Kimberly was at first paralyzed with fear then the bolt struck, it was as if Pharasma herself intervened snatching Kimberly out of the way at the last second.
Please hurry, call Mr Beast, and help save his father! she yells trying to be heard over the noise of the storm.
She counts her heartbeats, wondering how much time she should give them before she pulls on the lever. She should have been braver in the past; maybe then Tolvan would have listened to her.
Why is she still thinking about doing this? She looks back over at Caromarc. What does she really owe him? Maybe she should just put him out of his misery, then get out of here. Leave the creature trapped, and get away from this crazy place. She chides herself for those thoughts. Like Andjela and Danica -- and Tolvan, for that matter -- would ever leave this alone.
She wonders if she could draw the creature back down to her level; give them a little more time to prepare. Maybe even give her a chance to put a bolt into a sweet spot and slow it down some. But she can't trust herself to not panic and run the next time she sees it.
Has it been thirty seconds yet? she wonders. She puts one hand on the lever. She takes several deep breaths. She can't bring herself to throw it. She can't.
What did Tolvan say about the Beast? The device to summon him needs power? she tries to remember what he said, but Anna had been too focused on getting him away.
Pull the lever or don't. You don't have any other choices, she thinks to herself. But she has one other choice. Something she should have done earlier. She looks back over at the idol and tries to see if there is a locking mechanism.
After seeing Kimberly getting almost struck by lightning Danica activates the machine and begins to look around. "Ok. We are not waiting for Tolvan. May the Dawnflower guide me."
------
After a few moments of observing, Anna hears a high pitched whine accompany the deep humming coursing through the tower. The menacing monster seems to hear it too, and it's attention turns upwards. It suddenly rushes upwards to the top of the room, and the closed shutters in the roof, with a focused ferocity that is frightening to behold.
As the secondary device is activated, a high pitched whine accompanies the deeper humming of the first electric device. The purple liquid inside the secondary device can be seen to start boiling and reacting almost instantly. Even as Danica's fingers start to remove themselves from the device, she straitens quickly, her gaze far away.
She tears her eyes from the ceiling and again looks at the idol. Maybe the creature's attention is drawn away enough that she can risk it. Again creeping cautiously amongst the webs, she moves to the idol. In as loud a voice as she dares, she whispers, Caromarc! She waits for a response, from either him or the Promethean. If it seems safe, she'll continue. My friends are up there! They're calling the Beast, I think. How long will it take? I don't want to let it out with them up there!
Caromarc gasps loudly, "You are real! Thank all the gods. If it wants to get out there's no stopping it, it only ---- stayed behind to destroy me if it could, and it knows nothing else than this place. The Beast ---- is the only thing I know of that can stop it, but he could be a week away for all I know... We could be doomed."
Danica begins to think. "Mr Beast. It is your friend Danica. One of your friends who defended you in trial. It is time that we meet again. Please come to me my friend."
Wait wait wait, she fights off the rising panic and forces herself to think. The Beast, he-- he was coming here. To see you. We saved him from a trial back in Lepidstadt. He ran on ahead of us.
As the tearing continues above, Anna bites her lip anxiously. She looks back at the idol, thinking this might be the moment to get him out. How do I get you out? How do I open this?
Kimberly standing there, holding onto Dancia. her dress blowing all around in the wind. she jumps sightly at every thunderous boom and at every flash of lightning.
hurry, call mr beast..
Tolvan lands back at the top of the tower as quickly as he might and explains Anna will help us from below. Seeing what is going on he begins to cast a spell summoning aid.
Danica can immediately sense the Beast response, but not due to her words, but to her will. You can immediately sense him coming closer. The others on the roof don't can see Danica concentrating at times, but otherwise she seems the same. The shutters down on the roof, thirty feet below the platform the group sits on, are smashes apart with incredible force. A huge creature, similar to the Beast, but more terrible and monstrous in nearly every way, without any apparent effort for the humanity as the Beast was constructed with. Massive arms, jaws, claws, tentacles, mandibles, insectoid, crustacean, all muscles and razor sharp edges seem to make up this abomination. It's evident the thing will tear through the roof in a matter of seconds. The monsters eyes of various shapes and sizes stare balefully upwards towards the group on the tower, and it roars in a grotesque display of bizarre teeth and purple spittle.
Two more lightning strikes hit the roof, one a platform, and the other strikes the now fully emerged monster down below you. The shock of it jolts the creature a moment, but then it relaxes as the volts course through it's body, seeming to almost enjoy the attack from natures fury.
It's then that Tolvan's spells completes.
Danica can sense the Beast closing fast now, able to tell he's nearly reached the base of this building far below. But the closer monster will surely reach them before the Beast can.
Kimberly screams as the monster starts to climb toward them.
STOP! her voice seems to carry with the storm and charged with Pharasma's power.
Anna sidesteps the falling debris, then looks back up. Twisting her face into a snarl to offset her terror, she starts moving to the ladder. I'll be back, she tells Caromarc. Think of a way to help me get you out of this.
She starts climbing up.
Tolvan, Concerned about the ability to fight this creature on the roof summons a Lantern Archon while touching the badge to extend the spell, to harass the enemy. The small mote of light appears 20' away front he creature and blasts it with two beams of light energy that bypasses all DR. It then 5' moves to 25 feet away.
The creature also needs to make a DC 13 Will save or be effected by the Archon's Aura of Menace (-2 to attacks, saves, and AC for a long time. )
As this spell completes Tolvan will hit the creature with his second Glitterdust spell. It must make a DC 17 Will Save or be blinded. With his move action Tolvan will move to the summoning devise and place his hand upon it as well.
Danica uses her uncanny will to urge the Beast forward, up to the roof.
Come my friend. Your friends need you.
Danica then plunges her hand into her Handy Haversack pull forth the 3 figurines that they found in the bedroom. She toss it to Kimberly.
"Call forth another combatant. It is taking all my concentration to bring Mr. Beast to us."
Kimberly screams as the monster starts to climb toward them. "STOP!" her voice seems to carry with the storm and charged with Pharasma's power. The spells rolls out with holy power, but the monstrous creature below doesn't even seem to notice the spell to any degree.
Tolvans summoned Archon flits away from the huge monster, sending harassing beams of light which would surely pierce it's natural armor, had they hit at all. The monster just shifted its bulk quickly to one side, the beams passing by harmlessly. However, the aura of the archon did reach the monster, and it did appear to be affected by the archons menacing aura. Then the glitterdust hits, covering its eyes and face with a thick coating of magically created dust. As Tolvan touches the apparatus he's able to instantly sense the Beasts proximity and that it's asending the tower.
Danica can tell the Beast has begun his ascent, moving with reckless speed and urgency to reach his friends, seeming to respond to Danicas silent prompting.
Angela stands in a ready stance, not taking any actions yet.
The Promethean swats with incredible speed and amazing reach towards the Archon, it's arms extending a full 15', but still shy of the Archon. It roars in fury and starts climbing towards the group, intent on reaching the foes it can actually reach. It scales the side of the tower easily, tentacles whipping at the end, and causing alarming groans from the metal structure upon which you stand.
- Kimberly
- Anna
- Tolvan
- Danica
- Andjela
- Promethean
Anna's attention is fully on the monstrosity above her, which is heading up to attack her friends. Bounding up the ladder as fast as she's able, she gathers her legs under her and springs up to catch the rung above the ripped out section.
With the Promethean still approaching Kimberly needs to stop it. Beast needs more time to get here.
Whispering please Dancia, hurry
she then turns her attention to the creature. I summon forth Beast to destroy you! she yells toward the creature as she clasps her hands together. and a sudden burst of black light erupts from her hands it moves with incredible speed and takes the form of Mr. Beast directly in front of the Promethean.
after the "summon" Kimberly moves toward the controls to see if she can help bring Mr. Beast here.
Danica continues to concentrate on the Beast, thinking and talking to him as though he was standing next to her. She uses her discipline will to urge the Beast forward.
"Mr. Beast.....Hurry! We need your help.....father needs your help. We will try to hold it off as much as possible."
Now fully seeing the creature Tolvan considers what it might be, and what properties it might have.
His archons fly about it attempting to distract it, blasting it with holy light but never close closer than 20'.
He then casts Protection from Evil on Danica, knowing that she may have to engage the horror.
While calling forth Mr. Beast, Danica will user her knowledge to determine what kind of creature and weaknesses she is facing.
If she can she will cast Flames of the Faith on her temple sword.
Powers of Light, guide my devoted hand...
Andjela positions herself close to where the creature will appear, and awaits the horror.
It was a night of blood, light and terror.
With a mighty heave the abomination created by the ruler of Schloss Caromac tore its way on to the roof... and took an arrow to its chest from the Dhamphir Andjela Daywalker.
The creature reeled but did not fall and within short order it was amongst you all, its long arms reaching out to grab and crush, while it spat out webs, hindering your movement and boxing you in as you sort to pierce its hide with missiles and spells alike. Its hide was difficult to pierce and it shrugged off many of your spells.
And to make things worse, the lightning struck the roof tops around you, the energy stunning you as it healed it, giving it additional vitality. Anna risked life and limb dodging unseen to strike at the monster, only getting caught once but saved from being killed by Dancia and her combat prowess. At times it seemed that the group was only being held up by the uncanny powers of Kimberly.
In the moments where you were wondering and doubting your abilities the one you had saved, The Beast of Lepidstadt climbed atop the rooftop and hurled itself at creature that Professor Caromaoc called "The Promethean" - brothers in creation and freakish life, the struggled while you yourselves redoubled your efforts, with Tolvan controlling the Beast with the device called the "Bondslave Thrall", the device that had controlled the Beast at the start of all things when it broke into the University in search of the mysterious artifact.
Even with The Beast, The Promethean would not go down and it was not until, with a mighty heave, that the Beast of Lepidstadt tore the head off the creature that you knew you had won... and better yet, survived.
In the aftermath the penitent Count Caromac was released - after being restored to some semblance of health by food and water he promised to stop his efforts to re-animate the dead and fell to mourning, both for his actions and for the wife that all his life's work had been directed to bringing back.
You in turn rested and before leaving the Schloss on the next day the Count gifted you all with 200 platnium coins each. Your return to Lepidstadt was uneventful, and not even the locals gave you much in the way of trouble - much of the frantic energy around the trial having dissipated.
Life was looking somewhat normal when Andjela Daywalker announced her departure to attend other duties. She gave her farewells and left... leaving only minutes before a letter arrived to you all at the Inn you were residing. A letter from Judge Daramid.
Kimberly spent some time entertaining the Beast. they had become good friends. until it was time to depart. the Beast wanted to keep Kimberly's teddy, but she had to explain that he was safe now, and the Teddy was needed to protect others and it was her job to make sure that it happened.
after some tearful farewells. Kimberly was soon back on the road to town.
She was unsure what to do with the amount of coin she had received, however she new Anna would know what to do with it, she always knew what to do with money, even though Kimberly wasn't always fond of what she thinks happens. So she tucked the coin away in her pack for now.
Back at town Kimberly was constantly distracted by merchants selling all sorts of pretty baubles and dresses, but Anna made sure to steer her away form the shady merchants. eventually arriving at the inn.
Andjela bid her farewells, thais really saddened Kimberly, she had grown to like having her around but she had important work to do. so she waved goodbye, and even Teddy waved goodbye (on its own), before she got too far Kimberly ran after her. wait, I forgot to give this to you she said handing Andjela a small object. it was one of the smoky diamonds she was carrying, wrapped in a piece of cloth.
here, this is your share. May Pharasma guide you and protect you, Aunt Anjie.
Kimberly returns to the Inn as the letter arrives.
To Ms's Anna, Kimberly, Dancia and Mstr Torvan
While there were some elements of friction in our previous engagement I believe that we have all seen a just and good outcome as a result of it - which was ever mine intention. I have another matter I would like to discuss with you and would be most pleased if you were to visit the Lion Inn, at a room I have booked, for drinks tonight at the 9th chiming of the evening watch bell
Sincerely,
Daramid
So the letter reads, an invitation to one of the more expensive Inns in Lepidstadt.
Anna had played a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the Promethean until her friends' actions drew the creature to them. It rent the ceiling in its fury as it sought to get at them and whatever they were doing up there. Desperately afraid but under the cloak of invisibility Anna had followed, climbing up the ruined structure skillfully as an acrobat. Her friends were ready for it with spell and bow once it breached, and had managed to summon the Beast to the fight. But it wasn't there yet, and the Promethean was about to attack.
It was then that Anna fired her crossbow, using the alchemically-treated bolt and her own devious aim. It struck a vital spot and penetrated the construct's armor effortlessly, but suddenly she was visible and the creature seemed even more enraged. It paused between the numerous targets, then made a move toward the rogue. Anna suddenly realized the ring was no longer working as she desperately tried to reactivate the magic. Seeing her plight, Tolvan instructed his summoned archons to further harass the creature and draw it away, but the Promethean continued to move toward Anna.
She didn't bother trying to reload, or draw another weapon. She did the one thing that could save her life. As the horrendous amalgam loomed over her, she stepped backward into the hole, and fell.
She dropped, twisted her body, and spread her arms out. The creature's former lair had been criss-crossed with its webs, and that's what saved her. She stuck, spun, flipped and bounced all the way to the ground, missing a boot, a glove and part of a sleeve, but she made it as the Promethean roared far above. She was about ready to move to the hatch in case it decided to continue to come after her, but a loud challenge issued forth from above. The Beast had arrived.
She didn't see what other heroics that Tolvan, Andjela, Danica and Kimberly were able to produce in that battle, but was able to hear about it afterward from everybody. Her part of the fight over, she focused on Caromarc. She uncorked the vial that contained the potion of gaseous form and fed it to the imprisoned man.
She worked her way over to the hatch and opened it for the hazy cloud that issued from the prison. As the master was reunited with his homunculus, Anna stepped out and watched the end of the battle from below, heart in her throat.
Only until the head of the Promethean was cast down into the churning waters far below did she know it was over. Tolvan flew each of her friends down and Anna hugged them tightly -- even Andjela.
Then she turned inside and saw Caromarc, solid once again and now free. His ordeal was over and she shared in his tears of relief and his salvation, and exulted at her role in it.
________________________
There was a bit of mild frustration that -- despite their heroics -- Caromarc's place was a dead-end when it came to following the trail of the Whispering Way. They had been up to something, that's for sure. That Bondslave Thrall thingy might have been what put the Beast in the museum that got him captured that started the whole Lepidstadt mess in the first place. So with little else to do but try to pick up the trail from the museum, they said their goodbyes to the Beast and Caromarc and headed back to Lepidstadt.
Anna was silent and reflective for most of the trip back. She was glad for the coins, but even more glad for the ring. It started working again the next day, but she didn't get a whole lot of use out of it before it stopped again. She had pretty much bought up most of what was worth buying in Lepidstadt, so she figured she'd pocket the coin until something caught her eye.
_____________________
Lepidstadt was even more frustrating. The trail seemed to have gone cold, and she could get no information from the underbelly. She pushed a little hard, and occasionally showed up back at the inn with bruises and a ring that wouldn't work for her until the next day. She endured a few lectures from Andjela about her way of doing things, and the two almost blew up at each other as the dead ends mounted.
Finally, Andjela announced she was leaving. Anna's jaw dropped open and she felt like she had taken a punch to the gut from the Beast. She tried to change her mind, but Andjela was adamant. It was a bitter parting, but finally Anna gave her a tearful hug and thanked her for, well, thanked her. She gave her the last potion of salty she had been carrying for her, sniffed a few times, then watched the tall, overbearing paladin ride off into the distance.
After watching her fade from sight, Anna finally headed back to the inn with no plan except to get roaring drunk. But then she saw the letter...
Your appointment at the lion arrives and so do you, and find a private room has been set aside for your use. You are shown to the room and advised that food and drink has been paid for already and that you may order as you will.
Judge Daramid arrives about 10 minutes later, in the grey zone between 'rude' and 'fashionably late'.
Good evening. I am glad you could make it - I've ordered this room so we may speak both frankly and privately. I have recently spoken with the Count, his health is returning steadily, but would value your summary of recent events from your experienced point of view as some one who has seen and heard events first hand.
Anna's mood was sour, and the letter did little to improve it. She seriously considered refusing to show, but since the others would likely be there, she decided to show.
She debated a bit but finally decided to flount her newfound wealth before the judge, so she dressed in one of her most elegant gowns with matching jewelry (and one deceptively simple gold ring) and had Greta style her hair and face. She still had her daggers hidden beneath the luxurious fabric as well.
She was familiar with the Lion Inn since Anna had sampled everything expensive in Lepidstadt during her spending spree, so she flashed a smile to the maître d as she was escorted to the private room and ordered the most expensive bottle of wine for the meal.
When Daramid arrives she crosses her arms and tilts her head. Why the interest? There were trolls outside, traps and Caromarc's own collection of critters inside, and one really big monstrosity that just about killed us all.
She looks at Tolvan or Danica, waiting for them to say something before she keeps going and ruining the evening.
Kimberly came in her usual regalia devoted to Pharasma, her typical black dress, a small bone dagger tucked into a belt about her waist.
for the meeting she did not wear her armor as she felt in inappropriate at this meeting.
Kimberly reaches over and tries to take a sip of Anna's wine wondering how it tastes, as Anna talked.
After Anna gave her colorful rendition, Kimberly adder her point of view.
I think someone else broke into the place, they locked up Mr. Caro...Cara.. Camo....Mr Beast's daddy, and used the beast controller thingy to force Mr Beast to do all those things, or at least some of them. then they hoped that when he was no longer needed, the townsfolk would eliminate the problem. Lucky we came along and made things right.
looking to the group, we did make things right, didn't we?
The Judge sits stoney faced through Anna's recitation but gives Kimberly a rare smile.
Yes you did child - you did make things right.
She looks up to you all.
On the surface it looks as Anna described it - all mess and claws and fangs but these are just symptoms of a deeper illness within Ustalav. There are those who seek to resurrect an ancient evil at worst and at best? Aspire to a change of our society to that akin to that of Geb. While the Count has been foolish in the extreme in some of his pursuits, it was these shadowy figures who I believe were behind our mutual friends demise in Ravengro... and I am sure, after discussion with Caromac, that they had a hand in recent events here.
Tell me, have you had similar insight?
Anna produces from seemingly nowhere a tiny symbol, that of a bound and gagged skull, and tosses it on the table in front of the judge.
Yeah, we've had that insight as well. She waits for the shock to wear off, then continues. We found that on a little goblin who was working with the trolls. Swore up and down he just 'found' this little bauble. I tried my best to get him to crack. No luck, but I think this trinket still gives us the answer. They're behind it.
Danica sits and stares at the judge, then nods her head in agreement with Ana's statement. "My friend here is absolutely right. Just abominations created by someone playing god."
Danica continues with the conversation. "There is something dark brewing. Dark forces in the prison....in Caromarc estate.... the wraithlings in the village. She pauses for a moment to think about the children that were converted into wraiths. "If you saw the remnants of these children. We were lucky that we could provide them rest." The stoic holy warrior sits staring at the judge. "Judgment awaits for those responsible."
Danica continues, "Why have you summoned us to this meeting? I don't think you are here to hear about our heroic exploits. You must know something, something that you do not wish to share with your countrymen. Something that only outsiders, like us, that can resolve."