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"Wow, nice work, Median! Hadn't realized that was one of your talents." The halfling is impressed with how Median takes apart the gears. Winter is just happy to be continuing forward.
Arriving at the door, the pair position themselves right in front of it. Silvio will again be using his Bless wand before the party opens the door.
"This feels rather final. Cast all of your augmentation spells now, if you have any left."
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Well, if it is as final as you say, maybe we should make sure everyone is healed a little bit more. Gather up.
She makes sure everyone is within her 15 foot cone (Median is sure to get her own leg caught in the fire as well), and casts her last two burning hands spells, to heal rather than harm.
Then everyone goes back to their positions and prepares to open the door.
Median hopes there are no more bats, because she just used up her last magical energy, and can tell that she is going to have to rely on mundane means of fighting from here on.
With most of the party healed, but most of their magic expended, Garen moves forward and, working with Silvio, opens both of the doors. The wide brass doors swing open on silent hinges to reveal a vast room: the largest by far in the entirety of the crypt, and so large that they can't see everything from where they stands. The only light emanates from a torch mounted above he crypt, flickering with a pale golden fire. It must be the Everflame. Tall pillars march across the chamber, ending at a dais on the farside, on which is set a large stone sarcophagus. The lid of the sarcophagus has been removed and lies off to one side.
A single form rests beside the sarcophagus: that of a comely woman in tattered clothing. Her back rises and falls in shallow breaths--the only indication that she is alive, though most likely asleep or unconscious.
As the doors open, a dry, mirthless laugh can be heard from the dark recesses of the tomb, echoing around and leaving no clear sense of where it's originating from.
"So, Kassen's heroes have come to fight me again. You will make fine minions in my army of the dead. Come: meet your fate." A wicked-looking skeleton that Median recognizes from her vision strides into view. A cold blue flame burns in its empty eye sockets. Even those who did not see the sorceress' vision recognize the polished mail and cruel sword from the paintings of Asar elsewhere in the Crypt. Risen before you is the man who killed the town's founder: Asar Vergas.
Two more skeletons emerge from around the pillars, carrying swords and shields, while two march from unseen side passages carrying axes. They form a vanguard between two of the statues, ready for the party to enter.
Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Asar
Median:
Active Group Buffs: 10/10
Map
Silvio can hardly believe it. Asar does live--and he had Damira! "Damira, we're here to save you!" calls out Silvio, as he and Winter quickly engage.
Silvio fires one of his two remaining sling bullets at an axe-wielding skeleton (blue) while Winter goes for the same foe!
;
;
Silvio's bullet careens through the air and sends the axe-wielder clattering to the ground in pieces. But as Winter rides down the stairs, both of those with swords lash out at him, having been prepared for such an encroachment. The further skeleton cuts into Winter , while the closer one slashes across Silvio's flank . Winter's bite lashes out, but the remaining skeletons are far too prepared.
Asar's laugh reiterates from the dais. "She can't hear you, boy."
Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Asar
Median:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
Sledge charges the red skeleton. He's silent, focusing in on Damira. reak the line, charge Asar, wake Damira up.
Both Sledge and Garen move forward to try to attack the front line, but they find their weapons turned aside. They also see more skeletons hiding atop sarcophagi in the corners that had been hidden by the door. Those skeletons, along with two more than pop out from behind the far pillars, unleash a hail of arrows at the party. Fortunately, even the beast shot fails to make it past their shields, proving little more than a nuisance and a distraction. But then Asar shifts his stance, hefts his blade, and unleashes a mighty bellow as he charges to join the vanguard. He raises his enormous sword over his head and brings it down towards Silvio, critically cleaving into the halfling . Silvio slumps forward, unconscious.
If you are knocked unconscious, you have a 50% chance to stay in the saddle (75% if you're in a military saddle). Otherwise you fall and take 1d6 points of damage. Without you to guide it, your mount avoids combat.
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons
Asar
Median:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
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Median moves to the top of the stairs where she can get a good shot over her teammates' heads.
She sees Silvio go down, but also... the miracle of Damira alive? The three goddesses were blessing them. They must have a chance, despite the horrific strength of the thing, being able to take any of them down in one blow... hopefully?
She pulls a blunt arrow, to make sure she is doing the maximum damage possible, and then shoots at Asar.
(bless)
She shook her head... she was letting doubt and fear creep in, and it was affecting her shots. She had to focus.
Median tries to aim to hit Asar, but in trying to avoid shooting Garen in the back aims too high. Her arrow pings off of the statue next to Asar. The remaining skeletons in the vanguard slash their weapons down. One of those with scimitars takes advantage of Sledge's reduced defenses, slashing at a gap in his armor . The remaining blows from the skeleton with the axe, and the scimitar directed at Garen, are easily dodged.
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons
Asar
Median:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
Silvio lies limply in his saddle as Asar slices into him. He continues to bleed.
Winter knows he must take down the skeleton that is in front of him.
;
But he is momentarily distraught and unable to fight effectively.
While Winter bays against the vanguard horde, Garen lifts his sword and calls on the Light of the Inheritor. With a mighty blow, he blade cleaves into the ancient undead warrior, who seems surprised that the blade slices through pieces of bone. "A holy man," Asar seethes. "I didn't recognize your banner. The girl told me Aroden had died." Asar lifts Garen's blade and pushes it back. "Very well. All I need is your corpse. I'll send you to soul to your goddess."
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons
Asar:
Median:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
"Roger that. Garen."
He'll 5ft step into the space his flail newly opened up. No sense in arguing here, it was do or die. And that hit hurt
Sledge's flail utterly demolishes the skeleton that had attacked Garen as the conflicted young man ignores his own attacker and steps forward.
The archers swivel around, cold red eyes glowing in their skulls, as they choose new targets with the battlefield changing. Two arrows come flying at Median from east and west, and two more at Sledge from the dais. The arrows are so poorly shot that both Median and Sledge can simply duck and dodge out of the way. But Asar looks at the remaining combatants and seems to decide that the holy warrior is likely his biggest threat. He grips his sword tighter and then swings, cleaving through Garen's breastplate and into the flesh underneath .
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons
Asar:
Median:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
Sledge's mind races as he fights, looking for anything that could give them the edge in this fight. This was bad.
Sledge's battle assessment is dire: Asar was a deadly fighter, capable of both staggering offense and stark defense. But bludgeoning weapons were known to be effective against skeletons, and he could still be flanked, if he allowed himself to be. Positioning was likely to be important. Sledge has no sense of how easy it might be to disarm or grapple Asar, but anything that could delay such a powerful swing would be necessary. If he could only use one hand, he'd be less accurate and do significantly less damage.
Thinking on it further, and adding Median's scant details of her vision, Sledge thinks it's possible that if Asar falls, then the rest of the skeletons will fall as well. But ignoring the minions altogether would be dangerous as well. Even if their blows were less accurate and less deadly, they might still land a lucky blow like they had with Sledge.
It's also possible that a tactical retreat to regroup might be useful at the right moment.
As Sledge thinks about this and Median fires another arrow, the remaining melee minions lash out.
The same enemy that hit him before whirls its scimitar around and brings it towards Sledge's neck, but it clangs off of the invisible shield of force that shimmers around him to no effect. But the skeleton with the battleaxe clambers up the steps and swings for the same spot where Asar had cleaved through moments earlier.
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons
Asar:
Median:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
"Get him Garen," Sledge says. He continues to pivot around Asar. No time like the present to die, he thinks to himself.
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;
Silvio appears to no longer be bleeding. Winter strikes reasonably well but perhaps not well enough against a powerful foe.
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Garen decides he needs to fight defensively or face going down before the fight is won (fighting defensively +2 AC -4 to hit). "Winter, attack from his rear." Garen pauses just a moment for Winter to get in a flanking position. Then he attacks but is unable to get a clean strike.
bless + aid + flank - PA - fight defensively
As Sledge steps down to provide a flank for both Winter and then Garen (following a quick order to the loyal hound), the wizard's apprentice spares a glance to his left and right. In the western passage, he sees another body lying face down near an open sarcophagus. The eastern passage looks clear, at least from his current vantage. Winter's jaws come the closest to piercing Asar's defenses, but the skeletal champion knocks the dog away with a deft gauntleted fist.
With the telltale twang! of bowstrings being pulled and released, another volley of arrows launches from all over the room. Garen smashes one arrow away with his shield. One careens off of Median's magical armor. And Sledge ducks out of the way of one shot at his back and feels a second ping off of his magical shield. Once again keeping his focus on Garen, Asar slides his left foot back with one cold blue eye on Sledge and lunges forward at Garen. But Garen's defensive focus presents almost as impenetrable a front as the undead has demonstrated, and his blade clashes on Garen's, sending a shower of sparks flying as the crack reverberates throughout the room.
Although there are no muscles on his skeletal face that would indicate a change in expression, Asar's demeanor seems to almost convey grudging respect. Changing the angle of his sword, the warrior glances around at his enemies and then withdraws through the gap between Sledge and the statue. "Come and get me," he taunts.
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons
Asar:
Median:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
As Asar tries to dance away, Winter snaps at his haunches.
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Or at least where Asar's haunches would have been be if he had any.
Try as they might, the heroes of Kassen--or so they had been told, fail to strike their enemies down. Asar emerges unscathedand Median's arrow is batted away by her enemy's axe.
Both remaining melee-focused skeleton minions focus their attention on the dog carrying Silvio. Although Winter dodges out of the way of the scimitar that swings towards his neck, he lets out a yelp of pain as a battleaxe lodges in his flank. He had been distracted by lashing out at Asar. Thankfully, he avoids the worst of the wound, which could have been much worse.
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons:
Asar:
Median:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
As the large, scary skeleton escapes, Winter is left with a pair of other skeletons, one of which has just axed it. He starts looking for a way to get Silvio to safety while continuing the fight.
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* * *
Buried in the softness of Winter's fur, Silvio seems almost peaceful. The horror of Asar's longsword finds no purchase as Silvio sees brightness and light. And, perhaps something else? Silvio tries to make out the image--it looks small, humanoid.
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Sledge will charge after Asar. Bringing him down is his number 1 priority at the moment.
Didn't you memorize disrupt undead today? Do you really need to be going in headfirst?
Winter lashes out but is turned aside. Garen's blade connects but is unable to do more than scratch bone.
Meanwhile Sledge lashes out with his flail. His attack as Asar draws away comes remarkably close to hitting, but the skeleton just barely twists out of the way as Sledge recognizes yet another feat of combat prowess.
Seeing how close that blow came to working, Sledge charges forward with his flail swinging and allows the force of his swing to careen forward. Asar seems almost surprised as the blow connects. Sledge sees bone crack beneath the skeleton's chainmail. He also feels like, had he not charged, that attack might have missed.
The arrows of the enemy launch again from around the room. An arrow from the northeastern corner grazes Median's thigh , while the northwestern skeleton launches another arrow that skewers past her magical armor and hit center mass . Sledge steps out of the way of one, his attention focused on Asar. Then, lining up a shot, the skeleton standing by Dimira takes aim at Garen and sends an arrowing piercing through his breastplate .
Seeking retribution for the pain, Asar wrenches his sword back and plunges it into Sledge's guts . The wizard's apprentice coughs up blood as he sways on his feet.
There is a sudden burst of light from the Everflame. Although Median finds herself outside the radius of the burst, Garen, Silvio, Sledge, and Winter all feel themselves bathed in holy light.
On the dais, Dimira's eyes flutter open and she looks up to see the scene of blood and steel around her.
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons:
Asar:
Median:
Dimira:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
Median's arrow finally strikes true, careening past the swing of the battleaxe and shattering the skeleton's ribs. It still stands but is greatly diminished. It steps up with her arrow freshly rattling around and swings its battleaxe unerringly towards her. The abjurative force around her blunts the blow just enough that it doesn't cut her down then and there, On the dais, Dimira sits up and crawls away from the bow-wielding skeleton near her. It seems not to take notice of her.
Melee Skeletons:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons:
Asar:
Median:
Dimira:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
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Tolly, is that you? As Silvio stares into the bright light of unconsciousness, he wonders if he's seeing his old friend. His secret shame.
What emerges instead comes as a complete shock. The image he had seen not long ago in the reflecting pool. His own reflection, staring back at him with lifeless eyes. But not him. His skin gray, his skull exposed through an enormous gash in his forehead. A had reaches out, whittled down to nothing but bone with a few sinews lingering on.
No, no, that can't be my fate! Silvio tries to turn around, to escape! He can feel it--the warm fur of his loyal companion, Winter. But he is utterly paralyzed. The undead version of himself reaches out to take over.
And yet the brightness begins to change. To glow. And then he sees it. The Everflame. The same flame he had seen every year be brought back to Kassen. It was here, and yet brighter and more powerful than he'd ever known. And as the Everflame flared, undeath Silvio recoiled. And life returned to Silvio's limbs.
* * *
Silvio opens his eyes, and the chaos of battle had not abated. His allies. No, his companions, yet battled on. Winter and Median. Garen. And was that Sledge--the same Sledge--taking on Asar himself? But he feels the presence of the Everflame. And of Erastil, urging him forward. His trusty staff, though, lay on the ground at the foot of the stairs. He chances it, picking it up.
Praying to Erastil for divine aid, Silvio then urges Winter into an adjacent space and strikes at the dangerous battleaxe wielder.
;
Winter finds new courage as Silvio enters the battle once more! He bites, either the same foe or the other one if the battleaxe-wielder goes down.
;
"Ow." Sledge says simply, before dropping to one knee. It was lucky for him that the radiant light healed him when it did. That last hit from Asar had punctured his favorite lung.
Damira being awake meant that it might make her a target. But Garen had specifically asked him to watch his back for him, and moving towards Damira would leave the paladin open to attack from their hated foe.
"Can't believe this is really happening," he mutters as he attempts to stall out Asar with a defensive attack. It felt more accurate than it should, something had blessed his attack
Once again, Sledge was forced to reconsider the efficacy of picking a flexible weapon. Maybe Garen's trusty longsword was the way to go.
Knowing that it was worthless in terms of tactical results, he decides to taunt the angry skeleton man anyway. Maybe if he was annoying enough, he'd stab him in a more vital organ next time. "Don't you know Asar? To kill a true hero of Kassen, you have to do it 3 times. And cut off the head."
With a sharp breath of air, Silvio returns to the battle renewed. He reaches for his staff, drawing the ire of sharp edges, but swings his head and shoulders around to avoid each one, urging Winter to where they will be able to attack them. With a swing, Silvio shatters the skull of the skeleton with the battleaxe, sending the whole pile of bones crumpling to the ground. Winter whirls around and bites clean through the other skeleton's femur. It shudders before collapsing.
Asar bats Sledge's flail away with a grunt. "If that's what it takes to kill you, then I'll do it!"
Then the skeleton looks around towards the sarcophagus where Damira lies awake, crouching afraid in the corner. He growls and calls out, his voice echoing around the chamber. "Was that you, Ekat? Still cheating me after all these years?"
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons:
Asar:
Median:
Dimira:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
Damira total defense, prone
Garen's blade flashes through the air and Asar catches it and parries it with his own blade. There is a flash of sparks as the two clash.
The archers around the room all loose the arrows upon the would-be heroes of Kassen, but the only missile that seems to come close to its target is turned away by Median's magical armor. She feels the residual force from the arrow as it dissipates--that would have hurt if it had hit.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, Asar takes his blade and loops the tip of the blade through one of the links in Sledge's flail. With a sharp yank, Sledge finds his weapon wrenched from his hands, where it clatters to the ground. Asar looks at the magus as though daring him to retrieve his weapon.
Median:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons:
Asar:
Dimira:
Active Group Buffs:
Map
"Praise Kassen!" replies Silvio. "Move toward the Everflame, Median--it's power still lingers!"
Silvio guides Winter along a path to engage Asar. As he does so, Silvio draws a bag of goop from his belt pouch and launches it toward the foe! Then Winter goes in to attack Asar.
.
;
"Oh no. My flail. That I couldn't hit you with."
Sledge 5ft steps back.
Although Median's arrow misses her target, as she steps forward, there is a secondary burst that just reaches her.
Garen lashes out with his sword again and Asar parries his blow. Meanwhile, Silvio comes charging around the corner with a bag in his hand. Asar seems to almost instinctually recognize what is coming and tries to twist out of the way but is covered in the bag's contents. As the tar and resin are exposed to air, strands quickly anchor Asar to the ground.
Winter then surges forward and with remarkable grace knocks Asar to the ground and savages the warrior.
Sledge's disruptive cantrip nearly hits his prone, entangled target, but even in his increasingly pitiful state, Asar remains remarkably defensive.
On the ground, Asar bellows in rage. "I will rend the flesh from your bones!"
Another volley of arrows launches from around the room, all missing. On the ground, Asar sweeps his sword around, scraping the goo off himself and freeing himself from the ground . The warrior glares spitefully up at the combatants now standing over him and stands .
Median:
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Archer Skeletons:
Asar:
Dimira:
Active Group Buffs:
Map