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”So now we shift from quarry to pursuers? Of course we do.” Lesska finishes drily. Like the transformation from an idyll to a summer storm, the Kellid’s mood changes from annoyance to grim determination, her dissatisfaction spurred into action. ”Let us give chase.”
”Of course. More shadow beasts. Let us stay alert.” Lesska trades her trusty longspear for her longbow, evidently keen to whittle away at any enemies before they might close...
Lesska is much put out and worried for her horse, and she tries to locate it specifically - even claiming she can discern its hoofmarks from the others.
"This strange dusky malady prevents me from finding my mare!" she moans, clearly somwhat distraught. She nods mournfully at Daehalya's suggestion.
Lesska listens with a heavy heart as the plans to leave Ailis behind become firmer, and that travelling to the Shadowplane will be their fate. She focuses instead on Daehalya. ”You should not apologise. We all were effective, and live to tell of it. Though if you can think of ways to keep the shadows from our hearts and minds we shall all be the better for it...” The Kellid places a hand on Aiyana’s shoulder, ”Yes. But yours is not the fault either. Dark times and dark objects breed only more darkness. We share now the curse that Haramil bore, and will reclaim and cleanse his honor, or at least that of old Sarkoris that spawned he and me together and all the Kellids. May the god-callers aid us...”
”How can we follow the Reborn? Aiyana, do you have mystic means of portage? Though regardless of how, the when may needs to come after I rest and recuperate - still weakened by the spiders as I am...”
Lesska shrinks from the great shadow'd dragon, finding its size and form almost unbearable. Even were she not tired, weakened and spent she is sure the creature could snuff her out without effort. The Kellid struggles to follow the dusky conversation, then finally it dawns upon her that Haramil is and was perhaps merely a pawn on a greater board than she heretofore imagined. Her resolve flounders at the thought of besting creatures such as this. Happily that seems not the order of the day, and she breathes a sigh of heartfelt relief upon the dragon's exit. "So. To Aiyana and Zyler's home we go. Ailis, would you be safe settled at Gioret's? Perhaps he can help us find a cure for your blindness. Or even our...chang'd vision." Lesska finishes, scrunching her eyes almost in an attempt to clear her sight.
Lesska does not notice the clarity of light at first, distracted by leading her sworn-friend and then by having her own eyes closed as she breathes in a lungful of beautiful, reviving outside-and-evening air. Then she hears Bastian and looks herself. "By Sarkoris! What has happened to the world?!?"
Lesska nods a curt thank you to Zyler, then crouches on her haunches by Ailis. "As for you, you have terrible luck. Here, let me guide you. Did you know that, in the year that is now, a Dwarven lorist met the darkening blindness of a great foul spirit? And lived to hear the tale told back to her by her brave brave Kellid sister? Let me tell you how the tale goes, each line a flagstone into darkness, and each hero larger than an intake of breath..."
Lesska mulls over the problem of opportunity vs profaning heritage. She appears about to speak before closing her mouth, apparently second guessing her first intention. She closes her eyes, then opens them, looking at the party. Her mien is determined. "Take it all. Though I am an outcast, and such might be easy for a vagabond or outlander, I take it in honor and for my people. It lies here gathering dust and serves no purpose of misdirection any longer, no requirement to act as obfuscation." The Kellid looks to Aiyana. "And yes, fair recompense. For we have finally given Haramil peace, but his cruel affliction and the legacy of evil is yet to be bested. Payment for the first, and a down payment toward the second." she finishes, as only a sellblade might.
“A proud warlord was finally laid to rest.” Lesska whispers, wiping moisture from her cheek. She sits down, bone weary and much affected by recent events. Her head drops a little. ”Ailis?” comes a muffled call, then the Kellid’s head rises again. ”Ailis! It’s over, we’re safe!”
Lesska wonders how useful it might be to be a shadow after all, then steps up to stab at the cloud of evil... [+8 BAB, +1 Str, +1 Weapon Focus, +1 close at hand, -1 dazzled, +1 haste]
Lesska stabs at the lowering phantasm in futile anger, striking quite poorly and with much force. She grimaces in frustration. ”Aiyana!!! Calm yourself! Ailis - where have you gone!?! AILIS!!!” the Kellid screams into the darkness, spear held ever at the ready.
[+8 BAB, +1 Str, +1 Weapon Focus, +1 close at hand, -1 dazzled, +1 haste, +3 flanking]
Lesska peers about the darkness, then squints into the dazzling light. "There! Strike now, Bastian!" she cries, stabbing with all her might. [+8 BAB, +1 Str, +1 Weapon Focus, +1 close at hand, -1 dazzled, +1 haste]
Lesska stares in mute disbelief as there is no sense of wonder or awe professed by any of her companions. ”Are these his bones?” The Kellid’s brows knit in concentration as something occurs to her. ”Or just a part of the trick?” she asks Zyler. As Bastian finishes Lesska produces more potions from her pack, miraculously unbroken throughout all their fights.
Lesska is unsure of Zyler, given Ailis is her boon companion and tge shadow dancer has proved craven up to this point, but relents to practicalities. "Take good care of her Zyler, or on my honour you will know my wrath." Having acquitted herself of Kellid duty she sniffs and nods to Daehalya, tacitly ignoring the dusky elf's useful point. "We push on then." she points her longspear forward as if to emphasise the point, then pauses. "Where to?" she asks without guile.
Lesska bites her lip nervously, unsure of what has assailed her friend, and unwilling to get too close in case the malady is contagious. Then she remembers Gioret's warning. "Haramil's panoply was cursed!" she pants hoarsely, still reeling from the supernatural battle, and coated here and there in spectral goo. The Kellid looks to Suetonius, her face stricken with anguish. "What is it that ails her? Can it be cured?" she asks, hand raised as if to aid yet still not touching her friend.
Lesska stands her ground, and, her strikes still lightning fast, stabs the phantasmic megalomaniac again. A weapon? A weapon of age-old desires, nothing more! [+8 BAB, +1 Str, +1 close at hand, +1 enhancement] [+3 if flanking]
[+3 if flanking]
[+3 if flanking]
[+3 if flanking]
[+3 if flanking]
[+8 BAB, +1 Str, +1 close at hand, +1 enhancement] [+3 if flanking]
[+3 if flanking]
[+8 BAB, +1 Str, +1 close at hand, +1 enhancement] [+3 if flanking]
Lesska chews on her hood momentarily in nervous anticipation - this dead, boring old Kellid needs to eat dust again! Weakened as she is, she stabs forcefully at the ghost-rider, but her thrust ends up badly timed and off target. [+8 BAB, +1 Str, +1 close at hand, +1 enhancement] [+3 if flanking]
Yep, here.
Oh. I didn't realise you meant you were leaving by that Ailis! I very much enjoyed your bardic renditions and your relationship with Lesska. I tried not to ham it up too much, and to do the bond justice.
I'm in a strange place because: A) I'm waay out of my comfort zone with this [80's movie trailer voice] *ultra high-level* [/80's movie trailer voice] character that has all the things, but I a) already used them up today; b) can't use them as clearly as on a grid and c) am unused to using them anyway. BUT B) Lesska, and the game is incredibly fun. Given she has few kewl powarz left today AND is weakened, she's now a beatstick ready to soak up damage that otherwise might flay her friends while plinking away with her 1d8 damage. At 8th level! I obviously know my way around the ruleset. I'm super OK with "GM fiat" because I pretty much respect that GM fiat is how the game is run behind the facade of rules and rolls. Maybe my definition of GM fiat is broader while being less negatively connotated - I'm happy to ask for clarifications and to work on a compromise if things get messy, but mostly I expect the GM to make a ruling, hope that it makes sense to me, and I act accordingly. It could be the grognard in me also - I pretty much expect every combat to kill half the party while the rest run away to be disintegrated by demonic mouths on the walls or have their gender changed by archways. This tomb is like being in my favorite, ripped up, comfy armchair by the fire. For me the satisfaction comes from a fulfilling story and me playing my character true to their spirit. If I can contribute meaningfully to combats or skill challenges then so much the better. I just wish I could add my level to damage all day and not 3/day according to Challenge. ;) If Lesska dies or fails then I can blame...nothing...except perhaps that she should have stayed away from nasty, smelly, disturbing adventures that make you late for dinner. Or had a better, more capable meaty bag of mostly water suffering under a benign user illusion making decisions for and about her.
Re: Daehalya's point about modules/one shots: Totally agree. Even in RL, these suffer from lack of supporting experience/prior bonding. Relationships build over time, and those higher levels didn't come from shared events, so we have less to draw from as a group. We're getting there! :)
I imagine Bastian means, using Lesska for example, that I just make an attack, and desist from waiting for clarifications as to availability of FRA's or whether I have the necessary reach. In some ways, theater of the mind can be a little "yes, and..." and we can therefore assume we can attack until told otherwise, and can be informed if there is scope for FRA by Neil. I'm roleplaying Lesska to the hilt! I don't expect a lot, but I guess I don't believe the paradigm that RP comes from social encounters more than dungeon crawls - I'm pretty happy so far and I do think PbP can be a little stifling - sometimes it is amazingly rich with interparty interaction, other times less so.
Question - Vital Strike and Haste? Still a no go to make more than one attack?
[+8 BAB, +1 Str, +1 close at hand, +1 enhancement] [+3 if flanking]
Lesska shrugs off the sickly wave of evil force and moves to jab at the apparition.
Lesska likewise moves in, longspear held aloft and pointing forward. Her eyes linger on Haramil's panoply as Gioret's words echo in her thoughts...
Lesska frowns, the implications of Daehalya's question looming large in her mind. "If they left while we were here, surely we would have noticed something?[b]" she asks, her statement unsure. Her brows knit. [b]"It is perhaps the case we were already too late to stop them - but how did these many guardians not stop them - how did the Reborn circumvent them, and we find them?"
Lesska looks crestfallen as her ministrations identify no hidden portals. "Gioret was clear - the burial objects were not to be disturbed." The Kellid appears to become a little wistful "However, that curs'd lance is just lying there...not...stabbing anyone. Seems...a waste of a good....weapon. Or maybe an unholy one...Cromm!" she finishes with vehemence, clearly torn between wisdom and greed.
Happy to be away from certain, esoteric and sorcerous death Lesska peers with grim regard at the works on show.
"Strange - the Nidalese would often leave objects as remembrances to their departed, but these are mockeries and flaw'd on purpose, as if they attempt to bring Haramil's memory down..." Lesska reads out the Hallit inscriptions for her friends, her already low tone made more guttural and harsh as she slips into a more Hallit accent: ""May nature itself reject your dark soul. And your ashes endure forever as your spirit is denied rest. Just as you also denied us rest." "You destroyed everything that was good and beautiful in our lives." "Leave us and bother us no more!" "We fought and died for your endless rage. It lasted the lifetimes of my father, my father's father, and his father before him. But no more! We're finally free of your reign!" "May the darkness you embraced finally take you!" "You sowed fear in our enemies, but also in us." "No more of my children will I be forced to give to you." "The slayer of monsters is finally slain, and now none are afraid to name you the greatest monster of all." " She sniffs. "Cold comfort to finally be free, but their ancestors suffered mightily for generations it seems. Fools." then seems to think of something. "But who wrote it and who for? Are they buried here too? Are they in the alcoves?" Lesska begins to whack the alcoves with the butt of her longspear, at least until some wiser person tells her not to...
"Yes, I agree. Away from here..." Lesska adds hurriedly.
After favoring Zyler with some Kellid-grim side-eye, Lesska accompanies those moving forward. Her face screws up in distaste upon viewing the webby burrows. "I hope they went that way!" she points to the western, stone-lined passage.
Seeing Ailis weakened yet refuse the potion hardens Lesska's resolve that they carry on. She drinks deep, breathes out heavily as the magic restores some of her strength, then stows the now empty vessels before readying to move on, longspear gripped tight.
Nice explanations, thanks folks!
Ehrm. To quote a young person: Wut? Can someone explain to me what the effect is then? Lesska took 7 Str damage. But that has not reduced her Strength from 16 to 9, but has rather imposed a penalty? And what did my lesser restoration potion roll of 3 do to that penalty? Regards, So Confused.
Does Lesska drink her own neutralize potion or the one offered by Bastian? She opted for her own.
Lesska sits down against a wall, bloodied, weakened and poisoned. She unstoppers a potion and drinks it, feeling the poison dissipate from her body. Another potions restores some of her lost strength, while a third knits flesh and mends torn muscles. She smacks her lips in appreciation, and stares up at the middle distance toward the ceiling, assessing the effect of the last potion. She shrugs and downs another.
Looks like I need to chug both a neutralise poison and a lesser restoration, with a current Strength of 9... . Yay. Now Str 12. I have one lesser restoration potion left. What are other folks Strengths down to - happy to give potion away, and just as happy to drink it.
I'm just glad I brought a couple of restoration potions. I was kind of stumped for what to buy after blowing so much of my budget on a highly story-focused but likely completely useless zoic fetish, and knowing little of "high level" play figured such things might come in handy... Obvs I as a player am keen for the party to rest but it seems more realistic that we would push onward to the chase...
Lesska kindly rejects Bastian's offer of a potion to neutralise the poison, finding her own in her pack. Her eyes shoot lances at Zyler, her proud Kellid blood unable to entertain the notion that he could find no way to hep them in their plight, her own wounds teastament yo the severity of the battle. She mutters something about a general lack of flame or fire to nobody in particular before concentrating on the back and forth of how to proceed. The trouble in the group distresses her, and she places a cautioning arm on her headstrong friend. "Ailis... sister of a shared road and battle-bonded. We will be no heroes if we fail. And fail we may if we are not at least restored - this is all they argue. I admit I am close to spent by these several battle with foes I have never before faced. But we can press on, if needs be. I have two potions that will restore us from this nadir."
Just realised I forgot to add my Favored Class Bonus to hit points. Adjusted now. Also, have neglected to appropriately or even ever utilise Power Attack. When restored, will do so. ;)
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