Ricter nods when Malthir introduces him but otherwise stays silent, wary of bombarding Alain with questions from all sides.
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Ricter, having regained his composure as the side effects of the paralysis fade, refastens his helmet and gauntlets. "Aye, set him free. We should let none of that lich's works remain intact if we can help it"
I'm glad to hear there's more promising signs now. I'm really sorry you've had it so rough man. Apologies to everyone for being the guy that had to be prodded on Facebook. I'm back in the game now.
Best wishes to you or whoever you're looking after. Thanks for letting us know.
If this fails, it looks like Kip's going to go one better than a pit attack... I don't see how it can fail with narration that epic, though. "I roll to stop the death of everyone I love"
Ricter grits his teeth against the negative energy coursing through him...
...but grit and conviction can't stand up to such potent magical power
...and Pharasma's hand guides the blow
Fatigue lays heavy on him, but Ricter doesn't care for the cunning spells of his allies have finally placed him in a position to land a telling blow on his foe. He swoops round in a wide arc to open Malthir and Casimir up to flank, and moves in to strike:
Ricter's form grows under the effect of Kip's magic. With his hellknight armour, closed helm and inhuman size, he ironically appears to be as monsterous an evil as Vordakai. "Forgotten by all but Pharasma" he adds at the end of Kip's taunt, in rumbling tones. He slowly hovers forward, lingering over the pit in which Casimir waits
As he feels the flight magic take effect, Ricter switches back to a one-handed grip on his flail and holds the other hand out to Fenna: "Can I lift you out this pit?"
"Thank you" Ricter says as Fenna's healing energy flows through him.
Ricter hefts his flail in two hands as if he was a lumberjack preparing to fell a tree. He looks to Kip: "I'll make it count"
“Thank-you Malthir” Ricter climbs to his feet, relieved to shift some of the weight off his injuries. Glancing at the pit wall and immediately seeing that climbing it is beyond his abilities, he retrieves his flail and stows his shield across his back . It’s worthless against the foe’s paralyzing touch.
Ricter hears his allies crash down around him but cannot even move his head to see if they are alive or dead. He's filled with frustrated rage and - to his surprise - mounting fear. He makes a silent prayer. Pharasma, it is not your way to thwart death, but please forestall mine for this foe flouts your law
"I'll cut this flood off at the source!" Shield up to try and ward off the blows of both his massive foes, Ricter closes in on Vordakai.
Not taking his eyes off the elemental before him, Ricter nonetheless nods in acknowledgement to Casimir. Within his helm, he mutters unheard: "Lets hope he strikes the right target this time"
Ricter turns as Vordakai reappears and thunders back down the chamber, slowing and bring his shield up as he seeks to force his way past the water elemental.
Ricter marches in the fray, ducking and weaving to get under the imposing reach of the lich.
What hesitation Ricter may have felt in the face of this powerful evil evaporates when he hears Casimir's defiant shout. He advances round the pool, flail spinning at the ready and shield up.
He's ready to fight this thing along, but can't help but hesitate for a second to see if Malthir can recover...
As Milthir moves Ricter moves with him, keeping the shields in formation. However, seeing the narrow gap by the fountain he checks with the Baron:
"Are we filing through that, or should I try to get round the other side of the fountain?"
Ricter refuses to give this abomination the dignity of a response. Besides, Malthir pretty much covered everything. The Hellknight simply waits the last few seconds before the Guardians can finally purge this tower...
"Whatever it is, the stink of it proves it to be the work of this tower's disgusting occupant. There's some fell artifice to this arrangement, and thanks to your perceptiveness Casimir we're now in a position to disrupt it." Ricter, flail and shield in hand, goes over to the bronze double doors and stands at the ready "I say we form up and kick these things down"
"All of those seated here were citizens of Varnhold. It seems what little mystery remains surrounding that town's depopulation is solved." "Agreed, Kalev. Once we kill that skulking coward that did this it is imperative we put these unfortunates properly to rest. It will be the first of many, many tasks involved in making this keep fit for anything other than demolition." The tone of his voice makes it clear that, like the rest of the guardians, this humiliating murder of their former ally has left him gripped with carefully-contained rage.
Though his weapons are held at ease for now Ricter keeps roughly in formation, moving into the room alongside Malthir "It's strange that a lone man was able to get this far into this fell place, given the horrors we've had to battle to get this far. Either he employed stealth, or there's another entrance nearby."
Ricter, too, peers into the darkness. He doesn't rely on mortal vision, but instead looks to the gods of order to warn him of any chaotic forces lurking in the crypt.
"I too am content for now with the defenses I have" "Pressing ahead and finishing this now sounds like a fine idea."
Good to have you back!
"Pharasma will judge this wretch harshly" Ricter inhales deeply just before the guardians step back into the fume-filled chamber, and holds his breath thereafter. .
"Let us use that wand of haste, purely to protect us if the foe has it's antithesis prepared. Few things will doom a warrior as surely as slow." "Form up on the edge of the tar with bows at the ready in loose formation, then drop the bows and charge as soon as the bridge is conjured?"
It becomes clear to Ricter that this stand-off is a complex problem of tactical spell craft. There's a time and a place to scorn the cowardly enchantments of a spellcaster, charge straight at it and strike it down with force of arms, but the discussions of his more magically-learned allies made it clear to the Hellknight that the Guardians had seldom dealt with a magical foe as potent as this. As a result, he waits silently as the minutes tick by, waiting for Casimir's signal. He breaths deeply, getting oxygen into the blood to buy extra precious seconds before he has to risk breathing the blighted air of the cavern. He takes up position near to Malthir as the final seconds count down, though not close enough to form a shield wall - such tactics are useless against fireballs. "The magical tactics in play are beyond you and I, Malthir. You are right to trust the consel of our spellcasters. I do have one suggestion, however - get ready to hold your breath"
"Getting it to waste more spells is a solid plan. The sooner the better, before it has time to make its own preparations." "It won't be expecting the bridge. Could we charge that monstrosity over it, grapple it and lay into it in melee? It doesn't exactly look physically strong"
Though his shield is sheathed, Ricter still just manages to duck and cover well enough to avoid some of the blast.
"I'm loathe to risk it escaping, but we cannot take many more blasts like that without a plan. Retreat it is."
Whilst his comrades organize themselves, Ricter draws his longbow and sets to work stripping away the foe's illusionary defences
As he hears Kalev's requested to Kip he looks to Fenna: "Better yet, Fenna, could you make the foe NOT fly?"
Now there's an interesting thing...I shall eagerly await the PDFs to be available.
"Now there's a pleasing possibility"
"We can shoot, it can't. Could we not just draw our bows and take potshots until it makes a move? Kalev can be on hand to punish it if it does. And if it doesn't give us a clear shot, well...what's to stop us ignoring the cowardly monstrosity and pressing on?"
Ricter strikes back at the creature as it batters against his shield:
As it swoops up out of reach he keeps his shield up, flail spinning in a steady circle ready to punish it's next attack.
"A fine plan! Let's go forth and crush these things underfoot" Ricter waits for a moment for any magical re-enforcements before marching forward, keeping his shield high ready for the inevitable attacks from above.
"If the unseen servant cannot shift the door I will make an attempt. I've got off lightly so far."
"If we free her she becomes a target for the vile wardens of this place. She's safer this way, and won't have up-to-date knowledge anyway. Fenna's right, we should deal with this when we have more time."
The pulses of healing sent forth by Malthir have left Ricter in perfect health. He's ready to carry on the fight.
"Take heart, everyone. Our quarry was able to give us a hint of the agony of the Stygian river. They'll soon find themselves hurled into the real thing, and that will be just the first of an eternity of torments" As he says this Ricter looks around at the ceiling above them, hopeful that by chance he will lock eyes with the foe through any scrying sensors that may be hidden up there.
Well-used to following Malthir's lead on the defence, Ricter too blocks the brunt of the blast.
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