As Luca finished her summoning, Vilstrak(s) appeared and began to pummel the guardians. Luca herself bunkered down a moment later, even as her Eidolon moved to guard her. The Void didn't seem to want to use any other powers at the moment - or maybe it was just that it couldn't - so she was trying to stay out of the way. The first and the third struck out at Dante's target, while the second focused on the other foe.
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Kien cracks his knuckles: previously a menacing act, but with his new size it's utterly bone-chilling. He steps over and unleashes a terribly onslaught of attacks.
Dante was momentarily caught off guard by how week the punch was. Fast like a martial artist but it felt like a child had merely kicked him in the thigh. Then the burning started. Gritting his teeth, Dante stabs two more times in quick succession. His own weapon was about as ineffectual as the punches but carried a similarly painful bite.
Luca's Vilstrak's appear at last to add their flailing fists to the fight, but are only poorly effective Kienyach, his enlarged bulk stuffed into a room that can barely hold him, lashes out with enormous ferocity. His blows splash acidic blood about the room. Kien can feel the Guardian flowing around the attacks, trying to hold itself together. A leg knocks it to the ground, and a final stomp upon prone forms causes it to break apart, the bloody liquid no longer cohesive and washing over the stones.
Each contact with the Guardians' form does have a drawback, as the fluid burns Kienyach and the Vilstraks alike, taking some small retribution for the damage they've caused.
Dante's dancing blade, though poor in its own right is able to make it's mark as the evocation freezes bits of the guardian solid.
The remaining Guardian retaliates at Dante, ignoring the smaller figures that have joined the fight.
A few moments after the demise of its guardian, the statue that had birthed it activates again, and more of the blood pours from its mouth and nose to begin forming a figure upon the stone...
End of Combat Round 3
Begin Combat Round 4
Luca
Fluffy (Haste, 3/4)
Dante (17 damage, Haste, 3/4)
Tyrus (4 damage, Haste, 3/4)
Kien (11 damage, Haste, 3/4)
Guardian 1 (Stunned, reforming)
Guardian 2 (38 damage)
The Vilstraks shuffled around a bit, with the second interposing itself between its target and Tyrus while the first moved to give Dante flanking.
<"Ah f'uh'e!"> Luca called - and the first and third Vilstraks whirled to attack the statues, rather than continuing to pummel the creature they were next to. The second one was still going after the guardian, mostly as a way of keeping it distracted.
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Tyrus swears as the blood reforms. When Luca's creatures turn to assault the statues he nods "Good thought."
With a quick movement he flicks over to behind Dante, stretches out his hand and taps the young man.
Dante curses loudly at yet another acidic hit. Today was just not his day. He felt like he was having a lot of those recently. Despite the searing pain from the acid, the dark thought seems to settle on him like a weight, cold and heavy. Yet still he finds some reserve to push his body forward and his blade up at the blood beast before him. Luca's guardians barely even register next to him, the faceless hunks of stone always ready to stand between her and the enemy. He can't help but feel a bit of resentment at that.
Kien doesn't let up, despite the burning.
At orders from Luca, two of the Vilstraks turn on the statues that seem to be giving life to the guardians. Their blows are able to chip a few flakes from the stone.
Elsewhere in the room, the melee continues.
The now re-constituted guardian manages to kip to its feet and avoid another tastes of Kien's fighting acumen, but it's attack is also easily dodged. It's fellow nimbly slips by Dante to reposition itself and spit a gout of acid blood over the young swordsman and the two vilstraks.
End Combat Round 4
Begin Combat Round 5
Luca
Fluffy (Haste, 4/4)
Dante (23 damage, Haste, 4/4)
Tyrus (4 damage, Haste, 4/4)
Kien (25 damage, Haste, 4/4)
Guardian 1 (68 damage)
Guardian 2 (57 damage)
Non-Combatants:
Summoning Statue 2: 2 damage.
Kien bares his teeth as the blood begins oozing from his hands. He hasn't felt pain (well not serious pain) from hitting things in a long time. But it's going to take more than that to stop him.
The first Vilstrak shattered under the force of the blow that had hit it, crumbling away and vanishing as its companions continued the fight. Given their strength, however, it looked like it would take them time to destroy the statues... time they may not have had, given their general fragility.
Seeing that, the third Vilstrak grabbed onto the statue, then began trying to tunnel into the ground beneath its feet. If they couldn't easily shatter the things, perhaps shoving them somewhere out of sight would be more effective...
The second one, meanwhile, was continuing to assist Kienyach.
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"The statues! We have to destroy the statues or they'll just keep coming!" yells Tyrus, bestowing his blessing of power this time upom Kien.
The melee continues, Kien stubbornly accepting the burning pain in exchange for continuing to pummel the guardian spirit. One of Luca's remaining Vilstraks helps him while the other finds that the statue is too massive to be dragged into the earth. . Kien and the vilstrak manage to dispatch their guardian once more.
Dante lands a deft blow as well, the enchantment on his blade turning the acidic blood to lazily-flowing sludge. It proves too much for the punished guardian, which looses cohesion and joins its fellow in oblivion - for the moment.
The statues activate once more bare moments after their charges are defeated.
End Combat Round 5
Begin Combat Round 6
Luca
Fluffy (Haste, 4/4)
V2 (2 damage)
Dante (23 damage)
Tyrus (4 damage)
Kien (26 damage)
Guardian 1 (Stunned, Reforming)
Guardian 2 (Stunned, Reforming)
Non-Combatants:
Summoning Statue 2: 2 damage.
Luca's spell wears off as the two guardians are dispatched - one of them for the second time. But both are returning just as fast as before...
The Vilstraks didn't talk much, but they seemed rather frustrated at the weight of the objects. Given the durability of the statues, it would probably need something harder than their own blows to wreck the statues... and they turned their efforts to aiding the others in their efforts to accurately strike.
Feeling somewhat helpless Tyrus renews the effect enhancing Dante's natural speed.
The haste spell may have worn off, but Kien is still a large angry brawler. He steps over to the statue and punches it once in the center, then rapidly again in the same spot.
Dante uses the returning Guardians immobility as an opportunity to land an early blow.
Kien's enormous hands take chunks out of the statue. He can see the barest of holes appear, indicating some kind of hollow within the statue itself.
The guardians again complete their reformation, dropping into their familiar fighter's stance, ready to attack once more.
End Combat Round 6
Begin Combat Round 7
Luca
Fluffy
V2 (2 damage)
Dante (23 damage)
Tyrus (4 damage)
Kien (26 damage)
Guardian 1
Guardian 2
Non-Combatants:
Summoning Statue 2: 17 damage.
Kien continues on the statue. This can't keep going on like this.
Realising that Dante cannot hold much longer, Tyrus bravely advances towards the creature - hoping to distract, if not hurt it.
Luca's summoned allies continued their efforts to help the others, this time switching to help them avoid blows. Alas, it was about all they seemed like they could do right now.
This wasn't working. And it would work less once the enchantment on his blade wore off. In fact, *fzzt*, there is went. No enhanced speed and no elemental damage. Dante knew a loosing battle when he saw one. And he couldn't take his focus off the beast to look back and check the others' progress. Dante moves around behind the Vilstrak and puts a shimmering shield between him and the acid creature. Anymore damage and he wouldn't be able to walk out of here.
Kienyach shatters more of the statue, opening up the hollow at its center, filled with precious materials and carved with arcane writing. Inside is a pulsating human heart sitting in a pool of blood, with more slowly pouring from the severed, opened valves.
The rest of the group takes a defensive stance, but the guardians keep up their offensive. Apparently reacting to Kienyach's assault on the statue, both guardians turn their attacks in his direction - one brawling, one spitting.
The vilstrak successfully interferes with the brawler, preventing it from landing any more blows on the gigantified half-elf. The acid spray falls over the small crowd, burning clothing and flesh.
End Combat Round 7
Begin Combat Round 8
Luca
Fluffy
Dante (23 damage)
Tyrus (11 damage)
Kien (33 damage)
Guardian 1
Guardian 2
Non-Combatants:
Summoning Statue 2: 41 damage, opened
The second Vilstrak vanished as the acid consumed its body, leaving just one weakened one. Still, perhaps that was going to be enough? With the statue damaged, well... attacking now was probably the wisest course. Meanwhile, the remaining Vilstrak continued to work to protect its ally with whatever time was left to it - not long by any measure, really, but perhaps enough for this fight. Or perhaps not.
Kien grabs the heart, crushing it in his hands.
The second Kienyach destroys the heart, it shrivels up and crumbles to dust - and the guardian that had come from that statue arches its back in a silent scream, falling about a moment later.
"Ignore them, there's a heart inside the statues! Destroy that and they drop!" Kien shouts.
Dante shifts his gaze from the blood creature being occupied by Luca's minions to the statue. After he felled the first creature and saw it reform, he figured that was the case. Dante avoids the melee and charges the statue. One hand makes some arcane gestures while he mouths the spell. The other thrusts. And then, lightening.
Tyrus looks on helplessly. His spells can help with neither stone nor ooze - he can break their bones or scald them with acid, and neither of those are useful.
Instead he continues to stay a distraction.
"Kien! We need you to break the statues! We can finish the hearts!"
Kien moves across the room swiftly (though awkwardly due to his size) and prepares to break apart the other summoning statue.
The energy from Dante's attack only manages to blast surface chips from the statue.
Seemingly aware that its existence is threatened, the final guardian dashes across the room to continue its assault on Kien.
End Combat Round 8
Begin Combat Round 9
Luca
Fluffy
Dante (23 damage)
Tyrus (11 damage)
Kien (38 damage)
Guardian 1
Non-Combatants:
Summoning Statue 1:
Summoning Statue 2: 41 damage, opened
Realising only Kien had a chance at breaking open the statue, once again Tyrus infused the already giant man with additional strength. "Dante! Be ready to destroy the heart the moment there is an opening! Kien - make an opening!" he advised.
As the beast moved to strike at Kien, Luca's last Vilstrak continued its efforts to defend him and ward attacks away. It wasn't clear if it would make a difference, but it was doing everything it could to protect the most martially-inclined member of the team.
Nothing. That was the effect he had on the statue. And frustration. That was what he felt. And tired. Very tired. Not even a minute of combat and he was breathing heavy. He waited for the statue to open up, ready strike. It was all he could do.
Once again, Kien unleashes the massive destructive force known as "his own two hands" on a poor, suffering statue.
Kien is able to open up enough of a hole for Dante's blade to penetrate the hollow. He stabs through several times, eviscerating the second heart. The Guardian obligingly echoes its fellow, and collapses into a mist of blood that quickly dissipates.
Combat Over
A glint of something shiny show in the hollows which held the hearts. A small pedestal of gold upon which they had sat, carved with runes which no doubt enabled the guardians to return time and time again. If the pedestal is anywhere close to pure gold, it would fetch a couple of sovereigns (gold pieces) for the precious metals alone.
With the guardians slain, the walls of force which had shut the group into the room dissipates. A little further down the tunnel, a carved stone door seems to indicate the room which Dante's blade had indicated existed at the base of the pyramid.
Tyrus put his hands on his knees and concentrated on breathing. Acid burns marred his clothes and flesh, but he seemed little bothered by it.
"That... that was harder than I would have liked. How injured are people?"