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Aliethia looks toward Sādhanā, Drago and Harakhty. That would be her soon, she hoped...Chalandra's blood still coursed in her veins, eating away at her will.
Harakhty did not move to push past Drago's guardian; she's right. Whatever can make him more resilient need be done.
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sādhanā nods as Tarja attends Drago, confident that the eidolon would take good care of him. Going to the other side of the lake she kneels beside the sleeping Arista, shaking her gently. " Hey Hon, you should eat something, there's freshly caught fish."
Mumbling slightly in her sleep she turns slightly towards the sound of Sadhana's voice. Bringing a hand up to rub at her eyes and then cover them from the sun she opens an eye to look at the magus, "Did you say fish?" She kind of pushes herself up a little to where she's leaning on her side and smiles, looking from Aliethia to Sadhana she says, "I really like fresh fish. It's ready now you say? I guess I could manage a few bites." She brushes herself off as she starts to stand up.
Mina serves everyone a good helping of fish and the group eats heartily. After having eaten, the group presses on toward Fane. The sun begins its descent below the horizon, covering the dry landscape in red and orange hues. The ground seems strangely dark in this area, even for the time of day.
Noting the color of the ground Arista looks around at the others, "Well....that doesn't look too good does it?"
Aliethia falls to her knees. "It...it...smells...like blood...here..."
She begins violently hacking and coughing up spittle. Soon, she's coughing up blood which turns from a little into a raging torrent. Her blood seeps into the earth and you hear a violent rumbling. Aliethia collapses on the ground as the last of her blood is drained from her and the dhampir breathes her last.
A limb comprised entirely of blood breaks free of the earth and a medium-sized creature with a clotted surface climbs out. Chalandra's voice rings out.
"Well, well...who knew this field of blood would come in handy? It seems you can't trust anyone these days. Poor Aliethia, so useless..."
"What sorcery is this?!"
Harakhty determines that the soil has been alchemically treated to prevent the drying of blood.
"No sorcery, vanara, merely a contingency," Chalandra says, appearing from seemingly nowhere. "An inevitable betrayal, Aliethia. Perhaps your soul being saved may grant you some peace at last."
She touches the creature of blood. "Kill them all except for the summoner and other dhampir."
Running to where Aliethia fell, Arista goes down on her knees to cradle her body next to her. With tears in her eyes and rage in her heart she looks up at the thing that's come up out of the ground, ...I swear on everything Holy that today will be your last!"
"Not today, aasimar," Chalandra sneers, her hair settling in front of her face. "This is the day you stop getting my way."
Arista laughs, but it sounds harsh and cold as steel, "What's that Chalandra? I don't think I heard you through your shaking. You wouldn't even be taking the time with us if you weren't scared s!$&less. WE are the ones who will END YOU, you pathetic waste."
Chalandra effortlessly glides toward Arista and grabs her by the throat, lifting her off the ground. "You will die here. That is all you are meant to do, you insignificant speck. The gods may bless you, but the gods are as good as mortal on Zahvroma. Your words mean nothing, your quests mean nothing, you are nothing."
She drops Arista onto the ground and walks back toward the blood creature. "I tire of this socializing. It's apparent no one is my peer."
She vanishes as quickly as she arrived.
Initiative:
Roll-off:
The creature of blood charges Arista, slamming at her.
Round 1: Blood Golem, Arista, Sienna, Ylrhea, Tarja, Harakhty, Drago, Sādhanā, Cyna, Bystanders
"It's a blood golem! Spells won't work on it and it's weaker against blunt weapons," Sienna informs the group. "Don't let it grab you either or it'll drain you dry and heal itself."
With nothing she could do, she reaches out for Sādhanā and imparts greater strength to her.
Standing up as Chalandra vanishes she growls, "We'll just see about that." Looking to Johann and his family as she pulls out her flaming sword she says, "All of you...get out of here...NOW!"
Nodding at Sienna she cries out to her Goddess, "Sarenrae give us strength to bring justice to the wicked!" Thanks to Sienna's advice she decides against casting anything on her blade and just brings it down on the golem in an attack.
Taking the chance of another attack, Arista moves around the creature to flank with Yhlreah.
Arista casts Decisive Strike on Ylrhea and commands her to take an attack on the creature. "Now Ylrhea!"
Harakhty wheels around to a jot away from the golem's flank, hoping to fence it in with their superior numbers. Before he did so though, he transfered a divine force to Arista. She seems to be that witch's chosen target in all of this.
"Surround it! Together, we can destroy the monster!"
The blood golem fails to connect against the moving Arista.
Ylrhea strikes three times at the construct.
; ; ;
; ; ;
Round 1: Blood Golem, Arista, Sienna, Ylrhea, Tarja, Harakhty(actions declared), Drago, Sādhanā, Cyna, Bystanders
Tarja decided to use her weapon's reach to her advantage. Taking careful she thrust her Ranseur forward.
And missed.
Round 1: Blood Golem, Arista, Sienna, Ylrhea, Tarja, Harakhty, Drago, Sādhanā, Cyna, Bystanders
Drago wasn't sure what he could do in this situation. Taking out his crossbow and loading it, he aimed best he could before pulling the trigger.
Dipping into her reserve of blunt arrows Cyna fires off a barrage at the grotesque creature.
With a scream of almost incoherent rage the magus charges into the spot vacated by Arista, unleashing her fury on the vile creation.
Confirm
take better attack
Cyna's arrows destroy the golem, which turns into a puddle of quivering blood. Niccolo kneels by Aliethia and starts furiously tearing into his arms with his fangs, trying to get blood into the dead dhampir's mouth.
"Damn it, you can't die, Aliethia," Niccolo sobs. "You can't be dead!"
Drago, half stunned from what had just happened, made his way over to his half-brother. Putting a hand on his shoulder, he simply said, "Niccolo..." Looking at his face, streaming tears could be seen. The Summoner looked at Arista, as if to say, I'm sorry.
"Do something, Drago! Call Sarenrae...I'll give up my life if I have to to save hers," Niccolo wails.
Tears streaming down her face, Arista rushes to where Aliethia lays on the ground. Falling to her knees she picks her up and cradles her lifeless body to her. Looking at Niccolo she says, "Stop....just stop hurting yourself....she...she's gone, there's nothing we can do now. She wouldn't want you....hurting yourself." Looking up at Drago she says, "Help him...embrace him Drago...he needs you now." Pushing Aliethia's hair out of her face she kisses her on the forehead, "You promised me....you wouldn't leave me." With her entire body shuddering she leans over her body and bury's her face in Aliethias neck while she sobs uncontrollably.
"She can't be dead...she can't be!" Niccolo cries.
Unable to answer the young Dhampir through her own grief she just rocks back and forth while holding onto Aliethia and cries out all her pain, anguish, and sorrow.