Eochaidh follows Alden into the office.
Jaxom keeps his eyes on Tymos. He holds his arm out toward the door. "After you Tymos."
Tymos stiffens and steps forward to do just that as Jaxom suggested. He opens the door wide and steps into the office. His step hitches slightly at what was revealed, but he entered the room fully doing his best to look unbothered.
What waited was certainly shocking. Not Berik, by any stretch. The masked man sat comfortably at his desk idly turning a coin over in his fingers. On the opposite side of the desk from Tymos though, just behind the globe, was a pair of ghouls.
One stood tall and straight, and was draped in a dingy long coat that must have once been fine. Faded red and what must have once been rich leather. He wore a dueling sword at his hip, pants with a decorated seam down the sides, and boots. New boots.
The other was a woman, wearing a loose dress that rode high on the hip and low in the front. In life it must have fit her like a very nice glove. In undeath it was tattered and her slender frame was ghoulish indeed. She wore no weapons, but had a silver waist chain with a symbol hanging off it.
"Ah Tymos!" Barik greets boisterously with his voice deep and warm, "I knew I shouldn't have let you go in with them. You surely carried the day, and now we must renegotiate with these wonderful young lords of the shard. Truth be told, I was not expecting them to live."
It seemed odd for Barik to openly admit to planning to have the party die, and yet the way the man confidently confessed to it made Tymos smirk. He steeled himself a moment later.
"Well, you should at least listen." Tymos muses with a look to Alden.
"I think your terms are clear enough," Alden replies, drawing his sword. "The Stagfather grant me the strength to purge your gluttonous hunger from this city, and its inhabitants from your reign of terror."
Entering the room with his axe-gauntlet ready Jaxom nods at Alden. "What he said. There's only one way to deal with the dead that won't stay in their graves."
"I'm surprised he didn't stink like the others. Obviously he's hiding his face beneath that mask but you others stink to high heaven. And have you two ever thought about another employer? I mean, he stayed up here and had all of these luxuries, you guys had," Kevan gestures at them, "Well, that." He has his little rapier in hand as he speaks. "What exactly were you hoping to accomplish Barik? Your creatures didn't even stand a chance. Between these two and the others it was a foregone conclusion. Now, Jaxom's going to rip your arms off and make you eat them. And I'm going to enjoy watching."
Berik slowly lifts his hand to his mask, cupping it and unlatching something inside before he sets it on the desk before him. Despite some hideous scarring over one side of his face and a somewhat jaundiced appearance he was very much alive.
"What do you know of hunger, boy?" Barik growls at Alden, "Or of terror? Have you presided over hundred of people knowing there was only enough food in stores to feed perhaps twenty comfortably? How would you have handled such a thing?"
He quickly turns to eye Jaxom as well. "...and there are many ways to deal with the undead. Do you think these four are doing as told because they like the catacombs?" he hisses in a low voice, "No, they do so because Asmodeus himself recognizes my authority in New Ostenso."
The mention of four undead comes along with catching another two ghouls out of the corner of your eye as you step fully into the room. One was no different from the horde they had faced below, but the other was the leather wearing sneak that escaped both battles the group faced.
"...I am sworn to this man." Tymos cautions Alden in a whisper, "If you attack him unprovoked we will be enemies paladin. I do not wish that."
”Your oath is a proper Asmodean Contract, that he breached,” Alden replies to Tunis, never taking his eyes off of Berik and his undead retainers. ”He has deliberately sown chaos into this ordered Chelish society. He was content to let you and every other Chelish citizen die, or be transformed into one of these,” he nods towards the ghouls. ”if it meant he can live in opulence and comfort a little longer. This isn’t ordained by the Archfiend, this something more akin to the indiscriminate slaughter enacted by a cultist of the Rough Beast.”
Jaxom's face shows pure disgust at what he is hearing. "I know little about Gods, devils and demons. But our lands have joined. There's plenty of food for the living. The dead should be put back in the ground, permanently. If they follow your command then they shouldn't be attacking the living now, unless you ordered them to do so!"
"If you want to stay in command of your city.... Your city! Then order the dead to kill each other so they can be buried again. We can work out the other details once the dead are gone. Otherwise you are declaring yourself an enemy of the living. What do you think your soldiers will say to that? What do you think the remaining citizens of your city will say to that?"
Adding what Alden says to Tymos, "Tymos you must realize Berik has either gone insane or is so evil that he's willing to sacrifice everyone - including you - to secure his power and comfort. He admitted he sent us down to the Catacombs to die - you included. Is your oath to Berik more important than your oaths to Asmodeus and the citizens of New Ostenso?"
Berik looks at Tymos, following your focus on appealing to the man. Looking closely at Tymos' features his face twists in anger. "Kill them all!" he shouts as he rises from his chair, "...and the fool if he sides with them!
Initiative Blocks:
- Eochaidh, Jaxom, Alden, Kevan
- Enemies
- Rabbit, Tymos
If that isn't provocation in Tymos's mind, nothing else I can say will change it. Alden thinks as he moves forward to strike Berik. "May Dead-Eye strike you down!" he bellows as he brings his blade down.
Eochaidh calls upon the power of saurians to protect himself.
Kevan steps past Eochaidh drawing forth an alchemist fire as he does so and chucks it at the ghoul near the corner.
Jaxom grins at Kevan's words, then moves forward to attack the closest ghoul.
Rabbit is tensely silent through the verbal confrontation, unsure if anything he could say could help or harm. Knew it, knew it, knew Barik was evil....!
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The leather clad ghoul shrieks in horror at the firebomb that engulfs him. "You little horror!" it wails, "I'll eat you slowly. I'll eat you while you're alive! I'll a-ghh!
Only to be cut off as Jaxom sinks his thick forearm blade into the front of it's skull, silencing it forever.
Meanwhile Alden moves to strike down Barik himself, blade catching an impossible amount of light in the midday sun coming in through the window and sweeping in high to catch the man across the chest. Even trying to back peddle Barik has a line carved down the side of his chest. Alden felt the blade meet the resistance of several ribs, and tear through them to catch organs beyond.
Wheezing Barik stumbles away from the paladin , clutching something in his pocket and chanting. As he brings his other hand to his wound some of the damage knits.
"You'll not... assassinate me..." he chokes out.
The seemingly unarmed ghoul woman moves around to Berik's aid, chanting and waving her hand before staring hard at Alden.
Alden feels a force trying to push into his head, but he pushes back with his own will, denying the ghoul any purchase. Rabbit recognizes the spell from the incantation and hand gesture. It is a witch's spell. Hobble.
The ghoul with coat and sword on the other hand, finds a more appealing target. He rushes the length of the room, putting Kevan between the wall and a thrust of his blade.
The blade sticks cleanly into Kevan, nearly pinning him to the wall. "I suppose you'll be my dinner instead." muses the armed ghoul. Or at least, it seemed similar to a ghoul. As it's cloak settled into place a horrible stench wafted across Tymos and Kevan.
The three nearest this leader of the ghouls are briefly overcome by it's horrible stench, feeling like they may wretch at any moment.
The remaining ghoul moves in on Jaxom, slavering a grayish drool as it reaches out with fangs and claws.
Surprising the hungry ghoul though, Jaxom sways back from the bite, knocks aside one clawed hand, and moves around the ghoul using the block to avoid it's other claw. It would seem the brawler learned from his earlier combats with such creatures.
Tymos stumbles in behind the stronger ghoul attacking Kevan, flanking it perfectly. He looks like he wants to say something, but his jaw remained firmly clenched against the stench.
The blade catches the thing's collar, but unlike the previous ghouls they fought it's hide did not give easily to the blade, and Tymos goes wide eyed in surprise.
This reeking, toughened corpse is not a ghoul, but a ghast. Sturdier and with a stench that can debilitate.[/ooc]
Kevan doesn't bother fighting it, he's found it's always easier to let fly and keep going than to fight the nausea. He upchucks on the ghoul/ghast in front of him and then tries to run the thing through. "Ugghh, take that, mmmrrrrpppp, you!" He sputters.
Eochaidh, fearing for Kevan's life, charges the creature in faded finery:
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Jaxom takes a step toward the other battle and strikes at the ghoul in front of him.
Initiative Blocks:
- Eochaidh, Jaxom, Alden, Kevan
- Enemies
- Rabbit, Tymos [Current Block]
The ghouls did get a hit in on Jaxom, the adrenaline and shock from it's teeth catching his collar so fast and he didn't even feel it in the moment. Not until his blood warmed his chest.
Jaxom is paralyzed for...
Two rounds!
As his body numbs he also feels queasy, as if something more was at work from the nasty mouth of the ghoul spreading to him.
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Seeing Kevan and Eochaidh dealing with one enemy, and Jaxom going stiff while fighting the other, Rabbit's not sure where to focus. He wishes he had more good fortune to call upon, but... if wishes were horses, and so forth. He hurries into the room and aims his crossbow at the one who appears to be casting witchy-spells.
"L-leave my friends alone!"
"Tymos, 'brrpp' help Jaxom!" Kevan calls out as he sees his friend topple to the ground.
If Tymos goes to assist Jaxom...
Kevan steps to flank the monstrosity impaled on the spear and tries to run it through again.
"Stinky thing," Kevan says and spits bile on it.
Initiative Blocks:
- Eochaidh, Jaxom (Paralyzed), Alden, Kevan [Current Block]
- Enemies
- Rabbit, Tymos
As Tymos and Kevan stab and slash at the ghast to limited effect Eochaidh rushes forward and catches it straight in the chest with the point of his magicked spear. The thing gurgles in response, the thrumming spear tip sinking deep.
Then the air itself seemed to buzz as the magic ignited, Eochaidh letting go of the shaft as spiderweb cracks started to splinter the wood. The ghast howled and dropped it's blade to try and claw the weapon out of it's chest. A shimmering green light came from the ghast's chest, growing in intensity before flashing as the buried tip of the spear exploded in violent fashion.
A wet splatter of blood and viscera rained out behind the ghast, it's insides painting the floor and far wall before the body collapsed in pieces. Dying without another sound.
Rabbit came into the room as well, firing a crossbow bolt into the shoulder of the female ghoul, but as she shifted in response it simply dropped free of her toughened flesh without doing any real damage.
Eochaidh moves over to Alden and straps on his shield as he goes and casts a spell.
Kevan runs over to attack the ghoul near Jaxom. Spitting bile and wishing the smell of the ghast would go away he takes a position over Jaxom’s paralyzed form. ”Prepare to return to worm food!”
Alden steps forward and presses his attack on Berik.
Alden steps forward and presses his attack on Berik.
[dice=Power Attack, Holy Smite]1d20+8-1
[dice=Damage]1d8+3+2+3
Initiative Blocks:
- Eochaidh, Jaxom (Paralyzed), Alden, Kevan
- Enemies
- Rabbit, Tymos [Current Block]
Kevan takes up position in front of Jaxom, and despite the size difference shows a dedication to protecting him worthy of a body guard. The ghoul was prepared to intercept the movement with it's claws, but at the last moment Kevan clicks his heels and seems to blur as he abruptly jaunts to the location.
Once there he stick the ghoul with his rapier, but without finding a weak spot it merely makes a shallow prick in it's flesh. The thing still hissed at him, but it seemed more insult than injury.
Meanwhile, Alden continues to try and chase down Berik, making a vicious over the shoulder chop. Though he got a bit overzealous, and as Berik weaved back the blade bit deep into the desk and stayed there. Forcing the paladin to wrench it free.
Berik takes the chance to step away from Alden one more time, and pulls his holy symbol from his pocket this time. The light in the room dims, and a gloom settles over the symbol of Asmodeus before washing out over Alden, Eochaidh, and Rabbit.
Being in the immediate area of Berik, the druid and paladin were ready for the wave of hurt that washed over them. Poor Rabbit though, didn't seem to be expecting it.
The female ghoul steps in next to Berik, rears her head back, and in a truly un-ladylike manner spits a horrible glob of phlegm at Alden. It warps and expands in the air, then splatters all over him. The strands turning rope-like and rubber as they drape and stick over him.
The surprising weight and force of the blow catches Alden in the chest, knocking him onto his back and the sticky mess binds him to the floor.
The remaining regular ghoul snarls at Kevan, attacking in a fury at being denied a long awaited meal. It was all slavering maw and powerful claws trying to come down upon the nimble halfling.
All of which miss. Twas not that the creature left Kevan unmarked, but for every glancing hit the thing didn't manage to find purchase more than to mar and scrape at his armor.
Then Tymos skirts in around the ghoul, giving it's claws and fangs a wide berth as he lifts his sword high. His face seemed even more grim than usual, if that was possible.
Yet again the strike comes down on an unnaturally dense part of the creatures inhuman and twisted frame, glancing off, perhaps due to the man's anger clouding his practiced swing.
Why is he here? A question that runs through Rabbit's mind, certainly. He would so much rather be back home, tending to the village livestock, as he did before the first shard-stone was found. Alas. He is here, wincing at the pain of the foulness that Berik calls forth, clutching the edge of the desk for balance.
He lowers the crossbow, as it seems he's not much of a good shot with it, and throws a longing look back over his shoulder at the door they came in by. He could slip out right now...
No. No. His friends need him.
He mutters a few desperate words, then beelines south for the ghoul that Kevan and Tymos are fighting, a pale glow wreathing his hand as he goes.
Eochaidh moves forward, drawing his now-enchanted club as he goes, and strikes at Berik:
Alden breaks free of the unnatural sticky substance, and stands back up.
Initiative Blocks:
- Eochaidh, Jaxom (Paralyzed), Alden, Kevan [Current Block]
- Enemies
- Rabbit, Tymos
The ghoul facing down Kevan and Tymos flinched, then tried to dart back as Rabbit joined in as well. Rabbit failed to connect as well, the combat between the group turning to a scrum as all parties desperately tried to secure the proper leverage for a wounding strike.
Berik and the ghoul witch seemed incredulous at Alden breaking free and getting back to his feet, and Berik even more so as Eochaidh waded in and crushed Berik's shoulder in with a sickening crunch that had the man howling in pain.
”You were likely a very bad guy in life. That’s why you’ve been cursed like this.” Kevan says analyzing the thing while trying to kill it, ”So, I’m going to give you the chance to be reborn as something else. Maybe a cockroach.”
Initiative Blocks:
- Eochaidh (Stunned), Jaxom, Alden (Stunned), Kevan (Paralyzed)
- Enemies
- Rabbit, Tymos [Current Block]
Kevan continues the fumbling melee by once again glancing the tip of his rapier off the ghoul. The thing trying to eat him proved too close to manage a straight thrust with enough force to penetrate it's thick hide.
Berik steps back again, now alongside the ghoul witch as he was running out of room to escape his pursuers. He snatched the bell from his desk as he moved, holding it up and ringing it once. "Stop." he said flatly before adding with more emphasis, "Stop." Then he took a deep breath and hammered the bell down on the deck to make a crass sound as he shouted. "STOP!" he commanded, but this was not a divine rebuke. This was an offensive spell. His word hammered at Eochaidh and Alden.
Alden and Eochaidh both stagger under the word, it's impact shaking them painfully. The witch wastes no time, grinning and drooling as she moves to attack Eochaidh.
Though her overconfidence proved to be her mistake... failing to connect with Eochaidh's flesh even though the druid was stunned.
The final ghoul flailed at Kevan in a desperate attempt to cut down the number of it's attackers.
The frenzied creatures managed to sink a claw into the smaller rogue and even bite down on his collar as well.
Perhaps due to his previous exposure though, the halfling shrugs off ever debilitating effect the ghoul had. Somehow.
Then Kevan feels the creeping paralysis set in as the nausea he felt left him chilled. The creeping paralytic of the ghoul proving a nasty chaser.
The ghoul pauses for just a moment, staring in disbelief at Kevan. As Tymos raises his sword high and tries to make a clean hit to the ghoul.
The blade bit deep this time, carving down through one shoulder and almost ending the ghoul, though it hunched over and managed to stand.
Feeling the paralysis give way Jaxom sees a ghoul almost collapse by him. Knowing he risks a hit trying to stand and fight he decides to attack low....
Rabbit tries again to touch the ghoul with life energy...
"Hang on, Kevan, I can heal you a bit!"
Initiative Blocks:
- Eochaidh, Jaxom, Alden, Kevan (Paralyzed)
- Enemies
- Rabbit, Tymos [Current Block]
As the ghoul struggles just to stand it feels a light touch on it's side, looking back to see Rabbit's softly glowing palm touching it's hip. It's face tenses in sheer panic...
The sheer fright bolsters it as it pulls away in terror. Resisting what might have been a mercy at this point.
Then, as it's flesh starts to deteriorate and flake off... Jaxom kicks it and scatters it's face into ashes. Following with a forearm blade that slices through it's chest and leaves the thing a half scattered pile of ash on the floor.
Meanwhile Eochaidh and Alden start to recover from their shock, but aren't out of the woods yet. Berik chuckles from deep in his throat, and his holy symbol flickers golden light that shimmer and takes form as a second Berik standing in the same space as the tyrant. Then, both images chant and a glowing red mace appears in the air around him.
"Did you two think me so easily felled?" he asks with delight, "Feast on them quickly, before their friends can save them the fate of becoming ghouls!"
The ghoulish witch honors his command and attacks Eochaidh again.
Though she succeeds in wounding the druid this time, he more than lived, and was able to stand resolute as well.
Tymos starts to move toward the other end of Berik's large desk. "Admit defeat." he shouts, "Concede to them and perhaps your life will be spared."
Alden steps forward and swings his sword at the lady ghoul, trying to end her attack upon Eochaidh.
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Alden steps forward and swings his sword at the lady ghoul, trying to end her attack upon Eochaidh.
[dice=Longsword, Power Attack (no smite)]1d20+8-1
[dice=Confirm Critical]1d20+8-1
[dice=Damage]1d8+3+2
RetConned Action: Alden stoops to retrieve his sword and buckler, then moves forward to confront the ghoul witch.
Rabbit exhales in relief when one ghoul, at least, is rendered no longer a threat. His fellow halfling looks very injured. Rabbit whispers similar words to what he just said and again his hand starts to glow. At the same time, the white rabbit writhes out of its satchel and the light seems to transfer from Rabbit's hand to the literal rabbit.
"--oh. Oh, okay, um, if you're sure," Rabbit says uncertainly. The animal doesn't respond verbally, but leaps down and hops to Kevan, nudging against his ankle. The halfling feels a wash of healing.
"I'll go-- try and help the others, then!" Rabbit says.
Initiative Blocks:
- Eochaidh, Jaxom, Alden, Kevan (Paralyzed)
- Enemies
- Rabbit, Tymos [Current Block]
"You can move 5 feet in any round when you don’t perform any other kind of movement."
Rabbit quickly tends to the wounded Kevan, or more precisely his normally irritable familiar seems keen to help. Perhaps he had grown frustrated with his owner.
Berik turns to look at Tymos, only to turn his head back as Alden steps forward. Stepping to the side around Eochaidh, the paladin swings back across his body in a horizontal slash. The weight has his full strength in it, catching the ghoul full in the torso.
The heavy blade cuts through the arm just under the shoulder, through the chest, and up through the opposite collar to half decapitate and half bisect the undead creature.
Berik watches with wide eyes, then abruptly drops his holy symbol. The second image and his glowing weapon both wink out as he drops to his knees and holds up his hands. "I surrender!" he cries, "I was mistaken, I cannot fight you."
Rabbit pauses a moment when Berik calls out his surrender, an unusual amount of a desire to punish the man surging through him. He twists his hands together, grimacing.
"You lied to us once! You tried to get us killed! You'll probably try to do it again as soon as we let our guard down!" he blurts.