Snaggletooth moves up and behind Devlin. As he strikes him deep in the side, Snaggle says to the mercenary, "This is the time for you to run away. If you don't, you will die here, just like these pale ones. You pick wrong side again." Then he drops back in a fighting stance.
"Don't know so much as I'm on the wrong side. More that we'd be better off collaborating."
Seemingly not even a bloodying wound can stop Devlin's opportunistic attempts at survival.
a bloodying wound
Devlin's halberd slashes hard into Snaggletooth as the kobold maneuvers for position.
Readying herself for a parting shot from the prattling Devlin, Mirth slides out of her corner, easing past Caine and placing her back firmly to the tower's wall before subtly nudging the shadows that surely haunt the warlord's mind into turning against him.
"Thoran owns courage enough to die in this room, coward. Art thou afraid to do the same?" the Tiefling asks Devlin loudly, eyeing his proximity to the room's only egress.
"Thoran reckons he's a big damn hero and I'm just dishonest. Bit of difference."
Devlin slams his halberd casually into Mirth as she sidles past him before flinching slightly as her illusions hit him and Leo's divine power bites deep.
"Yup. You got the power there horny gal."
OA Devlin v Mirth (1d20 8=25, 1d10 8=9).
Recharge Finishing blow (1d6=6)
Thoran smiles as his powers return to him.
Recharge Dance of Death (5,6) (1d6=1, 1d6=5).
Raising his greatsword, Thoran swings a wide arc around Brujo, trying to push the moonelf off his feet.
Shadow Throw (Ref) v Brujo. On hit target is knocked prone and may be pushed two squares. (1d20 12=17, 1d6 5=9).
With an unholy smile, the sword strikes again, this time aiming only to kill.
Thoran v Brujo (1d20 12=32, 1d10 5=11).
Seeing Mirth vulnerable, CF1 leaps towards, ominous as the shadows that spawned him and lashes out with the spiked chain. His aim is unerring.
CF1 v Mirth (1d20 12=25, 2d4 4=8).
Chainfighter 2 begins his lethal dance again, eyes alight with a savage glee as he targets Snaggletooth, Leo and Caine.
Dance of Death v Snaggletooth (1d20 12=27, 2d4 4=9, 1d6=1).
Dance of Death v Leo (1d20 12=27, 2d4 4=8, 1d6=5).
Dance of Death v Caine (1d20 12=26, 2d4 4=11, 1d6=1).
"You have to admire the skills, you really do. Feel almost ashamed to try and follow that. How's about you hit him again?" Devlin nods at CF2 and indicates Leo. Blows shower around the paladin as Devlin overcomes his scruples and stabs hard before ducking into the stairwell beside Caine.
Hammer and Anvil v Leo. Allows ally adjacent to target to make melee basic attack at +2. (1d20 8=25, 2d10 8=16).
Hammer and Anvil free attack v Leo (1d20 14=25, 2d4 4=8).
Through the ruck of battle you can all see that CF2 and Devlin are badly wounded. Neither can last much longer.
Leo moves behind Snaggletooth as he barely recovers from that last round of blows.
"Sorry Snaggletooth hope this makes up for this," Leo mutters as he unleashes his strongest divine power upon the chainfighter.
Brujo just gives a smile and thinks about his next actions.
"Behind you."
Fairwind rises like a sardonic phoenix and bloodies Thoran again, while Leo invokes Kelemvor's potent aid to end the threat of the shadow being before him. The chainfighter's eyes widen as divine light washes over him, fusing his hands agonisingly to his weapon. Until he can free them, every attack will inflict more agony on the shadar kai.
Thoran spins and stares at the ranger, outraged at her revival. Devlin roars with painful laughter. "I warned you. These guys don't take death lying down."
Realizing that Devlin is on the verge of escaping, Cronin shifts targets. Moving for a better line of sight (F5), he arcs a lance of silver light at the warlord.
Realizing that Devlin is on the verge of escaping, Cronin shifts targets. Moving for a better line of sight (F5), he arcs a lance of silver light at the warlord.
"Caine!" Snaggletooth screeches at him. "Attack Chained One. Then I finish him off."
Rev
Cronin's attack just hits Devlin. For the first time, the warlord allows himself to look mildly alarmed.
Caine tries to size up his options. Both Devlin and the Chainfighter are within his reach. Shifting to flank the Chainfighter, he tries, and fails to hit the shadar kai.
Who to attack -
1,2 - Devlin
3,4 - CF2 (1d4=4)
Caine v CF2 (1d20 12=16, 1d10 4=9).
Snaggletooth
Snaggletooth's attack is enough. The chainfighter looks down in a mixture of surprise and horror as the kobold easily finds a way through his defenses and strikes a vital spot.
Snaggletooth, after stabbing deep into the "pale one", pauses for a moment to make sure he is dead by poking at him with his dagger, then looks up at Devlin by the stairwell.
"I told you, Dev-lin, you stay, you die, just like this one." He points to the dead body below him. "I still owe you from before, dirty one. You are going to die here." The calm, certainity in his voice lets everyone know he is not joking around. "But first, I need to see about your boss." And he moves into the aura right on the other side of the pillar from Thorin.
"KEHAHAHA" Brujo laughs at the wound, "It's going to be fun killing you!"
He springs back and arcs a wave if azure flame at Thoran
Brujo attempts to step away from Thoran, but the shadar kai is too quick for him. Another mighty blow of the greatsword strikes at the moonelf's legs, almost bringing him to the ground. The blue flames enveloping Brujo flare outwards, writhing around Thoran and dazing him.
OA Thoran v Brujo (1d20+12=32, 1d10+5=15)
Shadows rise from Mirth's finger tips as she calls on her heritage to ensnare Devlin.
The warlord involuntarily flinches back from the nightmares creeping inexorably around his feet.
Thoran smiles in exaltation as Brujo backs away and advances once more on the swordmage, greatsword raking through the air.
Thoran v Brujo (1d20 12=25, 1d10 5=14).
Recharge Dance of Death (5,6) (1d6=1).
The remaining Chainfighter extends a long arm, the movement echoing Mirth's own evocation of the shadow world and lets his spiked chain bit deep into the tiefling.
CF1 v Mirth (1d20 12=25, 2d4 4=10).
Devlin looks at Fairwind and Mirth. "In kind of a dilemma here. Mythic kobold's in the right of it. Running's what I'm planning on. Got a better offer?"
Thoran's lip curls. "You would run from honourable death?"
"Guess I prefer dishonourable life." Devlin backs carefully down the stairs.
"It's yer own hide ya should be thinkin' about." Fairwind snarls as she moves in for the kill.
Fairwind's blades support her words as they bite deep into Thoran.
"Perhaps you are worthy after all, duplicitous one."
Rev
Monastery
Allendi pick up the creeper's cloak and looks at it with distaste.
"I don't like this Perigia. If they could get past Turnagall they must be desperate."
Heading into the cellar, he rouses his stricken brother and helps him to his feet. Close examination shows no obvious way the dark ones could have entered and you can only conclude that they must have sneaked through the building. "And that," comments Allendi grimly, "is not a pleasant thought."
"I can't help feeling you should rejoin your friends. If dark ones are prepared to risk entering a place like this, matters must be close to a conclusion."
He pulls a ancient map from the book case and examines it closely. Finally he turns to the mage, tapping the parchment.
"You say you and your companions have cleared the Tower of occupants? If that's the case, I'd suggest you bypass the crypt and the cellars and go in through the front door. I think Turnagall can open it for you once he's recovered a bit. You'll save some time and with luck, most of the surprises have already been triggered. Isn't that so, young man?"
He looks hard at Palagro as the student watches Perigia with hero-worshipping eyes.
"Stop drooling and engage your brains. The lady needs help, not hormones."
Leo moves in towards the remaining chain fighter.
"I will be your opponent now and even if the commander's strike or even if I must be caught within the area effects of my comrades blows I intend to see this battle to the end unlike your former ally," Leo addresses the chain fighter quite clearly as is clear the half elven paladin is sorely wounded.
Leo's challenge captures the Chainfighter's attention and the shadow warrior raises a hand in formal salute. Whatever Devlin's motivations, the shadar kai embrace a warrior culture and honour the purity of battle.
Cronin eases closer and hurls Selune's wrath at Thoran, invoking his goddess's aid on behalf of Fairwind.
LoF (Ref) v Thoran (1d20 7=21, 1d8 6=12).
Caine stays put, and bellows at Leo "Take him now!" The paladin takes full advantage of Caine's help. Looking wildly around at his comrades, he uses his last Inspiring Word to get Brujo back into consciousness.
Commander's Strike - Leo v CF1 (1d20 9=21, 1d8 6=11).
Thoran's lip curls. "You would run from honourable death?"
"Kehahahaha, honorable death? You're kidding right?" the lambent elf strikes from the ground.
"There's nothing honorable in death. Just the cold hand of nothingness. Honor... Keh..."
Brujo disappears and reappearing where Caine once was. "Now let's see how much you wish for your honorable death Shadowman! Come for me!"