Ranek drew near to keep the horses under the sweep of his divination while Thurvek readied his tools and Marcus bent down to hobble the first. As he did, both horses tensed as might be expected. Marcus made a few soothing noises as he gathered up the rope.
Then the horses skulls elongated and their mouths widened to show black, slavering jaws thick with razor-sharp teeth. A black foam issued from their new mouths, boiling up into the air!
"Malar Beastlord, I swear I'll give you my blood and my best kill this summer if you'll spare me now!" Othic shouted to the heavens.
Sense Motives!
Oh dear.
Well...that didn't go so well as hoped.
They do a thing.
Thurvek curses in Dwarven as he takes a step back, secures his healer's kit and draws his warhammer and shield.
Tempo: 4
"Gah! What in the nine hells?!" Stumbling a half-step back, Barra rallies and runs wide around the creatures before darting in to cut at a fetlock. "Get in here!"
Marcus' heart sank, he probably should be getting used to this sort of thing, particularly considering the cult was supposedly ensconced nearby. Still at least this hadn't happen in town, that could have been a recipe for disaster...
Marcus reached up behind his neck, fluidly drawing his greatsword and bringing it down in a powerful overhand chop. However at the same time the horse thing nearest Barra lashed out with from iron clod hooves and Marcus had to dance back ruining his stroke.
Bane's Codpiece, what is that!? Hakon seethes with righteous fury as he storms forward. He swings his blade at the monstrous creature, diverting its attention towards himself. Go! Flank the creature!
tactical strike
"Bane's Codpiece, what is that!?" Hakon seethes with righteous fury as he storms forward. He swings his blade at the monstrous creature, diverting its attention towards himself. "Go! Flank the creature!" His blade struck true, cutting a narrow gash across the horse's flank. More of the black foam boiled up from the wound.
"Gah! What in the nine hells?!" Stumbling a half-step back, Barra rallies and runs wide around the creatures before darting in to cut at a fetlock. "Get in here!" The horse danced back from his blade and gave him a contemptuous look, full of malice. Two legs missed! an amused, inhuman voice spoke in his mind.
Marcus' heart sank, he probably should be getting used to this sort of thing, particularly considering the cult was supposedly ensconced nearby. Still at least this hadn't happen in town, that could have been a recipe for disaster...
Marcus reached up behind his neck, fluidly drawing his greatsword and bringing it down in a powerful overhand chop. However at the same time the horse thing nearest Barra lashed out with from iron clod hooves and Marcus had to dance back ruining his stroke.
Thurvek curses in Dwarven as he takes a step back, secures his healer's kit and draws his warhammer and shield.
One horse lunged toward Hakon, jaws snapping. Its foul foam splattered against his armor as the other drew in a great breath and exhaled. A cone of the same foam laced with topaz-hued light across Hakon, Ranek, Marcus, and Barra. The foam moved like a thing alive, trying to lunge into their mouths and noses even as it touched their flesh. Everywhere it fell, painful black welts rose on their skin.
Horse for Hakon
aw, unfair!
Other horse breathes, catching Ranek, Marcus, Hakon, and Barra.
DC 15
Damn you all.
, 6
Thurvek enters his bloodrage once more, and swings his warhammer in a downward swing to bury the horse's skull into the ground.
Ari recoils as the horses transform into… something. She’s horrified as one of the creatures sprays some sort of awful foam at some of her companions.
Gripping her bow more tightly, she steps to the side for a better angle while infusing her bow with arcane energy. She pulls back the bowstring and sends two arrows toward one of the monstrosities. The first arrow finds its mark, but the second flies wide of its target.
Aldon maintains his Psionic Focus but begins to summon a construct from the nether reaches.
Bolkvar's eyes flash as his skin hardens to be as hard as stone. He then moves forward towards the cultists, muttering about how their like has no place in his ancestral home.
[dice=Knowledge (arcana)]1d20+10
The horses confuse Ranek. They now have some of the outward signs of beings sired by dragons upon non-dragons, or who acquired draconic traits through mystical processes. He knows that the most common involve frequent and painful infusions of dragon blood combined with many spells to sustain the body rather than have it burned up from within. Yet he knows that the foam they just breathed upon himself and the others to be a form of negative energy, such as that which fuels the unlives of many undead creatures. He's never heard of a dragon, even of the undead sort, who had such abilities. Nor as he known those touched by dragons -whatever the method- to readily mindspeak courtesy of their wyrmish attributes.
Still, they don't look to be undead unless singularly well-preserved. That ability might point to their connection with the obscure gems dragons, known to practice the Invisible Art. It would make more sense than any other explanation, though those with such abilities don't usually shift their forms as the horses have. As best Ranek can tell, they wound respond to Art as dragons.
Tempo: 5
"Pfah! Ow! Wha-" Barra wises up and shuts his mouth, rolling his head to avoid the worst of the foam He steps back and, when his heel touches the dirt, a quiet thrum through the bones of his allies. Each step he takes does the same to create a syncopated rythm that guides his allies movements around each other and their swords into the creatures.
The shout goes out, dragon tainted. Marcus's eyes narrowed, that explained the breath weapon. His armour masters had explained at great length tactics suitable foe such dire foes. You had to aim for a weak spot, usually one of the joints.
The theory was clear, in practice it was much harder. They were thrashing about ruining his thrusts, he would have to be patient.
"Treat these creatures as dragons who are immune to negative energy. Other magic should have a normal effect!" Having alerted the group, Ranek will cast a spell to protect himself from damage and draw his blade, preparing to join the fray. His blade glows with arcane power as he channels some into his weapon.
HP 24/30
AC 20, touch 20, flat-footed 14
Arcane Pool 4/5
Magus spells cast: none
Wizard spells cast: mage armor
Ari believes much as Ranek does that these horses are somehow draconic, but with something else in the mix. She's sure it would be folly to try paralyzing them and fears their mind powers may extend beyond simple speech.
"Treat these creatures as dragons who are immune to negative energy. Other magic should have a normal effect!" Having alerted the group, Ranek will cast a spell to protect himself from damage and draw his blade, preparing to join the fray. His blade glows with arcane power as he channels some into his weapon.
** spoiler omitted **
As Ari finishes firing her bow, she says to her companions, "It would surely be folly to try paralyzing these beasts. Also, their mind powers may extend beyond simple speech."
As Ari finishes firing her bow, she says to her companions, "It would surely be folly to try paralyzing these beasts. Also, their mind powers may extend beyond simple speech."
Hakon swings his blade and shield at the horse monster, but the creature's evil thwarts his strikes!
I asked GM, he said that since I didn't give my guardian's shield (free action) when i used my tactical strike, I could do it now.
So... Bara, enjoy 8 temporary hit points, immunity to the shaken condition, and a protection from evil spell for 4 rounds.
and sheesh.. i suck.
Bolkvar's eyes flash as his skin hardens to be as hard as stone. He then moves forward towards the cultists, muttering about how their like has no place in his ancestral home.
Ari recoils as the horses transform into… something. She’s horrified as one of the creatures sprays some sort of awful foam at some of her companions. Gripping her bow more tightly, she steps to the side for a better angle while infusing her bow with arcane energy. She pulls back the bowstring and sends two arrows toward one of the monstrosities. The first arrow finds its mark, but the second flies wide of its target.
Aldon maintains his Psionic Focus but begins to summon a construct from the nether reaches. A hazy form began to appear before him.
"Treat these creatures as dragons who are immune to negative energy. Other magic should have a normal effect!" Having alerted the group, Ranek will cast a spell to protect himself from damage and draw his blade, preparing to join the fray. His blade glows with arcane power as he channels some into his weapon.
Hakon swings his blade and shield at the horse monster, but the creature's evil thwarts his strikes!
"Pfah! Ow! Wha-" Barra wises up and shuts his mouth, rolling his head to avoid the worst of the foam He steps back and, when his heel touches the dirt, a quiet thrum through the bones of his allies. Each step he takes does the same to create a syncopated rythm that guides his allies movements around each other and their swords into the creatures.
The shout goes out, dragon tainted. Marcus's eyes narrowed, that explained the breath weapon. His armour masters had explained at great length tactics suitable foe such dire foes. You had to aim for a weak spot, usually one of the joints. The theory was clear, in practice it was much harder. They were thrashing about ruining his thrusts, he would have to be patient.
Thurvek enters his bloodrage once more, and swings his warhammer in a downward swing to bury the horse's skull into the ground. His mighty swing missed the horse and nearly crushed his own foot.
One of the horses snapped at Thurvek then danced back from his reach. The other, the injured one, likewise slipped out of reach and then fixed its gaze on Barra and Hakon. Topaz light flashed in its eyes. Hakon felt nothing but a vague sense of unease, but Barra's mind began to reel beneath the unseen onslaught. For a moment nothing made sense, then a brightness that felt vaguely like Hakon thrust the confusion away.
Horsey time. For Thurvek
miss
Will DC 16
Tempo: 3
Shaking the topaz dots out of his eyes, Barra's feet echo through the ground as he closes the distance in a wide arc. He cuts upwards at the thing's neck but barely scores its skin before a flailing hoof cuts his attack short.
"Thank you for the encouragement, Barra! We will bring these things down. Stand fast, friends! This evil must be purged from Auvandell."
Even as she finishes saying the words, she unleashes three arrows in quick succession, drawing on her inner reserve to unleash the third. In her exuberance, she only hits her mark with one.
Marcus took a deep breath and entered a proper stance, his feet grounded yet leaving him agile. He waited for an opening when they attacked and he swung his sword in a great arc biting heavily into the flank of the uninjured horse! He wrenched it free with a horrible sucking noise.
"Treat these creatures as dragons who are immune to negative energy. Other magic should have a normal effect!"
Fatigued, Thurvek drops his warhammer and reaches for his holy symbol.
"Fine", huffs the dwarven cleric. "Let's see how they like the other side of the coin!Extending his arms, Thurvek lets loose a wave of positive energy at the horses.
Ranek speaks words of magic, and electricity suddenly appears in his hand, sparking and crackling. Darting past Thurvek to one of the horses, Ranek swings with his sword, seeking to deliver the electrical jolt. The sword connects, sending the electrical power into the beast.
Bolkvar steps up to the nearest enemy and unleashes a flurry of blows upon them, flanking with Marcus.
Aldon's summoned creature materializes with a flash of light and the sound of a POP! The creature is a green mass made entirely of some sort of energy vaguely shaped as a humanoid. Aldon directs it to strike the more injured of the two demonic horses.
Astral Construct - Slam Attack - Slam Damage .
The creature is slow to strike and altogether misses the vile creature.
In the meantime, Aldon utilizes his own powers to attempt to disrupt the mind of the creature again, focusing on the more injured foe.
Hakon holds his shield outward towards the twisted horse and thrusts his sword up tot he heavens with a mighty shout. The sword glows bright white with the power of his faith and a brilliant sphere of energy extends out form his shield, surrounding his companions!
Recharge maneuvers! Full round action
everyone in 30' gets:
+4 to sacred bonus to AC and saves until Hakon's action next round
Barra: +8 temp hp, immune to Shaken, and protection from evil for 3/4 rounds
EVERYONE: +4 sacred bonus to AC and saves for 1/1 rounds
Bolkvar steps up to the nearest enemy and unleashes a heavy punch, flanking with Barra.
"Thank you for the encouragement, Barra! We will bring these things down. Stand fast, friends! This evil must be purged from Auvandell." Even as she finishes saying the words, she unleashes three arrows in quick succession, drawing on her inner reserve to unleash the third. In her exuberance, she only hits her mark with one.
Aldon's summoned creature materializes with a flash of light and the sound of a POP! The creature is a green mass made entirely of some sort of energy vaguely shaped as a humanoid. Aldon directs it to strike the more injured of the two demonic horses. The creature is slow to strike and altogether misses the vile creature. In the meantime, Aldon utilizes his own powers to attempt to disrupt the mind of the creature again, focusing on the more injured foe. He feels his thoughts lost in a chaos of death screams, thousands of voices crying out as one.
Ranek speaks words of magic, and electricity suddenly appears in his hand, sparking and crackling. Darting past Thurvek to one of the horses, Ranek swings with his sword, seeking to deliver the electrical jolt. The sword connects, sending the electrical power into the beast.
Hakon holds his shield outward towards the twisted horse and thrusts his sword up tot he heavens with a mighty shout. The sword glows bright white with the power of his faith and a brilliant sphere of energy extends out form his shield, surrounding his companions!
Shaking the topaz dots out of his eyes, Barra's feet echo through the ground as he closes the distance in a wide arc. He cuts upwards at the thing's neck but barely scores its skin before a flailing hoof cuts his attack short.
Marcus took a deep breath and entered a proper stance, his feet grounded yet leaving him agile. He waited for an opening when they attacked and he swung his sword in a great arc biting heavily into the flank of the uninjured horse! He wrenched it free with a horrible sucking noise.
Fatigued, Thurvek drops his warhammer and reaches for his holy symbol. "Fine", huffs the dwarven cleric. "Let's see how they like the other side of the coin!" Extending his arms, Thurvek lets loose a wave of positive energy at the horses. The wave of light, shaped vaguely like many axes trailing blood, bit into the horse's flanks.
Making a noise between a neigh and a roar, the less wounded horse struck at Ranek. It moved with dizzying speed for such a huge creature, and Ranek saw in his mind's eye those foaming jaws closing around his throat and tearing it clear. Bleak despair crashed over him in a wave, but then the memory of Hakon's shout and something gleaming that looked like his shield interposed. The jaws stopped just short, sparking him with pinpricks of foam but leaving him unharmed.
The other lunged at Barra, who danced easily out of reach.
Horsey time. No more of this power attack crap.
For Ranek
hit
For Barra, AC 24 with Hakon's thing
miss
Aldon's Astral Construct attacks once more. .
Aldon's mental attack is rebuffed by the fiends... He sighs as he realizes he will have to get his hands dirty for this. His hands begin to vibrate impossibly fast.
Aldon charges and attacks flanking with the Construct - Unarmed Strike - - Damage .
Tempo: 4
Moving with light feet Barra ducks to the side and again barely scores the creature. "Bolkvar! Beware, on your left!" Whatever the green thing was, it couldn't be good - they needed to finish this quickly, before more of the things appeared.
They had to bring these things down. If they tried to escape, Auvandell would be right in there path. And yet, they were proving to be quite hardy. Hopefully, if nothing else, the party's numbers would allow them to prevail.
By the True! Your evil will not stand! Hakon calls out to the horses, sword and shield brandished to all. He swings his blade, cutting t his demonic foe.
swift action: intimidate southern horse thing
demoralizing roar on northern horse
nope
it needs to make a DC 15 will save or be shaken
And, because Hakon initiated a strike, +8 temporary hp, protection from evil, immunity to shaken for 4 rounds to first taker in 60' feet.
Stymied that the channel energy attack wasn't very effective, Thurvek draws his battleaxe and shield, readying to attack.
Sometimes the Old Ways are the best Ways!
Barely saved by Hakon's aura by the beast's ferocious bite, Ranek assumes a defensive stance as he casts another spell.
Unfortunately, having to move around and dodge the horse's hooves throws off his concentration, and the spell fizzles. Still, he can follow up with his attack.
Marcus grunts with effort as he brings his sword round for another powerful overhead chop at the less wounded horse. The sword glints in the frigid air before biting deeply into the monstrosity's flank!
Bolkvar slammed his fist into the horse's side, cracking bone.
They had to bring these things down. If they tried to escape, Auvandell would be right in there path. And yet, they were proving to be quite hardy. Hopefully, if nothing else, the party's numbers would allow them to prevail. Two arrows struck true, piercing deep into the horse's shoulder.
Aldon's Astral Construct attacks once more, making a solid hit. His own mental attack is rebuffed by the fiends... He sighs as he realizes he will have to get his hands dirty for this. His hands begin to vibrate impossibly fast. Aldon charges and attacks, discharging the vibrations into the horse's bones with stunning effect.
Barely saved by Hakon's aura by the beast's ferocious bite, Ranek assumes a defensive stance as he casts another spell. Unfortunately, having to move around and dodge the horse's hooves throws off his concentration, and the spell fizzles. Still, he can follow up with his attack, which cuts into horse hide with ease.
By the True! Your evil will not stand! Hakon calls out to the horses, sword and shield brandished to all. He swings his blade, cutting t his demonic foe.
Moving with light feet Barra ducks to the side and again barely scores the creature. "Bolkvar! Beware, on your left!" Whatever the green thing was, it couldn't be good - they needed to finish this quickly, before more of the things appeared. But his blade found no purchase.
Marcus grunts with effort as he brings his sword round for another powerful overhead chop at the less wounded horse. The sword glints in the frigid air before biting deeply into the monstrosity's flank! The horse fell dead to the ground, the small mound and scar in its forehead exploding in a puff of gray grit and plume of topaz-colored smoke.
Stymied that the channel energy attack wasn't very effective, Thurvek draws his battleaxe and shield, readying to attack. Sometimes the Old Ways are the best Ways!
Though shaken by Hakon's proclamation, the surviving horse lunges forward with its huge jaws. It grips Ranek in them and throws him to the ground, warding and all, as it cries out triumphantly in the company's minds, Blood! Flesh!
Bolkvar flurries.
Southern horse intimidated and so shaken for 2/2
Horse! Ranek
on the dot!
"Ranek!" Ari shouts as the man is thrown to the ground by the beast.
Ari grits her teeth and moves closer to the remaining fiend. Whatever they were, they needed to die. Ranek and the others were the innocents in this equation. Ilmater would not have others suffer unnecessarily.
Moving to just beside Thurvek, Ari has a sudden thought. If they're intelligent... could they understand what we're saying?
Deciding not to risk it, Ari speaks to Thurvek in dwarven.
After hastily speaking to Thurvek, Ari lines up her bow and arrow for a single (hopefully) perfect shot. The arrow flies true to its destination. She could only hope that the party's combined efforts would bring the monstrosity down in time to save Ranek.
Aldon sees Ranek go down and decides that the man could well be stomped to death and that just would not do...
Aldon and Ranek switch places, where the Magus was laying Aldon is standing an vice versa.
"You see Ari? This is why we should use the Mindlink, what if this beast can speak Dwarven?" Aldon stares at the remaining creature defiantly practically eye to eye.
Aldon's eyes flash at his servant who attacks the possessed horse.