Johann bows and says silently, "You are a slippery foe, brother. I will take your movements to heart and think on them; how I can copy what you have shown me. Perhaps, my heart wasn't into this match, after you mentioned the Fox. Tell me, why is there such a bounty on him?"
That, I cannot say. I only know that someone very powerful and very wealthy wants him dead. Perhaps your friend, Mister Fox can shed light on the matter.
The monk bows respectfully to Johann.
Mister Fox is lucky to have such a powerful friend looking out for him. I’m afraid he will need all the friends he can get.
Watching the Bear and the Centipede wrestle from a perch atop a nearby rooftop, Sifu Scorpion frowns.
So. My brother, the Centipede, has grown soft. Or has he? Perhaps this is his clever way of getting closer to the target. Very cunning, little brother. But the Scorpion will bide his time, and strike when all defenses are lowered. The Fox’s head—and the bounty—shall be mine.
On the morning of Thursday, January 11, Cardinal Lucius leads the Crusaders back down into the Catacombs...
THE CRUSADERS RETURN TO THE CATACOMBS!
A golden glow radiates from a melon-sized golden orb that makes a smooth circular orbit at a height of 8 feet above the floor of this 30-foot-square, 10-foot-high chamber (Johann's head nearly touches the ceiling). The glowing golden sphere orbits the head of an 8-foot-tall golden idol of a handsome, athletic young man wearing a crown of laurels and holding a golden bow and arrow standing at the center of the chamber.
Back in his room, Boga sits on the floor with his legs crossed. Reverently, he holds up the withered hand of Jan Hus and supplicates God. Unconciously, Boga's halo begins to glow, "Jan Hus has come to me and the others twice now. I know that he is your messenger and represents your divine will. Please bless and sanctify this hand to be your symbol and imbue it with thy strength. Allow me to continue your work in Jan's stead by delivering the revelations you have given him. With your divine blessing, I shall use this as a symbol of your sanction for that message. O Lord, bless us to know thy will that we may actively do our part within it." Boga repeats his supplications and prayers for several hours. At the conclusion of the ceremony, he looks upon the relic and though outwardly, it looks the same, Boga can feel a difference. He senses the Lord's divine power coursing through it, granting a conduit to Him that Boga has never felt before. He falls to his knees and praises God, "Thank you for accepting this as your symbol! I pledge to honor thee and perform thy will, always and forever thy servant. Allow me to by thy agent here on Earth as thou art in Heaven." Exhausted, Boga collapses and wakes in the morning.
Still a little drained, Boga seeks out Lucius and thanks him for his kindness in providing food and shelter within his home. He also offers to continue their theological discussion at any time Lucius is available. He then returns to his room, sits at the desk, and looks out at the view of a beautifully landscaped courtyard. With his mind focused, he begins to pray and write, creating several scrolls over the next few days.
Boga is greatly concerned by the attempt on Fox's life. "We are a team assembled by the Hand of God. The Enemy seeks to weaken us. Remove us, one by one, from performing the Lord's will."
He seeks out Ogon. "You've had quite the time, my friend: Ghoul Fever, the permormance, the assassination attempt! Recover and gather yourself." Boga lowers his voice. "When you are able, we must discuss your predicament. I am gravely concerned for you. The Enemy has obviously targeted you, and we must join together to ensure his failure. Let me know of anything we can do."
"GARGGHH. Sniffle. Snuff Snuff."
Johann enters the large chamber and sniffs the air. Has anything living past through here?
His sharp eyes comb the room and take in the statue.
[dice=perception]d20+12
[dice= scent-survival]d20+14
Johann’s keen nose detects the faint scent of decay (similar to the stench of the ghasts the Crusaders have fought before), as well as the scent of living passers through... humans, or some kind of humanoid... within the past four days.
"Johann and Zagathoth, I have purchased the rings for you to help in battle." Boga presents them both with platinum rings, while putting a matching one upon each of his hands. Zagathoth's is etched with broken encircling chains while Johann's large ring has 3 images: a man, a man-bear, and a bear. "Wear these, and with the Lord's blessing, I shall absorb an equal portion of the damage you receive in battle. Hopefully, you'll last much longer on the front!" Boga addresses Johann, "This ring is designed for when you are in bear form. You must transform first and then place it on your finger; otherwise, it will have no effect." To both, he says, "Also, they are only active when I call for the Lord's blessing upon it. It does not work all the time."
"What a beatiful, miraculous statue!" Boga says aloud. "What is this?", he thinks to himself.
As the Crusaders enter the chamber with the glowing golden “sun” orbiting the golden idol of the handsome, athletic young archer, the sound of several creatures approaching on shuffling feet can be heard echoing from the dark corridor on the opposite side of the chamber from the corridor by which the Crusaders entered... Six pairs of ghastly, glowing eyes appear in the dark corridor, and a chorus of inhuman howls that chill the blood erupts from undead throats!
Six ghasts emerge from the eastern archway!
"Johann and Zagathoth, I have purchased the rings for you to help in battle." Boga presents them both with platinum rings, while putting a matching one upon each of his hands. Zagathoth's is etched with broken encircling chains while Johann's large ring has 3 images: a man, a man-bear, and a bear. "Wear these, and with the Lord's blessing, I shall absorb an equal portion of the damage you receive in battle. Hopefully, you'll last much longer on the front!" Boga addresses Johann, "This ring is designed for when you are in bear form. You must transform first and then place it on your finger; otherwise, it will have no effect." To both, he says, "Also, they are only active when I call for the Lord's blessing upon it. It does not work all the time."
"What a beatiful, miraculous statue!" Boga says aloud. "What is this?", he thinks to himself.
[dice=Religion]1d20+10
Boga recognizes the idol as Apollo, Greek and Roman god of the sun, music, medicine, archery, and athletics. He has only a few seconds to admire the noble beauty of the golden idol before the ghastly howls of a pack of undead erupt from the far corridor!
CRUSADERS VS GHASTS!! ROUND 1!! FIGHT!! OOH OHH AH!!
DIRE BEAR JOHANN!
QUINLAN THE WIZARD!
OGON FOX & ORPHEUS THRUSH!
ARC PERDU LE ROUGE!
ZAGATHOTH THE BRAWLER!
CARDINAL LUCIUS!
BOGA, HAND OF JAN HUS!
6 GHASTS!
EEEEEEK!! EEEEEK!!
Quinlan spreads his arms "Fight with the force of a storm friends"
A bolt of electricity spreads from Quinlan to every member of the party. They are filled with a sudden vigor and their hair stands on end.
|
Lucius moves up, one hand pulling a small packet of silver dust from a pouch and pouring it into the vial of holy water he produces with the other hand.
"Father God, bless this place and us your servants!"
With the prayer Lucius hurls the flask at Apollo and it shatters, forming a fine silver mist which fills the room.
As the holy water douses the golden idol of Apollo, it briefly shines with a bright golden radiance that clearly hurts the ghasts' eyes! They hiss in discomfort and look away while the idol briefly glows!
Round 1
Quinlan's spark livens up the Ogon Fox right quick, and he throws two arcs of lightning in a flash! But all they did was flash and sputter out, not connecting on any of the ghasts.
Round 1
[dice=Attack #1 vs flat-footed touch AC]1d20+5
[dice=Attack #2 vs flat-footed touch AC]1d20+5
Quinlan's spark livens up the Ogon Fox right quick, and he throws two arcs of lightning in a flash! But all they did was flash and sputter out, not connecting on any of the ghasts.
|
"GARRRGGHHHHH!" Johann has certainly learned to hate these creatures. He lumbers around the statue in the center of the room and stands slightly to the side of the corridor opening, in order to leave room for Zag and whoever else may want to close.
When he grabs the ghast with his claw, Johann recalls a certain move Brother Sifu Centipede taught him. He twists his claws in a clockwise direction ninety degrees, bringing more damage to the ghast.
Extra damage: 4
Zagathoth moves around to block the other side of the hallway and swings doomcrescent at the ghast in front of him.
,
While drawing his Rod of Reach, Boga moves directly behind Zagathoth, next to the Great Bear. He beseeches the Lord, "Allow me to share in the pain of thy servant Zagathoth, that his burden may be light!"
"GARRRGGHHHHH!" Johann has certainly learned to hate these creatures. He lumbers around the statue in the center of the room and stands slightly to the side of the corridor opening, in order to leave room for Zag and whoever else may want to close.
When he grabs the ghast with his claw, Johann recalls a certain move Brother Sifu Centipede taught him. He twists his claws in a clockwise direction ninety degrees, bringing more damage to the ghast.
[dice=Claw Attack 1 & damage]d20+10; d6+6
[dice= Free Grab attempt]d20+17
Extra damage: 4
The ghast hisses as the Bear applies bone-cracking torque with powerful claws, twisting the undead monster’s frame nearly to the breaking point! HIIIISSSSS!!
Zagathoth moves around to block the other side of the hallway and swings doomcrescent at the ghast in front of him.
[dice=power attack]1d20+8, [dice=for]2d4+13
The ghast targeted by Zagathoth quickly leans backward as Doomcrescent cuts through empty air in a whistling arc! *WHIIFF!!*
While drawing his Rod of Reach, Boga moves directly behind Zagathoth, next to the Great Bear. He beseeches the Lord, "Allow me to share in the pain of thy servant Zagathoth, that his burden may be light!"
** spoiler omitted **
The ring attuned to Zagathoth’s ring on Boga’s finger, and Zagathoth’s ring, both briefly flicker with golden light as a divine link is established between them!
The ghast in Johann’s furry paws bites at him but misses! It claws at him to no avail—the Bear blocks! It claws with its other claw but the Bear blocks again!
GGGRRRRRRGGGHH!!! moans the monster in despair...
The ghast locked in the deadly dance with Zagathoth bites at the orc , who dodges! *SNAP!!*... Claws and misses! Claws again and misses!
The four ghasts behind the two engaged with Johann and Zagathoth clamor impatiently for blood...
From his position of safety behind Johann and Zagathoth, Boga shouts to the ghasts in the hallway, "Your unholy hunger can never be sated. Surrender to the death offered by the Great Bear and Mighty Orc that you may be saved by the Lord and fed by His love for all eternity!" He takes a deep breath and ...
"Oh, my! Aren't the catacombs lovely this time of year: the stench of ghast, the din of battle, beautiful statuary with buoyant, encircling lights, and the glitter of consecrated silver dust wafting through the air. Enchanting! Truly it is the small things that make life worth living. We are truly blessed to be serving the Lord in these perilous times..." Boga smiles broadly and waves at his cohorts.
Failing to recognize the impact it might have on the large bear's ability to fight effectively, Zagathoth steps up into the hallway and hacks at the next two ghasts...
,
,
Johann releases the ghast and bites on it, powerfully.
[dice=Bite Attack & damage]d20+9; d8+10
With that ghast down, he looks at the one fighting Zag and unleashes fury on it...
[dice=Bite Attack & damage]d20+9; d8+10
[dice=Claw Attack 1 & damage]d20+9; d6+10
[dice= Claw Attack 2 & damage]d20+8; d6+10
Bear rips the ghast to shreds, not even bothering to grab it and hold it still.
In a swift blur of fur, fangs, and claws, Johann shreds the two ghasts in the front rank to pieces!
[dice=Int]1d20-1
Failing to recognize the impact it might have on the large bear's ability to fight effectively, Zagathoth steps up into the hallway and hacks at the next two ghasts...[dice=attack 1]1d20+8+1, [dice=for]2d4+13
[dice=attack 2 (haste)]1d20+8+1, [dice=for]2d4+13
Not to be outdone by the Bear, Zagathoth zips forward over the shredded remains of the first two ghasts, and with a blur of green and shining steel, hacks apart the next two ghasts with Doomcrescent!
Meanwhile, in Japan...
Gojira, King of Kaiju, stomps across the blazing ruins of Edo (medieval Tokyo), each colossal footfall causing the ground to quake! Lifting his titanic reptilian head to the waxing moon, Gojira gives voice to a monstrous shriek!
YYYEEEEEEAAAAAAARRRRRRRRKKKK!!!!
Turning north, the King of Kaiju stomps off to wreak further destruction upon the Land of the Rising Sun...
The Fox moves after Johann and Zagathoth (to get the last 2 ghasts within 30ft range) and then attempts to pass a shot between his two companions.
The Fox moves after Johann and Zagathoth (to get the last 2 ghasts within 30ft range) and then attempts to pass a shot between his two companions.
[dice=Mystic Bolt (ranged touch)]1d20+5-4
[dice=Electric damage]1d6+1
*ZZZAAAPPP!!!*
Fox’s aim is true, and his mystic bolt shocks the easternmost ghast in the back rank!
AAARRRRG!!
Sanguinelle raised high and glowing with a bright scarlet radiance, Arc dashes around the golden idol of Apollo, and past his companions, to challenge the ghast wounded by the Fox’s mystic bolt, shouting, EN GARDE!!