HO hp: 6
Alethiro fails to hit the dwarf, but Gregario makes up for the miss with a divine attack. The dwarf seems to be fuming now. The half-orc takes a step back and showers Cyna, Gregario and Alethiro in flames.
Round 3: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro, Gregario, Half-orc, Aurelea
Even before the half orc's spell is completed Aurelea is in motion. with a speed driven by the frenzy of battle, she dashes between enemy and ally, to bring Oblivion in a devastating upward slash that rakes across the spell caster's body.
Confirmation
;
The dwarf cannot stop the charging magus, as she drives her blade into the half-orc, removing another opponent from the fight.
Round 4: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro, Gregario, Aurelea
With only one enemy remaining Cyna steps into melee, attacking with her blade.
Cyna slashes at the dwarf, her blade finding purchase beneath all that armor. The dwarf seems fixated on Gregario however and focuses his attack on the paladin.
; ; ; plus
Round 4: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro, Gregario, Aurelea
Feeling weakened from the Half-Orc's flames, the placed his hand upon himself and prayed.
Seeing the battle take a large turn in their favor, Harakhty was torn. Leaving the Dwarf alive could make for some informative questioning ... but with the paladin present, he probably wouldn't like a lot of ... convincing. It was imperative to him he know the reasons why the henchmen fell in lock-step with this master of theirs. Their previous encounter seemed negotiable - this one? Not so much.
Maybe the shard binds them together. Maybe it's their faith...
Harakhty resigned himself to determining what he could from their effects; he fired again.
The dwarf takes two solid hits. "We're not done yet."
Round 4: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro, Gregario, Aurelea
The half Orc's toppling corpse catches her blade for a fraction of a second resulting in her strike against the dwarf finding only armor.
Cyna steps into a flank with Aurelea and swings her blade at the dwarf.
The dwarf's armor repels Aurelea and Cyna's attack. He grabs a hold of the unholy symbol dangling over his chest. "умирать!"
Black flames emerge from the dwarf, showering you all in negative energy.
Will Saves (DC 12) for half damage:
Round 5: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro, Gregario, Aurelea
Aurelea's arcane talents and natural ferocity allow her to ignore the worst of the unholy assault as she takes advantage of Cyna' s flanking position to strike with far greater accuracy than her previous attack.
The Elf takes the full brunt of the Dwarf's unholy blast, leaving him weakened severely. Noting that his earlier action seemed to have cost the Paladin dearly, Alethiro made his decision to rectify it. Reaching within himself for the energy stored for another spell, the Cleric converted it to heal his comrade.
Once more, the Elf falls unconscious.
As the pain of the Dwarf's unholy might coursed through him, Harakhty saw the paladin drop to the ground. He is no charlatan - fought to the end. Though he hoped they wouldn't share the man's fate, the Dwarf did look badly-off; with any luck, the bunch of them yet conscious could render him defeated.
The less footwork going on now meant his target was easier to hit, however.
Aurelea and Harakthy continue dealing damage to the dwarf, who looks near defeat now.
Round 5: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro, Gregario, Aurelea
Round 6: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro (stabilize), Gregario, Aurelea
;
The dwarf fails to hit the standing paladin.
Round 6: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro (stabilize), Gregario, Aurelea
Taking advantage of the distraction granted by Gregario, Cyna grabs the unholy symbol from the Dwarf's neck.
She's got a good head on her shoulders... thought Harakhty as Cyna went for the Dwarf's symbol. Without it, he wouldn't be able to exact some of his divine gifts upon them.
Also without it, he might be distracted. Time to take advantage of that.
The last shot from the crossbow's hold depleted, Harakhty hoped reloading wouldn't be necessary at the present. Surely he has the sense to submit!
As Cyna grabs the unholy symbol from the dwarf, he brings his warhammer around.
; ;
Cyna quickly runs from the dwarf, who considers chasing after her. There were still too many foes for him to do so reasonably. The female was less guarded than the paladin...
; ;
Another bolt zips by the dwarf's head, lodging in a nearby tree.
Round 6: Cyna, Dwarf, Harakhty, Alethiro (stabilize), Gregario, Aurelea
As the dwarf's flaming hammer connects with her hip, Aurelea unleashes a shriek of both pain and anger as she sends Oblivion into a lethal forward thrust.
Gregario smashes the dwarf with his shield and the antipaladin falls to the ground, defeated.
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The Elf remained unconscious and was starting to grow pale.
Glancing over to Alethiro's inert body Aurelea limped over to the dead Half-orc, crouching down to search through his gear specifically seeking any restorative potions.
"We need to get him back on his feet and get ourselves patched up quick. They probably think we're dead and we need to press the advantage now!"
Alethiro's eyes open suddenly. He sits up and looks around quickly. Realizing the battle was over, the cleric reached into a pouch on his belt and retrieved a potion. Uncorking the top, he drinks it's contents.
Harakhty dropped down from his perch. The magus is right. They probably would think they'd been vanquished, especially given the thin margin they'd actually been able to survive by; this group gave them a run for their coin. However, they DID make it. Those staying on the ground would need a few minutes before they'd be able to move on.
Plenty of time for Harakhty to search the bodies for documents - and see if the unholy symbols were a match to those from before.
After healing his burns, the got to his feet and looked at his companions, "How badly is everyone hurt?"
"Honestly, I'm barely able to stand." Aurelea states, slowly and painfully standing up, the fire still clear in her eyes.
"Let's see if they have anything that can help with that." Cyna says tossing the unholy symbol and then proceeds to check the fallen dwarf.
Seeing their resident amazon as needing the most healing, Alethiro pulled out a second vial and gave it to her. "This should help get some of you vigor back."
"Thanks!" Aurelea responds before upending the vial down her throat.
Examining Cyna caused a flash sadness across Alethiro's face. Placing a hand on her shoulder, the Cleric reached within himself and converted reserved mystical energy for healing.
Cyna feels her wounds close up and turns to Alethiro. "Thank you, if you can use any of this it might be time to try thicker armor. I've got the feeling the worst is still ahead of us."
Looking into her eyes for a moment, Alethiro responds, "Perhaps you're right." He takes a long look at his damaged armor, "I hate to give this up. It was my sister's."
"Find the strength to go on", Gregario says. "This trial is yet over. The shard remains."
The vanara looks up from his rummaging. "The man is right. The longer we delay, the more likely it is they'll set some other trap for us."
Harakhty finds 2 more unholy symbols matching the ones you found earlier. The sounds of battle continue to the south in Ashford. Before you stand the large fragment of the Shard of the Sky. This one is also covered in draconic writing, great gashes marring the surface of the stone.
As the bruised and battered group stand before the fragment of the Shard, Aurelea is silent, her eyes eagerly studying the ancient carvings, reading their meaning.
Slowly she steps forward, bringing Oblivion up in a twirling arc to stop raised above her head.
"Not anymore." she half whispers, every fiber of her being radiating purpose.
She nods as if in agreement to something only she can hear.
Launching herself forward she leaps into the air to bring the black blade cleaving into the massive stone with absolute conviction.
The stone shatters with ease and you are blinded momentarily by a white light.
Pharasma blinked slowly. "Aroden, you are still young and do not understand that this must come to pass. This is because of what you have done. Did you really think there would be no consequences?"
"These people...the Zahvromans don't deserve this," Aroden protested. "If it's my folly, then I should pay for it."
"You will," Pharasma replied.
***
The jackal-headed goddess walked up the mountain trail. The solace was comforting but she knew what waited for her ahead. With a sigh that made her full belly quiver, she continued along the path. They saw her first, regrettably.
"Lamashtu," the beautiful woman with bat wings and cloven hoofs of molten iron began. "They have been working behind our back. They have completed it."
"And what of it, Nocticula?" the goddess answered.
"You know what they want."
"Yes, I do. We have exterminated every last one in the Abyss, what they do in their own realm is not my concern."
The tanned, dark-haired woman who stood next to Nocticula spoke up. "But it's more than you realize."
"You dare to assume that you know more than I, Jezelda?" Lamasthu countered viciously.
"Whispers in the Abyss made it known that it is a gateway," the woman replied, nonplussed.
"What whispers?"
"The cultists."
"And whose cultist are these?"
"The Old Ones."
Lamashtu stood for a moment, contemplating the situation. "I forbid it."
"What?!" Nocticula and Jezelda said at the same time.
"Whatever they use it for, let them. If it is a gateway, there are some that could use it for other purposes. I will not have any demon interfere with their plans."
"You think that we'd..." Nocticula began.
"Yes, you would. I am the only goddess here. Remember that."
She took leave of them. They would disobey her anyway. If they failed in their schemes, she would have enough leverage to destroy them. If they succeeded...well, it would be an interesting fight, at least.
***
The shadow loomed over the gathered husks drifting in the darkness. Another smaller shadow approached it. The stars were cold, but still too bright.
"Architect, it is done."
"Good."
"What if the mortals interfere?"
"They will never know it's true purpose. They will kill each other over it. Even if they destroy it, we will still attain our goal."
"But one does know..."
"No one will speak to Zon-Kuthon about it. His brethren and the mortals treat him as if he is mad."
"He knows our secrets," the smaller shadow urged.
"Be still, Engineer. It matters not."
The greater shadow moved and the mouths of the corpses opened. In unison, they shouted into the formless dark.
"Only for so long," the Architect mused.