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So wait, am I or am I not damaging the haunt?
Sevia continued to back off, trying to find the edge of the haunt's range and get out of it. Turning back, she had no idea to gauge how much it would take to destroy the effect, so opted for another Wall of Fire spell, casting it right on top one side of the wall and directing the flames toward the other. The hallway erupted into a geyser of fire as Sevia concentrated on maintaining the spell, keeping it up until the haunt was destroyed.
So...spell works right? I'll be doing that then.
So, is there any way to destroy the haunt?
Holding her breath, Sevia continued onward, trying to clear the hallway before the trap reset. Once out of what seemed to be the area of effect, she turned around to try and decipher just what had attacked her. Being the only way inside, it wouldn't do to allow something like that to hamper her comrades.
Sevia was starting to become more and more disturbed with the constant bodies she was finding. She took a moment to try to assess whether the ghouls had been felled by blade or bite, before passing away from them, aiming towards what looked like a hallway off to the right of the throne in front of her.
Sevia arched an eyebrow, wondering what had happened to the devil, as she knelt down next to it. She briefly lingered to see if she could determine the cause of death, before casting Detect Magic across the longbow to see if it was worth taking. Leaving the body behind, she descended back down the stairs somewhat hurriedly, aiming to proceed eastward into the abbey.
Sevia nodded and began circling up the stairs. It wouldn't take her long to get to the top to see what it had found. She did take the precaution of trying to keep in stealth.
"Shadow, check the top." Sevia instructed, pocketing away the amulets she'd acquired. As Epyon finally returned, she held her arm out, allowing him to perch onto it. "Anything from Fhanys? She asked, curious what the others were doing as the shadow ensured there were no enemies lurking about.
Sevia then proceeded further into the church.
It was a rather quick fight all told, Sevia, using her wall spell as an impromtu shield. Despite their aversion to it, they'd simply rushed back inside like lemmings and burned away as Sevia cut into them. Soon, they were finished. Conveniently, her wall of fire snuffed out then as well, and had cremated the bodies. Sevia quickly tasked her shadow with standing sentry while she checked the bodies to see if they were carrying anything, before moving on to check the identity of the man they'd been eating. In particular, she tried to see if he might be carrying any iconography linking him to the whispering way. Noting that it had been a while since her familiar had left her, she reached out empathically to him to see if he was in trouble. If not, she willed him back towards her. Before proceeding onward, she doubled back to check the room she'd passed earlier. She opened the door and gave it a passing glance.
Rather than immediately reengage, Sevia felt it would be more prudent to use some defensive magic so to make herself immune to the ghoul's touch. First, she cast Freedom of Movement on herself, moving to avoid allowing herself to be given away. As she did, she mentally reached out to her familiar to see if it had returned yet. She followed up with Resist Energy, making herself immune to her own spell. Defensive spells complete, she singled out the ghoul who looked the least damaged and stalked her way over to it. Normally she would have simply attacked, but it wouldn't be caught off guard even while she was invisible. Instead, she called out to her shadow, telling him to flank the one she described, and position himself opposite the wall of fire. From the ground, it flew up, sailing towards the ghoul and stopping dead opposite her, giving her enough distraction to attack.
Spoiler:
BAB +7, Dex +6, Enhancement +1 Primary Attack Bonuses: DEX +6, BAB +7, Enhancement +1
Damage Bonuses: Sneak Attack 6d6+8
AC Bonuses:
vs AC
Her attacks complete, Sevia retreated, bounding backwards into the center of the wall of fire, the flames harmlessly licking off her spell. "Retreat! She told the shadow as she did, allowing it to fly upwards towards the ceiling.
Sevia's eyes widened as the ghoul she attack twisted away, preventing her blows from dealing their full, savage potential. Undead smart enough to prevent itself from being caught flatfooted? Her surprise, knockout blow failing to land, she barely managed the worst of their attacks, her invisibility aiding in them missing. Gritting her teeth, Sevia doubted she could finish six ghouls in a straight sword fight. Especially with her disadvantage. Instead, she pulled back. Slipping through the ghouls and making use of her stealth to pass by without alerting them. Thinking through her repertoire of spells, she considered what magic might be useful to deal with them. All bunched up like that, a Fireball could be devastating...but they could evade it if they were that skilled against her blades. Instead, she settled on something that would neither be evaded, or reveal her, concentrating and casting Wall of Fire around the group, creating a circle that surrounded them. Though, she avoided having the fire reach the ceiling if possible.
Sevia's eyes narrowed as she saw the body, the source of the fresh blood now apparent. The ghouls were much more concerning. But that fraction of a moment almost gave them enough of a chance to jump her. Luckily, her magically heightened senses allowed her to gain the edge, as she pounced toward their flank, focusing on reducing their numbers. Spoiler:
BAB +7, Dex +6, Enhancement +1 Primary Attack Bonuses: DEX +6, BAB +7, Enhancement +1
Damage Bonuses: Sneak Attack 6d6+8
AC Bonuses:
vs FF
"Shadow, be ready to flank them!" Sevia called out to her companion as her blades sliced into undead flesh. She quickly focused in on herself, using her ki to render herself invisible as the shadow slid into the floor.
Threat finally passed, Sevia continued onward, noting the bloody floor. Had they turned on their own? Or something else perhaps. She knelt down to the floor, trying to determine how recently it had fallen there.
Standing back up, she continued towards the western chamber, following the blood.
So, by banish the effect, you mean use a lot of lay on hands abilities? (Positive energy right?) If so, I'll keep going with what I was going to do.
Sorry about being spotty lately. I'm more on track with school so I'll try to keep it from being a problem.
Sevia tensed as she entered the building, the murmuring whispers once again apparent to her. This time she attempted to mentally prepare herself for whatever came, and realized time might be of the essence here if the haunt kept attacking her. Regardless, she pressed on, trying to move deeper into the church and towards its back wall. From a cursory glance, it seemed her quarry was located deeper inside.
Sevia stopped just as she was about to head through the door, tsking as she noticed the blades. She considered for a moment simply phasing through the door with her shadow teleportation, but realized that wouldn't work for her allies behind her. Retrieving her tools, she set to work trying to disable the trap. "Epyon, head back to Fhanys and tell her the way ahead is clear. And make sure she knows about the banshee." Sevia told her familiar, allowing him to flap into the sky and head back towards where she'd left the others.
Sevia scowled at the lingering effects of the spell ensnared around her blade. She did not need this kind of distraction. The thought to attempt to dispel the magic compulsion crossed her mind, but this was a very powerful spell and she simply was not strong enough to break it.
Seeing no other entrance to the abbey, she walked forward to the large iron doors and carefully tried to open them.
Sevia's eyes widened as profane energy attacked her, seemingly threatening her sword. So surprised by the nature of the attack, she very nearly succumbed to its twisted, dark powers. Holding Shadow Stryker in front of her, she channeled her divine power, warding off whatever foul magics were at work.
Cool! Happy belated birthday. Sorry for dropping off the radar for awhile. Took me a couple days to even realize you replied and then my school semester started so I've been rather distracted lately. Also, Xcom2.
It seemed the banshee had retreated and refused to do battle, which left Sevia little recourse but to leave and hope the vengeful spirit didn't ambush her later. Heading along the wall, she signaled for her shadow and familiar to rejoin her as she crept south, avoiding the bog, and then up past the gate house towards the abbey. She gave the gatehouse a cursory look, indicating her shadow should move closer to ensure her reinforcements wouldn't get caught on the way in.
As she proceeded further inwards though, her ears began to hear things. She stopped, wondering if it was the dull crunching of dead grass under her feat, but the sounds seemed to intensify, and she realized it was neither the wind now the grass, but whispers, all around her. Turning about, she tried to discern if she was under attack or not.
Grimacing, she stalked back out and circled the tower, continuing her investigation. "Shadow, have you found her?" She called out, hoping her shade had had better luck. If the banshee didn't pop out soon, she'd assume it had left and would instead move on. She reached out telepathically to her familiar and asked him to try and see if he could reach out himself to contact it. At least that would giver her an idea as to its whereabouts.
"Shadow, move ahead and search for her." Sevia ordered, sending her shadow forward toward the tower to look about. Sevia herself advanced after him, into the tower directly, looking for both the ghost and the cage she'd seen earlier.
Silently, she cast Detect Evil, figuring if the banshee didn't come out she might be able to locate it indirectly.
Sevia watched the banshee retreat, having expected as much. At least she'd wounded it slightly. Looking back to the tower and then to the abbey, she debated circumventing the spirit temporarily, but that didn't sit well with her, especially because it could surprise her at an inopportune moment. No, she had to finish it now. But at least she knew what she was dealing with now, as she drew her Staff and cast Shield on herself before stowing it away. She called her familiar to her as well and had him cast Mage Armor on her, to make up for the lack of protection of her actual armor. "Pick up my starknives and keep your distance, shadow, we will confront the banshee and send it to the river of souls." Lastly, she cast Haste on herself. Now with more adequate defenses, she advanced into the shadow of the walls and for the tower itself. Of course, the spirit's supernatural abilities made a stealthy approach moot.
It seemed the both of them had rather shortsightedly forgotten the weaknesses and strengths of undead. Sevia was cursing herself for her almost criminal shortsightedness, but it seemed like a wash as the banshee charged out into the sunlight to attack her, rendering itself nearly powerless in the process. Sevia instead darted around the spirit, trying to block it from getting back to the wall and drawing her swords as she did, allowing her shadow to flank behind it. Normally that would have drawn an attack of opportunity, but the banshee was helpless as she cut at it Spoiler:
Primary Attack Bonuses: DEX +6, BAB +7, Enhancement +1
Temporary Modifiers: +2 Heroism -2 TWF +2 Flank +6 Smite +2 Sneak Attack (Headband Ninjitsu) Damage Bonuses:
AC/CMD Bonuses:
vs AC
Her shadow however could only glare at the banshee, impotent to drain the strength of a creature which had none.
"Epyon, starknives!" Sevia shouted as she realized the banshee was hostile, her familiar quickly drawing forth a set and handing them to his mistress. "And back away." She added as she accepted them, Epyon flapping away from the walls of the Abbey. Sevia wasn't keen on fighting the Banshee, but she might be able to weaken it from afar. "Pawn of Urgathoa! I will strike you down!" She shouted, smiting the banshee and letting loose a volley of knives at it. Spoiler:
Primary Attack Bonuses: DEX +6, BAB +7, Enhancement +1 Temporary Modifiers: +2 Heroism -2 TWF -4 2x Range Penalties +6 Smite +2 Sneak Attack (Headband Ninjitsu) Damage Bonuses:
AC/CMD Bonuses:
vs FF
Four starknives flew at the Banshee as Sevia backed up 5ft.
Sevia cursed her luck, and swore she would enchant Shadow Styker with ghost touch at her next opportunity. A banshee was quite deadly, and while it was beatable by her, she knew it would be an incredibly hard fight. At the very least, she wasn't being attacked on sight. "Greetings, 'o tortured spirit. My quarrel is not with you. Might I render to you my service that you might be able to move on to the next life?" Sevia asked, bowing to the banshee reverently and hoping to appeal to its vengeful nature, perhaps it might be there unwillingly. She certainly wasn't looking for a fight.
She also stepped back slightly as well, keeping away from the range of its wail and in the sunlight.
Is it day outside? Praying it is considering how nasty banshees are. I'm mentally kicking myself for STILL not having incorporeal countermeasures.
The location ahead of them gave Sevia some pause, those ruins looked awfully old and decrepit compared to the building they surrounded. Sevia led her companions somewhere more secluded and dismounted, allowing for Fhanys to cast Lesser Restorations to mitigate the hard riding they'd just finished, and applied Lay on Hands as requested. She decided not to dismiss the summoned horses, figuring they might need them later. "I will scout ahead and figure out what their purpose is. Stay out of sight, if we shall have to fight, I'll send my familiar for you." Sevia told the others, casting Heroism and Heightened Awareness on herself before heading out towards the crumbling walls. At least one of the towers on its perimeter looked maintained, which likely meant a look out of some kind. It would be her entry point. Approaching from the south east, she kept out of its line of sight, rushing to the wall. From there, she made her way west, using the crumbled stone as cover, and taking the opportunity to look around inside the courtyard she had been able to see from further away.
Once at the tower, Sevia looked around for any activity, and tried to see if she could climb up the side of it.
Keeping up with their targets was more difficult, Sevia cursed her focus on lore rather than worldly knowledge but there was nothing she could do. They made up for time by pressing harder, Sevia asking Fhanys to make sure to prepare Lesser Restorations. Herself she could use her lay on hands to remove the rest of the effects with mercy.
So, for the chase. Can we rush enough to just be fatigued and only give them some time? Or is it rush and be exhausted, take time not be?
It struck Sevia as peculiar that they didn't head towards Caliphas, where the weapon had originally been intended to be delivered. It could be that they were simply forced to rush towards Gallowspire as a last resort. Sevia floated her concern to her companion, citing the note she'd retrieved from Illmarsh, wondering if either of them might be familiar with the names used.
Either way, their time was mostly consumed with the pursuit. Keeping hidden was easy enough, being her forte. Tracking them was more difficult, especially hampered by her lack of understanding of terrain.
"We are aligned in our thinking then...One of my clerics wishes to join us, she will be along shortly. While we are waiting, there is...one item in particular I'd like to acquire." Sevia said, gesturing in the directions of some shops she was familiar with. Leaving the two with a quick goodbye, Sevia made her way to one of them in particular. Buy:
-16442gp
She hadn't considered that it might be important given that she usually fought alone, but having a contingency in place in case the worst happened was worth it. She rejoined her companions quickly, "Unless you have transportation, I can summon some horses for our pursuit." Sevia offered, taking a moment to teach Mount Communal to her ring of spell knowledge.
"Ah, I see. You have my thanks." Sevia said with a smile as she realized what Zofia had done, before leaning forward to curiously peer at the small crystal. "Hmm, do they have the mace then?" She asked curiously, half expecting it.
"Well, either way, I am certainly ready to depart. Assuming we can leave this to the town. Just one last matter to take care of." Sevia said, calling her familiar to her. "Head back to the church and let everyone know the situation is under control. Tell Fhanys to come at once, we are departing." She ordered, letting her familiar fly off to fetch her cleric.
Sevia nodded and took the shadow back into her haversack, before walking back down to the main foyer. "Everyone remain here. I will survey the situation!" Sevia said, leaving through the front door and casting Heroism on her way. Once outside, she immediately took to the sky, flying straight for Zofia and Emidio.
Sevia woke up immediately to the sound, instinctively sure that this sudden disturbance was related to her and the mace. Her mind immediately reached out to her familiar, empathically feeling for his emotional state. Swinging her feet off her bed and lurching forwards, Sevia quickly began donning her gear. "Shadow, fly up through the buildings into the sky and see what is going on." Sevia commanded as she worked on her armor. Finally finishing, she rushed out of her room, and up the stairs of the temple. Through one of the windows, the pillar of smoke was too obvious to even need searching for. "Damn. This is not a coincidence." Sevia muttered, deciding that teleporting directly there might not be the best course of action. Immediately she activated the Fly spell on her armor, waiting for her shadow to report back what he had seen.
"Good. I will inform Auguinare about our absence...and that he should prepare for the worst." Sevia said, taking leave of Fhanys to go find the man and explain to him that she would return in a few days. Being semi immortal, she knew she'd be back one way or another, though whether Fhanys was with her and they were triumphant remained to be seen. Afterwords she retired to her quarters to rest for the next day.
Sevia allowed herself a grim smile as she looked back to the girl, happy enough just to see her determination. "Not nearly ready enough I am afraid, but time no longer sides with us. We will do what we must, because we are needed." Sevia said, looking Fhanys back in the eyes before glancing down to her hand on her wrist. Her own reached up to squeeze Fhanys' shoulder reassuringly. "If that is truly how you feel, I would be comforted to have you by my side. Although fighting the Tyrant is out of the question I feel, your magics can still aid those who are able."
Heeey. I'm back! Holidays are over.
Sevia nodded solemnly, wondering just what Zofia would give up for her cause, and wondering what she might. Unlike her, Zofia didn't have the assurance of near immortality to rely on. "You can be assured I will. In the mean time, my familiar will keep you company. He can let me know if you have encountered trouble." She told the woman, Epyon hopping from Sevia's shoulder to Zofia's. Watching them leave, Sevia shook her head, though she dismissed any second guessing. Looking over to Fhanys, it seemed the gravity was finally setting in. "Yes my dear, unfortunately. Within a few days we will see whether Ustalav might finally begin healing, or its age old nightmare returns for a third time. Either way, our lives will become much busier for it, but hopefully for the better." Sevia sighed, her lips thinning at the prospect of the fight to come.
Sevia's eyebrow perked, before she nodded. "Very well, I will be leaving with you then once we are done here. Please wait a moment, I will return momentarily." Sevia said, leaving the three of them there as she went to retrieve the mace where it had been stored. At the same time, she had her Shadow hide itself in her pack again, and removed the swords to add to her belt. Not more than a minute later, Sevia returned to the entrance, mace in both hands. "I should like this back if it is somehow not destroyed as a result of your plan. Though it would be a small price to pay if it does not." She said with a hint of remorse as she held the item forwards to Zofia.
Well, just figuring out would be enough at the moment.
As I recall I don't know how to align the mace back to me right? Is there a way to figure that out?
"Thank you Fhanys. Zofia here and I have reached an...understanding regarding what her assistant asked about earlier." Sevia said, gesturing to the girl and hoping that was enough to mollify her followers listening in. "Despite his oafishness, she has convinced me of their need of the mace in our possession, and the direness of the circumstances. It is also apparent that I must leave temporarily to aid them in their endeavor." She explained more solemnly, though knowing it was necessary. "We can prepare a room for the two of you if you would prefer to stay the night before leaving." Sevia offered, turning back to the pair.
"We seem to think alike then." Sevia said with a light chuckle, nodding to the girl's implication. Which was all well and good considering she'd have probably done the same behind their back if they had resisted the idea. "Well, you have satisfied my questions. Unless there is something else, you should accompany me back to my temple where I will relinquish the mace to you. I will of course be accompanying you from that point on, I do intend to see this through fully."
"Fair enough. If you think it prudent, I will trust your word. I know the value of keeping secrets after all." Sevia quipped, giving him a knowing smile as she ribbed him for doing just what he'd denounced her for earlier. "Though, that does bring up something else important. Have you no intention to seek the aid of the Knights of Ozem? I am aware they would certainly interfere with your plan, given their duty to keeping the Tyrant imprisoned, but using them as a cats paw does have its merits. The enemy of my enemy is my friend as I believe the saying goes." Sevia said somewhat thoughtfully.
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