It’s always painful. Every time I’ve seen it it’s brought a sadness to my expression. Losing a comrade and much more, a friend, is terribly painful. Knowing they sacrificed themselves for a greater good gives me shivers. It’s – so admirable. Even though he may not hear me, I thank Xileph. I thank him for everything he has done for our cause and I would trade places with him if I had the chance. But I don’t… What’s done is done.
This mission brought on an array of emotions I’ve rarely if ever dealt with. Countless experiences I hope I never have to deal with again but expect to a dozen times more. This material plane is different. It’s much more raw and unforgiving yet, at the same time, just the opposite. I don’t know how to feel about it or if I should. Mixed emotions to say the least.
Regardless, the mission was as Clover had described it except worse. Never before have I seen a place so devoid of life. The land around us was brittle, dull and empty, so empty it sickend me. Even the hells, lacking in their life compared to the rest of the material plane, were nothing compared to this patch of decay. It was so terribly unnatural.
When we came across the trapped and tortured soul of that mortal I fell into disgust. What could drive a creature to do that to another? Why was such a an act allowed to happen? That. That very thing was what I wanted to prevent. This plane could do without the existence of such atrocities, such horrors and pains. If I can prevent it I will.
When we came to the creature our sages referred to as a lich was disgusting and pitful. The battle was definitely a challenge – but we obviously prevailed. Let me start from the beginning.
When we finally came upon the chapel we had already exhausted some of our resources. Each of us was injured in some way and many of our abilities were exhausted. And we still prevailed. This shows how pathetic our foes truly were.
The chapel itself was surrounded by a bone moat of some sort. At the front door a bridge extended out, allowing each of us to safely walk across if we so chose. Except there was a creature, of some sort, that blocked the way. A hooded figure holding some sort of staff challenged us! Hahahaha… *sigh* Behind it was the creature we came to destroy. Sitting upon some sort of throne as if he…. *IT* were a god the lich approached but hid behind his minions like the coward it is. It sat upon some sort of bone throne that moved him about. Bah! Worthless scum.
The battle was interesting and a definite challenge. Clover – the eager one – started by running straight up to that hooded figure on the bridge. As she’s running up it’s lets loose with some sort of magical lightning which catches clover off guard and seems to effect her first attack. Behind her Xileph works his way onto the bridge. Xileph – the beast – swings over clover’s head and some how misses this creature. I almost laughed but decided it wasn’t the time.
While the two of them danced around with the thing on the bridge I decided to actually try and do something about the guy on the throne. Before I can really do anything the lich called something out into the pit just before one of those lightning bolts came flying out of the door way and hit both Xileph and clover but I was too quick and moved out of the way in time. I almost thought I could smell burnt fur but I wasn’t sure. Instead of attempting to locate the stench I decided do something about that thing on the throne.
I flew across the chasm and landed on the bridge but was caught off guard when, with the flick of it’s wrist, the guy behind me suddenly had a scythe instead of a staff and opened me up good. But I wasn’t going to quit there, I landed fine and sunk my blade into the lich.
I must profess. I wasn’t sure how to hit these things. Unlike everything I’ve ever dealt with these things had no… anatomy. I couldn’t ever hit them ‘just right’.
This is where things started to click into place. There were so many things going on around me I had plenty of choices – Just the way I like it. It was also at this point where things started to get a bit fuzzy to. No, not Xileph – the situation in general.
Some sort of giant bone monstrosity rose out of the pit and clobbered clover good. It shook the bridge roughly almost knocking me down. That was just before I fell to the ground. All I can remember was an unimaginable pain and looking down to see a scythe cutting through my gut. Things went blurry for a moment but I stayed with it. Luckily Clover – the bright one – was nearby and let the winged creature know it. I remember hearing several thuds – probably her fists and staff pounding against this creature. That was before I looked back to see Xileph ream the same creature with one of his sickles.
That wasn’t it of course. The Lich did something to me. I felt weaker, far weaker then I should have. All I remember feeling was nausea before I span around and sunk my blade into the creature behind me. It must have been good. That one I could feel, it wasn’t like the other abominations in the area. My blade sunk deep – then the creature wasn’t there anymore. A could of dust is all that remained.
From this point on it was down hill for the lich. The huge bone thing hit hard, and knocked each of us out at one point or another but we found a bit of cover inside the chapel. The lich had managed to get out of its throne some how and burst into a purple flame. But clover and I made short work of it. Behind us a huge bone fist kept flying through the door and pummeling Xileph or clover. I managed to stay out of the way for the most part.
Xileph – the fuzzy one- could take a lot of hits! He just kept on going.
It was obvious at that point we couldn’t stay in the chapel. The huge bone thing would just punch us through the doorway or bring the building down upon us. Clover seemed angry at this point. She moved out into the doorway and started unloading on this thing’s shins! Only a few seconds later this thing had fallen apart and pieces of bone tumbled into the chasm below. We had done it – really quite simple actually.
We then found a set of stairs that lead down into the chapel underground. We followed them for awhile taking our time to watch Xileph try and squeeze his way down. It was entertaining!
The last notable thing we came across was some sort of Symbol or Rune that, when I looked at it, caused me terrible physical and… other pain. It had the same effect on clover but when Xileph – the tumbling ramadeen(sp?) - tried to walk passed it he fell. Some how, this symbol had killed him…. If only he had tumbled. If only…
Clover – the aggressive one - and I took our time to collect his gear, found the pedestal and collapsed the chapel before departing. After a long walk, and a bit of flying we finally returned.
Now we wait and see if Xileph wishes to return….
