Wardove's Rumble in the Jungle

Game Master Laithoron

Theme: Fate

Alexis gives Alis a sharp look, and steps out from behind the pillar, evidently freed from the spell that had rooted her in place. "Sister, I propose we settle our own differences at a later time. Fate has brought us together and Fate shall see us ended if we do not defeat this serpentine demoness before us. Lureene, Darvesch, you know it to be so!"

Next Up: Sasha, Priyya, (Alexis), Mal, Alis, Darvesch, Lureene; Yarzoth, Spawn (delaying)
MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1061)

Sasha lowers her bow a bit from the bead she had drawn on 'Alexis'. She speaks to the two short blondes on either side of her, never taking her eyes off the short blonde in the crimson robes. "Uh, sooo we working with her, or do we just put holes in everybody?"

"It seems these lovely ladies are on our side. For now. Just as well.." He looks to Alis, and speaks in Dwarven tongue "She's under some enchantment. Is there any way to break it? I'd hate to have to kill Ieana, if she was merely a puppet for a being that took control of her."

With that, Darvesch runs to face Ieana to AO.34

Acrobatics (Str) 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 1 = 15 negative level

Darvesch rushes forward, hurdling the stream of blood and rushing up behind the tall vampiress. Before him is a sizable, dry fountain. Standing to the side as he is, he can clearly see the glare of the force field completely sealing off the alcove in which Yarzoth stands.

The vampiress glares at his sudden approach, but purses her lips when she catches the gaze of her shorter associate. "Have you a plan, warrior?"

Next Up: Sasha, Priyya, Alexis, Mal, Alis, Lureene; Yarzoth, Spawn, Darvesch
MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1061)

Lureene curses as Ieana, or Yarzoth as her true name appears to be, seals herself off effectifely from the party. The only silver lining she can see in that is the wall of force would effectively block any spells she would cast as well…hopefully.

Seeing Darvesch moving to deal with the serpent demoness, along with the spawn, she turns her attention to ‘Alexis’. Still not convinced this was the real McCoy, she again decides to challenge her intentions.

”Why don’t you drop the false form you are showing to us ’Alexis’ and show your true shape. You notice none of us are afraid to hide our true natures!”

"Do you truly think it wise that I divert concentration away from our battle in order to effect such a change? These forms we draw from your memories are no mere illusions. Alissariel believes Alechsularis to wield power, hence so does this form. Is your distrust so great that you would see that advantage wasted?"

Lureene stares unflinchingly at 'Alexis' "I am withholding judgement on your nature and intentions now. If you profess to be our ally, I will not do anything to break our truce."

No actions this round.

Alis gazes coolly at the being in the guise of her sister and motions across the chamber. She meets Darvesch's gaze and the two share a knowing look. "It's true, I think very highly of my dear 'Sis. But, she's no archmage — at least not yet. If your intent was to gain power thru mimicry, there are more than a few other people we've encountered who might avail us to a greater extent."

Alexis' eyes narrow as Alis points out the logical flaw in her statement. The real princess only smiles and says, "If you need a moment to change, it looks like our mutual enemy has made that choice for us."

'Alexis' smirks. "Well, it would seem that the Princess of Silverwake is more astute than she gets credit for. Very well..."

Alexis' eyes turn completely white as she takes a singular deep breath. In the blink of an eye, she grows, standing tall as Sasha, but possessed of the same seductive curves as Lureene. Her skin appears smooth with a cream-like complexion and over her hair she wears an ornate, ancient-looking headdress made from gold, with bands of crushed lapis lazuli, and garnet. Beneath her crimson robes, you can see that her body is swathed in soft, linen bandages.

"Shay-ak-AH-tri," you hear her name in your minds, even though her ruby lips do not move. "I am the high proxy for this temple to Dread Lady Charelle."

Tall and curvy? Now that's just excessive.

"Shëakatri... Shëakatri..." Priyya rolls the word around on her tongue as if testing a wine. "It has a certain... Loxpharian ring to it."

Even if the vampiress' eyes were not completely white you suspect that the Surya-ka-Vahaak's mention of the country might still have drawn a blank gaze from the ancient priestess. Ignoring the withering look the taller woman gives her, lips pursed, Priyya continues, "So since you have demonstrated the ability to get inside the minds of others, have you perhaps tried to delve into our scaly opponent's mind as well?"

"Tried? Yes. Succeeded? No. The abomination wears a powerful magic item that shields her mind from me. If you could remove her circlet somehow..."

"Unfortunately, she has warded herself quite effectively from physical assault. It will take powerful magic to bring down her wall of force. I lack the magical power to bypass it."

"Her circlet is it?"

Alis casts detect magic and gazes across the room intently.

What isn't she telling us?

Shëakatri turns her gaze back towards Yarzoth. "Powerful, yes, but I may be able to assist with that now... Unless you prefer I assume yet another form."

She raises her hands to begin spellcasting but then pauses. "Do all of you intend to remain where you are, or had you a mind to take up more strategic positions?"

Still glowing like the Sun, Priyya chimes, "Strategy? What is this strategy you speak of?"

With that, she nods to Sasha and says. "The pillars or altar should provide adequate cover for sniping, don't you agree?"

Lureene nods and points to the central pillar AT34, "OK Sash, I will be right behind you."

Move to AU 35

"Oh, good idea!" Sasha grins at Lureene before taking up position behind the next pillar as the proxy moves to a spot behind the altar.

Mal looks to Alis for approval. "I'll be fine, go."

With a nod, he leaps over the channel of blood and hunkers down before it and to the side, like some beast ready to pounce. With him in position, Alis takes up a spot near Priyya continuing to concentrate on the magical auras girding Yarzoth.

I can't make out anything thru that force field.

As the big warrior moves up into position, the tall brunette frowns and backs away to give the ranger and the warrior a clear line of approach. Reluctantly, she too crouches down to ensure she is below the level of any crossfire.

As Yarzoth casts yet another spell fortifying herself against harm, Charelle's proxy asks impatinetly, "Are all of you prepared?"

MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1063)

Mal grumbles loudly when he recognizes the latest spell Yarzoth just cast. "Stoneskin, great..."

Darvesch waits as patiently as possible. "Whatever you're gonna try, do it now." The dour look on his face as he thinks, "I'm sorry, Ieana. This creature leaves us no choice. May Kahn see fit to protect your soul, if it is his will." He steels his resolve and speaks "I'm ready."

Lureene gazes towards the wall of force separating Yarzoth from her enemies. I will be ready for you this time, Yarzoth...

She looks over to Sheakatri, and nods in readiness.

Ready Dispel Magic as counterspell, should Yarzoth cast a spell.

Yarzoth begins casting another spell from behind her wall of force. Lureene immediately identifies it as a chill shield and attempts to counterspell it but to no effect. In an instant, the serpent woman appears to be consumed in cold blue flames which then whip around her in a vortex that chills the air.

Theme: Fate

At the same time, Shëakatri stretches forth her left hand and a small amber orb streaks forth. In an imperious voice, she commands, "Avert your eyes!"

A blinding flash of light fills the chamber and a wave of telekinetic force rattles Darvesch and Mal where they stand. There is a sound like breaking glass and when the light has faded, Yarzoth's force field is no more.

"KILL HER!"

Next Up: Sasha, Priyya, Mal, Alis, Darvesch, Spawn; Lureene, Yarzoth, Shëakatri

Darvesch grins at the fiend controlling Ieana's body as he prays "May Kahn silence those in my presence!" Cast silence on his shield.

At the flash of light and the sound of explosion, Sasha ducks from behind her pillar and fires at the form of the Ieana/Yarzoth. However, her first shot is over-eager and shatters harmlessly against the stone walls.

Even as Darvesch's spell mutes the sound in the room, Sasha places her next shot, this one more careful. Although it seems to be on target, an invisible force deflects the attack at the last moment.

"Damn magic tricks!"

Priyya steps out from behind her pillar and briefly contemplates how easy it would be to obliterate one of the vampires right now. Sighing inwardly that her companions had already agreed to a truce, she raises her bow instead.

Well, at least it gives me something to look forward to. Healing could be... complicated however.

With zen-like speed, the warrior priestess sends a pair of shafts streaking towards Yarzoth. The first shatters against her face, seemingly with no effect and the second passes narrowly by her ear.

"I've heard of a stone-cold b1tch before, but..."

Mal's skin crawls for a moment as Darvesch's spell blankets the area in utter silence. He takes a deep breath, however.

Probably a good idea. At least it should make things tougher on her than on us.

The hunter eyes the icy flames wreathing the enemy caster and his eyes narrow.

If I'm going to get hurt anyway...

Disregarding his own safety, he leaps forward, arms out-stretched as he attempts to restrain the thinly-built woman. Surprised, Yarzoth swings at him with her staff, but he easily evades the blow. Although the icy flames begin to freeze his flesh, Mal's powerful arms close around Ieana's midsection as he tries to hold her in place.

• Good Hope: +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls. R1126

• A hp: 30 = 30/30
  Expeditious Retreat 1128, Mage Armor R3603, See Invisibility 1757
  
•      k: 15 = 15/15
  
• D hp: 61 = 61/63(68)
  1 negative level DC 17 each
  Divine Favor +1 R1068, Flames of the Faithful R1065, Silence R1068
  
• L hp: 45 = 45/48
  Blur R 1087, Light of Mercuria R1625, Mage Armor R3601, Shield R1115
  
• M hp: 66 - 13 = 53/66
  Con 15 = 15/16
  Int 10 = 10/12
  Barkskin R1658 Shield of Faith R1116, Totemic Trans +20-ft R1118
  
•      t: 42 = 42/42
  
• P hp: 36 = 36/36(41)
  1 negative level DC 17
  Light of Venya, Mage Armor R3602

• Sasha hp: 51 = 51/54
  protection from evil R1117
  

With the wall of force finally down, Alis is finally able to begin analyzing the auras girding Yarzoth. Immediately, she grits her teeth and squints against the glare coming from from her circlet.
.
.
.
.

”Well, ‘Lis the fact that it is an artifact is all we need to know for now, right? As for the other items she has on her, I am sure Immerstal would pay a handsome price for them, but I think we need to deal with Yarzoth first.”

"Ooh," Sasha perks up at the mention of money, "who's that, how much do you think we'd get, El?"

Priyya give Alis a sidelong glance and comments, "So has our priority changed to killing Ieana along with Yarzoth just to take her stuff? Alis, are you certain I can't smite those two?"

Alis sighs, gritting her teeth. "My very strong preference would be to rid Ieana of Yarzoth without removing her head... or any other parts that she might miss."

Damn this silence, I need to get communicate with those two...

The dark-haired beauty looks to Shëakatri, who nods in return. She rushes forward and attempts to steal the circlet from Ieana's head, but the struggling spellcaster is able to evade the attempt.

She bares her teeth as the aura of icy flames blackens even her ivory her skin slightly from the intense cold. In frustration, the vampiress gestures at Mal to grab it.

Next Up: Lureene; Yarzoth, Shëakatri, Darvesch, Sasha, Priyya, Mal, Alis
MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1063b)

Lureene knows the circlet may be the key to stopping Yarzoth. She knows most of her spells have already been expended so she decides to try a different approach.

Throwing her hands up she chants a quick magical phrase and a small humanoid creature composed of air appears in front of her. She says to it quietly in Auran, "Fly over to that woman and remove her circlet from her head and bring it to me."

Standard action, use SLA Summon Monster II to summon Small Air Elemental.
Order it to fly to Yarzoth and remove the circlet.

A small whisp of smoke and dust swirls into being before Lureene. The two of them whistle back and forth to one another for a moment before the small being whisks across the room with incredible speed attempting to snatch at the crown on Ieana's brow.

Yet for all its speed, it merely manages to blow everyone's hair about in its initial attempt coming nowhere near her.

From Yarzoth's robes, no fewer than five cobras swarm forth hissing silently as they fall upon the one grappling their mistress! The big hunter's reactions are swift, however, and only one of the serpents manages to land a bite on him, but he quickly tears free leaving a blood gash in his shoulder in preference to becoming poisoned.

Yarzoth however merely smiles and her eyes glow with a sinister light. Inside his mind, the feral warrior hears Ieana's voice and feels his will being crushed like some beast caught in a net having a muzzled clamped over its jaws.

Release me and slay... the armored one instead!

Mal staggers back, clutching his head, teeth bared in a feral grimace. The moment he releases Yarzoth, she smiles before slithering forth from the alcove with such speed and grace that she completely circumvents the guard of everyone around her.

"Oh nooo... Mal's being controlled, keep clear!"

Mal struggles desperately, his will trying to reassert itself over Yarzoth's.

I'm NO TRAITOR!

Suddenly, he recalls words spoken to him several months ago...

"What lady favors the brave, is good and bad but never at the same time, does not come when beaconed, cannot be relied upon, although she is always desired, and may run out on you when you need her most?"

He recalls the gold and brown-striped feather braided into his hair so many months ago by the beautiful and innocent young sphinx, and he calls upon her gift now, in his hour of need, Lady Luck...

As quickly as control of his body was wrested from him, Mal claws it back, a growl in his throat and veins standing out on his arms and neck. You have no idea what words he speaks there, stalking past the vampire, deep within Darvesch's silence spell. He looks up towards the top of a tall column where Yarzoth has coiled herself about 20-feet above the floor. Judging by the look on his face as he points a clawed hand at her, it appears to be an oath bloody and dire...

Next Up: Shëakatri, Darvesch, Sasha, Priyya, Alis, Spawn, Lureene; Yarzoth, Mal
MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1064)
Note: Yarzoth is flying. She is currently 20-ft above the floor, just below the ceiling.

Shëakatri lowers her hand when she notices that Mal not attacked anyone yet. She glances at Alis, and comments, "Your bodyguard has a remarkable will. Impressive. Most impressive."

With a gesture, the double doors leading towards the purification chamber swing shut, and a plane of telekinetic force crackles over their surface. Looking up at Yarzoth, she says, "Slaves may depart when commanded to do so, not before."

Next Up: Darvesch, Sasha, Priyya, Alis, Spawn, Lureene; Yarzoth, Mal, Shëakatri

"Well that would have been bad," Sasha comments, clearly relieved that Mal fought off Yarzoth's influence.

She ducks from behind her pillar and fires twice at the serpent woman. The first is deflected, but the second smashes against her tail. It just barely manages to penetrate her rock-like skin, but that has no effect upon the splash of acid delivered by Sasha's new bow.

Were it not for Darvesch's silence spell, you're fairly certain the huntress would be boasting loudly to Priyya. In fact, she seems to be trying anyway.

Not only stoneskin but she's flying now too?

Priyya speaks to Alis as she sends another two arrows down range, both of which narrowly miss,
"I don't suppose you can launch Darvesch again, can you?"

Alis gives her a sidelong glance. "Not while he has a silence spell in effect I can't. Myself on the other hand..."

Looking across the room, Alis makes eye-contact with the vampiress and gestures towards their mutual target. The tall vampiress nods in understanding and looks to be waiting for her signal. "El, some aid from your little friend, perhaps?"

Alis and the Spawn are delaying until Lureene's air elemental can get into position behind Yarzoth.

Lureene looks up at Yarzoth and wonders how best to dislodge her from her perch, as it were. She points a finger at her elemental and motions it to approach her. Once it has exited the silenced area, she again orders it in Auran, ”Assist the attacks of any that attack her.”, indicating Yarzoth.

Once the elemental has moved off to follow her orders, she thinks, I need to know if she is resistant to my spells, or whether she has a shield spell active…this should do the trick. She slips her wand into her hand, and points it at Yarzoth, and utters the command word.

Use wand of MM, charges 19/50 left.
Damage 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 1) + 3 = 8
CL check 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24 good hope

Even as her elemental whisks away towards Yarzoth, Lureene unleashes a volley of missiles from her wand. The three magical projectiles seem to slow down as they approach her. For a moment it seems as though they will falter and fail, but they finally punch thru and manage to strike her.

While it's clearly not a shield spell, it reminds the succubus of what happens when others have attempted to employ low-levels magics against her and very nearly failed — spell resistance.

As the missiles strike home, Alis and the tall brunette make their move. With uncanny speed and agility, the vampiress races around Mal and Darvesch before vaulting off the tall ranger's shoulder, nearly toppling him to the ground as her jump carries her high into the air.

At the same time, Alis casts her flight spell and also comes at the serpentine spellcaster.

Yarzoth grits Ieana's teeth. She was familiar with the sacred consorts of Lyria and her treacherous former servant, Charelle. The first would try to make an opening, the next would make the attack. But which was which? Surely Shëakatri wanted her the more... The vampire then–

Wait, what was that behind her?!

Swinging her staff for all that she's worth, even knowing full well what the enemy planned is not enough to land an attack on the agile women. The unlikely pair, mortal enemies at any other time, use the opening created by Lureene's air elemental and in a rare moment of cooperation, their hands clasp about the circlet perched atop Ieana's head and tear it free!

With a cry of surprise and exhaustion, Ieana falls like a boulder. She slams into the ornately tiled floor with such force that cracks spider-web out from the site of her impact.

In mid-air, the vampiress immediately begins to fall. She attempts to yank the circlet from Alis' hand, but with a grunt of effort, the flying princess, hand blackened from intense frost-burn, manages to hold on.

With a hiss of anger, the vampiress lands hard, falling to the ground as the altercation throws off her balance.

"GOT IT!" Alis shouts triumphantly as she floats back down to the floor.

Seeing Ieana fall to the ground, Darvesch dismisses his silence spell and moves across the blood stream, and toward Ieana.

Acrobatics 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 1 = 13 Str