before proceeding."
Exhausted and hurt, you make your southwards into Southbank. It appears that the last battle was a rout. The army is busy piling scores of bodies of tieflings and cultists, and a huge warehouse has been broken in to. There, a multitude of weapons are being passed out to several hundred weary, exhausted-looking people you don't recognize. As you trek in from the north a cheer sounds out as the paladins spot you. You are quickly ushered over to Irabeth, who is looking over a map with Aron.
"Things are going well I see! We saw that chimera swoop down on you, but by the time we'd organized someone to go out there it appeared to be dead. Spectacular work on the catapults and with securing the bridge. We've got a highway straight into the Citadel. To be honest, the lot of you look half-dead from the fights you've been in. The troops are in good spirits, and I think we can camp out the night."
She indicates Southbank with a sweep of her hand, as well as what appears to be a second army of released prisoners.
"We sustained minimal losses taking Paradise Hill, but the dretches were dug in fairly well. Enough prisoners for a second army here, and the warehouse we've uncovered here has enough to arm the prisoners. They're not exactly in fighting shape, but we work with what we can. The last threat to eliminate is the undead in the graveyard to the west."
Aron looks to be in better spirits than you've ever seen him. The thrill of battle and tactics seems to do well for his health.
"We could skip the undead and barge straight into the Citadel, but we leave an unpredictable foe behind us if we do so. Ghouls are just wandering around Kenabres, and an unlucky scratch can get someone paralyzed and eaten. If we can finish that off with minimal losses, we can strike directly into the Citadel. They're not coming out to meet us for obvious reasons and that chimera seemed to be their best weapon for these situations."
He grins at the party.
"This couldn't be going better. Let's get you some food and rest. We hit the graveyard tomorrow. Oh also, Ayesha, there were several days of food supplies for the prisoners. So although we're eating more now, our stocks have gone up."
Rest, I need. But first I need to see about our supplies. We gained quite a few mouths to feed, as well as some new supplies. Let's see how those two balance out.
Ayesha takes the inventory of the new supplies, which includes several barrels of preserves, wheels of cheese, and many barrels of water. All in all it's an additional six days worth of rationing for the army. The new additions don't seem to require that much food, and considering the fast time made, the provisions are in excellent shape with a week's worth of supplies.
Dejik gets as many of the injured as she can around her and spends her last channel and lay on hands. Then she uses her remaining spells and skills as a healer to treat wounds and cure disease. ()
Then she helps Ayesha with supplies by reclaiming any spoiled supplies () and creating clean water.
Before retiring for the evening, Dejik visits each of her comrades, apologizes for deserting them, and restores the link between them.
"Dejik, saving your own life so that you can continue to fight is not deserting. You never left us, you just did what you had to in order to remain in the war."
Sarkast visits the troops and thanks them for their efforts, and helps with any weapon repairs that are needed.
- - -
The next morning over breakfast, he relates a dream. "I have told you of the woman who saved me when I was a child, the one I believe was sent by Desna herself to ensure I reached this point. I saw her in my dreams last night, only she was a member of my clan. She was training us, and in particular pushing us in races. She demanded that I go faster than I ever had, and I felt that I spent the entire night running, until I won every race. I awoke rested, but feeling as if I actually had run all night. I am not certain what this portent is, but it is good to know the gods are still watching and helping us."
With their efforts done for the day, the group fall asleep to the sound of the excited chatter of the army. Despite taking some minor losses attacking Paradise Hill, it's obvious that spirits could not be higher.
Throughout the night, there is the sound of the occasional warning or combat as undead wander into the camp. However, the army of paladins make quick work of any ghouls that wander in, and the night otherwise passes without incident.
At the crack of 'dawn', the word only being applied loosely due to the filtered, ugly light of the Worldwound, the group find themselves eating breakfast as Sosiel explains the ghoul army and the strange vault.
"As far as we can tell the ghouls and the demons co-exist, but considering the nature of either party there doesn't seem to be a real alliance. That said the ghouls are a menace and a dangerously unpredictable element. Actually reaching the cemetery is awkward due to the old riverbeds, but if we swing around to the southwest that should allow us to engage the enemy that way."
He points at a building marked on the map with 'vault' written beside it.
"Commanders, this is where you come in. There is great evil emanating from this building. Most undead menaces have a root cause, usually a terrible event, or a creature of great power. We will keep the ghoul army off of your back, if you handle whatever lies at this building."
After Sosiel explains the situation, the army takes no time to break camp and start heading southwest. The trek takes a few hours as the army is slowed by the rescued prisoners who do not have mounts, and the need to avoid climbing down and back up a stream bed which once fed into the Ahari. However, the group soon finds themselves to the south of the cemetery. Irabeth claps everyone on the back and points northeast.
"See that building? That's the vault. We're cutting west from here. Give us a chance to get ahead, and then head straight for it. If there's something in there, keep it off of us."
"Ending an undead menace, eh? This seems like something Nilus was created specifically for, eh?"
Ayesha will take some time preparing her spells and sitting in communion with her sword. Together they talked of yesterday's battles and the close call with the chimera. Ayesha listened patiently as her sharp adviser spoke to her with concern about how willingly she threw herself into battle.
Ronan and Jinxx retire to get a nights rest, and to heal.
"Ending an undead menace, eh? This seems like something Nilus was created specifically for, eh?"
"And Dejik as well. Though she hasn't lived among our people and worships a different goddess, I can still sense her power. And this morning it seems somehow stronger. I believe the gods that guide us are preparing us, giving us the gifts we need when we need them."
"What do the two of you know about fighting the living dead? Are there special preparations we can make, similar to arming ourselves with cold-iron for the demons?"
As the army moves off, Sarkast takes some time to sharpen his knives. He has taken to using them more than the spears he used to favor, and now carries a brace of them on a bandolier.
- - - - -
As the group approaches the vault, Sarkast runs ahead, giving it a wide berth but checking it from all angles for traps or signs of creatures coming and going. While doing so, he finds himself moving farther and faster than ever before, spurred on with holy power.
Holy Water works, as does most magic involving the gods of good. Ghouls aren't that difficult to slay, we killed some back at the Chapel of Shelyn on the road here. Nilus says.
Nilus will stand ready with Radiance at port arms, he waits for Sarkast to give the go ahead.
The building itself seems shrouded in strange, rippling darkness. Up close it's a strange sight. Sarkast steps in closer to it and his vision immediately clouds to an extent in an effect similar to what the tieflings had cast. There is also a disquieting, unpleasant aura about the place. He circles around to the front and finds the doors to what appears to be a crypt slightly ajar.
I can cast Arashniel's light wand on one of Sarkast's weapons or a stone. Then you can throw it to see your target more clearly. She shrugs. Or I can cast it on my bow or Nilus's glaive.
I would be most appreciative M'lady if you could bestow that blessing on Radiance. Nilus says, with a bow of thanks when Dejik uses the wand.
Ayesha followed behind Sarkast as he moved forward, staying far enough back that if she stumbled, he wouldn't be caught out. The darkness around the building gave her no particular problems. Apparently, the rush of divine energies she experienced after defeating the manticore helped her elven eyes see even better in low light and dark conditions.
The group all circle around to the front of the crypt. The door swings open at a push to reveal the empty entrance to the crypt. Highly stylized double doors lead southwards, but otherwise the front entrance is bare.
However, as the group prepare to enter, Dejik suddenly feels a ghastly chill pass through her being! She spins to see the ghostly figure of a strange, vile-looking blue creature pass a hand through her, partially sucking out her life force.
Snarling, it swipes out at her again before she can react!
This creature appears to be a berbalang, a foul undead monstrosity noted for its love of preying on human settlements. Their touch can paralyze.
Berbalangs are resistant to damage not done by good or silver weapons. They are known for their ability to project a harmful spirit of them, but can only do so within a mile radius.
Nilus calls upon the Holy Power of Shelyn to combat this monstrosity
Blessed Rose, hear my plea!
Sarkast pulls out a vial of water blessed by the priests, then runs around the ghostly creature to pour its contents onto it.
Nilus roars into action, sweeping out his weapon twice in a beautiful arc. It only seems to connect partway as it passes through the incorporeal creature. Nonetheless, it certainly does some damage.
Moxsahbuul (27 dmg)
---
Nilus (smiting)
Dejik
Sarkast
Ayesha
Ronan
Jinxx
Dejik steps back from the ghostly form, snaps the wand of Bless Weapon into her hand, and pats Jinxx on the head. Here--this should help.
Ayesha took a moment to imbue Darb N'ssiar with a fraction of her power. The scimitar wavered in the failing light as it shifted between this world and the next. Ayesha dove around Ronan and came up behind the creature, slashing out at the creature as it turned to face Sarkast.
HP 61/61. Current AC: 23/19/19
Active conditions:
Active spell effects:
Arcane pool: 7/8 left today
Spells remaining: 1st 5/5, 2nd 4/4, 3rd 2/2
Black Blade arcane pool 2/2
Mythic power: 6/7
Ronan casts Haste on everyone
Jinxx feels the blessing from Dejik, Jinxx flies at the thing and bites down on it.
Sarkast's holy water goes egregiously overhead, smashing against the wall of the crypt. Ayesha empowers her weapon and swoops in, slashing the creature brutally! Bits of it dissipate from the vicious attack.
It looks around wildly, throws up its arms in a shriek, and vanishes.
End of Combat
Dejik tries to undo some of the damage caused by the ghost.
The group look around for a while as Dejik heals herself. Off in the distance, they hear the battle about to begin. The crypt lurks there ominously.
Once Dejik is recovered from the ghost's touch, Sarkast steps up to check the entry to the crypt, magic dagger in hand.
Nilus follows a short distance behind, Radiance gleaming with the light of day.
Ayesha went with Nilus, determined to enter this foul place and cleanse it of its taint before they moved on to the citadel itself. She mentally ran through her prepared spells and made herself ready for anything.
The group make their way into the crypt entryway. It has an unsettling, ominous feeling to it, but there is no noise, nor response to the entry of the group. Two doors to the south lead into the crypt itself.
Dejik asks Iomadae to help protect Ronan's companion.
As they enter the crypt, Dejik smooths the holy symbol on her tabard, preparing to call on divine guidance at a moment's notice.
Jinxx: Mythic Protection from Evil (7 minutes), Bless Weapon (~4 rounds)
Nilus: Daylight (50 minutes)
Ayesha:
Dejik: 1 Con dmg
Jinxx:
Nilus:
Ronan:
Sarkast:
As the group enters, Sarkast moves to the crypt doors. He listens for any sound beyond, then once everyone is in place, opens them.
Finally acknowledging that her bow is nearly useless in this situation, Dejik slings her trusted weapon over her shoulder, making it easier to cast spells.
Bones fill the atrium, clattering noisily beneath the feet of the party as they move into the atrium. The inner doors open easily at Sarkast's touch, which reveal a desecrated crypt. Daylight from Radiance spills into the crypt properly, which is lined with alcoves that would have once contained jars of ashes. The jars are now smashed and scattered, the ashes lining the ground.
Sarkast peers in as the doors swing open, and he is suddenly attacked! No longer ghostly but fully corporeal and without a hint of injury, the bat-winged creature lunges from the shadows at the rogue. However, Sarkast is difficult to surprise, and he quickly dodges. The creature snarls, stepping around an alcove.
Ayesha
Jinxx
Sarkast
---
Moxsahbuul
---
Nilus
Ronan
Dejik