At first Bej's words seem strange to Vors but then the magic begins to take hold and change his size. The unfamiliar transformation frightens the young man. Fear leads to anger and he howls as the familiar rage takes hold. The first movement he sees is the bandit to his left and swings his sword at the threat.
"Foolish woman! You cling to unlife, to no purpose. Move on, Pharasma demands it."
Once again the symbol of Pharasma, in Anastacia's hand flashes with divine might.
Swinging at the charging knight and watching his blade go wide, the lance impact causes Dante to black out momentarily and then shout out in pain as two of his ribs shatter and splinter into his insides. This sensation is replaced by the feeling of Felix's healing and Dante shivers as now where the lance impacted just feels like someone punched him in the kidney repeatedly five days ago. With a roar he swings at the Knight.
if possible
Rowan commands the flaming sphere to leap into the air to strike the ghost once again. It might not be as effective as he wanted but at least it seemed to do some harm.
Wilhelm cures himself and steps back provoking attacks from the ghost and skeleton.
both miss and Wilhelm sends an arrow into the ghost's chest.
Anastacia releases a sphere of positive energy.
the ghost screams and seems to take in strength from the surrounding evil aura. Anastacia realizes that the evil field is some sort of aura of desecration that is helping the undead resist her positive channeling. Be that as it may only 3 skeletons remain within her field and they are badly hurt, although they seem to be reforming as you watch. Rowan sends his ball of fire at her.
this time she avoids most of it although it still seems to be burning her ectoplasm away. Dareon throw daze but it seems to have no effect. More skeletons rise and those who are left struggle through the entangling vines. One particularly idiotic one actually goes through the greased area but manages to avoid falling. Two skeletons finally make it to Wilhelm and Anastacia and they both swing at the cleric at the ghost's urging as she screams in pain.
One of the broken scimitars hits for
6 points of damage. The ghost, badly wounded and now wearing the appearance of an old hag, cackles "You haven't seen the last of me, dearie." as she disappears into the ground headed towards what Wilhelm thinks is the center of the evil field. Without the ghost present no more undead seem to be rising although several remain animate.
EDIT-I was working on the actions for the other fight and I noticed Masamura's post at the bottom of the page. So....
Masamura looks at the door and can tell it obviously is not trapped. It is also pretty easy to clear the rest of the dirt from it. Although not trapped it is stuck due to years of non use and will take a standard action to open.
BANDIT FIGHT
Determined to make the bowman in the bushes pay for shooting him the pink bandit is so determined at getting his horse to move faster that he pays no attention to the vial of acid until it is to late. His eyes and face melting he falls from his horse and his horse screams in pain as it runs away from the fight, the acid scarring his back. Lanya kills her nemesis Jake with a well placed volley of magic missles, the impact knocking him from his saddle. Fharn dispatches the bandit he dismounted leaving him a pool of blood. He's not dead, but he will be soon. Felix makes everyone feel better. The enlarged Vors knocks the bandit he was swinging at from his horse with his large two handed sword. He's dead on impact with the ground. Dante has no respect for the knight's tactics. His attack, although effective left him and his horse terribly vulnerable and he easily hits the knight and cleaves through to his horse. Dante's disdain for the knight increases as he makes no effort to save his mount. Terrified and desperate to avoid his friend's fate one of the bandits rides up to Sanita and slashes at her with his sword.
for 3 points of damage.
the northern bandit it the grease stands up and starts running for the Fort. The southernmost one can't stand up. Dropping his lance the horseman moves 5' to the southeast, drops the lance, switches to a flail and swings at Dante.
The flail comes down hard across Dante's back.
The rope continues to flail about heading 10' in the
east direction.
EDITED:
Masamura sighs then heaves at the door.
"Stop it!" Dareon yells as he approaches the skeletons attacking Anastasia. Uncertainly raising his quarterstaff, he brings the length of wood down on a skeleton's head.
The door opens with some effort by Masamura, giving out an ominous creak. The area beyond is fairly dark, just barely illuminated by the rays of the setting sun, but it appears to be a tunnel leading into the fort. Lying on the floor about 25' from Masamura are the mummified remains of a body. Several decayed arrows protrude from its back and it looks like it was crawling along the floor toward the exit when it died. It's possessions have all rotted away except for a grey tattered cloak and some leather bracers that have withstood the test of time. The ghost still looking like a hag floats over the body. It seems to be getting better
much better, to your dismay. The hag looks up at Masamura. "Eighty years, and no one has found that door. It's been my secret. And Xenith shares her secrets with no one." With that she starts to fly cackling towards Masamura.
"Bej - would you kindly shoot that runner?"
Fhârn steps back to block the lancers path towards the other casters and draws his trusty sap with his right hand. He is still holding on to the Bardiche with his left, but is clearly not able to make use of it with only one hand.
Bearing the sting of the flail, Dante grunts painfully as he pushes through the pain. Shifting towards his opponent and swinging his greatsword.
and reels from the pain, nearly dropping his sword.
Sanita steps back a few feet, giggling. "Oh my! Look, I have a new suitor, Dantelion. You're not going to let him sweep me off my feet are you? I thought you were my dance partner this evening. Aren't you going to fly into a jealous rage and challenge him to a duel?" She asks Dantalion, as she pulls another flask of acid off her belt. Turning to the rider, she dimples. "He's ever so jealous you know. And I thank you for the love cut." She holds up her arm, dripping blood.
"It was so sweet of you to give me a gift on first meeting, I feel just dreadful I don't have one to return to you. OH! Wait, I do!" And she tosses the acid flask at the rider.
Splash = 4
And again, the vial goes straight and true, slamming into the rider, this time in the chest, splattering acid over him and his horse.
"Bloody hell!" Anastacia snarls in pain. "Pharasma burn you! Foul things!"
Once again the divine energy of Pharasma bursts out from the holy symbol, bathing the skeletons in holy light.
Lanya stands doubting what she should do next, catching the runner in the back or helping one of her knights with his enemy. Though Dante might be able to keep standing, she feels she has to help him first rather than catch the fleeing bandit.
She fires off the wand again and blasts the armoured bandit with arcane missiles.
"You okay there Dante?" she shouts to the valiant knight.
Invigorated by his newfound power, Vors laughs as the bandits falls dead to the ground. His bloodshot eyes searches for his next target and finds it about 20 ft away stuck in the greased area. With an almost animalistic roar he charges the poor man, sweeping the large blade in an upward arc.
Felix will send up prayers to Shei as he allows another burst of holy power to heal his companions.
Still excluding bandits but not horses.
Seeing the one of the two skeletons land telling blows, Wilhelm switches tactics and drops his bow to draw his falchion. Grimacing angrily, he swings forcefully at the nearest skeleton, hoping to cut through bone despite using an un-optimal weapon. "You've taken a beating Anastacia, get back and we can focus on the ghost. I'll cover us."
Watching the knight get struck by the magic flying from Lanya's wand, and feeling the heat of Felix's healing once again, though to a lesser affect this time. "I'll be fine there, darling lady." He shouts back followed by a cough. Spitting out blood, he smiles at her.
Bej looks at the developing battle in front of his eyes. He gazes at Dante and the armored bandit “We got a Knight battling a Knight” says to himself as he assesses the situation. Then turn to Vors “and a massive Rook taking down Pawns.” Our King doesn’t really move around that much, but keeps everyone fighting he thinks while looking at Felix and our Queen… well, I’m just happy she’s our Queen, and not the other one… his eyes bounce back and forth between Lanya and the distant Sanita.
Then Fhârn calls him out and wakes him from his chess-based fantasy.
"Bej - would you kindly shoot that runner?"
“Mpf! Yes, yes” replies Bej, realizing he was distracted in the middle of the fight “I’ll take care of that one!”
_____________________
"Don't forget the guy with a cudgel!" Fhârn yells out as he swipes at the mounted mans knees with the sap
Vors faintly hears some sound behind him, perhaps words but they are drowned by the sound of gushing blood and quelled by his rage. This is where he was born to be. He laughs, the sound of someone half mad.
BANDIT FIGHT
In the knight's single minded rage he lets Fharn get an unguarded shot at his kidneys with the sap and he grunts in pain. Dante seems to be reeling from pain himself. Sanita douses her bandit with acid. The bandit is left barely able to act (staggered) and fearfully holding on for dear life he and his wounded horse start heading back to the Fort. Lanya blasts the knight and along with the sap damage he starts to fall off his horse.
and he hits the ground pretty hard. Vor's greatsword sends the bandit's head flying away from his body. The fleeing bandit on foot takes an arrow from Bej and he falls to his knees and drops to the ground. As the bandits in the Fort realize that they are losing this battle some arrow fire starts coming in, shooting at the big guy (Vors)
Both arrows hit
The rope moves 10' in the
northeast direction
UNDEAD FIGHT
The skeleton Dareon steps up to catches the quarterstaff on his shield. His victory is short lived as energy washes from Anastacia and the front undead collapse. The skeletons in front him falling down Wilhelm moves around the grease and swings at a skeleton but misses.
"Felix - you seems to have the know-how - could you make sure this wayward knight doesn't bleed out before we get a chance to speak to him ?" He pokes the fallen lancer with the tip of his foot and grabs the reins to his horse to prevent it from running away. The sap found its way back to his belt moments earlier. Just as he reaches out a pair of arrows zoom past, striking Vors. Ducking behind his newfound cover/horse he adds "Maybe we should relocate out of range from the keep as well"
He throws an errant glance at the rope coiling on its own in the distance What a curious thing. I wonder how long it will snake around - wouldn't mind a chance to study it closer, but I don't wanna end up tangled while their archers make me a pincustion. He doesn't give voice to his thoughts - but if anyone spares the time to see where he is looking his curiosity is obvious.
"Simply done, Shei is merciful and kind." Everyone including bandits.
Wilhelm being where he is will lead them away from Anastacia if that is his intent.
Dareon turns and unleashes a ball of acid at the ghost-lady, hoping it can harm her.
Vors doesn't notice the arrows until they bury themselves deeply in his upper chest. What should have been a howl of anger is reduced to a growl as he suddenly lack breath. Not willing to let this go unpunished his bloodshot eyes sweep the field for the next target. The pulse of energy captures his attention and he turns. His blade moves back for the next swing as he steps towards Lanya. Something changes in his eyes, the rest mist evaporates and he lowers his blade panting for air. "Alright?" he asks the group.
Rowan expends the last of the flaming sphere to attack the skeleton fighting Wilhelm.
"Wilhelm, I'll hold the door if everyone gets inside!"
UNDEAD FIGHT
The skeleton Dareon steps up to catches the quarterstaff on his shield. His victory is short lived as energy washes from Anastacia and the front undead collapse. The skeletons in front him falling down Wilhelm moves around the grease and swings at a skeleton but misses.
Masamura jumps back to avoid her and puts up his sword in a blocking stance.
Sanita looks sad as the horseman turns away. "But, But, Aren't you going to whisper sweet nothings to me?" She cries, sounding offended.
If Sanita can't hit hit him, Lanya will move 30 feet north-west and blast him with the wand as well.
Else she stands down and nods in approval as the bandit falls. Then she turns to see Vors standing right beside her, calming himself, but she knew the look on his eyes. It was the same feeling she has had in the past.
She pats Vors on his side as she turns around herself.
"We seem to be, nicely done Vors. It's a good thing we have you on our side."
"Everyone alright and alive? Good to hear, then we must make sure these bandits are tied up before Felix starts his healing, we don't want them to attack us again now do we? Then we should move as soon as possible into cover as those archers won't let up and we could be a pin cushion here. Shield yourselves with their comrades if you must."
What I tell them is grim, but sadly a reality. Do the things you need to survive, though there is a limit to that as well.
Whether it's her arrow, or Lanya's bolt, the last bandit goes down hard. Sanita gathers her horses reins, climbs aboard, and before cantering off, slaps Dantelion hard across the face, leaving blood smeared on his face from her wound. "You sir, were singularly unhelpful in that encounter. Next time, try running away, at least then I'll know not to count on you to watch my back." She turns her horse in a huff, and rides out to meet Lanya, Vors, Bej, Felix, Dante, and Fharn are, leaving Dantalion in the woodline.
When she canters up, she looks around. "Is anyone in need of a doctor? Sorry it took me so long to dispatch of those two, I was for all intents and purposes doing it alone...."
She watches as people begin to tie up bandits. "Shouldn't you just dispatch them? We have writs of both low and high justice, after all, and they are bandits. The two up there..." She nods. "Will be dead soon, the acid poisons the blood. Although I should go ensure they are dead before morning light. I just didn't want to venture out without seeing if someone was hurt on our side first."
Fhârn makes his way about 25' closer to the keep before useing one more of his spells.
Mere seconds later a sizeable cloud of mist vomits forth from the ground, blocking the line of sight between the party and the keep. Fhârn himself emerges moments later, smileing "That should hamper the archers" before helping the party with the ropes.
"Well -" Fhârn looks up at Sanita from the tieing work "- we wanted to ask them some stuff, remember? Besides it's easier to take some one alive then fix that then the other way around. Always handy to keep your options open"
“That sounds wise, m’lady” says Bej to Lanya’s suggestion, and moves to tie up the bleeding bandits – so that even when healed, they wouldn’t pose any danger.
“Lassie, they clearly deserve death.” he then says to Sanita “But since they’re mostly helpless in our hands, we might just make the best of it and interrogate them. Don’t see no hero among them, they’ll give in immediately.”
“Also, bandits falling in battle are likable rebels, bandits hanging from a tree are a warning for other criminals. But I guess the corpses you left behind are horrific enough.” he says with a bit of fear and disgust as he glances over the acid-scarred bodies.
“So, m’lord.” after tying up the last bandit, Bej turns towards Felix “You wanted to parlay with this lot. Now we got leverage and something to show for ourselves – something to give substance to your words. Speak your piece, let’s see how hard of hearing are these folks.”
Sanita looks over at the acid burned corpses. "Well, I would have preferred to use fire, you know, purging the sins with fire and all that. But I figured if I lit them on fire, it would be like setting a bonfire and alerting the enemy archers where I was." She smiles. "And the acid works very well on flesh." She shows absolutely no remorse for the horrific pain the bandits went through before they died, especially the one missing half his head.
She smiles. "However, I didn't know you had anyone worth questioning. I thought they were just rabble. By all means, if we have someone worth questioning before killing them, I'm all for that. I think I'll stick around though, if you don't mind? If they aren't willing to talk, I have a few uses they might be put to for the greater good. And perhaps after one or two of them have been made use of, the others might decide to talk." She smile sweetly, looking down at the trussed up bandits with something akin to lively interest*.
The same sort of lively interest a spider shows in a fly that's been caught in it's web.
UNDEAD FIGHT
Dareon moves to see the ghost and launches a acid ball that misses badly. Rowan's ball of fire burns the skeleton in front of Wilhelm to ash. Masamura goes defensive. Xenith (the ghost), now looking like a little girl sings as she flies towards Masamura.
The giant sleeps but soon shall wake
His eye the living shall make his slaves
And when his wrath befalls the world
Gyronna's voice shall again be heard.
Her song is cut short as she runs smack into an invisible barrier between him and her. Frustrated she makes a gesture at the ninja.
As she throws a spell she leaves herself vulnerable to an attack from Masamura but his sword just passes through her. The skeletons fight towards Wilhelm, one actually getting adjacent but as it swings it falls prone due to the grease.
It swings at Wilhelm's feet but it is easy to avoid.
As Fharn looks at the rope he decides he'd need to take 3 rounds studying it with Detect Magic or Identify to come to any conclusions. His new horse is called but is seriously hurt until Felix heals it. After Felix's healing burst both the knight and bandit Fharn took down start to wake up. Sanita's arrow takes the fleeing bandit in the back.
and he falls to the ground.
Not needing to take care of the fleeing bandit Lanya steps up to near Vors and begins to tie up the groggy bandit on the ground using his body as cover. The archers on the keep get two more shots off at Vors before the mist covers the party.
None of the shots come close to hitting.
The downed knight glares at Dante. "Why don't you just kill me and get it over with. You'll be doing both me and Erastil a favor." The other bandit just glares in silence.
The more mercenary in your group will notice that both the chainmail armor and shield the knight are holding are masterwork as well as the flail and the crossbow. He also carries two potions.
Masamura moves slowly towards Anastacia while maintaining his defensive stance and cursing at the ghost."Accursed spirit..."
Masamura moves slowly towards Anastacia while maintaining his defensive stance and cursing at the ghost."Accursed spirit..."
Sanita looks at the mist, and then the prisoners. "If I might suggest, let's drag them off out of line of sight of the bandits? Where is everyone else?" She asks, getting down to tie a rope from her saddle horn to two of the alive downed bandit's feet (where they are trussed up). Getting back on her horse, she takes up the slack with the ropes. "Alright, done and ready, let's get back to the trees." She looks over a Dante and the Knight, and smiles. "Oh, Dante, if he won't make himself useful to you, can I have him? I have quite a few things he could be useful for. He looks like he's in good health other than his wounds, and it's hard to come by otherwise healthy individuals who are going to be executed anyway. I have several compounds I need to test on a human to see if they'll help, but haven't been able to find any condemned prisoners to test on. Obviously, if he's useful to you, I can wait, but if he's not going to be, I see no reason I shouldn't get him for testing." She then chucks the horse and walks him into the tree line, dragging her unconscious bandits.
She's completely and utterly serious about using the Knight in testing if he's not going to answer Dante's or Felix's questions.