Ibrahim withdraws to the indicated spot, trying to distract Mirri's foe and create an opening.
The ghoul standing in the grease presses the attack on Say'ri, dropping her to the ground with tooth and claw. Meanwhile, his companion rolls around frantically on the ground, finally putting out the flames.
Say'ri's attacker eyes her prone form hungrily, but his triumphant expression turns to one of shock when a crossbow bolt drives into his brain, killing him instantly.
Thanks for the fresh kill, friend, whispers a raspy voice. The sound originates from a crossbow-wielding ghoul lurking around the ruined wall of a nearby building.
Next up: Say'ri (just to stabilize and make saves)
The thus-far hesitant ghoul maneuvers in near his pet, goading it to attack.
The dog responds, biting Ishia and throwing her onto the ground.
The dog's master chuckles, trying to bite Ibrahim's neck, but the swordsman shoves his shield down the ghoul's throat.
Next up: Mirri
Festrog (Green)
Ishia, Petra
Thurzen (orange)(invisible)
Festrog (Blue)
Ibrahim
Crossbow Ghoul, Ghoul (Red--prone)
Say'ri
Ghoul (Cornflower blue)
Mirri spared a moment to shoot a puzzled look at the crossbow wielding ghoul. Wha? So you're on our side? The halfling could spare nothing more for the moment, as Ibrahim's savvy move back had offered her a distracted opponent. Slipping behind the ghoul attacking the human, Mirri attempted to slip her small knife between the undead's shoulder blades and into its vital organs.
Mirri guts the ghoul, whose expression quickly changes from opportunistic malice to one of grave concern.
Next up: Say'ri (you're actually at 3 HP, not -1. )
Say'ri, grievously wounded, ends the festrog's unlife with a sickening thud of her flail.
Next up: Ishia, Petra
Petra feels the world spinning around her as allies are hurt and dragged to earth... as a ghoul appears somehow aiding them, rather than destroying them? All she can think is that this is her fault. It was her hunting of Thurzen that has put her companions-- and even the strangers, like the dying man on the ground over there-- into this position, and the dead now swarm them, and Thurzen will escape...
The world seems to gray at the edges with the weight of her failures. She will stand before Anubis, and he will stand there while her heart is weighed-- and devour it, finding it wanting. A poor servant she has been...
Thurzen's mocking laugh continues to ring in her ears, the past and the present combined. Petra squeezes her eyes shut-- then opens them again with a curse.
At the least she will not stand here and let death come!
"Keep fighting!" she shouts to the others, and touches the wand to Ishia swiftly-- and then to Say'ri again as well. She drops her bow, drawing her flail, and steps near to the death-dog.
"Ishia! Pull back to where I was, if you can!"
***
Ishia feels the burning pain of fresh injuries ease a little , though she doesn't feel healthy at all. Defensively crouched, she tries to get back to her feet.
The enemies are unable to strike successfully, as Ishia backs away from them.
I never thought I'd see you again... the rasping voice says, coming from nowhere and everywhere. The gods have given me another chance to finish what I started. Now burn, dwarf, Thurzen mocks, bursting into view as three balls of fire meander their way through the melee unerringly towards Petra. The hated foe crosses his arms, floating 10 ft above the ground.
The remaining festrog is content to feed, chewing the dying swordsman's flesh in a loud, smacking sound that carries over the din of battle.
Next up: Ibrahim
"Your tricks won't save you, craven!"
Ibrahim slashes "yellow" as an afterthought, his gaze fixed on Thurzen.
Ibrahim whirls, blade biting deeply into the neck of the ghoul, which collapses at his feet.
The sniper ghoul backs away from the wall, grabbing a large bag filled with a fluid substance. He hurls it at Say'ri, who is covered in goo and struggles to break free.
The still-smoldering ghoul hops to his feet and runs over to Thurzen's position, preparing to scale the wall to reach him.
Next up: Say'ri's Reflex Save, then her turn
Petra curses again when their new 'friend' throws something foul at Say'ri.
Say'ri's shot goes wide, the goo interfering with her aim.
The hound's ghoul sidesteps, doing his best to eviscerate Ibrahim. The swordsman is too quick, dodging all of the creature's attacks.
Next up: Ishia and Petra
Ishia takes an adjusting step and lets loose with two blasts of acid at the northmost ghoul!
Petra cries out as magical fire tears into her. For one moment, the familiar, old pain is too much, too vicious... but her hand tightens spasmodically on the grip of the flail she carries-- the weapon of her god-- and she grinds down on any further screams. Even if she dies here, she will not let Thurzen hear her scream again!
And Anubis is protecting her... some, at least.
Grimly, Petra swings hard with the flail at the foul hound in front of her.
Taking a step backward she puts herself back to back with the entangled Say'ri and the wizard, sparing a moment to glare hatred at the ghoul with the crossbow, and at Thurzen himself. The wand of healing is still in her other hand; she hurriedly activates it.
At least the gods are with her there.
Thurzen floats up and steps onto the roof , smiling broadly at Petra's pain. He spares a moment for a contemptuous glance at the pursuing ghoul, lazily flicking a ball of fire at it.
The flames burn white hot for a few seconds, transforming the ghoul into a pile of ash that disperses into the night air.
The remaining festrog advances hungrily on Say'ri, who manages to dodge its attacks despite her predicament.
Next up: Ibrahim
Dog
Mirri
Ishia, Petra
Thurzen (orange)(invisible)
Festrog (Blue)
Ibrahim
Crossbow Ghoul
Say'ri
Ghoul (Cornflower blue)
An angry grimace covered Mirri's face as the sound of Thurzen's mocking laugh accompanied a gout of flame direct at Petra. The dwarf howled in pain; her and Mirri hadn't gotten along, but to the halfling this was simply cruel. Mirri made a mental note of where Thurzen's voice was coming from as she dropped her knife and pulled out her sling. With an eye to the location of the nearby shadows, Mirri darted suddenly out of hiding, located Thurzen and launched a sling stone at his temple.
Ibrahim 5ft steps as indicated, and slashes at the ghoul dog.
Thurzen, gloating over his fiery kill, does not notice Mirri until it's too late. He howls in rage as the stone strikes his nose.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim slashes the undead dog, slicing its belly open and spilling some of its viscera onto the ground. The dog growls menacingly.
The opportunistic ghoul tries to take advantage of Say'ri's predicament. He sneaks up and strikes, trying to sever her head in one bite, but his jaws catch on the neck guard of her armor.
Next up: Say'ri (still entangled)
The sniper ghoul is a lot more nimble than the others , and dodges Say'ri's attack.
The ghoul near Ibrahim slashes twice, keeping the swordsman at bay while he ducks under his guard and bites him on the neck, merely grazing the skin but dripping poison in nonetheless. He grins malevolently, stepping back.
Next up: Mirri
Mirri thought to shoot Thurzen a mocking look, but realized her last actions had caused her to drop her knife. She took off at a sprint back to her weapon, executing a series of hand springs to dodge attacks as she vaulted behind Say'ri's southern opponent.
Mirri retrieves her knife and dodges under her enemies' guard, helping her allies.
Meanwhile, the insidious poison takes hold, and Ibrahim freezes.
Akhentepi takes flight, landing on Say'ri's shoulder to whisper in her ear.
Next up: Petra, Ishia
Petra nods fervently at Say'ri's words. "We need to focus, not disperse our efforts! The paralyzing bite of the ghouls can turn this fight against us all too swiftly! We need Ibrahim in this fight!"
Cursing in her own Dwarven tongue, Petra takes a step to the side, drops the flail-- the ground is littered with weapons now, her bow, her flail, Say'ri's flail-- and draws the scroll they had purchased for just this eventuality from where it is stowed at her belt. Caling on all her reserves, she reads it in a fraction of seconds, and touches Ibrahim. She snatches her flail back up again as soon as the spell is complete.
Ishia steps backward to put her back at the wall, blasts the southern ghoul with a jolt of acid, then begins to chant and gesture.
Petra brings Ibrahim back into the fight, calling upon the power of her god. Ishia blasts one of the ghouls, melting away half of his face.
Thurzen laughs maniacally, stepping off the balcony and hovering midair to laugh at a situation only a madman could find funny. He throws bolts of fire randomly into the combatants, watching with pride as they light up the sky and strike their targets.
The festrog, the lone remaining member of its pack sensing its own imminent destruction, runs away one all fours into the night
Next up: Ibrahim
Festrog 1
Ishia 2
Say'ri 3
Petra 4
Crossbow 5
Ibrahim 6
Mirri 7
Dog 8
Dog
Mirri
Ishia, Petra
Thurzen (orange)(invisible)
Ibrahim
Crossbow Ghoul
Say'ri
Ghoul (Cornflower blue)
Ibrahim recovers and attacks the ghoul dog near him.
Say'ri hamstrings the festrog as it lopes away, spraying herself with the creature's foul pus. . It stumbles forward a few steps before collapsing, dead.
Ibrahim shakes his head, feeling the strength return to his limbs from Petra's spell. He severs the ghoul dog's neck in one clean slice.
The two remaining ghouls look at each other, clearly unsure of themselves. Discretion overrules hunger, and the crossbow ghoul runs away into the night.
Next up: Say'ri (who is no longer entangled)
Mirri
Ishia, Petra
Thurzen (orange)(invisible)
Ibrahim
Crossbow Ghoul
Say'ri
Ghoul (Cornflower blue)
Say'ri ends the ghoul threat once and for all, and all that is left is an opportunity for vengeance.
Next up: Mirri, Ishia, Petra
Realizing her small knife would be of little use against a foe out of reach, Mirri quickly sheathed the weapon and immediately darted to her west. En route she drew her sling again and, once more blocked from Thurzen's view, ducked into the shadows around the doorway to the ruined building.
Petra stands a moment, breathing hard. She can smell her keffiyeh smoldering from Thurzen's latest flames, but the pain is faint: Anubis protects her from the worst of the fire. The dead lie all around them, save those who fled. Only Thurzen remains.
Slowly, Petra bends and picks up her bow, letting the flail and wand drop.
Moving like she is almost in a dream, the dwarf woman lifts her bow and nocks an arrow drawn from the quiver at her hip, sighting along it to the flying, laughing madman.
"Desecrator of my people's graves..."
She draws the string back, feeling the tension in her fingers.
"...you will be judged... you will be measured... and the Guardian of the Tomb will stand in attendance while Pharaz-mat weighs your soul against the perfect feather."
Petra lets the arrow go. "And you will be found wanting."
Ishia's spell reaches completion, and an eagle screams its way into this plane of existence, just behind Thurzen's head. The eagle looks birthed from the pit of hell; its wings flicker with black flame, and it attacks with cruel talons and claws.
Ishia follows this up with another blast of acid at Thurzen! Probably her last for the day.
The blort of acid goes wide.
Thurzen floats up 5 ft , ripping his sword from his sheath as he curses the pain from Petra's arrow. He throws a blast of fire at her, igniting the air next to her face and lighting up the night for a few seconds.
Next up: Party
Petra twists to the side from the fire, her heart racing, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Thurzen. "There is no escape from judgment."
Petra's god is with her -- another arrow flies, straight and true, and takes another chunk out of the fire-mage.
Ishia's hellish eagle unleashes another flurry of beak-and-claws.
Ishia reloads her crossbow, her only remaining spell unlikely to make any of the others tall enough to strike at the flying man.
|
As Say'ri hurries back to her longbow lying on the ground Akhentepi leaps off her shoulder and hurtles towards the orc mage. As he flies a dust-storm swirls around him and by the time he emerges he is a magestic beast with a wingspan of nearly ten feet across. The newly enlarged Akhentepi cries out "Horus' wrath upon you, defiler! as his mighty talons rake at the mage.
As Akhentepi's new form swoops in, Say'ri sweeps up her bow, knocks an arrow and lets fly in one smooth motion. Unfortunately her ancestors size, and the motion of snatching the bow make accuracy impossible.
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The hellish eagle rakes a small cut on the sadist's arm as he floats up, trying to escape.
But Anubis' judgment is not to be denied, delivered swiftly through the skilled hands of his devoted follower. Petra pulls back the drawstring effortlessly, as though it were a strand of a spider's web. When the arrow leaves her hand it strikes true and with great force, burying up to the feathers in the center of Thurzen's chest. He looks down at it in disbelief, clutches at the arrow, and literally drops dead, falling to the ground with a loud thud.
A sense of calm permeates Petra's being, a feeling of divine approval of her actions when faced with her nemesis. Though her memories will endure, with Thurzen dead, flames no longer hold sway over Petra.