Jillian did not like this, not one bit. Tightening her grip on her borrowed mace, she shifted her weight, trying to subtly get a few steps closer.
Caleb caught himself about to tense and forced himself to stay relaxed. Instead he tried to distract the First Warden "Excuse me, Warden. Do you know how long you have been stationed here?"
'Not again' Eirik groaned as the all-too-familiar unholy miasma sapped his strength. That particular trick was really starting to get on the monk's nerves. He knew there was nothing for him to do but accept the damage and keep going, so that's what he did, dodging and weaving his way deeper into the room to get behind the undead guardian, landing several heavy blows on its desiccated flanks and back, thanking Noravia for her blessing against evil she had bestowed upon his body.
PHEW!
Don't forget that Protection from Evil gives you +2 to your save, Eirik. Also, we have +2 to AC.
Even as the Warden announced her attack, Jillian was in motion. The miasma of evil made her stagger a few steps, as she felt the life drain out of her. However, she also felt the strength of Noravia's blessing and protection, and it helped her fight of pain and despair.
The creaking of armour told her that more enemies, mindless ones at that, were about to join the battle.
Skirting the lich, she took up position behind her, hoping to flank with Eirik or Noravia.
Wielding her borrowed mace and magic shield, she threw herself into the fray, bashing with both weapons, hoping to see bits of bone and armour scattering with each blow.
Don't forget that Protection from Evil gives you +2 to your save, Eirik. Also, we have +2 to AC.
Sorry about the map; I of course have one but forgot to add it to the recap.
You can flank with Eirik, which would give you sneak attack.
However, you have to move and attack as a standard action this round so you don't get so many attacks, just one.
The same applies to Eirik unless he's got something u his sleeve.
BTW, AC=31.
I intend to recap later today.
Questions?
Game on!
Flying Kick: The monk leaps through the air to strike a foe with a kick. Before the attack, the monk can move a distance equal to his fast movement bonus. This movement is made as part of the monk’s flurry of blows attack and does not require an additional action. At the end of this movement, the monk must make an attack against an adjacent foe. This movement may be between attacks. This movement provokes an attack of opportunity as normal. The attack made after the movement must be a kick.
Years of being trained by the Asmodeans allowed Noravia to recognize the attack for what it was. Thankfully her training, but more importantly Milani's protection, kept most of the evil from seeping into her body and soul.
The inquisitor knew that the best way to fight evil was with good. She quickly advanced on the Warden hoping to become its focus freeing the others to either free Jackdaw or attack unnoticed.
In a commanding voice Noravia spoke judgment against the lich. Then she added, "Asmodeus couldn't keep his hold on me. Let's see if you can succeed where he failed!"
She then called on Milani's divine light to pierce the lich's blackened soul and withered body.
When it happened it happened fast. The lich's face changed and she began to move and Tillia had just enough time to clench her will together as the energy burst forth. Her lack of trust in the lich paid off and she was able to shrug off the worst of the effects of the negative enrgy even if it still hurt severely.
Caleb grit his teeth as dark magics pulled at his soul, but when Noravia moved, so did he. The two fiances stood together against the darkness, and when her shining beam of light lashed out at the lich it was followed by two spiky distortions in the smoky air.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, pass
, miss
, miss
, miss
, hit
, miss
, miss
Noravia sought to finish off the Warden as quickly as possible even with the appearance of animated suits of armor.
The inquisitor spoke divine words to call more divine power to hurt the lich.
After the spell went off, Noravia yelled at Caleb to get behind her. She didn't like how vulnerable he was with the suit of armor bearing down on him.
Caleb did as he was told, jumping back towards the wall. A second later the churning ball of dark water that had saved him so many times before manifested once again. It appeared behind Jillian, swallowing up two suits, and slammed through the ranks of animate armour towards the Cage.
Dodging the heavy swing of a mace, Eirik took note of the undead warrior's skill in arms. Not quite as formidable as he had feared - clarly the creature had lacked challenging foes to hone its skills... or perhaps she had focused her attention to perfecting her divine skills. She did, however, have a firm hold of her weapon, resisting Eirik's efforts to separate her from her mace. At least his following series of strikes connected, both kicks and palm strikes crushing bones and showering Eirik with dust but as one might expect, no pain from the wounds registered on the lich's face.
Tillia's smile grew vicious when she saw the way the armor had rushed in and their current positions and knew that they had made a serious mistake. Stepping back against the wall she chanted and gestured then flung her hand out towards a point twenty feet behind and just to her left. A mass of webbing suddenly exploded from that point and engulfed all four suits of armor but just missing the First Warden. She knew it wouldn't take the armor out but it would keep them tied down for hopefully long enough to finish the lich.
Seeing that her borrowed mace did little to harm the lich, Jillian abandoned it in favour of concentrating on her shield bash. Trusting that the webs and water flying around would at least distract the pair of animate armours behind her, she continued to flank with Eirik. If he knocks that mace out of her hand, we'll see how much she likes it being used against her!
Her first attack caught the lich square in the spine, and Jillian heard it creak under the fierceness of her blow. The second, however, glanced off the lich's armour.
I don't know. Bu I don't think the phantom armor suits know either. :)
Recapping now...
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, fail
, fail
, pass
, pass
carried away?
, fail
, fail
, pass
, pass
, miss
, hit
, pass
, fail
Jillian was mentally unprepared for the second attack of negative energy, and it hit her like a ton of evil bricks. Staggering slightly in pain, Jillian bent down and scooped up the mace that the lich had dropped.
Straightening up again, she lashed out at the lich with her own weapon. However, her aim and balance were off, and she was unable to connect with the creature.
The dark circle is the orb (which I now realized you wanted going the opposite way). Sorry about that. :(
I didn't bother drawing in the web because they saved.
I also don't expect this fight to last another round.
You guys are just to tough and I'll have to get creative to challenge you.
I mean, what's a fight without the threat of Shari's PC dying? :)
Questions?
Game on!
I see :)
The Orb is only 10ft diameter. Basically a large template creature.
Caleb cried out a little and blood trickled from his mouth as the dark energy struck home. He'd lived his entire life in pain, though, and he didn't intend to let it stop him now.
Slowly, cumbersomely, the orb slowed, stopped, and reversed. Once more it traced a trail of watery destruction over the armour.
Noravia was hoping that destroying the lich would also destroy the animated armor. Once again she raised her palm and divine light streaked towards the lich.
The inquisitor tried to encourage the two mages, "Hold on you two. Caleb, can you teleport yourself and Tillia to the other side of the room or to Jackdaw's cell?"
Trouble with Psychic Magic: casting defensively is really, really hard.
If there are any armours left with AoO (remembering that the orb provides cover)...
Standard action to move avoiding AoO. Half speed is 25ft. DC = CMD (+2 if he has to do it twice).
Caleb dodged past the armour, almost slipped on the wet ground, tumbled, jumped the web and landed safely at the far end of the room.
With the enemy disarmed, it predictably turned to its divine powers to assault them. This time, though, Eirik was better prepared and weathered the unholy miasma better. The dark shroud was enough to foul his aim, however, as only a single high kick struck through the ancient armor, releasing another burst of dust and bone shards.
Tillia felt a wash of fear as the armor simply tore it's way free of the webbing. She hadn't expected that and realizing it was going to strike her did her no good as the blade lashed out and slashed into her body. It hurt but she was still up. Unfortunately the lich sent another burst of negative energy out at the worst possible time and her distraction by the pain left her mind unprepared. The wash of foul energy washed through her and it was only the webbing that partially blocked her view of the lich that reduced the effectiveness of it.
Tillia knew she couldn't get away, and she knew that she was in trouble if this went on, so she began to chant as she watched the armor for any attacks, foiling it's efforts to get a strike in while she did so. Fortunately she had practiced this kind of casting a great deal lately and such a simple spell as she was using she could successfully cast in her sleep. With a brief shimmer she vanished and then began to move away from the armor.
I cast Vanish and then begin to move away. No AoO unless they have away to ignore the invisiblity. I'll move over to the door in the southeast corner.
Noravia assessed everyone's wounds. Determining Tillia's to be the worst, she began with the mage and used the healing wand on her. She then gave everyone a shot of positive healing energy to combat the evil taint they had been poisoned with.
She then turned her attention to the lich's body and removed any useful items to take along with them.
Action 2:
Noravia saw the faceplate and her insides twisted with a new wave of loathing for their enemy. How dare they treat her in such a manner. The inquisitor searched around for how to remove it from the elf.
As she began to search for a way to remove the faceplate, she nudged Caleb forward. In a whisper she encouraged him to sing, "You should join her and harmonize. That way she'll know we're on her side."
"You should join her and harmonize. That way she'll know we're on her side."
That seemed like a good idea, Eirik thought, weighting the Warden's mace in his hands to gauge its balance. If the poor woman's mind was broken by torture and isolation, if she found solace in the song she was humming, then perhaps going along with it would draw her back to the present.
Action 1:
Caleb spun around, and a flight of magical darts flew from his hand to slam into the armour fighting Noravia. Even as he did so the ball of water rolled back over the struggling combatants.
---
Caleb Slammed his foot into the skull visage of the lich. "Lich this!" he screamed.
Action 2:
Caleb gave a disbelieving glance. The original Silver Ravens had been legends, and he was a street singer. Fleetingly he wondered if these last months had turned out to be some unreal dream - but decided Noravia was beyond his imagination.
With a brief muttered prayer to Callistria he gathered his courage, his voice... and sang!
Jillian made short work of the lock (finding the keys had helped), and opened the door. She could only imagine how life had been for this woman, incarcerated down here with only the lich for company. A lich who didn't even know who was in charge. How is she alive? Who fed her?
Putting down her weapons, she tried to make herself look as harmless as possible. Hands spread wide, she stepped into the cell. "Ma'am? Jackdaw? That's you, right? We're with the Silver Ravens, and we're here to rescue you. If you let me, I can get that horrid thing off your face."
Action 1
Tillia saw just how badly the lich was doing and realized they might get out of this one alive. when she saw Eirik deliver a kick that literally made heads roll she knew they would be alright. With the collapse of the armor at their Master's destruction Tillia dismissed the webbing and then her invisibility.
As Noravia came to heal her Tillia gave the other woman a smile and said, "Thank you Noravia, that's much better."
Action 2
As they entered the cell where Jackdaw was held Tillia gave a gasp in horror. If the woman had been in that all this time it was amazing she still lived. Seeing her filth Tillia approached Jackdaw and began to chant a few words as she made the gestures of a simple spell and caused the elf's filth to slough off of her.
Sorry guys but my new tasks at home are taking quite a bit of my time.
You'll just have to bear with me until I fall into my new routines.
Recap coming out tomorrow (maybe in the morning).
Game on!
"I reckon there's something around here to stop just jumping out. We should get her at least a bit away first. Good chance that bastard going down triggers an alarm as well. So; target 2. What's the plan? T - you reckon you can put the whammy on the guards? I would not be upset by a 'kill first ask questions never' policy right now." Caleb looked darkly at Jackdaw as he said this. "But someone needs to get her out and stay with her. Ideally someone strong enough to move her, gently, without help. Also..." he paused "This COULD be a trap. We should be careful. Once we're further up I reckon T jumps us all directly to safety."
When Jackdaw collapsed, Noravia rushed over to her and began checking her over for any unseen wounds.
She began to gather the frail elf into her arms. "She's utterly exhausted - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The only way she's getting out of here is if someone carries her. We need to get her out of here. I can't even imagine what kind of torture she's been through."
She made her way over to Caleb with Jackdaw in her arms, "Can you stay close to me and sing to her if she wakes? I don't think my voice will be very comforting."
Noravia headed for the door with their precious cargo. "Now let's go grab Carliss and get out of here. But if something goes sideways then we need to get Jackdaw out and send one of the teams back to collect Carliss."
Jillian was steaming; this woman had been treated worse than an animal, and had obviously suffered for decades of confinement. Gripping her sword and shield tightly, she nodded and led the way back upstairs, making sure nothing could get past her to where Noravia carried Jackdaw.
When they arrived on Carliss's floor, she stomped up to the guards, not even attempting stealth or subterfuge. "Everybody else in this place is dead or gone. You're alone. We're taking Carliss. You can fight us and die, or you can take his place in the cell and wait for rescue. What'll it be?"
When they arrived on Carliss's floor, she stomped up to the guards, not even attempting stealth or subterfuge. "Everybody else in this place is dead or gone. You're alone. We're taking Carliss. You can fight us and die, or you can take his place in the cell and wait for rescue. What'll it be?"
Eirik stood behind Jillian as the warrior delivered her ultimatum, silent and watchful. Whatever had been done to reduce the former leader and founder of the Silver Ravens to her current state was more than enough to drive a man to anger, and while it was likely few of the guards had even known of her existence - otherwise the secret would have been out a lot sooner, the monk thought - he was quite ready to crack some heads if the remaining sentries and clerks gave them any trouble.
Sorry for my lack of posting. Been a very rough day and I'm under the weather. Had to take stuff to help me sleep tonight so I'll get a post up in the morning.
Action 1:
Noravia's focus was on keeping Jackdaw comfortable and safe as she carried the elf. The inquisitor was relieved that the guards weren't in the mood to fight. She left the answering of Carliss' questions to the others.
Action 2:
Noravia settled Jackdaw onto one of the couches before collapsing into a chair of her own. Carrying her all the way back from the prison had greatly tired the inquisitor. "She'll most likely be disoriented when she wakes and possibly terrified. I don't think she should be left alone for the first little while. The good news is that she was singing the Song of Silver when we found her so there's a very good chance that she still remembers the words."
Action 1
Jillian hoped that Eirik had the answer to that. Noravia was totally intent in caring for the elf, and quite frankly, Jillian had half-forgotten why they were here in the first place. She certainly wasn't the one to explain the contract loophole to Carliss.
Action 1
Carlis was full of questions but was very grateful to be taken out jail, “I never had a trial. This is a mistake.” He was not as bad as Jackdaw but he was not in good shape. He asked, “So who are you and who sent you to get me?”
"Right now, we are the people who want to get you safely away from here," Eirik murmured, his voice calm despite his own urgency to get going before reinforcements could arrive to complicate matters further. "We work for the Silver Ravens; that will have to satisfy you for the moment, Sir," he added, knowing that the break-in would nevertheless be attributed to the Ravens unless the government decided to try to hide it had happened instead, but not feeling the need to emphasize their role in the rebel organization's leadership before witnesses - better be taken for agents than officers.
Action 2
Acction 1
Tillia was distraught by the way Jackda had been treated, and for who knew how long, it was a miracle the elven woman was alive given those conditions. As they made their way back up to Carlis' cell she prepared to magic the guards if needed but it turned out to be unnecessary. With the young man freed and asking question Tillia shifted over to keep him occupied and began to fill him in on the details of what he missed. She didn't explain why they rescued him, that would be better done in a safe location. With their decision to return to the Wasp Nest made and their distance great enough from the prison Tillia gathered them all together and said, "Should I teleport some of us straight there? I can take three with me and I think two of them should be those we've rescued. I'm familiar enough with the nest that the chance of arriving elsewhere will be minimal."
"I think so, T. Everyone who can should shortcut." Caleb agreed. "We've kicked over a hornet's nest."
Action 1
Caleb who was collapsed into a chair went still. 'How do I say 'not a chance' politely?' he wondered - then realised the answer was obvious "I doubt I'll be around once this is over." Caleb said apologetically "I'm just hoping I make it through to the end. It'd suck to have come this far and missed out on the crescendo."
Action 3
"I still like the idea of rendering the old man feebleminded long enough to get him declared incompetent. We need to check there's been no disinheriting or anything first, though." Caleb closed his eyes "I feel like we need to be upfront about what we're doing, though. It does make him an accomplice though, if that messes with it legal-like. Eirik?"