Peth shouts out to the Cleric and both prepare their weapons, but are frozen in place for a moment, as the stare of the undead being bores a hole trough their souls. Merry too, is motionless and staring with a blank gaze at the floating apparition that was once Livy Brenson.
[sblock=Kye]The warrior-priest of Helm finds himself on his parent's farm, just as he remembers it from his youth. The lad is wearing the leather apron of a smith's apprentice, and is facing the thatched hut that used to be his home.
The surroundings are quiet, and the sky is darkening as the sun has already hid itself beyond the horizon. Kye shouts out to his parents, but there comes no answer, as the dark windows of the house remain motionless.
The lad suddenly feels a touch on his back, nails slowly scraping on his linen shirt. He turns around and with horror regards the visage of his mother, smiling wickedly with blood dripping from her mouth. Her gaze is full of ferocity and madness, and chunks of raw flesh can be seen caught between her pointed teeth.
Her auburn hair is now brittle and dust covered, and the stale smell of an unearthed grave can be sensed coming from her. With a hideous shriek and a mad gleam in her yellow eyes, she jumps and claws at young Kye's face, ripping two deep lines across his right cheek. The lad's heart starts beating with a panicked rush as he turns away and attempts to run and save himself from this horror.[/sblock]
[sblock=Peth]The Gnome descends further down the corridor of the long abandoned mansion he had set out to explore. He is alone, with a lantern in his hands and the only sound that can be heard, is the screeching of the rotted boards beneath his small feet.
The corridor is dark, as any windows have been long since boarded up, and no torches or braziers have been light for years. The Archivist is careful and methodically analyzes the situation, as he approaches a massive oak door to his left. The lantern in his right hand begins to fade, as it is running out of oil, and for a moment Peth wanders weather he should turn back. However the Gnome's curiosity overwhelms him as he decides to explore the room, which he discovered to be a large library.
He had lost himself amongst the shelves and books, and is too late in noticing the crimson light coming from behind. The Archivist turns around, only to find out with horror that the red glow streams from the hollow eye sockets of a floating skull, adorned with a magnificently jeweled crown.
Peth immediately recognizes the Demilich, and the overwhelming danger it poses. It is too late however, as the skull laughes and screames:
"I WILL HAVE YOUR SOUL, LITTLE MAN!" Peth turns around, with fear gripping his heart, and runs as fast as his short legs can carry him, while still hearing the maniacal laughter of the demilich, floating behind him.[/sblock]
After but a moment of being frozen still, Merry, Peth and Kye each shout out something, and dash towards a random direction.
Kye drops his prized sword on the ground, and heads westward, towards the bridge. Peth relinquishes his crossbow in a similar manner and dashes down the bridge, towards the opposite bank of the river. Merry shouts with fear and heads eastwards, trough the meadow and towards the woods.
Amongst the ensuing chaos, the massive frame of the Half Orc Barbarian stands unaffected. Perhaps it is the hunger, perhaps it is the lust for battle, or perhaps the Lady is unable to find an illusion of fear dwelling in Thok's subconscious at this moment, but the Half Orc simply snarls and swings his blade once more at the apparition. He has enough time now to strike twice at the Lady, but the spirit manages to phase away from the second hit effortlessly.
The Banshee hisses and faces Thok, but is taken by surprise by the tiny frame of a young girl, dashing past the Barbarian and gripping the raggedy bunny doll with her tiny hands.
"LET GO OF HIM YOU DEAD BITCH!" Jill screams with a viscous voice.
The Banshee's eyes darken, as she extends her hand and lightly touches Jill's forehead with her long ghostly finger. The spot where the Banshee touched Jill is now covered with frost, and the little girl staggeres on her feet, gasping for air but still holding on to Tatters. It is apparent that Jill will not survive a second attack by the Lady.
[sblock]Peth, Kye and Merry are
panicked. They drop anything they are holding and will run away until they lose sight of the Lady and will then cower until the duration of the effect is over.
The duration is 1d4+1 rounds. So Peth is panicked for 4 rounds and Kye and Merry for 2 rounds. Thok rolled a natural 20 and is immune to this ability for the next 24 hours. Jill is seemingly unaffected.
Thok can make a spot check by the way.
Also, even though it's a specific mind affecting ability, it does not prevent the characters from being aware of what is going on around them. They will register it and act upon it once the duration is over.
The Lady attacks Jill and
hits her for 4 damage. Jill is now
disabled. Oh, on a further note, the whole cold theme is fluff, the Lady (and any Banshee for that matter) dos not deal cold damage, but rather a regular incorporeal touch attack.
Here is a map, and also please ask me in the OOC if you have any questions.
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~~~~~~~~~xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx....Kxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
~~~~~~~~~~~~~xxxxxxxxxxxxx====xxxJxTxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~xxx====xxxxxLxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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xxxxxxxxx~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==P=~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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**x****xxxxxxxxxx....xxxxxx****xxxxxxxxxxxxx~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~xxxxxxxxxx
***************....xxxxx***********xxxxxxxxxxxxx~~~~~~~~~~~~xxxxxxxxx
P - Peth,
K - Kye,
T - Thok,
J - Jill,
M - Merry,
L - Lady,
x - grass/dirt,
~ - river,
* - trees,
= - bridge,
. - road.[/sblock]
***
Adelaide smiles faintly and leans over to the young lad.
"So Alevyth,
you are humble as well as righteous. We can make a Paladin out of you yet i think! - the woman whispers with an energetic tone. -
but maybe you are too pretty - you might easily stray in to adultery with your looks..." The female Paladin displays wider smile and returns to her original pose.
Meanwhile Lazarus frowns for a moment at Latham's words, but replies with a calm voice.
"I would expect you to adhere to the rules and code of conduct that we set upon as a brotherhood of Paladins. As such, you will be answering to your superiors in rank, myself and Dawnbringer Ferviel included, but there will be others as well. You will meet them and I will instruct you specifically. Each mercenary or conscript we bring along will be under the leadership of one of my lieutenants, as strict discipline is key in such endeavors. I also expect you to join us in the planning room, as even though you are insolent, your input on the tactics could prove useful. - Lazarus walks down from the podium and paces slowly before the gathered men, his hands firmly behind his back. -
Should you, master Wizard, or anyone for that matter, decide to abandon our group to either retreat or pursue profits, and leave his comrades exposed to danger, i will brand you outlaws and subject you to justice with the utmost prejudice. We take this on as brothers in arms, or you do not come with us at all."
Lazarus' voice is stern and his gaze is demanding. He stops in front of Senslar and looks at him briefly, before continuing.
"And you, what is your name warrior of the Aasimar, and what light can you shed on the events in discussion? I assure you that no one is leaving this temple until justice has been served."
At his last words the men from the mercenary company start whispering and shoving, and more than one now eyes the exits like a rat in a cage.