It responds to Brek by dropping the mists of darkness. There are still swirling mists but they vaguely take on humanoid form from time to time never staying in a form long enough to depict its nature.Occasionally a glimpse of a coin can be seen with in the changing forms. The cold however remains bitter but not harmful.
The mists around you dissipate as suddenly as they came up. The bitter cold remains.
Brek resists the urge to take the coin.
"Tell me what must be done to erase the coin then?"
The pain of his muscles and skin tensing and cramping from the sudden cold is nothing compared to the shock and momentary panic that hits him from this sacred communication being twisted in this way.
Elders, he roars, What has happened, where is my spear needed!
Why do they not answer, what has happened to them, is this a trick of the ring of stones
Krokkin takes a painful breath and steels himself reaching for the raging river in his mind but not embracing it yet.
Sorogar can you hear me? Ohime', Brek are you still here? Krokkin shouts out and then listens to see if he can hear a response as he takes a defensive stance.
** spoiler omitted **
"How can it be broken? What would happen if someone else takes it?"
With the darkness dropped, and the harming effects of the cold having ceased its torrent upon her, she now spies out what is before her. Within the whirls of mist, she spies a being as well as a coin with a unique shape on it.
"My mistake," she shivers in retaliation to the sight before her eyes. "I thought you had harmed us with this gate opening, but it was just the realm you are in. As I said before, I will offer neither...what do you have to say?" she asks in regard to the pound of flesh or her mental state.
** spoiler omitted **
Oh they made a mistake not thinking I was a threat, time to show them they should have all come at me first!
The river of rage engulfs Krokkin as he lunges forward activating the great sword and attacking the creature in front of Sorogar.
You are not tiichiul it, I will strike you down!
As he slashes again he tries to position himself in between her and the enemy.
Fight me prey
Bracing herself against the cold, and thankful enough for Movah's added warmth to not start more of an argument, Sorogar heads for the 'half' (?) creature she was alerted to, following Brujah's ultrasound instructions. She drags her weapon behind her, just in case.
As SOrogar starts to move, suddenly Krokkin throws himself between her and the half shadow creature. He attacks swiftly with his sword and it appears to cut deep. The creature howls in agony then for lack of better words or explanation, SHIFTS! The one in front of Sorogar dissipates and the one in front of Ohime thickens ever so slightly.
"There is always another way! Tell us, why must the coin be destroyed?"
She tries to search why this man possesses a coin that must be destroyed. Something to do with pirates in history? As her song begins to fade, she continues it for one more round, letting the echoing performance continue and be a boon to their abilities.
With Krokkin slashing the shadow, she wonders if this actually is the true being in front of her.
The coin is a key to the circles. Destroy the coin destroy the key. It will allow me to no longer be the keeper of t he coin and thus no longer be bound to the circles. Each of you no longer are effected by the creatures spell power.
"You want us to destroy this coin, and set you free, but who are you? How do we know you are not a demon in disguise? That you being free is a good thing. Help us to understand."
Sorogar stumbles backwards as Krokkin suddenly intercepts the creature just as she gets to it, then cleaves into the still unseen foe.
But then, he turns around towards her with strangely glazed-over eyes...
"Krokkin...? Are you all right? What is happening?"
I am Soval Atheed. I am saying I am not but you can test my morals if you will to verify. I will answer questions that prove my intents and desires. But we must hurry for I sense others coming for the gates.THe half-shadow states in a rushed tone.
"Then a Pound of flesh I offer for my memories are by far more precious for they remind me that my guilt will forever follow me." Brek reaches out for the coin convinced that of the beings senses of others coming....
The coin sears your flesh leaving welts and deep scars. You pull back dropping the coin as the pain sears up your arm. The coin hits the ground where mixed with your seared flesh, It shatters then disappears.
At last, free at last! I grant you this boon, when you call upon the gods, you shall retain your freedom or regain your freedom.
The combat +4 boon is not wasted and still active for the next combat. Use it wisely....hmmmmm muwahahahaha.
As the creature begins to fade from view, he calls out, It will only be a matter of hours til the 4 sent to reclaim the portal arrive. Succubus and thralls they be.
"What? I thought we had maybe a week! Should we even be here?" she exclaims nervously. "we better hurry!"
She quickly moves to the next stone alphabetically, an evil one. If they can remove the evil ones, perhaps that will help.
In what feels like mere seconds, her friends have disabled two more of the circles, and she didn't even have to do anything!
She watches her allies with a proud smile - but it unfortunately can't last, as the dire news on the demon proximity is then shared. "Four hours!? Oh gods, that's horrible! I don't have much if any spells left to fight them with!"
Swallowing nervously, she heads after Ohime as she starts activating the evil circle.
The circle pulses deep red for a minute and then a small creature arrives and attacks as waves of fear pulse from the circle.
DC 15 will or feared for 4 rounds
In what feels like mere seconds, her friends have disabled two more of the circles, and she didn't even have to do anything!
She watches her allies with a proud smile - but it unfortunately can't last, as the dire news on the demon proximity is then shared. "Four hours!? Oh gods, that's horrible! I don't have much if any spells left to fight them with!"
Swallowing nervously, she heads after Ohime as she starts activating the evil circle.
[ooc=Initiative rolls]
brek
ohime
sorogar
krokkin
Creature [/ooc]
"We need to focus on the succubus. If we break her will, she will maybe lose control over her followers, remember! Next we know, they'll be right on top of us..."
In retaliation, she backs away from the circle and begins to sing for the aid of her companions. Her little birdy also begins to sing.
Then with a swift wave of her hand and a chant, she hastens her allies.
Brek winces as the coin sears him to the bone but his grin at breaking the geas laid upon the creature fades as his instincts scream at him to flee!!!
With a new boost to his speed.......Brek runs quickly..
[ooc]Using the one time +4 boon here[/dice]
As Krokkin is lunging at the creature in front of Sorogar and attacking he feels his rage crash up against something inside of him. Like water hitting a sieve, the rage is still getting thru but has to push thru. Unconciously he pours more rage in and can feel it bending but it does not break until he hears Sorogar.
His mind suddenly becomes his own again relishing in the rage he feels.
With his eyes still crazed and growing angrier he replies, I will be, something made me want to attack these things and protect you all at any cost.
He follows Sorogar over to Ohime even more angry that something tried to control him.
The creature howls in glee as it watches Brek run. It then flies about 10 ft in the air and begins a chant of some kind.
"It's trying to summon something! Is that even possible in this magical circle of protection? What does this thing even do for us?
-------
Krokkin stalks behind Sorogar as they approach Ohime not realizing that he begins to bristle and breath heavier as if he is ramping himself up. as they reach Ohime he howls, rushes past Sorogar and attacks the creature in front of Ohime.
As he strikes a second and third time, he roars My mind is my own, you are mine prey!
Under the barrage of attacks the creature is ripped to shreds. Its lifeless body falls in a heap to the ground and the circle flashes once then melds together and goes inert.
As you move to the next circle you realize that your well of magic has refilled and you have full access to your daily power. The circle around you flashes once and goes inert.
With her haste, on top of feeling just amazing all of a sudden, Ohime will place the next stone. Evil. "Only two left...we can finish strong!" Ohime keeps her song going, empowering the team against fear and maintains their haste.
The circle emits a high pitched screech and then burst forth a pillar of fire. The fire goes up for almost 100 ft. A face appears in the fire. It appears to be that of an aged elemental but something "feels" off.
I am summoned. Now you must complete my punishment so I can go free. I have a riddle, a task, or a sacrifice. You may chose but one must be done. It speaks in a loud harsh guttural voice that is hard to understand.
Seeing Krokkin cut the foe into tiny bits in a blur of speed, Sorogar can only stare at the distruction as Brek runs away as far as he can while Ohime rushes on to activate the sixth circle.
"Shouldn't we have waited for Brek to come back?" Sorogar asks her remaining two companions, when the infernal face suddenly looks at them from the fire!
She holds the rat skull staff out to it reflexively as a ward against something unholy, but when it doesn't attack, she thinks aloud on the options. "We might not have time for a task with the demons arriving in mere hours, and I'd rather not sacrifice anything. I'd say we ask him for a new riddle. Unless either of you wish to sacrifice an unknown something, which to me honestly sounds a bit foolish."
"The source of his fear is gone. He should no longer be afraid, and with his haste, he'll be back in a second."
When the sound assails her, she uses her bardic training to resist it.
"Can we know what the task, riddle, and sacrifice are before choosing?"
Fort save 1d20+4 if needed.
1d4
The fear is overcome and you come back just in time to hear the creature.