"You think Carrion Hill's worth ruling?" she asks with a touch of surprise in her voice. "I should think you were as good as in charge already, being the Mayor's friend. Did you know you would have to fight it, the thing you summoned?" she wonders. "Or did you think it would obey the lot of you and you would rule by dint of its power?"
The fumes have finally dissipated, leaving the web.
Valiard makes his way following Crove's step. After a sharp turn, the narrow corridor meets with the corridor you took to get to him. You arrive just behind Mireza.
Crove studies the scroll with an unnerving laugh: "Yes! This should work... Carrion Hill is but a start! You do not fight the Spawn, fool, you harness its power!"
The corridor provides ample gloom for Valiard to move swiftly and silently forward towards the madman. As he moves, he flicks his wrist, allowing one of his good daggers to drop into his right hand.
The first round after the fumes dissipate, Windle takes his move action to get out flint & steel and a torch.
Valiard moves like a shadow, making no sound, but, a little too keen, he misjudges the distance and his thrust falls short, pushed back by a force field.
Crove turns around, yelling in surprise. He steps back: "Again! Can't you see? Are you dumb?!" and utters sharp syllables as motes of color spring from his fingers, forming a beautiful arc that brightens the otherwise otherwordly gloom of the room.
Seeing the mage begin his spell, Valiard grimaces, shutting his eyes tightly and rushes to get past the lunatic, out of the path of the spell.
Valiard tucks and rolls, then as he rises to his feet he slashes at the mage.
Grigor strains and weakly tugs against the webs like a poisoned insect.
"Apothecary!" Mireza scolds. "He is preparing for the beast; do you think he is not prepared for you? Keeper, ignore him," she advises. "You cannot afford to expend any more resources you should save for the spawn!"
"Fine! I am out of my league here anyways!" Valiard says as he moves away from the mage, ducking around the corner into an alcove and out of sight.
As soon as Windle has recovered from his nausea, he's lighting a torch (full-round action) and igniting the web.
As soon as Windle has recovered from his nausea, he's lighting a torch (full-round action) and igniting the web.
Grigor tries to stifle a scream as the flames scorch him badly... he stumbles and then reaches into his belt for a potion.
*Whouf!*
Valiard and Mireza, the corridor behind you lights up and the smell of burned fabric and meat tickles your nostrils.
Crove lets a smile pass his lips: "Your friends will be joining us soon... They did not share your sentiment regarding my usefulness I'm afraid! I'd best get some help."
He steps back and moves quickly to the corridor where Windle had felt a chaotic presence...
?
He steps back and moves quickly to the corridor where Windle had felt a chaotic presence...
He is freeing the thing of chaos, Mireza warns via her message. Apothecary, can we barricade the corridor with the table and chairs?
Windle pauses his arson for a moment at Mireza's news. "Iozef, do you have any thoughts on what this thing could be?"
Recovering from his nausea, Iozef returns to a somewhat normal semblance of himself. "I would gather, Mr. Thetra...," he pats the beads of sweat from his forehead with a cloth, "our demise." He states as a matter of fact. "I highly recommend you continue burning these webs. At least that way, we can attempt to fend for our lives. Plus it will give me a moment to think on if I've heard of or read on such a creature that happens to exist within these walls."
Oilloko had managed to summon a shapeless horror from beyond the stars and sane dimensions. The outsider had brought great mayhem in the streets of Caliphas before being banished for good. From the account, the creature had a shifting shape, was almost impervious to magic and its contact had terrible effects on the corporal integrity of the watchmen that first tried to stop it.
You're pretty sure that Crove could have summoned such a monstrosity...
You're also pretty sure Crove won't be able to control it...
After thinking on it a moment, a look of recognition forms. "Ah yes, now I remember. Well, Mr. Thetra, from as best as I can recollect, this creature has an everforming shape, is practically immune to magic, and our very own Mr. Crove will not be able to control it the way he thinks he can." He tells him candidly. "So, to reemphasize my initial response Mr. Thetra, our demise. But, you never know. This group has managed a great deal more than I would have given us credit for. We may yet surprise ourselves." He deadpans.
Windle listens to Iozef's explanation and editorial comments without changing expression, save for a slight raise of his eyebrows. "It is just as well that we didn't try to open that door. Tell me, if you know--what sort of creature is it? Outsider, unnatural aberration, something beyond that?"
"All of the above, Mr. Thetra. All of the above. This thing is beyond our comprehension. If my memory serves me correctly, it comes from beyond the stars themselves; from another dimension that consists only of madness. I would gather we are dealing with a creature that knows nothing, other than to wreak destruction."
If...If... I can get a look at it, , says Grigor slowly, I've a spell that will tell me a lot more anyone else could. He shuts his eyes as if in pain and his face seems stretched and pale. A left over from days I thought... hoped... to have left behind.
"I still want to stab him. Why not kill him before he opens the door?"
Windle shouts, "CROVE! You fool, you've already called up something you couldn't put down! Do. Not. Open. That. Door."
"I still want to stab him. Why not kill him before he opens the door?"
Didn't you already try that? Mireza asks testily in everyone's head, not making any sense to anyone but Valiard.
Grigor still coughs and wheezes.
Valiard moves around the corner stealthily. Seeing the lunatic's back wide open, as he does something to the door at the far end of the hallway, he doesn't even pause, but drops a dagger into his hand and sends it sailing down the hallway at the target.
Seeing Valiard's dagger fly through the air, Mireza speaks the word "Fyddar", then backs down the hallway toward the remains of the web.
Valiard slips behind Crove and slips his blade deep in the man's back.
Crove yelps and groans in pain as he almost buckles. He pauses for an instant as he seems to shake off Mireza's spell. Turning in a great arc, he faces Valiard: "Fool! Kneel in front of the Lords Beyond the Stars!!!" Dark energy emanates from him, and Valiard feels his bone shake and turn to dust. At the same moment, the ground growls and shakes, bringing a smile to Crove's lips. "Such power... Such terrible power..."
He then tries to walk away, trying to get to the first door. "You'll regret your impertinence!"
As soon as Windle is able, he heads towards Crove, Valiard, and Mireza.
Windle switches his judgment to healing (fast healing 2) and tries to get at least to where Mireza is.
Iozef follows behind Windle and Grigor towards the others.
Grigor moves as best he can towards the others and ensures that both swords are ready.
Fingers numbed by the wash of cold energy, Valiard fumbles as he attempts to slice the lunatic, the blade merely catching in the fold of his clothes.
This isn't working...time to try something drastic!
Valiard rushes toward the lunatic, jumping at him in an attempt to wrestle him to the ground before he reaches the door.
Mireza steals quickly across the room to take up a position near the door and out of Crove's line of sight.