Round 8
Subject: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 8
Mission listens to his heartbeat, feels the pulse of his blood through his veins. This is the secret-- the secret of the Path of Blood and Stone. His veins and arteries are the path. And his flesh is the stone. In his mind, Mission envisions a calming blue. The blue passes through him, through his veins, and everywhere it touches it releases the paralyzing hold. It eases muscles, and opens locked joints. [Fate point used, Will save versus hold 27, success] In the real world, this takes less than a second, and long before the skeleton in front of him can gather itself for another swing, he is already in motion. He handsprings backward [Tumble roll 8], but the skeleton gets one swing at him before he gets away [Skeleton AOO, Attack 9] but manages only to briefly grab a bit of his clothes. By the time Mission is executing his second handspring, he is using only one hand to tumble, and the other is grabbing the heal potion out of his belt pouch. After a third flip to put some distance between himself and the pursuing skeleton, he stops and quickly drinks the potion in his hand. [Heal 17]
Inside, Rennik is having a far easier time of it. As the single remaining skeleton tries to climb in from outside, he jabs it in the face with the head of his axe [AOO Attack 15]. The blow is as awkward and off balance as it can be, but his opponent isn't dodging, so it lands squarely on the skeletons shoulder [Damage 6]. It is just hard enough to knock the skeleton off the window edge and break it to pieces. Rennik takes a couple steps toward the door, but no more skeletons are trying to come in through that direction. In the doorway, he can see the badgers large flank, so he assumes the badger has driven the remaining skeletons back into Gully's room.
The three skeletons in the room north of Cadfael's position move through the doorway into the clerics now breached circle of protection. One of the attacks the priest [Attacks 11, 10], but is unable to penetrate his heavy armor. The other two attack Gully, who stands guard over the kneeling cleric [Attacks 2, 12, 6, 17]. One of the blows lands home [Damage 4], raking the innkeeper across the face.
Meanwhile, Farron has already begun moving into the lodge's dining hall. Garyth is looking out the front window, preparing to bash a skeleton that is trying to climb in. There are three more skeletons coming in through the kitchen door, but Farron says to himself, "Cadfael will take care of those." He moves to the front door, and removes the bar. Off in the distance, he can see the monk doing a dizzying series of backflips, while Sa'id confronts two skeletons and a small robed figure.
The badger launches itself like a furry cannonball into the two remaining skeletons in Gully's room [Attacks 11, 19, 13]. Only one of the blows hits home, but the skeleton that is struck [Damage 7] explodes on impact, leaving only one skeleton in Gully's room.
Cadfael feels the impact of the skeletons blow on his armor even before he realizes the skeleton is there. He looks up to see the undead thing preparing to hit him again. He sees Gully beset by two more, and bleeding profusely from a wound to his face. Behind him, he can hear yet another of the creatures moving out of the doorway to the south. Cadfael's face twists with fury. Standing up, he thrusts his shield at the skeleton attacking him and yells, "Enough!" There is a split second of silence, and then a shockwave of force blasts through the room. It is nothing like the pure glow of his previous turnings. This is a dark thing, filled with rage and power. The skeletons do not burn with holy fire and then collapse into dust; they are picked up and hurled through the air to smash against walls. Even the party members feel the shockwave go through them, and it leaves a ringing headache and an ill taste in the mouth when it passes. All of the skeletons attacking the lodge, except for the single skeleton coming in the front window, are instantly destroyed.
Outside, Sa'id gives one relieved gasp when he sees Mission shake off the effects of the hold spell, then cartwheel away. Turning toward the halfling with grim purpose on his face, he speaks the burning hands charm, and holds his fingers outstretched. A flat sheet of intense flame arcs out, striking both the halfling and one of his skeleton servants [Saves 15, 18]. The halfling takes the full brunt of the blast [Damage 4, 3, 2, 1, 4 = 14] and collapses with a single shriek. He then lies on the ground smoldering. The skeleton moves surprisingly quickly to avoid the main spray, but even just the fringes of the flame are enough to destroy him [Damage 7].
The single remaining skeleton outside chases the tumbling Monk as he escapes and drinks his potion. Mission has just tossed the empty flask to one side, when the skeleton attempts to collide with him at a full run. [Attacks 9, 9] Mission dodges to one side, and both outstretched arms miss him.
Inside, Garyth shakes his head to clear the effects of that last turning spell, then swings his staff at the skeleton still trying to climb in the window. [Attack 21; Damage 8] He crushes it and knocks it back outside in pieces.
[There is only one skeleton left, and it is outside fighting with Mission. The halfling is down. Gully is injured, but Mission is back up to 18hp. The badger will disappear at the end of next round, and it has no opponents left to fight, so it is no longer raging.]
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 8
Farron prepares to cast Magic Missile at the robed figure just as he sees the bolt of fire from Sa'id's fingers strike the figure and send him sprawling. He decides to send his missiles toward the only remaining target that he can see. He will move so that he is within range and will cast Magic Missile, if the skeleton has not already been destroyed. If it has, he will save the spell and move toward Sa'id. If the robed figure so much as stirs, Farron will send the missiles to put him back down.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 8
Rennik calms down, ending his rage, and takes a head count in the lodge. When he notices that Sa'id and Mission are missing, he looks out through the broken window in the room across the hall. Seeing Mission on top of the situation, he staggers down the hall to where Gully, Cadfael and Farron are standing, and slumps against the wall.
His breathing shallow, he looks up from his torn, bloody chest at Cadfael with grim determination in his eyes.
"Brother, I was bitten. I must eat the belladonna, but the poison may kill me in my condition. Can you help me?"
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 8
He has never been so close to the end of the Path.
It is good to know that now, after betraying the Path, finding mercy on the Mossground, and seeking his Redemption that even death cannot force his feet off the Path.
As the Path's blessing fades from his limbs, and the sting of Cadfael's potion seeps through his chest, Mission is suprised to see the skelton still attacking him. Bits of bone and anger-- Mission evades the creature easily.
He will counter attack.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Saving Throw
Actually, Matt, the result of that saving throw will make itself manifest (or not) as time progresses.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 8
For a moment, Garyth's eyes dart around, looking for more enemies. But as he realizes that there are none within reach, the adrenaline fades and the realities of pain and exhaustion set in; he leans on the staff for a moment as he catches his breath. At Farron's motion, he glances out the window, and sees the last skeleton about to be destroyed by Mission's fists. He breathes a sigh of relief.
Looking behind him, Garyth notices Gully's face. He rushes over to the man and assesses his wound. "We need to stop the bleeding." He glances around, looking for something to use as a bandage.
(OOC: 1 rank in Healing, and I figure Cadfael's a bit busy just for a second. Gully took 4 points of damage, but out of how many? How's he looking?)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 8
Gully is a first level ranger (thankfully not a no level regular guy), so that hit took about half his hit points. He looks like he is in a lot of pain, though the bleeding is slowing.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 8
As he realizes that Mission will destroy the skeleton before he can, Sa'id's focus slips and pain enters his awareness. He gasps and leans heavily on his staff, clutching his collarbone with his free hand. His other thoughts are still ordered, and puzzle pieces are being mentally assembled, but the process is nearly at the subconscious level now as the throbbing pain washes over him. Only one more question remains to be answered, and though Sa'id is concentrating mostly on his collarbone his innate curiosity still spurs him to shuffle toward the fallen halfling wizard. He must know if the other mage is undead, and if not, if he is carrying a scroll similar to the ones carried by the other band of halflings. Trusting his remaining mirror image to keep him safe from any further harm, he moves to stand over the wizard's body.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 8
Cadfael stands stock still, left hand clasped in right and the point of his shield resting on the floor of the lodge. The rage around him is still palpable and he seems to be trying to control himself. Rennik's words, however, shatter this composure.
"The werecreatures were here? Curse you for a fool, small one, why did you not call for aid? Why did you not fall back to the protection of the circle? You have preached long and hard about the folly of single combat and yet you were content to let revenge guide you to this course when it suited you. I hope you savored it, you may have damned yourself. You may yet damn us all. What did killing him gain us? We have traded one good man we knew was cursed for another man whose taint may be hidden until it is too late. You leave me no choice but to pray to Pelor for a pound of cure, as an ounce of His prevention did not suit you."
He then kneels down and presses his gloved hand against Rennik's chest with all his strength, effectively pinning him to the wall. An incredible heat seeps into Rennik's wound, so strong that the air shimmers with it. All the while Cadfael stares into Rennik's eyes. Daring him to scream in pain. Daring him to blink (cure serious wounds).
"Leave me now. In my room is a pouch with a sprig of belladonna wrapped in gauze. Chew it thoroughly and pray to your Halfling God that we are spared your selfish vengeance. Pray you do not become that which killed your love. Pray you do not become less than Horan. He suffered his fate out of ignorance and the desire to save his village. You knew better, Rennik. You knew better and yet the safety of your companions was the *last* thing on your mind."
Cadfael then stands and turns away in disgust. Seeing Garyth tending to Gully's wounds he makes his way to them.