Round 3:
Lucon bats away the elementals attacks, brow beaded with sweat. His efforts only seem to fan the flames, but he swallows hard and brings his weapon around in a warding strike. "B-b... Back, creature! Trouble us no more!"
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Round 2: Lucon takes another stab at the creature.
Lucon levels his weapon at the door, hoping to goad the creature into a charge.
Round 2: Gripping his weapon tightly, Lucon rushes at the sister, but instead of taking a swing Lucon, unexpectedly, barges into the woman with a vicious shoulder-tackle, sending her reeling.
Spoiler: Lucon weaves his way into the room, bringing the weighty blade down toward the sister on the right.
"I don't fancy angering any gods, good or no." he shrugs, giving the weighty axe a few tentative swings and pacing into the northeast chamber, taking a position by one of the doors. "But if finding these old bones means no more shadow-creatures, than I'm willing to trust Enko's gut that this is the right thing to do. I only hope they haven't burnt the body." he says, wrinkling his nose. "Gods, do they really have to cook them? The smell makes my stomach turn..."
"I... I suppose a peaceful solution is out of the question now. Evil or no, I'm not sure how I feel about going about slaughtering nuns." he says, grimacing. Despite his misgivings, he stows his hammer and shield for a new weapon, a large, crescent-bladed bardiche. "I had Caladius give me a few pointers on how to swing one of these. A little gruesome, I think. But those sisters and whatever foul things that serve them shouldn't be able to get close." He turns to Sabinus. "Well, I know fer sure I ain't much of a shot. Only fired one of those things once, a few Harvest Festivals ago, and the damned thing nearly took my finger clean off." he says, trailing off. "I'll gladly take those potions though."
Round 1: Lucon, spotting the bell, rushes to guard it, drawing his hammer and readying an attack.
Lucon swallows hard before entering the monastery, ready to take point if necessary.
Lucon grimaces at the skimpy dress, seeming to shrink away behind his gorget. "My helm should keep my face hidden. I'll accompany you, Sabinus. It's a bad neighbourhood, but I don't know if anybody is fool enough to attack an armoured man..."
"If what we need to save Westcrown is in this Delvehaven, do we really need to spend our time uncovering old bones?" the carpenter suggests, timidly. "I'm all for honoring the dead, but perhaps that's a job for another day. He's a poor craftsman that doesn't focus on the job at hand." In the face of Ailyn's plea, however, Lucon's conscience gets the better of him. "I suppose we do need all the clues we can. Don't you worry, miss. We'll get your friends back." _______ As he spots the fire in Enko's eyes he can't help but grin. [b]"That's the spirit!" he says, clapping his friend on the back. "Let's pay them a visit [b]"The sisters give me the creeps." he shudders. "I was sent to learn my letters at a monastery like that. Ran away after three weeks and never looked back. My father was furious..." he says, shuddering at the memory. He rolls up his shirt-sleeves and points out several scars. "Can still see where they beat me. Weren't natural how much they liked that cane..."
"No harm done, lad." Lucon says, reeking of the harbour. He tears off his woolen surcoat, soaked through, and begins to detatch his pauldrons and greaves, pouring the grimy dockwater onto the floor of the chamber. "Does... that does say vampire?" Lucon says, nearly ruining the parchment with his soaking hands. "No good can come of waking up no vampires..."
"Wait, Ava! Hold on to the... rope." Lucon says, sagging slightly. "Well. I guess there's nothing for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?" The carpenter, checking the line is secure around his waist in case the worst should happen, stands tall. The boat lurches as he places his boot onto the side, nearly tossing poor Sabinus into the brink. Try as he might, he cannot seem to make the leap into the portal as it dances atop the water. "Sabinus, lad. Can you give me a boost and fly in after me?"
Round 2: The boat lurches suddenly as Lucon's oar passes through his opponent. Lucon stands firm, steadying himself, and adopts a defensive posture.
Mug: D'oh! Two cross-class points in heal. It won't come up much, but it's a prerequisite for his later stunning fist feat-chain and adds to his gentle giant schtick. I'll grab a bardiche and a healers kit. I won't be grabbing any oils of magic weapon or holy water, don't you worry. :P
Cheers!
The boat lurches somewhat as Lucon stows one of the oars, looking about frantically. "C-come at me, you... You... fiends? Spectres? Er... g-ghosts?" he says, bravado wavering a little as he raises his oar in defiance "Westcrown is about to show you it isn't afraid of the dark!" Round 1:
Gahhhh why was I not more diligent in researching Shadows in-character and stocking up? OOC I knew they were coming, but taking the initiative is something I don't do enough of as Lucon. Definitely something I have to work on. I guess I can't hope to be prepared for every challenge the party face. Here's hoping there's more to this next installment than magic locks, incorporeal beasties and cryptic puzzles. Mug: Finally polished up Lucon's profile and levelled him up. (He gains 8hp, the Dodge feat, weapon training in axes and the additional BAB, so nothing major.) Sorry I put that off so long, I'd made the decisions in-thread weeks ago but hospital, classes and several PbPs speeding off without me meant I wanted to focus on returning to regular posting first. If it isn't too late, could Lucon pick up a reach weapon from this latest downtime? I kind of missed my window in my absence, but I've had a few more since while the others went wayfinder hunting where it plain didn't occur to me... if it's too late, it can wait til our next downtime.
Lucon takes the oars of the second boat, taking the precaution of tying a line around his waist and securing it to the boat. A little nervous at first, he settles into a rhythm and seems to be rather enjoying himself.
"Look there!" he says, peering over the side of the boat and squinting. "Sabinus, your eyes are sharper than mine. Do you see anything?"
Lucon cleans the dust from his breastplate, listening intently as the others relate the details of their exhibition to him. "The... The Vixen?" Lucon mumbles, pulling a face. "Don't let the neighbors hear about me cavorting with any Vixen..." he says, smiling at his reflection in the polished steel. Donning his gauntlets and his heavy surcoat, Lucon looks almost ready to storm a castle, and is likely to draw unwanted attention from the dotarri.
Lucon frowns. "How do we fight them if we don't know a thing about them?" he says, uneasily, recalling the shadows that attacked them in the Knot. "I don't know about no magic or demons or nothing, but if we mean to fight them, I know for sure I'll rest easier with no monsters prowling Westcrown's streets..." he says, plucking up his courage. "If we really can take the fight to them, what can we do to prepare? Milord Viscount. Can you... read the future, like them Varisian folks do? See them in one of those... great glass balls?" Lucon ventures, falling silent once again to not betray his ignorance on the subject. "Sorry. Forget I said anything..."
Downtime:
Some, after the luxuries of the mayor's lavish feasts, might have trouble returning to Lucon's humble existence. But to the carpenter the events of the past few weeks are little more than a frightening dream. Lucon stores his newfound wealth lies dusty and forgotten under the floorboards of his dockside home.
Lucon buries himself in his work, ready to answer the call once more. Lucon scratches his beard thoughtfully as he tries to take in everything that is said. As the others pour over the papers and tomes for information, Lucon breaks his long-silence. "Oh! Sorry, terribly sorry. Let me help with that. What exactly am I looking for...?" Lucon looks as if he has something to say, before biting his tongue. Turning to Ailyn, he finally speaks up. "Is there anything you can tell us about the shadow-beasts, Mister Ailyn?"
Is that the way it works? Lucon will gain weapon training, a point of BAB and two ranks in heal (a prerequisite for the mantis style line, but also adding to the "gentle giant" thing Lucon has going on if we ever resort to nonmagical healing for some reason. As for his feat, I've unfortunately reached the three feat gap between Combat Reflexes and Stunning Fist that I haven't the faintest idea what I want. Keeping in mind that Lucon is a beefy, battlefield displacement kind of fighter (and that I havent really opted for reach weapons with him, although I might have to make that investment in the future to stay relevent...) Option One: I opt for Dodge, Mobility and Combat Patrol (APG) for a slight increase in the area I can threaten, helping me hold the line better. Option Two: I opt for Shield Focus, Saving Shield and Covering Defense, allowing me to give an AC boost to adjacent allies as an immediate or full round action. Option Three: If I don't opt for either of these chains, Greater Overrun seems very worth it (free AoOs? yes please.), and the other two feats can go to weapon specialisation (in god knows what), another improved/greater maneuver, or defensive feats (toughness, save feats, etc.) Option Four: I don't know... any better ideas?
Round 3: Hunkering behind his shield and pushing his way through the muck, Lucon hurls himself into the mass of tentacles.
Round 2: Lucon emerges from the muck and spits out a mouthful of bile, his ankle narly giving way as he pulls himself to his feet. "A-... Ava, are you ok-" he begins, his voice drowned out by the terrible roar of the creature behind him. Eyes widening with panic, Lucon forces his way through the muck to stand beside his comrades. (Double-move)
Round 1: Lucon, leaving his shield strapped to his shoulder, takes the plunge and makes a two-handed swing at the left-most Lemure
Lucon looks to the others, paralysed by indecision.
"Can you not do that... floating thing and take Ava with you?" the carpenter says, scratching his beard. "But I have faith in you my friend. Just think, the sooner we cross this gap the closer we are to our goal."
"Thank Shelyn, I was beginning to think we'd never make it back..." Lucon says, the sparkle returning to his eyes. He clutches his holy symbol and smiles. "Don't worry, Rebecca, we'll be home in time for dinner... But after that feast I don't expect I'll ever want to eat again.."
Lucon scratches his head, giving the creature a quizzical look. "Wh... what he said."
Round 2: Lucon, beard smouldering, redoubles his assault. He swings his hammer in a wide arc...
Lucon lets out a shout and rushes to Caladius' side, charging at the first flame in sight.
"Snakes." Lucon grimaces, bringing his hammer back as the creature rears it's head up. "Why does it have to be snakes?"
"I'll go first." Lucon says, swallowing. Cautiously, he tip-toes his way up the flickering stair case, swallowing hard as he peers into the abyss below.
"I... Maybe you should ask it about this place? About... the shadowbeasts?" Lucon asks, staring at his feet. "Just... just a thought."
"The devil's bane... Ermolos certainly knows what he's doing, I'll give him that." he says, spinning his silver hammer in his hands and admiring the craftsmanship once more. "Let's hope it's not just superstition, eh Ava?"
"B... But can we fell a devil? Just we six?" he says, struggling to recall his journey through this labyrinthine place. He looks to the Viscount expectantly. "Milord?"
"Gods above, where... Oh. I see it." Lucon says, covering his mouth. "But I don't think I can reach."
Lucon balks at the terrifying sight of the bone-devil, turning sheet white. "You mean... that could have been us?" he shudders. "I don't want to think about that." He'll tap at the stone door and pace about, trying to make himself at least look useful, a skill every tradesman learns early in his career.
Round 5: Lucon holds his hammer firm, knowing that the creature will strike soon.
Round 4: "R-... Right!" Lucon says, not entirely sure what's happening, stumbling in front of Sabinus and raising his hammer. "If... If you want him you'll have to come through me! Alright?"
Round 2[/spoiler: Lucon, gritting his teeth, readies his hammer for a swing and his shield for bolts from the creatures crossbow.
"R-... right!". Lucon takes a battle stance, eyes darting about the room and readying a charge against any nasties.
"So he did. But... can we really just leave him? ...it?" Lucon says, fidgeting. "Ooooh, bother! I'm beginning to hate this wretched place." he says, leading the way down the next hallway and not looking back.
"I am okay. Whatever those shadows did to me, they did not leave any wounds."
"Woahwoahwoahwoahwoah!..." Lucon says, teetering dangerously close to a dreadful fall. He breathes a sigh of relief. "Slowly now. Sloooowly."
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