Cormick continues to use his performance skills to inspire competence in himself and others while they navigate the webbing.
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Current Effects: heroism (Ian), 15 min; heroism (Hezrog), 70 min; bless [Issa],6rds; fortune [Cindy], 1+ rds; Inspire Competence;
Cindy completes her summoning spell, summoning a Lantern Archon with a move of fly 60' She tells it to hunt. She also has a fly speed of 60 but will single move and keep up her cackle. The archon will move 120' a round and I think was only 1 round behind.
Cormick slips through the webbing, giving chase immediately, side by side with Ian. While Cindy's lantern archon goes flying down the passage in search of prey. Everyone else following as quickly as they can.
The soft echoing of Nasun's footsteps sprinting away can be heard ahead. The group comes to the large cavern with the stream flowing through it, the faint sound of spellcasting can heard up ahead, to far distant to make out what the spell is.
Rilumin and Morvae leading the way, the group rushes down the stairs, Morvae's flight giving him he speed to periodically pause and heal some of his wounds. Startled patrons at the library scramble out of the way. A pair of library guards moves to block the group, but Master Hast calls out, "Out of the way you fools." and the pair do a double take, quickly stepping to the side again from the armed men rushing towards the basement.
Upon reaching the basement level, half a dozen city guards stand near a hole dug into the library floor, a pile of stone and earth next to it. A rope drops into the hole, tied to the door handle at this end.
The guard captain looks up in surprise, giving a short salute to Master Hast, "Sir?"
The faint sound of spellcasting comes up through the hole, then all is silent.
Morvae casts another spell, his body growing in size, then with the benefit of the flight spell drops down into the hole.
Continuing down the passage the main group soon meets up with Morvae, twice as large as normal, looking about the passage. There is no sign of Nasun.
"Where did he go? Cormick asks when they catch up.
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Current Effects: heroism (Ian), 15 min; heroism (Hezrog), 70 min;
The lantern archon is a bit further down the passage to the west, casting about looking for signs of prey.
Morvae turns to Master Hast, asking in a very formal tone, "Master Hast, would you perhaps have a way to detect for invisible creatures or those otherwise hidden? It would seem our quarry is evading us."
With frustration in his voice he responds, "I do not. I was never good with divination."
I offer this scroll of See invisibility Cindy offers. for whoever you believe it best for I can cast it if you cannot.
Rilumin will, when given the "all clear" from the others, slide down the rope.
As Rilumin begins climbing down the rope, Morvae holds out his hand for the scroll, "I could use it."
At that moment there is also a commotion up above where Hezrog, Master Hast, and the guardsmen wait.
You can hear quite clearly shouts and a scream of pain from up the stairs to the main floor of the library.
Master Hast turns in alarm, "Captain, we better go look into that.". The guards and Master Hast begin racing up the stairs.
Cindy hands off the scroll before flying up to investigate the screen.
Morvae shoots up through the hole to follow Master Hast and the guardsmen, above in the main hallway they find it nearly filled with a billowing mist.
Looking at the remaining companions, Serelina says "Let us get back to the surface." She then starts the most direct path she can remember out of the catacombs.
I agree.
Following his comrades, Issa tries to go back to the surface.
Help me climb up, please.
Cormick will climb out and head over to see what the commotion is about.
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Current Effects: heroism (Ian), 15 min; heroism (Hezrog), 70 min;
Cindy moves flies up the hole and up the stairs right behind Morvae, while Rilumin and Cormick climb the rope, and fall behind a little.
Morvae pushes past the guards, the flight spell allowing him faster movement. In front of the door on the right a library guard lies unconscious on the floor. The door itself is open, the mist billowing into the room beyond.
Ian gives a try at climbing, but can't make much progress in enlarged full plate.
Yep.
Nina moves over near the rope and cups her hands, to help people get a lift up, her smaller frame straining, and she grunts as she hoists Issa up higher along the rope.
"Well come, someone else help out here too." her voice strains through her teeth as Issa teeters precariously, his own strength not quite enough to lift him higher.
Morvae squeezes through the door, and upon reaching the edge of the mist in the room beyond sees a number of shocked looking patrons standing around the edges of the room. Several of them scream at the appearance of the celestial. There is however no sign of Nasun. Morvae's voice calls back through the mist, "He is not in here."
The city guardsman continue through the mist in the main hallway, when one of them shouts, "Someone fleeing up the stairs at the north end of the hallway, going to the second level." the four guards give chase down the hall, while the guard captain turns back and rushes up the stairs on the south side.
Rilumin will pursue as best he can, and think back on anything he might know to be a target for the assailant.
Ian climbs up and will help the others with his considerable strength.
Cormick will give chase in the direction of the action.
Ian manages to get up the rope, then turns to assist others still trying, while Serelina teleports herself up.
Up top Morvae and most of the guards head northward and up the stairs to the second floor, while at the south end the guard captain, already on the second floor by the time the others reach it points up to the third floor then continues up the next flight of steps.
The chase continues up to the third floor, patrons scattering out of the way. Nasun is spotted in the middle of the hallway, just beginning an ascent up the stairs of the clock tower.
Cindy pursues at her flight speed somewhat unsure what she will do if she catches the undead. As she moves she pulls her greataxe.
Rilumin shoots at Nasun
Shot 1 (two arrows)
Shot 2
Shot 3
Ian runs outside the building and looks up--trying to see where Nasun is heading and if there's any escape route from up there. If there's nothing obvious he'll start making his way up.
Cindy will fly to the stairs in a move action and try to block the way up with her body while going defensive.
Hezrog and Issa come up the stairs behind Ian, while Ian sprints outside, looking up at the clock tower. If Nasun intended to go somewhere from the tower its not obvious. The closest building he might leap to is over 100' distance. The tower is however narrow, and fighting within it will prove cramped.
Morvae moves to the base of the stairs, right behind the nosferatu, while Cindy double moves to block the stairway, flying up past Nasun.
Rilumin lets several arrows fly, trying to damage the creature, but none find their mark.
The vampire turns on Morvae, "You are persistent, aren't you." It flicks one gloved hand, a rapier appearing in the hand, then steps in to fight the celestial, blade and magic working together.
Rilumin shoots at Nasun [
Shot 1 (two arrows)
Shot 2
Shot 3
Finally on the outside Issa whistles.
A few seconds later, a giant bird appears from the rooftops and comes near Issa.
Sorry to have let you alone for a long time my friend.
He turns to his comrades. Where next ?
Continuing to block the stairs Cindy brandishes her great axe and uses her Misfortune Hex on Nasun.
Cormick moves forward and uses a wand of CLW on Morvae.
Ian will probably be running to catch up for a few rounds.
At Issa's whistle a small roc, small for such creatures anyway as it is nearly the size of a man, wheels down from the sky.
Cormick provides some minor healing to Morvae as the celestial staggers backward in pain and surprise. Morvae in a heavy voice, "I must retire." And with a slight pop he vanishes.
Rilumin launches more arrows, but is unable to strike the target. The guardsmen move in behind Nasun, though they seem apprehensive after seeing the jolt Morvae took.
Nasun turns on Cindy, "Your next.", as he casts another spell and attacks her.
One of the layers of protective magic on Nasun disappears.