Isaac was no stranger to battle. He had seen the terrible wounds that men suffered in defending kin and country, visited the healers' tents to check on injured men, but this? He had not seen this before. This... seemingly gleeful carnage.
Without really thinking about it, he put a comforting hand on Lureene's back, pulling her closer as he turned to look at Alis. "Are we facing a man or a–"
demon?
He caught himself just in time. "–monster?"
"Oooohh..."
May the Gods have mercy...
Lureene cups her hand over her mouth as she fights back the taste of bile in the back of her throat which rises from her stomach. She had seen slaughter before, most recently back at the temple of Charelle on the Shiv, but she also remembers a scene in her youth where her Mother had disciplined her mortal-blooded slaves. She did not remember the cause of the punishment, but really to a DEMON it did not matter in the slightest.
She noticed Isaac hand comforting her and, blinking back tears starting to form, chokes a reply "A...a foul monster, Isaac. Without a doubt, a FOUL BEAST!"
The rustle of metal drew Amhranai's eyes to the open door on her right. In a flash, two knives were in her hands and tucked along the length of her forearms. The knives were thin near the crossguard and curved about halfway up; the other half of the blade was much thicker and seemed to have an edge on one side only. Her ears twitched a moment before Darvesch appeared in the doorway, crossing over to her.
"I'll go on ahead. If you want to wait for the others, I'll understand."
As she watched the dwarf, the elf sighed inwardly. I thought dwarves could make rock look impatient. Perhaps not. Single-minded determination is okay until it gets you or those with you killed. Maybe I'm just getting old...nope, just seen too many people eager to greet Balezu.
Amhranai rose to her feet slowly, hearing the commotion of the rest of the troupe in the hallway and room behind her. A cynical smile appeared on her face as their voices rang out. Never seen a real battlefield I take it. Foul beast? Some might say the same of you, judging by appearances. I've had the same hurled my way and I just have sigils on my face.
The smile slowly disappeared as the elf followed Darvesch, who had opened the previously closed door and slipped inside. Instead of stepping to the doorway, Amhranai paused beside it, crouching low once again before moving into the doorway. A kitchen. Why is he just sitting on a barrel? And where's his axe and shield?! Another trap then? Or maybe the spell Alis cast on him has worn off. A quick glance behind her confirmed that the others were still in the slaughter house room, but they wouldn't be there much longer. Moving swiftly, Amhranai crossed over to the seated dwarf, sheathed a kukri and then laid that hand on his shoulder.
"Breathe freely, Darvesch."
It took a few moments for the fog to fade, but slowly the hasty dwarf returned to the present, keenly aware that he'd set down his axe and shield. As he shook his head and got back on his feet, Darvesch and Amhranai could both hear the heavy tromp of numerous booted feet descending a stairwell that was out-of-sight in the dark kitchen.
Doing his best not to shudder, Isaac gave Lureene's shoulder a squeeze. "We should regroup with the others, let's move."
When Alis said, "Agreed," it sounded more like she was pronouncing a death sentence than anything else. "Sasha, you're on point, Isaac watch Lureene's back."
With no further words between them, the four hustled thru the bloody mess, the gleam from Alis' dancing lights heralding their arrival to Darvesch and Amhranai. Looking around, it was obvious to all of you that you had just taken the long way around to reach the kitchen, but there was precious little time to dwell on the matter, it sounded like several people were descending the stairs in a hurry.
"Situation?"
Stealth Checks
"Uunngg!" Sasha grunted as she pushed over a table sending utensils and dishware crashing to the ground. "Duck and cover guys, we've got incoming!"
Indeed as the huntress took up a defense position and raised her bow, you could hear the incoherent groans, and hurried footsteps of whatever it was approaching from the stairs in the center of the south wall.
Knowledge Checks
Stifling a curse, Alis ducked down behind Sasha's impromptu bunker, a bizarre little crossbow suddenly in hand. "So that we're all perfectly clear, by royal decree, O'beilumanji and his witch are to be executed upon sight!"
"Just no indoor witch-burnings," she added glancing to Lureene with a sardonic smirk on her face.
"Luck?" her voice grew softer, more reverent, "Be a Lady..."
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 236 / 2:37db)
-
(mage armor 0et, shield other 3md, resist fire 20 4db, see invisibility 4db)
-
-
(air bubble r 254)
-
(resist fire 20 4db, air bubble r 304)
-
-
(mage armor 4md) -
Ah, let's see what we have here. Unable to pick anything out of the clamor, Amhranai cast a bemused glance at Sasha as she overturned a table and ducked behind it, Alis swiftly following her. Hmmm...control their entry or hunker down behind a table and allow them the opportunity to surround us? I'll limit their entry every time.
"We'd be better off holing them up in the stairwell instead of letting them charge across to an exposed position. We can limit their access to us and control their numbers that way. It's not always pretty but sometimes getting in close is better than picking them off from afar. Might catch them off guard, too. I'd suggest moving that table to the doorway and flooding the stairwell with whatever slippery things we can find in here."
""Breathe freely, Darvesch." "
"Thanks," He tells Amhranai, slightly embarrassed, "I fear my hastiness is going to get me killed one day."
""So that we're all perfectly clear, by royal decree, O'beilumanji and his witch are to be executed upon sight!" "
"Yes, Your Highness!" Darvesch notes with slight grin.
"We'd be better off holing them up in the stairwell instead of letting them charge across to an exposed position. We can limit their access to us and control their numbers that way. It's not always pretty but sometimes getting in close is better than picking them off from afar. Might catch them off guard, too. I'd suggest moving that table to the doorway and flooding the stairwell with whatever slippery things we can find in here." "
"Good idea!" Darvesch exclaims as he begins to push the table towards the doorway where people sound to be coming from. "I'll need help getting it all the way.." He shouts for help.
Lureene returns the smile Isaac gave her, although she could not help but wonder if the foe responsible for the slaughter in the adjacent room showed up, would the team be able to defeat it.
I guess we will find out shortly...
She decides to take a reserve roll for now, and proceeds to cast a spell. Nodding to both Alis and Isaac, she then vanishes from sight. Once she has finished her spell, she re-establishes her link with Grak and informs him "We have encountered the Citadel's defenders, please let Tyralor and Ieana know...I may need to summon you here, though."
Isaac quickly moves to grab one end of the table. "I've got this end, Darvesch, where to?"
"To that doorway over there." He nods towards the stairs in the center of the south wall. "Everyone else, like Amhranai said, grab stuff to slick the stairs and floor, and throw it in front of where we're taking the table."
"Wha?!" Sasha holds up her hands and whines, "Hey! You two better leave room for me to shoot past, I was using that!"
If the situation weren't so grim, Alis would have grinned. "I can cover the area with a grease spell in a moment if needed."
"Ooor," Isaac strains with the effort of moving the massive table, "we're in a kitchen. Maybe some cooking oil?"
Like I'm supposed to know how a kitchen works...
"Well yes, naturally," Alis agreed coolly. Looking behind her, she saw Lureene's otherwise invisible form fretting about the situation.
Sense Motive Checks:
Missstressss, Lureene can hear her loyal eidolon's voice in her mind, sssnake lady wantsss to know... isss encountering Citadel'sss defendersss good or bad? Alssso, she sssaysss big ssstone giant opened the doorsss.
"Well, Grak since they are not welcoming us with open arms rather with open blades, it is kind of bad for us. We have not reached the parapet yet." Lureene responds to her Eidolon. "Fortunately we were able to get the doors open. If it is safe to do so then see if they can rally some guards to retake the Citadel."
Grak tellsss her now– Grak pauses for a moment as if he is listening to someone else, Sssnake lady sssays there isss a forccce sssphere that coversss all the battlementsss and parapetsss. Oh, and a missst ssseepsss out the front doorsss and windowssss. Now Grak tellsss her...
As quickly as they were able, Darvesch and Isaac hopped to and dragged the table across the floor to the south passageway. Yet the further they got, the fuzzier their concentration became.
"Upright, turn it right side up," Isaac urged. With a loud thud, the dwarf pushed it back over onto its legs.
"There, now you can take them low, the ladies can snipe around us, and I'll," he leaned heavily on the edge, "maybe I'll just catch... a quick... nap...."
"Dammit, I was afraid of that," Alis grumbled. "Ladies, move up with me, the necklace's power has a limited range.."
"Wait, what about me and Imrunny?"
Evidently Sasha doesn't consider herself or Amh to be ladies.
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 237 / 2:37db)
Lureene moves closer to Alis and Sasha, realizing the necklace's range was limited. When she hears Sasha's hurt tone she cannot help but wonder about the redhead's upbringing to make her lack self-esteem.
"Sash, it is not the parentage or upbringing that makes a lady, but the confidence and attitude you have that makes YOU a lady!"
Amhranai crept forward, grabbing a container of oil from the counter as she made her way past Alis and Sasha. "Make yourself useful and don't shoot us. Mists of Iscandu keep us safe." Pausing to the left of Isaac, Amhranai tossed the container of oil into the entrance of the stairwell.
As the invisible succubus encouraged her less erudite friend, Amhranai slipped past adding a bit of her own advice. Alis smiled inwardly. While Amhranai might not have realized it, Sash remembering someone else's safety was a definite improvement.
"Don't worry, Sasha," she laid a hand on her arm, "there's a reason it's called 'acting' like a lady. Now stick close and show our new friend what you can do with a bow!"
Theme: Darkspawn in the Kitchen
In a crash of broken pottery, bacon grease splattered all over the bottom few steps, dribbling down to the stone floor in thick rivulets. Beside Amhranai, the taller Marshal was looking rather confused, no doubt having passed beyond the range of Mariezza's talisman.
Sasha gave a wolfish grin and nodded in excitement. "Alright Lissi I'll show you and El some acting, and I'll show Scribs some shooting!"
With that, she ran over to the large counter, Alis following, and this time moved objects aside before hopping up. "See? Ladylike!"
, Enemies
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 238 / 2:37db)
-
(mage armor 0et, shield other 3md, resist fire 20 4db, see invisibility 4db)
-
-
(air bubble r 254)
-
(resist fire 20 4db, air bubble r 304)
-
-
(mage armor 4md, invisibility r 306) -
Darvesch prays to Kahn "Bless my weapon. Let it strike my enemies true."
The clatter of utensils and crockery drew Amhranai's attention to see Sasha take her perch atop the counter. It's a wonder she's survived this long. Iscandu save me! Or are you trying to tell me something here?
Amhranai took in the blank, confused look on Isaac's face. This damnable spell will be the death of us! Countering this is going to be costly and not leave us with much strength once we find O'beilumanji. We need to move faster.
The elf's free hand moved to draw her second kukri, stopping halfway to the sheath when a tattered strip of cloth from the hem of her shirt gave her pause. She pulled it taut and, in a flash of steel, the strip was free. Sheathing her weapon, Amhranai cast about for a flask of oil from the table behind her. A hand shot out and hastily snatched one, stuffing the cloth in the top after pulling out the stopper. A tinderbox was dug out of her beltpouch and, crouching low, she prepared to light the cloth once the defenders appeared.
As Isaac slowly regained his senses, he heard the familiar tromp of boots on stonework. "Oh good, reinforcements!"
Yet no sooner did her say this than did the 'reinforcements' come into view. Slipping and sliding on the bacon grease that Amhranai had hurled at the stairs, those approaching certainly wore the garb of Ilmarond's navy, yet their gait, posture, and utterances were not those of men.
Silhouetted against the arrow loop in the behind them, it was possible to make out gaps in their armor where chunks of flesh were missing, and from which blood and innards still dripped. A sobering chill ran thru the Marshal, and he asked quietly, "Zombies?!"
Lureene watches silently as the figures come into view. She shakes her head unsure what those creatures were, but Priyya's training came to mind...
Zombies?
In a crash of armor, flailing limbs and incoherent screaming, the first few 'zombies' fell to the stone floor. Yet even as the pile grew, a few from further back simply stumbled over the backs of the others, rushing at Darvesch.
"Hey Lissi," Sasha called out, "it's OK to kill the ones that are already dead, right?"
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 238b / 2:37db)
Did O'beilumanji and his witch kill every soldier here?
"That's right, Sash," Alis frowned at her 'Sewing Kit' knowing it would be nigh useless against zombies. "Amhranai, your devotion to Iscandu wouldn't happen to include knowledge of clerical rites, would it?"
"Aww," Sasha whined as she loosed an arrow, "well at least let me get in a couple shots first!"
While the huntress' arrow struck true, there was only a slight sizzle of acid to indicate that it actually had any effect. Yet if it had caused the former man any pain or significant injury, it didn't show.
Sasha, Isaac, , Enemies
Darvesch tightens his grip on the axe in his hand as he readies himself for the zombies to rush him. "Let's put these soldiers to their final rest." He says with reserve, rage building inside. "There's nothing more I hate than a witch using her powers to defile.. " He let's the rest of his sentence go as he waits for his chance to strike.
Even as he denounced O'beilumanji's witch, the first of her zombies reached Darvesch. He wased no further breath, but drove his axe home, strength of arms and the glory of Kahn ending its unnatural animation.
With its fall, the one Sasha had injured rushed forward seeking to claw at the dwarf's eyes and face, yet for all its speed, it could not bypass the bulwark that was his shield.
Sasha, Isaac, Darvesch, , Enemies
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 238c / 2:37db)
Amhranai heard the defenders enter the kitchen, promptly stumble in the grease coating the floor. The tinderbox slid open and, as she was about to strike a spark, Isaac's sharp intake of breath gave her pause. A whispered word caused her to close the tinderbox and replace the flask on the table as she rose to her feet.
Arrows split the air beside her, finding a home in rotting flesh, to little effect. The medallion at her neck was suddenly in her hand and Amhranai found herself moving forward, stopping at Darvesch's back. A soft grey light engulfed the elven woman, drawing up into the medallion she held forth before arcing out into the massed zombies before them.
Lureene is surprised by the outpouring of divine energy from the elvish woman. She does not strike me as a fiery priestess...still I am glad she is here.
She glances behind the group keeping a close eye on the entrances to the kitchen to make sure the group is not ambushed while dealing with the zombies.
Hmmm, I wonder if I can help Darv out here...I KNOW...
She starts chanting softly, and then points a finger at the entryway where the zombies are bottled up. Up from the ground next to Darvesch, a small earth elemental rises up, and immediately swings a rocky fist at the zombie.
A wave of soft grey light, not unlike the evening glow of Brightpool arced forth from the medallion of the cloud-wreathed eye, sweeping over the zombies.
Even as Lureene's elemental materialized, she could see the zombie in front of Darvesch drop followed by the clatter of armor and tumbling bodies in the hallway behind it. There was only the gurgling cry of a single remaining enemy as the animated corpse of a half-elven woman came staggering down the stairs, across the backs of the other corpses, and made for Darvesch, swinging futilely at his shield.
Will DC 17 (half)
, Enemies
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 239 / 2:37db)
With mighty swings of his axe, he attempts to fell the abomination standing in front of him. "That's just about enough of that!"
With a powerful blow of his axe, Darvesch sent the zombie flying back into the wall, her hauberk rent. With a shriek, she lunged toward him, ducking his backswing, before falling atop the heap of bodies before the dwarf. From her right eye protruded the black fletching of an arrow.
"Bullseye!" Sasha's voice resounded with satisfaction.
As the last enemy fell, Lureene's elemental looked around with its coal black eyes before holding its broad hands up in consternation. "Aww, too bad little guy," the huntress clucked, "maybe we'll find some more for you though."
Unable to understand her mocking, the extra-planar being continued to look around, its summoner nowhere to be seen.
"I certainly hope not," Alis muttered under her breath before giving a quick nod to Amhranai. "Thank you."
"No need, Alis. With the way Iscandu's realm moves, lost souls, or those locked in their dead bodies by some means, turn up in the Mists quite frequently. Not sending them on to Balezu would be cruel."
As the sounds of combat die down, Lureene moves silently to the eastern side of the room and peers first through the door, then moving to the staircase making sure no other movement is detected.
Once she is satisfied no one is set to ambush the group, she waves to Alis while waiting for her elemental to detect her footfalls and follow behind her.
"OK, 'Lis, let's go."
Invisible to all but the Princess, Lureene walked to the eastern door to check on lurkers. Yet even as she passed the cask on which Amhranai had found Darvesch seated, the enchantress could feel the mist attempting to sap her will.
Recognizing her error, the succubus quickly checked the door before hustling back to her friends' side before it could rob her of her senses. Although Alis' pretty red lips were pursed in thought, she only smiled gently and put a hand on Lureene's invisible shoulder as the confused elemental made its way over.
Risky Lureene, we can't get careless here...
"Amh," she turned to face the other priestess, "while you and Darv were busy, we met a pair of maids who were unaffected by the mist."
"This necklace," she looped a finger thru the gold necklace that now overlapped her diamond pendant, "is what was protecting them."
"From what we've been able to tell, the witch must have figured out a way to use Arrowhead's own wards to amplify her magic. Unfortunately, we're not really sure how, but at least we have a bit of protection now... well, provided everyone stays fairly close to me anyway."
Stealth Checks
Perception Checks
Sense Motive Checks:
Bluff Checks
Sense Motive Checks:
"Oh yeah?" Sasha hopped down and leaned against the counter next to the Princess. She smirked a bit as her green eyes appraised Alis' figure, "So how close do you want us, Lissi?"
Lureene's voice echoes softly from the other side of the Princess, a teasing note quite evident in her tone. "Close Sash but not TOOO close. We still have unfinished business to take care of."
Theme: Alis' [Neck]Line
Alis sighed inwardly.
Death everywhere, but there's still no getting them down...
"Well I suppose there's only one way to be sure." She stepped clear of the counter and pointed towards the darkened fireplace at the western end of the kitchen, "Sash, I need you to walk that way until you start to feel funny."
The huntress cocked her head to one side, "What, like just towards the wall?"
"That's right," Alis nodded, stealing a wink at Lureene. "Just try walking backwards. Slooowly. One step at a time. Keep looking at my eyes, alright?"