Achahut struck again, and this time the pick sliced through the mjusi's lower back, nearly cleaving his tail from his body.
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Achahut bared his teeth as he grabbed up his pick. "Here is your answer, Daruthek. I will not join you. But you can join your lord now." Swinging the weapon overhand, he brought it down on the the Swamp Speaker's skull.
Achahut let out a bark of satisfaction as the grey-skin finally pierced Daruthek. He started to pull on the rope, and was well pleased when he saw that their plan had worked. The spear seemed to be caught on a rib, as it did not pull free when Achahut pulled. Working quickly, he pulled his enemy down to their level. "Now we will see how your lord helps you."
Seeing the grey-skin's throw miss, Achahut growled in frustration and quickly pulled the spear back in for a second throw.
Achahut scooped up one of the fallen javelins at his feet and again launched it at their pierced foe, who was dripping blood as he swooped and flew. The projectile flew off course, and splashed uselessly into the chamber's moat.
With few other options at this range, Achahut took two of his remaining javelins and threw them at the flying traitor.
Both flew wide of the mark, clattering harmlessly back to the chamber floor.
Okay, crazy plan time. Achahut is right by Daruthek. Can he brace himself and make a cradle with his hands, and if she runs at him, he can launch her up at the SS? EDIT her of course being Zeljka
Achahut could see nothing, but he could hear plenty. "Coward! You hide like an ape. Fight like a Mireborn! Fight me!" He considered throwing a javelin into the mist, but knew he was as likely to hit the grey half-ape as his foe. Instead, he held his pick and awaited his chance to strike.
Achahut was out of enemies to fight - at least on the ground. But he couldn't reach Daruthek. Holding his pick ready in his hand, he turned to his enemy and spoke. "You think your dark lord is with you, Daruthek, but he is not. You are alone now. We have stopped your storm, and killed your minions, and now we will kill you. Your spirit will know no release, no honour. You will dwell down here in darkness, alone, and the Mireborn will forget your name. Even your ghost will be alone and powerless." As he spoke, he waited for Daruthek to move.
Achahut continued his furious attack, determined to avenge the children before his death.
His first blow dug deep into the cleric's thigh, nearly crippling him, but Achahut missed with the backswing.
Feeling the wizard's speed course through him, Achahut attacked his foe with gusto. His fury at the sight of the dead children made him reckless, but more powerful.
His pick tore through the cleric with ease, spilling his blood to pay for the blood of the dead children.
Right, I was accounting for Daruthek being up high, but forgot about the wysps. So does that mean I can pass between them to get to the eastern cultist without drawing AoO?
Achahut allowed himself to be fussed over and spelled, but he was focusing his mind on the fight ahead. The Swamp Speaker communed with evil spirits and devils - it was likely that Achahut would die today, and not well. But if it took the sacrifice of his soul to save his people, he would do it. Action 2 As the plinth delivered them to battle, Achahut saw the small bodies on the alters. For a moment, he stood frozen in horror. "Children?" he said, his rough voice temporarily soft. "You have killed our children? Lesha, Bechat, little Uusho? And to think, I was worried for my soul." Channelling his anger into a cold, pure strength, he said, "Wizard. Bring him down." Not looking to see if, or how, the wizard would comply, he moved towards the nearest foe and attacked.
The pick tore through the strange wysp of air with little resistance. However, the strange colour bleeding from the creature left little doubt that it had been hurt.
Despite having his ex-compatriot surrounded, Achahut was unable to land the killing blow. Or any blow.
The blood rushing through his veins, the pounding of his heart - it was now as loud as the wind around him. Achahut felt the flow of healing enter him, and knew he would be able to finish his enemy. Showing his teeth, he swung the pick again.
Or, maybe not. The pick swished through nothing but air, nearly unbalancing Achahut in the process.
Achahut knew that they needed to finish the other Mireborn quickly. He would be getting no healing while the silence spell lasted, and he couldn't take many more hits. In the eery silence, he attacked again, his own snarl stolen by the spell.
However, his injuries and the strange silence conspired against him, and his pick glanced off the armour of his foe.
Achahut snarled in anger as he fought. "You should be ashamed! Fighting with him. You have all abandoned your honour! You are no mireborn. You might as well be an ape!"
In his fury, he swung with less precision than usual, but made up for it with power. The heavy pick gouged a deep wound into the belly of his foe, and the howling wind scattered blood like petals around the room.
Achahut bristled at the sight of his tribesmen. "Surrender? What is this? Surrender is not the way of the Mireborn. You have lost your way. You who seek to destroy our tribe, to kill this land, our home. There will be no surrender. Uurgu, I challenge you. Fight me now, end this with honour." He held his pick up in the traditional manner of challenger, waiting for the man to either fight him, or dishonour himself.
Is Uurgu the Swamp Speaker?
Growling ferally in anger and pain, Achahut swung the pick again, hoping to connect better this time.
This time the pick thudded into the hot flesh, tearing out fiery scales and scattering boiling blood.
Achahut felt the heat sapping the life from him, but he didn't let it slow him down. Moving towards the fire demon, he swung his pick at it, hoping that its lava-like body wouldn't melt or damage the weapon.
Going back to salamander
The heat here was even worse, and Achahut staggered back against its onslaught. Catching sight of the fire demon, he grabbed one of his dwindling supply of javelins and launched it.
The javelin flew straight, and disappeared into the creature with a sizzle of fire. Achahut couldn't tell if it had damaged him, or simply burned up.
Achahut stood over the bodies of those who had once been part of his tribe, and felt...confused. They were his enemy, traitors to the tribe, and he had been right to kill them. But they were also Mireborn, his people, and they had been seduced to evil by the Swamp Speaker. His eyes narrowed in anger, and his resolve to find and kill the evil shaman redoubled. Action 1
Achahut was used to the muggy heat of the jungle, not the oppressive, dry heat of the oven. However, he had little difficulty shrugging off the effects. He warily watched the corpses on the floor, expecting them to stand up and attack at any moment.
Achahut didn't slow down - he reversed direction and swung his pick again. Taking Min's advice , he was able to score a hit against his foe.
The pick struck bone, and he toppled his enemy as he wrenched it free.
Achahut was already on the move, leaping over small trunks in his hurry to get to Ochol. His former tribesman was grasping weakly for the javelin in his back, and didn't get his hands up in time to defend himself from the vicious, two-handed swing of the pike. "Die, you traitor!"
The pick buried itself deep in his side, and he cried out again in pain as it was withdrawn, blood squirting into the steaming air.
Achahut transferred his pick to his left hand, and drew a javelin with his right. Silently, he gestured to the others that he would attack the one on the left Ochol, that traitor! Always hated him, Zeljka was to take the center one, and Nsizi the one on the right. The other two nodded their understanding. Achahut held up three fingers, then two, then one. Then he threw the javelin.
The javelin struck Ochol directly in the back, and quivered there for a moment. Achahut took the pick in both hands and readied himself for a fight to the death.
Achahut grunted his assent. This whole place was haunted, spooked and evil - he didn't suppose which place they went first - they were likely to die no matter where they were.
Achahut was likewise relieved. He had no intention of moving forward until the secret door was safely clear of the creature. Instead, he took another javelin and threw it at the creature.
Alas, as he stepped forward to throw, his clawed foot slipped on the icy floor. He managed to avoid a nasty tumble, but his javelin hit the creature sideways, and did no damage.
The slush cube had moved quicker than he liked, and Achahut was out of room to throw. Retrieving his pick, he swung it hard at the cold thing, hoping to break it half.
The pick sliced effortlessly through the strange jelly-like substance, coming out again with the lizardman's followthrough. Afraid of being engulfed, Achahut backed up as much as he is able.
Achahut listened to the babble of the ape language as his mind raced. He had heard of these before, in stories. He had never thought to see one. "Listen!" he shouted, and the others fell silent. "Very dangerous, these are! Don't let it too close. Will paralyze you, take you inside, eat you. Shoot it, before it comes closer!" Putting his pick down by his feet, he pulled out a javelin and threw it at the strange cube.
It was difficult to miss such an enormous foe, and the javelin plunged into its strange, jelly-like surface. The creature made no noise, and did not slow down.
OMG, it never occurred to me to roll for him, having no skill in it. OK, GM, what is this thing? No listing for slush cube.
Achahut felt his skin crawl at the sound of the...thing approaching. As hard as he tried to control his fear down here, he had a lifetime of superstitions and stories to battle, and it was difficult. He was relieved when Nsizi took the initiative to check it out. He tightened his grip on his pick and waited.
Achahut looked at the magical rings, but turned his nose up at the offer of one. "I do not need such baubles. Mireborn do not feel the hot or the cold." Nsizi didn't feel the need to point out that Achahut was currently under the protection of his spell. Remembering the spirit Hepzibah, Nsizi asked with concern, "Are you sure that Bibi Hepzibah will not be damaged? It would not be good to harm her - she may not come for you next time, or she may be angry." tag Min
When Nsizi translated Zeljka's words, Achahut nodded. He held his pick up and ready to smash. He thought it best to smash first, and try such magics after, but he kept his opinion to himself. He knew nothing of these evil traps and spirits. The apes, being more closely related to spirits, naturally understood their ways better.
Achahut knew that it was only luck that had kept the two creatures from attacking in a coordinate manner. He needed to kill the one before him, and quickly. Again, he swung the heavy pick, hoping to impale and thus destroy the creature.
This time his aim was true, and the weapon embedded itself deeply in the enemy's body, leaving a gaping hole when Achahut wrenched it free.
Now that the gargoyle was fighting back, Achahut swung again with the fierce joy that accompanied every battle. Unfortunately, this time the pick glanced off his foes stony frame, doing no damage.
"Aha!" Achahut snarled in triumph. "Achahut not tricked by your spirit disguise! I will turn you to dust!"
The pick smashed into the creature as second time, and bits of rock and rubble fell to the floor.
Ring of protection instead of amulet of natural armour?
Achahut was very uncomfortable down below the tunnel. He expected every statue to come to life, and ghosts and evil spirits to pass through the walls at any moment. As the big grey half-ape moved in to do magic with the floating ball, Achahut warily examined the statue on the left. Rather than wait for it to come alive, he decided to take preemptive action, and swung his heavy pick at it.
Achahut was somewhat surprised when the chieftain signalled to her husbands to release him. Even more when he was allowed to collect his weapons and armour, and go with his new companions to the hut that had been assigned to them. In polyglot, he asked them to describe all that had happened so far. They did so, translating back and forth amongst themselves to be sure they didn't forget anything. The felt the scales on his neck stiffen - it did indeed seem a place if incredible evil. For just a moment, running away seemed like a good option. "One seed stone is broken, and three are left," he summarized, making sure he understood. "Which one to find first? In the place of cold air? Under the water?" He specifically did not mention the place of fire; he rather hoped he died before having to face that one.
Nsizi was at about 8000 with all those scrolls, so I'll upgrade to a +1 spear and call it even. Achahut: Can we upgrade him to a +1 heavy pick, a +1 amulet of nat armour, and a belt of giant strength?
Achahut thought about her words. Slowly, he said, "Sane? Perhaps I am not. Sane mjusi do not challenge the chieftain's decisions, either, not if they want to live. Sane mjusi do not give up an honourable death to travel with apes. But I have travelled with them, and they have shown me their strength, and they have also shown me kindness. If they are brave enough to face the evil spirits, in part to help our clan, then I can do no less. And if I am killed, then perhaps the ancestors will consider me redeemed." Turning to her husband, he showed his teeth in a show of scorn. "I am Achahut. I do not run away. I did not run when you came for me. I fight when it is right to do so. Would that all my people were the same." He turned to the dark ape, who was translating his words into the ape tongue for the benefit of his friends. "I will fight with you, if you will have me."
The human had translated some of his words for the rest of the Mireborn, and frankly, Achahut was surprised any of them were still alive. When he heard the request for help, he quickly realized that here was a chance for him to die with honour, to die fighting. Straightening, he said to his chief, "I will help the apes fight. I will bring honour to our people." tag
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