Arthur drops the singed and damage undead monster with a slam of his shield and cuts at another one.
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 natural)
hp 9/19, 19/19 x2
Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +3
DR 5/bludgeoning or slashing; Immune undead traits; Resist fire 10
The relentless attack of the Undead begins to drain Arthur's fortitude. When they gang up on him his attention slips and a one manages to land a deep cut in his shield arm. With blood dripping on the stone below him Arthur grits his teeth and follows up on his last attack, cutting down the one he wounded before. Alas his shield attack is greatly weakened by the damage and fails to even connect.
Incised by the undead creature's attack, Iacobus curses slightly as he drops his rapier and slides his sickle out of its case. He decides to test it's edge on the nearest monster.
He smiles slightly as it opens a fine but deep cut on the thing's arm.
'Iacobus, dear, don't go down.' Ember says as she invokes a blessing to heal Arthur
Lucetta targets the most damaged looking undead, flinging another small orb of acid at it.
Arthur's keen blade dispatches another of the vile undead and you slightly damage another.
You nimbly evade the attacks.
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 natural)
hp: 13/19, 19/19
Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +3
DR 5/bludgeoning or slashing; Immune undead traits; Resist fire 10
Lucetta continues flinging acid.
Ember moves away and shot more fire at the dead thing!
"Burn it down!"
Another zombie goes down, the last remaining one attacks Arthur:
but misses.
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 natural)
hp: 10/19
Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +3
DR 5/bludgeoning or slashing; Immune undead traits; Resist fire 10
Lucetta continues flinging handfuls of acid.
Aiming to finish down last undead, Ember fires another bolt.
"You should never have risen!"
Ember's bolt drops the undead thing, leaving it a smouldering heap of carrion.
Timeon, the young squire that you've 'rescued' and had been following you, pops into the room. "That was magnificent! I thought you were all goners, but you just cut those abominations down." He bends down and picks up one of the rusty greataxes. "Sorry I couldn't be of more help before, but with this I should be able to properly watch your backs at least."
This room has but one other exit. A thick metal lock holds this door shut, but a large iron key dangles from a peg just to one side.
Lucetta flashes her teeth and tucks her hair back behind her ears.
Indeed Timeon, this is the result when one we work together!
she indicates the axe
Be careful with that, I'm not so sure it is safe for you to wield, being rusty and prone to breaking...
She taps a finger on her lips as she considers the door, before shrugging and delicately plucking the key out of its cradle
I assume the fiendish master of this place has but one 'challenge' per room, let us hope I am correct and not about to be impaled with a trap of some kind...
she inserts the key in the lock delicately, then twists it open. Stepping back she smiles encouragingly at one of the warriors, urging them to go forward.
Ember eyes the little thing and the axe in his hand; she considers what to do before finally addressing the poor lad "Drop it. There’s no need to take arms yourself. You clearly are not in shape to fight, and if we fall, you should run and hide again…"
And she prepares to the next challenge, with will be possibly something deadly, considering it’s locked behind a steel door…
Timeon gives you an odd look, "I am a knight in training, I think I can handle an axe. I was alone before, you've shown such bravery. I can't just stand by and watch."
The door swings open. Before you stands a knight in battered armour. He wears around his neck a sunburst of silver and sapphire -- a holy symbol of Mitra.
"Sir Balin," Timeon calls out. "Thank Mitra that you are alive."
"Timeon," the knight says cautiously. "Who are these with you and what is this place?
After the battle had ended, Ember single out Arthur and Iacobus and takes them away from the poor squire. Once outside the range, paying shortly, she channels her father’s energy to heal their wounds.
Once the armored knight appears, she keeps to herself, waiting for someone else do the talking, lest she ended up the façade with the squire.
Lucetta does a double-take as the knight makes his grand entrance, but she has eyes only for the sunburst on his breast
Sir Balin! My lord! she exclaims in joy, but then her brow furrows suddenly
I...I don't understand...why did they let you keep your holy symbol?
she stands back, suddenly looking aghast at the knight
Are you another trick then? An enemy dressed up as a friend?! Timeon, we can't trust this apparition, how could he possibly be down here!? He must be the devil that was chasing you, prepare to defend yourself!!!
"I know you all are injuried, but I can pray for a miracle only one more time. I think Arthur will be better served since he is the one protecting us." Ember says, casting her last cure spell on the big fellow.
At Lucetta outburst, Ember joins the Con
"I won't let you devil get me!! I'll burn you first!" she says conjuring flame once more to hurt the big knight.
"That's Sir Balin, I've known him my whole life. Why are you lying?! Deceivers!"
Any other doubt in Timeon's mind is quashed by Ember's attack.
Combat
22 Arthur/Iacobus
21 Lucetta
20 Ember
9 Baddies
With a shrug or regret, Iacobus steps over to Timeon and neatly runs the boy through.
Arthur grimly advances on the knight:
Human fighter 5
LG Medium humanoid
Init +1; Senses Perception +2
DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 11, flat-footed 21 (+9 armor, +2 shield, +1 Dex)
hp 25/42
Fort +8, Ref +3, Will +6 (+1 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities bravery +1
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee long sword +11 (1d8+7/19-20x2)
Hp 10/16; AC 18/13T/15FF; CMD 19
+4F/+3R/+3W
Buffs:
Lucetta swears under her breath that her gambit failed, reaches a hand up to her lips and blows Sir Balin a kiss full of acid.
The man was too well prepared to be fought head on. Ember arrows would not offer any danger, but metal wouldn't prevent him from burning.
"Once we finish your pathetic struggle,there's a torture table waiting for your precious squire..." she gloats.
"You monsters!! He was only a boy."
He steps up and cuts Iacobus down.
Human fighter 5
LG Medium humanoid
Init +1; Senses Perception +2
DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 11, flat-footed 21 (+9 armor, +2 shield, +1 Dex)
hp 13/42
Fort +8, Ref +3, Will +6 (+1 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities bravery +1
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee long sword +11 (1d8+7/19-20x2)
Certain of their victory Ember carelessly fires her last fire bolt, taking it for certain the man would fall.
If your boy had played along then he might have been an entertaining plaything...what a shame!
stepping slightly to the side, Lucetta brings her hand up with a flourish and coruscating colours pour away from her in a torrent of colours, washing over Sir Balin.
Balin drops his sword, stunned by the magic.
"You'll die, a cursed death, knowing there'll be no respite to your squire. He'll beg for death, and death will be denied to him!" she gloats once more, now attacking with her Longbow.
Lucetta laughs evilly as the brave knight succumbs to her twisted magics. Keen to finish him off, she throws another handful of acid on him.
Surprise by the tsunami of clolours that washes past him Arthur smiles as he sees the stunned Sir Balin. Orbs of acid and arrows also flies past him striking the unprotected foe infront of him. Following their lead he swings his blade in a wide arc chatching the left lung just above the shield. Anf while his first follow up with his own shield does little, the second catch the jaw of Sir Balin.
The stunned knight is helpless to defend himself and you cut down the Mitran fanatic without remorse. From his cooling body you pull free the silver and sapphire necklace, positive that it is what Cardinal Thorne sent you to retrieve.
Sucessful in your task, you make your way back to the floors above and go in search of the Cardinal with your prize in hand. Adrastus sits in his study seeming almost as he has moved not an inch from where he gave you your orders at dusk.
“You’ve returned and successful in your task, I see” He holds out a hand for the pendant. [b]"This pleases me. "
The high priest holds the trinket and pauses as if in deep contemplation. He watches the holy symbol glitter in the light. “A pretty enough thing, eh?” he muses. “This is a holy symbol of Mitra in particular the sort favoured by the Knights of the Alerion. Perhaps you already knew that.Remember this symbol. This is the mark of those who destroyed our faith and sought to banish all trace of the worship of our Father from these shores. These, my friends, are your enemies.”
He tosses the holy symbol back to you.
“Keep it. It may aid you in disguising yourself.”
He smiles. “You have done well. Escaping from Branderscar, slaughtering Sir Balin ... yes, you are worthy. Now, let us complete your training...”
Kaynen, wearing his typical cocksure smile like a gambler dealt a royal flush, lounging about the Cardinal's kitchens while whistling a particularly rousing overture seeming to conjure feelings of a long, forgotten battle.
"Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm... hmmm, hmmm, HMMMMM!!!"
Waving his hands absent-mindedly, he nods at some of the others enter, returning from their training.
Holding up a hand to indicate he has a few more notes before he's finished, he theatrically ends and bows slightly from his seat.
"Good afternoon, everyone! What a lovely day to be alive and successfully best a domineering cardinal's specially constructed trials of death and cunning, am I right?"
Lucetta smiles gracefully yet proudly as the Cardinal compliments the group.
As she moves to the kitchens to grab a snack, hungry after all the underground exertion, she manages to catch the end of Kaynen's impromptu performance. Leaning against the doorway she claps slowly twice, raising an eyebrow.
It's been a long while since I heard *that* particular overture, a fitting accompaniment to returning champions I'll give you that!
she moves closer to the cocksure half-elf, holding the edge of her dress skirt in one hand and bowing slightly in the noble fashion.
Lucetta De Leon, wielder of magics dark and terrible, and you are?
she retrieves a small knife and uses it to prepare a plate of cheese, bread and fruit, spearing each morsel on the blade and placing them delicately in her mouth to chew daintily as she watches the charismatic newcomer to hear what he has to say.
Kaynen found himself disarmed for the briefest of moments as clearly Lucetta not only recognized his inspiration, but bestowed a compliment upon him. It had been so long since the university when he had his pick of any fetching lass about on the street - such is what happens when you pick up the mantle for the utter destruction of the standing deity of your country.
"Why, I... "
Kaynen hastily stands and bows low.
"Kaynen Catesby. Musician. Dabbler in combustibles. Revolutionary."
As Lucetta takes a seat and deftly works her knife, Kaynen allows his curiosity to run wild like a goblin in an alchemy lab.
"Magicks dark and terrible, is it? Those will be exceptionally useful for the Cardinal's next request. I should like to see this magic firsthand, if at all possible..."
As Kaynen and Lucetta engage in complimentary introductions another newcomer enters the kitchen.
The towering man walks in with a slow, almost pained gait; his blunt features further marred with a pallid jaundiced hue and numerous scars.
He stops and listens to their interplay, eyes watching but not seeing.
When the ironclad brute finally speaks it is in a harsh whisper, and his words are an odd mixture of the Common Tongue and Necril - the necromantic language of the Un-Dead;
"You töten der Knight of der Alerion Ja? Broke his body und sundered his soul Ja?"
Well Kaynen Catesby, revolutionary, welcome to our merry band
she spins the knife in an easy motion as she considers the musician
I'm sure you'll have a front row seat for the magics I work in the future, until then consider the anticipation something that will sweeten the experience...
she smiles wolfishly, considering the charming man in front of her. She nods as if pleased with what she sees.
Slowly her head turns to follow Albrέkt as he walks in to the room. Her brow furrows slightly as she concentrates on the man's odd accent.
The light of Mitra has been extinguished from that one's heart yes, as to the fate of his soul, in this place I have doubts it made it to the reward it preferred... and you are?
Arthur stares at the star of Mitra when the cardinal returns it to the group. So that is where I knew it from, he tells himself recalling the few knights he saw while serving in the Talingarde forces. "Did n't like them then don't do now," he mumbles to himself before following the examples of the others and respectfully leaves the cardinal.
Unsure about what to do he sees Lucetta enter the kitchen and while contemplating if he is hungry, he sees the larger man entering later. Deciding that he might be hungry and perhaps a little watchful for Lucetta well being, a few quick strides takes him to the kitchen. Pausing as there are not one but two new men, he searches for words and ends up with: "Anymore food I am a bit hungry?"
The towering wretch pauses as he absorbs Lucretta's words, a broad smile of broken jagged teeth revealed:
"Excellent, der Kardinal has chosen vell."
The brute bows slightly and continues his dialogue
"Minn name is Albrέkt; Plight Trothed to der Pallid Princess... It is her vill that I serve dein Knoten is this life or der next."
Albrέkt cocks his head slightly and and a jaundiced tongue brushes his mismatched teeth as he muses a question:
"Der Knight. His jung squire? Does he life still?"
After the knight of Alerion fell, Ember walked to the squire and tried her best to keep the poor thing alive.
She had plans for him, low and painful lessons, about the Father Below, Prince of Demons.
Iacobus? She didn't bother with him. He was weak, and proved himself unworthy of serving the Dark Prince.
Once the cardinal congratulates for a complete mission, she bows and says "Thanks Father."
==//==
"The knight was broken, his pupil lives still. There's a lot of work to do on that one." A woman, dressed in clean, richly adorned, surprisingly provoking clothes. Her dress was made of cleverly cloth-strips, tied together. Standing and without moving, it seemed to be a normal dress, however when she moved, little of her body was left to imagination. Rings and jewels were abundant.
"I'm Ember." she says to the others.
If Ember's entrance and garb provoke any reaction in Albrέkt, the big man ashen expression reveals nothing;
"Good. If you do zis work... I vud like to assist you Fräulein."
The unholy warrior of Urgathoa slowly moves across the kitchen, acknowledging Arthur's arrival with a short nod before pouring himself a goblet of wine, taking a deep draught that soaks his lank beard.
Lucetta nods as Arthur moves in to the room and adopts a protective manner towards her. She cuts off more cheese and fruit and puts in on her plate, then slides it across the table to Arthur.
Keep your strength up warrior
she smiles, then turns back to the other men
Well gentlemen, I've heard Kaynen's story, what about yours Albrέkt? Where have you come from?
The tall warrior mulls Lucretta’s question with an initially vacant expression, then nods slowly to himself before answering in his harsh whisper:
”Jah. Albrέkt's tale: Born in der Borderlands. A Knight's armiger by trade. A life wertlos... nichts.. A nothing. A man flawed in mortalität. In der Wilde North we met Das Deathless. Der Pallid Princess willkommen me to her kalt embrace and blessed me vith Der Hunger.
As he contemplates his journey Albrέkt again nods to himself, and flashes his broken grin;
"Und soon I vill be reborn… In eternal perfektion.”
"The Pallid Princess, the goddess of physical excess, disease, and the undead." says the aasimar as she stare hard at the self-proclaimed follower of disease.
"Did you sign the contract?" she asks bluntly.
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Kaynen maintains his usual smile and casual demeanor as Albrekt's words turn dark and strange.
"Fascinating! All this talk of princesses and knights reminds me of the noble deeds that we bear doing for Talingarde!"
Pushing his hair back, he stands, revealing his own brand from Branderscar.
"Surely our entwined histories aren't just coincidence!"
Picking up the plate passed to him, Arthur eagerly chews the cheese while he listens in silence. What he hears doesn't cause him to relax. While he knows little of religion save for Mitra and now Asmodeus, the words suplementing the pallid princess scares him. "Reborn you say?" he wonders out aloud. Swallowing a grape he looks to the half-elf, Kaynens relaxed manner has a calming effect. "Noble deeds?" he asks, continuing: "I thought we toppling Talingarde over." Seeing the half-elf brandish a scar matching his own Arthur can't help scratching his own.
Albrέkt stoically mulls Ember's question, before nodding... slowly...
"I have signed. Through mein hunger I serve Mein mistress, Der Kardinal und der Knoten."
The tall wretch drains his goblet and reaches for more wine before answering Arthur's query;
"Ja Herr Arthur. Reborn. Unsterblich - "Deathless"... A Unheiligen Krieger des Blassen Prinzessin... A "Unholy Warrior of the Pallid Princess" in our Common tongue. Her gift to me."
"The First Loyalty is to their patron and god: mighty Asmodeus, first among the fallen, Prince of the Nine Hells, our father below. They shall do all that can be done to further his worship and his glory." She looks at the man before continuing "Don't ever forget that."
Lucetta waves a hand to deflect any tensions arising
Well met then, it is good to add such strength to our common cause, physical, spiritual and social
she encompasses all gathered with her statement.
Now Mister Catesby, Branderscar is supposedly inescapable, with the exception of our little knot I had not thought anyone else had flown the Mitran's grasp. How then did you manage to conquer its walls?
Lucetta smiles sweetly at Arthur and touches his arm, politely pointing at her wine goblet on the table and beckoning, not speaking so as to leave a polite silence in the conversational drift to allow Kayden to answer.