Walthus' features continue to twist and ripple. His pale skin erupts into patches of rubbery flesh with patterns of green, brown and orange. His arms pop out of joint and rapidly lengthen, his hands swelling up to form club-like fists. His facial features twists into a spiral, before his eyes, nose and mouth appear to turn inside out, leaving only jagged slits and whorls in a faceless head that has ballooned out in size. Despite its monstrous appearance, the creature before you remains small, roughly the size of a halfling.
A throaty gurgle that might be a chuckle emerges from the slit that might be the creature's mouth. "That's better," it intones in a twisted voice, before stepping quickly from between Marc and Haelynn and swinging at the cavalier with its meaty fists.
Yumiko, on hearing the commotion from downstairs, rushes down to the entrance room and tries to work out what the bizarre creature is.
Fearful of the unknown creature, she reaches into her ammunition bag and pulls out a small glass vial filled with a subliming, shadowy fluid. Quickly she loads her gun with the vial and fires it at the creature, threading the whispering shot through the pack of ponderous mewling lackawits her allies.
Yumiko has never seen nor heard of a creature as aberrant as this thing looks - she doesn't know what it is.
Looking at the cramped confines, Grendel draws his sling, rather than get in the way of the more able fighters in the group.
Yumiko has never seen nor heard of a creature as aberrant as this thing looks - she doesn't know what it is.
.
The monster formerly known as Walthus moves and strikes with surprising agility and strength considering its ungainly appearance and small size. It swiftly steps into the corner, then, using its long arm, punches Marc in the throat. There is a sickening ~crunch~, and Marc reels back, unconscious. Before he can fall, the creature catches him with its meaty fists, and draws the cavalier near. The slit that might be its mouth opens a little wider, and a thin, three pronged tendril darts forward, puncturing the thin skin at Marc’s neck. The tendril turns red as the monster begins draining Marc’s blood.
The boom echoes through the house as Yumiko fires her Alkenstar weapon past Tannithil. The shot narrowly misses the elven warrior – and her intended target.
Grendel’s sling shot is likewise wide, as the halfling tries not to hit Marc.
Xargin draws his rapier, then moves to block the exit to the room.
We are afraid not, this is beyond our ken...
No matter. We need not know what manner of beast it is in order to subdue it.
Be wary, dear one. We do not know what this falseling is capable of, and you have much you must yet do. You cannot afford to fall here...
The blood drains from Haelynn's face as Walthus transforms, and she pauses for a moment in shock as Marc goes down.
Tannithil looks around the room impatiently, annoyed that this stop over seems to be simply costing them time without giving them any more information that will help him avenge his mistress.
He is taken off guard then the halfling transforms and attacks, but quickly recovers.
"False Walthus, come and take me if you can, for I will be the last thing you see if you cannot!"
Tannithil draws his Katana and charges at the beast.
The monster formerly known as Walthus moves and strikes with surprising agility and strength considering its ungainly appearance and small size. It swiftly steps into the corner, then, using its long arm, punches Marc in the throat. There is a sickening ~crunch~, and Marc reels back, unconscious. Before he can fall, the creature catches him with its meaty fists, and draws the cavalier near. The slit that might be its mouth opens a little wider, and a thin, three pronged tendril darts forward, puncturing the thin skin at Marc’s neck. The tendril turns red as the monster begins draining Marc’s blood.
Marc does very little except try to limit his twitching...
The blood drains from Haelynn's face as Walthus transforms, and she pauses for a moment in shock as Marc goes down.
[dice=Channel Positive Energy (healing)]1d6
Haelynn steps back, then calls on the power of the goddess to save Marc’s life. A degree of colour flushes the cavalier’s cheeks, and his eyes flutter open. However, the monster that calls itself Walthus also appears a little healthier …
Tannithil looks around the room impatiently, annoyed that this stop over seems to be simply costing them time without giving them any more information that will help him avenge his mistress.
He is taken off guard then the halfling transforms and attacks, but quickly recovers.
"False Walthus, come and take me if you can, for I will be the last thing you see if you cannot!"
Tannithil draws his Katana and charges at the beast.
[dice=Attack] d20 + 4 + 1 +2 -4
[dice=Damage] 1d8 + 2
Tannithil barks a challenge and charges forward, his sharp blade slicing into the monster’s rubbery skin. The creature hisses and recoils from the blade, as thick dark blood oozes from the wound.
[Dice=Cure Light Wounds]1d8 + 1
Xargin cautiously moves towards Marc. Dropping to one knee, he lays a hand on Marc's brow and calls up his magic. A strange sing fills his mind, and he starts to sing, using it to shape and trigger a healing spell.
"Calm to bring you in to me and take away the agony
Absolve you from the daily ordinary truths and lies
Peace to cure the suffering
Through the door and back again..."
Watching the events unfold, Jasminder is a little surprised when Marc grabs the Halfling and everything goes to the Nine Hells...
Snarling and racing forward as she sees the thing that used to be Walthus rip into Marc, she swings a claw at it as she closes. Unfortunately, in her haste to reach the creature, she over extends and her claw swishes over its head.
[dice=Standard Action: Claw Attack on "Walthus"]1d20 + 4[/dice]
Xargin moves up to further heal Marc, strength and purpose returning to the warrior's limbs and mind. Jasminder claws at the monster, but used to fighting taller opponents, her claw finds empty air.
Yumiko snarls as her original shot goes wide, "Tha eicastic, vacuous whoreson!" She bites through an alchemical cartridge and smashes another wad deep into her barrel. Gritting her teeth against the noise, heat and flash from the discharge, she fires on the rubbery creature.
With Marc down (if no longer out), the creature that wore Walthus’ face turns its tender attentions to Tannithil, punching hard at the armoured elf. Those involved in the fight can see that the sudden vigour with which the creature launched its attack on Marc appears to have faded somewhat – it is not moving as quickly or hitting as hard.
Still enough to injure Tannithil, but the creature fails to grab him.
Yumiko snarls as her original shot goes wide, "Tha eicastic, vacuous whoreson!" She bites through an alchemical cartridge and smashes another wad deep into her barrel. Gritting her teeth against the noise, heat and flash from the discharge, she fires on the rubbery creature.
[dice=Attack (ranged touch)]1d20+4;1d10+1
[dice=Attack (ranged touch)]1d20+4;3d10+3
BOOM! Yumiko’s second shot echoes about the small house. The bullet zooms past Xargin and Tannithil, over Marc, and hits the monster in the side of the head. However, it is a glancing shot, and the thing does not fall.
Grendel lets fly again, cursing loudly as his shot hits the ceiling
Marc awakens to the thunder of Yumiko's gun and sees the creature standing above him recoil as the bullet strikes the side of its head.
His left hand immediately flies to his throat and he gasps in a huge breath, his last memory before blacking out an explosion of pain in his throat. He is surprised to find he can draw breath and the pain has mostly gone. Glancing backwards he notices Xargin kneeling nearby and hears the fading strains of his song, missed earlier for the deafening boom of the gun.
He nods a quick thanks and then returns his attention to the creature that was Walthus. As Grendels stone strikes the ceiling above them, Marc gathers his feet under him and rises, holding his shield before him to try and protect against the likely attack.
Marc thrusts his longsword in under his shield and the diminutive but powerful creature.
Although the monster doesn’t have any readably visible eyes, it can apparently see (or otherwise sense) well enough. As Marc starts to rise, it lashes out at him with one of its heavy fists.
However, the blow falls harmlessly on Marc’s armour, and the cavalier delivers a return strike with his sword that cuts deeply into the creature’s flesh.
Seeing Marc regain his feet and strike the creature, Haelynn attacks with her spear.
Xargin sighs in relief as Marc regains consciousness, then retreats back to block the door, drawing his rapier on the way.
Tannithil grunts in pain as he is struck, but is heartened by Marc's recovery. He swings at the creature again.
Haelynn and Tannithil both fail to connect. Xargin moves back to guard the room's exit.
Jasminder's golden eyes flash dangerously, betraying her frustration at her earlier air swing. She swipes in a second time with her left hand first, then her right, swinging lower to try and connect with the creature.
'Walthus' manages to dodge Jasminder's swipes. It turns its faceless head towards the vishkanya woman and attempts to punch her in the gut.
Yumiko looks at the tangle of bodies and waits to get a clear shot.
'Walthus' manages to dodge Jasminder's swipes. It turns its faceless head towards the vishkanya woman and attempts to punch her in the gut.
[dice=Slam]1d20 + 6 [dice=damage]1d4 + 2 [dice=grab attempt]1d20 + 8
'Walthus' manages to dodge Jasminder's swipes. It turns its faceless head towards the vishkanya woman and attempts to punch her in the gut.
[dice=Slam]1d20 + 6 [dice=damage]1d4 + 2 [dice=grab attempt]1d20 + 8
Xargin watches his companions desperately fighting against the false Walthus. Inspired by Tannithil's bravery, Marc's stubborn refusal to stay down, and Jasminder's ferocity, he begins to sing a Celestial warsong. Behind his mask, a feral grin spreads over his face, bloodlust burning in his eyes as he readies himself to hold back any attempt by the creature to flee.
[dice=Attack] d20 + 3
[dice=Damag] d3
Jasminder grunts in pain as the creature slams into her and then latches on and starts to drain her blood. She arches her back and screeches in rage at 'Walthus' before raking at the thing's exposed head and back in an effort to free herself.
"Get your filthy fangs off her!" Marc exclaims, seeing the creature latch onto Jasminder. He had only dimly been aware of the same attack being employed on him earlier, and seeing it happen to one of his companions filled him with a feeling of disgust and determination. Xargin's warsong adds to his resolve, and he attempts to slash the creature and take it down.
The false Walthus punches Jasminder in the stomach, then grabs her when she doubles over. The three pronged,, tongue-like appendage once again slithers from one of the slits in the creature’s head and begins draining blood from the woman, who swipes ineffectually at it. Grendel’s sling stone sails over the grappling pair and smashes against the wall behind them.
Then, as Xargin begins singing a soaring, martial tune in a foreign but beautiful language, Marc steps forward, raises his sword high over head and brings it down furiously on the monster’s neck. The blade slices effortlessly through the thing’s rubbery flesh, neatly cutting it in twain. Dark blood oozes and spurts, and the things limbs twitch spasmodically as it dies.
As the creature sinks to the ground, Marc leans on his sword and sucks in air to catch his breath, feeling drained after the short but intense battle. "Is everyone OK?" he asks, eyeing Jasminder in particular. He feels his own throat tenderly, his hand coming away bloody from the wound that would have been lethal but for intervention.
Briefly he relives the moment he was struck; the brutal and sudden attack, the darkness that followed and the light that shone somewhere above and beckoned him to come. Then a warmth that caused the light to recede and the call to fade. And finally the music that filled him with strength and gave him the chance to rejoin the battle.
"Thankyou Xargin," he says, walking across the room and clasping hands with the bard and smiling in gratitude. "You've truly got the voice of an angel, and I'm blessed to be walking in your company."
"And you, Haelynn?" he guesses, looking over to the Oracle before moving in her direction. "Before I heard Xargin's song, I think I felt your warmth when my body was growing cold and I was being called away? I thank you also." He takes her hand and bows low over it.