"Not–"
Pressured by the princess, the huntress once again nearly wipes out on the same skeleton bone that tripped her up just a moment ago.
While she's distracted, Alis lunges trying to take her down. Sasha sidesteps, throwing out a long leg in an attempt to trip Alis, but the princess instead sweeps it out from under and Sasha hits the dirt, red tresses trailing behind her like a flame!
"Oof!"
Turning her shoulders at the last instant, Sasha rolls across her back and hops back to her feet, much to Alis' surprise. As she gets up, now a few feet away, she spins, trying to toss sand into her opponent's eyes, but Alis get her arm up just in time to shield her gaze.
With a shout, Alis charges, attempting to drop-kick Sasha, but the attempt nearly lands her on her back. With a "HA!" Sasha slips behind latching on just as Alis lands, long arms wrapped around her.
"Gotcha!"
Reflex DC
Acrobatics DC 27
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Grak hovers over the two women, observing the odd behavior exhibited by them. Deciding they were NOT actually fighting one another, he flys up to the balcony and perches himself next to the pulley contraption.
He watches the others below trying to remember if he should be doing something else, but nothing comes to mind. He instead looks across the village, twisting his serpentine neck to watch all of the areas about him. He mentally shrugs, thinking maybe his mistress would explain to him what they are doing.
Priyya wipes the gore from her scimitar with a bit of cloth and points the curved blade down the eastern passage. "The main source of evil is that way and down a bit." Finished with cleaning, Priyya discards the rag and looks at the succubus. "Without knowing what Kovacks has turned into, I can't speculate on what sort of redemption is possible for him. Moreover, El, I am Surya-ka-Vahaak. I am a destroyer for Alita, not a redeemer. I won't risk anyone's safety trying to capture him on the off chance we can find a cure. His course has been set, as has mine. Destruction is the only salvation I can offer him."
Lureene's face flashes with disappointment, but her eyes shows no surprise at the unwelcome news.
"I...I understand, Priyya. I just had to be sure. A swift end to his existence would be doing Kovack a favor."
Her jaw sets and she adds with a flash of anger in her voice, "Another crime Ieana will answer for!"
"Barring extremely powerful magic, I don't see any other choice. I will do what's necessary, none of you should bear witness unless it's absolutely needed. Pray Kahn feels pity on his trapped and tortured soul." His face stone with grim resolve remembering his first mission, "None should bear witness. It wouldn't be the first time I had to ki.. " he forces himself to silence before finishing his statement. "Let's just keep moving. If we come across Kovack, tell me and go so I may do my duty, and I'll catch up with you." In a commanding authority that seems to have spontaneously manifested.
Priyya spares a glance at Mal to see his reaction to the dwarf's words before responding, "Darvesch, you may be laboring under some mistaken perceptions. Mal is a veteran of the Daemonshade - fighting unholy creatures at the rift in reality that plagues our world. I am a warrior-priestess of Alita. I hunt the unholy - whether undead, demon, devil, or man. Death is the absolution I bring. Lureene..." She gives the other woman an appraising look, "Lureene has her own history with demon-kind which she can tell you about at some other time. Suffice it to say... all of us know the face of death and have delivered it. If you wish to finish Kovacks yourself for some spiritual or professional reason, I have no objection... but I won't be turning my back until the job is done and we are all out safe."
With a slight measure of embarrassment, Darvesch simply speaks "Let's get on our way then."
Mal nods grimly in agreement with Priyya. "Even Alis has sent her fair share of souls to hell. Don't sweat it, Darvesch, we're good company when an unpleasant task needs done."
Changing the topic, he holds the old captain's final scrawl up. "Anyway, better than leaving a man some undead thing. At least Kovack snapped out of Ieana's charm and gave a clue."
Taking a knife, he trims off Kovack's letter from the rest of the old leathers and stuff it into his pack. "In case Alis wants a look."
Stealth Checks
Perception Checks
Stealth Checks
Priyya inclines her head. "Lead on, sir. We'll be right behind you."
Perhaps grateful that his back is to the rest of you, Darvesch leads you along the tunnel. At its south terminus, it opens onto a high ledge overlooking a silo-shaped cavern. A 10-foot wide ledge of stone winds clockwise down to a dark pool of water at its heart. Several caves entrances, some of which are above the level of the path, open onto the path along its way.
As you reach the end, Priyya is nearly overwhelmed by the palpable force of evil coming from due east. She stumbles on a stretch of gravel, nearly falling. Mal very nearly does the same when he rushes past Lureene to grab hold of her arm and keep her from going over the edge. A shower of stones ricochet down the cavern walls and into the pool below.
For a few tense moments, you stand still, Mal covering up his light, but if anything heard you, there has been no perceptible reaction.
Stealth Checks
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 83)
"I hear something coming from this direction. This stone is different.. It's not supposed to be here. Be careful, I'll go first." He carefully walks through the passage, weapon at the ready.
Lureene responds softly, "Right behind you, Darv." Her wand and rapier ready, she looks down the passage with her extended vision.
Before approaching the corner, Mal puts his hand on Priyya's shoulder and holds his hand over the end of the light stick that is glowing, plunging the area into utter darkness. Knowing that Priyya can still see, he nods to her to lead him.
Stepping slowly and silently, the four of you press on into the narrow corridor leading eastward. As the room begins to come into view, it evokes the feel of an ancient, hideous cathedral. The walls are covered with images of serpents walking upright like humans, snakes coiling around and eating hapless women and children, and still stranger scenes.
As he reaches the end of the rock fissure that leads to this unholy place, Darvesch holds up his hand to signal a stop. He grabs his earlobe in between two fingers and gives it a shake before pointing to the south. Keeping his back against the south wall, he points to his eyes and nods to Lureene behind him.
With the utmost care, she pokes her head out to assay the room. Four stone pillars carved like coiling snakes support the vaulted ceiling 60-feet above. Further north, she can make out four small cells set into the eastern and western walls, they are blocked by rusted bars. While the room looks to proceed even further north, even her demonic eyes cannot pierce that far into the pitch black.
Looking south, the succubus sees a horrific mound of bones and partially decay bodies in an eight-foot-tall heap arranged almost as if to evoke the imagery of a coiled serpent made of corpses. Yet that is not what chills her blood nor raises the hairs on her arms and neck.
Perched at the base of the corpse pile, wearing an old, oiled-canvas captain's coat, slate-grey face covered in white stubble, is Captain Kovack. Only it might have been if not for the cold yellow glow to his eyes, how sunken his cheeks are, and how prominent his canine teeth and finger nails have become. He seems to leer at Lureene, though he makes no movement save for shallow, ragged breaths that have all the semblance of an eerie laugh.
Ducking back, Lureene quickly signals to Priyya and Mal that there's trouble!
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 86)
Stealth Checks
Initiative Rolls
Kovack!!
All of Lureene's senses scream this is a trap. Yet there was no turning back now. Instead Lureene steels herself for whatever is lurking out of sight, and the bloodshed yet to come.
She steps back against the wall to allow Priyya and Mal a clear path to enter the cavern, and casts another protective spell on herself. While the others prepare to act, she mentally sends a message to Grak, "Tell Alis we found Kovack, he has been turned into an undead creature. We are getting close to the source of evil here."
Priyya casts Protection from Evil on herself.
Hearing the sound of the women's spellcasting, Mal gathers that they are about to throw-down. Reaching back, he lobs his light stick into the ancient cathedral. You hear the sound of multiple ghouls hiss, and Darvesch notes the long shadow that gets cast by something standing behind the nearest column.
; Lureene, Priyya, Mal, Darvesch, Enemies
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 86b)
Darvesch readies himself for the ambush. One lone undead in the middle of a large room. Darvesch's senses agree with Lureene's. This smells like a trap. But we've come too far to stop now, and we all now have a duty to perform.
Darvesch casts his spell and assays the creature that was formerly Captain Kovack.
You know that their touch can paralyze any but an elf, and that their bite carries a disease that transforms anyone slain by it into a ghoul at the following nightfall. From what you recall, the transformation process wipes away any abilities or emotions it had in life.
, Enemies
Darvesch walks toward Kovack, cautious of a potential trap, and guards himself against the ghoul's disease.
Darvesch moves into the room stopping just shy of Captain Kovack. As he approaches, he can see Mal's magical torch clearly illuminating a towering giant ghoul that was hiding behind the nearest pillar.
He focuses his holy power inward in order to gird himself against whatever attacks he might draw.
, Enemies; [Darvesch]
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 87)
"Watch out guys! There's a ghoul-giant behind the pillar!" Darvesch warns the group.
Priyya slides past Lureene and jogs into the cavern after Darvesch. She slides to a halt when she comes in sight of the massive undead lurking behind the pillar. "Holy sh!t."
Priyya compares the slender arrow knocked in her bow to the huge creature. Probably not going to be enough.
Priyya quickly casts a spell and a ravening beam of pure white light shoots from her palm towards the hiding creature.
Move Action -
Standard Action -
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Almost reflexively, Priyya unleashes a ray of burning sunlight upon the towering ghoul burning a deep hole in its left shoulder. It shouts in surprise as much as pain turning its gaze away from the dwarf and towards the strangely glowing being who just injured it.
Mal follows shortly behind, flicking his claws free as he passes Lureene. Upon seeing the golden lance of light, he stops short along its path, ready and waiting to unleash hell should it try to pursue the Surya-ka-Vahaak
, Enemies; Priyya, [Darvesch], [Mal]
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 87b)
Lureene glances quickly behind the group, looking back at the pool chamber making sure no one has appeared to cut off the group's retreat. After doing so, she heads into the cathedral and decides to brighten things up for a spell....
Soon her whole body glows a bright silvery light which illuminates every hidden corner of the dark cathedral!
Lureene moves to a safe position behind Priyya and Darvesch and casts a spell that causes her to glow with a holy light. It is significantly brighter than the spell Mal cast, but even its divine radience is unable to illuminate the north end of the unholy cathedral!
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Theme: Temple of Elder Evil, Upper
The giant ghoul injured by Priyya stalks out from behind its pillar giving a deep cry to its brethren in hiding. As it advances, it grinds Mal's light stick to dust beneath its heel. From the north end of the temple, three more undead giants approach, one charging at Priyya, another at Mal. The last one sneaks out from behind the next closest pillar and moves into a flanking position with the first around Mal — the injured one not wishing to risk either of the two warriors weapons just to get at the robed woman.
Further south, Captain Kovack squints against the brilliant light. Before him, there was an unpleasant looking dwarf with shiny armor skin, a hard axe and a sizable shield. Feh, 'twould take some work to come at 'is flesh. Yar, but this soft, pink 'n gold creature that 'ad appeared? Glowin' like the moon she was? Aye she'd make a fine feast, although he'd need to be gettin' to 'er afore the big lugs...
As a cruel grin spread across his scruffy face, a powerful stench, like something dredged up from the depths of the sea rolls forth from Captain Kovack like some terrible fog. Repulsed, but too stern to let the stench of some ghast turn his stomach, Darvesch manages to keep his breakfast down as the undead sea captain skirts around him to come at Lureene even as the giant ghouls tear into Malandraenas.
Suddenly your blood runs cold as you hear a familiar voice chuckle. "Ahoy there blondie, be a good lass 'n don't struggle. Jus' woke up 'n ye be lookin' right tasty!"
As Kovack approaches, Lureene feels a wave of sea-sickness wash over her from the captain's ghastly stench.
oops, miss - matrix updated
Fort DC 18 Stench (Ex)
sickened
Fort DC 16 Disease (Su)
infected
infected
diseased, sickened for 80 round
diseased
, Enemies
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 88)
Darvesch quickly moves to flank with Lureene, "I got your back, Lureene." And tries to fell the unholy creature with all his might.
A blast of holy light emanates from Priyya, sweeping across the living and the undead. The warrior-priestess then advances on a flanking ghoul. "Watch your back, Mal." She was about to give him tactical advice but knows the clawed sergeant will choose his own path.
Standard Action -
5' step to AN63 -
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As Darvesch moves away from it, the ghoul looming near him levels a powerful strike at his back raking across his unprotected scalp and neck with its filthy claws. Keeping his wits about him, he makes sure to give Kovack a wide berth before coming at him from behind.
With a grunt of effort, he swings putting tremendous power into an overhand chop... which the undead sea captain sidesteps at the last second. The dwarf's axe raises a shower of sparks as it strikes the floor.
Glancing behind, Kovack admonishes him. "Yar, ye be a bungler!"
A moment later, Priyya unleashes a burst of healing energy that very nearly topples the ghoul flanking Mal. Yet even as she steps up, as if in response the entire cathedral shakes like some great beast awakened from a long sleep. A blast of blood red energy radiates from the floor suffusing the entire room. In an instant, the damage to the ghouls is undone, even as each of you feel the tremendous power threatening to extinguish your life force. As the terrible ruby haze dissipates, you note movement from the pile of corpses and it seems to ripple as the desiccated bodies therein begin to fuse together into a serpentine coil!
"Ooh, I be feelin' like a new man! What ye say you 'n me lass?"
Fort DC
Fort DC 17
Will DC 31
, Enemies; Darvesch, Priyya
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 88b)
"The HELL was that?!" Mal growls trying to shake off the effects of the foul ancient energy.
Realizing that if he helps Priyya all four will be able to come at the both of them, he instead steps up to take on the one flanking him. While his first attack skitters harmlessly off the thing's thick hide, his second attack opens a deep, reeking wound on the giant ghoul's belly.
no
, Enemies; Darvesch, Priyya, Mal
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 88c)
Lureene fights down an urge to spill the contents of her stomach into Kovack’s face (knowing him, he would probably enjoy that.) She also winces as his clawed fingers dig into her creamy flesh, and feels his diseased touch enter her blood.
Wow, I definitely don’t feel good now…
Still, she is made of sterner stuff than before, even after the effects of the cathedral wash through her body. She looks directly into Kovack’s eyes, and steps back a few feet and says heatedly ”I don’t think so. You are NOT my type.” she then lets her holy light erupt from both her hands striking the undead captain dead on!
Finally, she sends an urgent message to Grak via her link, Tell Alis we may need some help here!
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Captain Kovack raises a white eyebrow as one of the ray strikes the ground at his feet, another firing off into the gods-know-where.
"Don't go killin' the light jus' yet, darlin', ye be lookin' good 'nuf ta eat!"
DR 5/cold iron
Priyya wars between testing herself against the dark power that smote the cavern and pragmatism. Surya-ka-Vahaak may be fanatic and fearless but they aren't dumb.
"Son of a... FALL back to the tunnel! Fighting them on their terms, in their own shrine, is a fool's game."
As Lureene's light winks out, Mal curses silently to himself, able to smell where his foes are, but unable to see them. Yet he doesn't have long to rue it. One of the zombies moves into a flanking position and with his partner they proceed to tear at him with their claws.
"Dark-mane... run!"
Still weakened from the unholy burst of negative energy, he goes down before their assault hitting the turf hard.
unconscious
Even as Mal falls, the other two try to fell Priyya. The one trying to block the door slashes at her with its claws but it unable to connect. The other, hungry for her flesh, lunges forward sinking its teeth into her shoulder.
She can feel their touch trying to paralyze her, to root her in place for the feast, but her will is not so easily overcome. The Surya-ka-Vahaak shakes it off and remains standing though just barely.
Fort DC 16 Paralysis
Fort DC 16 Disease
unconscious
staggered
, Enemies
MAP: VV - Caves of the Mother, (Round 89)
"Gotcha!"
Oh hell...
Straining as Sasha's long arms wrap around her, Alis finds herself unable to break free. In the next moment, her eyes go wide with affront.
"Hey, watch your hands!"
pinned
"Oops sooorry!" Sasha giggles as she pins Alis on the ground, sitting long legs locking the princess' in place even as she pins her arms.
The short blonde squirms around, but is unable to break free.
"Say nanny..."
When she gets a glare, Sasha leans back a bit eliciting a cry of pain.
Unwilling to admit defeat but knowing that she botched the match by getting impatient, Alis turns her head to see Grak hovering above them.
"Misssstressss sssaysss she found Kovack..."
"He's– uugh! He's not still alive, is he?"
Grak flaps silently for a moment while he tries to communicate with Lureene. Even as he does so, Talvyra gets to her feet and paces over, not liking the situation.
After a few moments Grak begins to whimper, "Isss not good, isss not gooood! Needs help! Sssaysss tell Alisss needsss help!"
Gods below, what's going on down there?
"Alright Sasha, let me up, we need to go help."
Priyya staggers but Surya-ka-Vahaak won't let her fall. She doesn't have the strength to do much and there is the very real risk that she will collapse if she exerts herself... and be consigned to a fate she'd rather not speculate upon. Still, have to try...
Priyya summons the power of Alita once again to scourge the damned and save the living. Hoping he is conscious, she yells to her friend. "Mal! GET your ASS UP, Sergeant! MOVE IT!"
Priyya lays a healing hand on herself and holds the line, willing Darvesch and Lureene to make it safely into the tunnel.
Standard Action -
Swift Action -
"Not until you say it!"
"What?! This is no time for jokes, let me–"
"SAAAY IIIT!"
So going to bury her in the sand next time we spar...
"Ok, nanny, NANNY!"
With a satisfied grin, Sasha bounces back to her feet pushing off of Alis' back as she does. She giggles with delight at her victory before extending a hand to help Alis back up.
When the princess slaps it away, and vaults to her feet on her own, Sasha chides, "Aww, don't feel bad, you did you best! That was pretty good for a beginner!"
Jason Beardsley
