JollyDoc's Shackled City: FINAL POST [Updated 11/2!!]
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
No problem, gfunk. It's just that you've been spoiling us with your frequent updates... 
Thanks for waiting guys!
Clash of the Titans
Winterwood looked on the battle with a cold detachment. Originally, he had planned for Entropy to slay Adimarchus and, with the Claw of the Revenancer, animate his corpse and force him to serve. However, upon possession of his rival’s body he came to know some interesting facts.
First, the Claw had but a single use left in it for a tenday.
Second, Entropy harbored doubts that a being of Admiarchus’ power could be animated in such a fashion.
Therefore a different tactic was called for. Namely, to force the Prince to disclose how he had contacted and manipulated his minions on the Prime despite extraplanar confinement, a condition similarly hampering Winterwood in the Far Realms.
But how to beat his foe within an inch of his life without actually slaying him – that was the quandary.
After contemplation, he decided to support the warriors – Ike and Grimm– and neutralize any spellcasters who launched direct attacks against Adimarchus.
The Prince could heal damage from physical blows in short order, but Winterwood was not going to bet against a lucky destruction or disintegrate getting through.
Time was short, he knew. The duration of bodily possession was inversely proportional to the personal magnetism and force of character of the host. While Entropy was mentally defective by his lofty standards, her charisma could build nations . . . or annihilate them. And her consciousness was inexorably reasserting itself . . .
-------------------------------------
Adimarchus was too busy gloating over Gunther’s impending death to notice Ike charging him sideways. Forcing the top of his hammer directly into the Prince’s gut, the Goliath forced him to drop the bleeding Theurge. Meanwhile, Grimm applied two deft slashes across the Demon’s back – supplemented by yet another energy drain from Entropy’s Crown of Corruption.
The dwarf, half-ogre, and the shapechanging arcanist represent the most dire threats. The rest of them are nothing to me.
Turning from Rusty’s corpse, Adimarchus launched a greater dispelling upon Grimm who found his remaining spells stripped away.
-------------------------------------
Houshang feared for his life. The threats of Druxus Rhym simply paled in comparison to his current plight. All thoughts of recovering the Ashen Blade and his meteoric advancement in Thay’s magocracy were supplanted, overwhelmingly, with thoughts of self-preservation. Certainly, magical escape appealed to him but it was obvious that a Demon Prince, unlike the Zulkir of Transmutation, would have little trouble finding and slaying him.
No, the current situation dictated that he fully throw in his lot with the Bright Axes. Only together did they have a shred of hope. He gestured at the Goliath and watched as his polymorph any object spell turned him, like the imploded Kiko, into a mighty Stone Giant.
Houshang’s morale was quickly deflated however, when his would-be protector failed to connect his warhammer with the Demon, despite his augmented strength.
-------------------------------------
Tilly quickly flew to Gunther, providing him a healing draught before the afterlife claimed him. The halfling’s self-confidence had been shattered by their encounter with Adimarchus. Never before, had the Bright Axes faced an opponent so clearly out of their league. One thing was apparent – they were never destined to emerge alive from this battle.
Though he was by no means a coward, his preservation instinct was strong and he had no desire for his life to be ended in an evil-aligned Outer Plane. Tilly exchanged a concerned glance with Dalthon, whose maximized magic missile finally inflicted a modicum of damage upon Adimarchus. Clearly, the sorcerer was having similar thoughts.
The Rogue quickly flew over to him, hoping that he could convince him that the survival of two was superior to the death of all.
-------------------------------------
Ignoring everything and everyone else, Adimarchus advanced towards Grimm.
“Warrior, your resistance has been inspiring to me. But know that your victory was never meant to be. A mere squire cannot hope to defeat his Knight. And, by virtue of carrying my symbol, you are perhaps my greatest pawn. Though I could slay you with ease, it would be a wasteful death. Once more, I offer you the opportunity to serve me . . . what say you, Champion of Madness?”
“I say, to HELL WITH YOU!”
All alive on the battlefield paused to watch in awe as these paragons of combat clashed.
Grimm’s half-chain was deadly as it rapidly spun in front of him, making the Prince pay dearly for every step he took forward. Despite the remarkable agility of his foe, Grimm’s weapon rained horrendous damage. Black ichor began to pool on the stone floor as unholy flesh was rent.
In the end, it was not enough to prevent Adimarchus from closing.
The first swing of the Ashen Blade was partially deflected with adamantine chain links that made up Grimm’s weapon. However, with a quick flick of his wrist, the Prince brought the artifact underneath the chain at a parallel angle, nicking both carotid arteries.
Smiling as blood began spraying on his face, Adimarchus sent the Ashen Blade into the Half-ogre’s left kneecap, ruining the joint and causing the mighty Planar Champion to fall prone.
“A pity you remained a hero to the end.”
With a final thrust, the blade’s tip entered the back of Grimm’s head only to erupt through his right eye socket – dripping with blood and spinal fluid.
Clash of the Titans
Winterwood looked on the battle with a cold detachment. Originally, he had planned for Entropy to slay Adimarchus and, with the Claw of the Revenancer, animate his corpse and force him to serve. However, upon possession of his rival’s body he came to know some interesting facts.
First, the Claw had but a single use left in it for a tenday.
Second, Entropy harbored doubts that a being of Admiarchus’ power could be animated in such a fashion.
Therefore a different tactic was called for. Namely, to force the Prince to disclose how he had contacted and manipulated his minions on the Prime despite extraplanar confinement, a condition similarly hampering Winterwood in the Far Realms.
But how to beat his foe within an inch of his life without actually slaying him – that was the quandary.
After contemplation, he decided to support the warriors – Ike and Grimm– and neutralize any spellcasters who launched direct attacks against Adimarchus.
The Prince could heal damage from physical blows in short order, but Winterwood was not going to bet against a lucky destruction or disintegrate getting through.
Time was short, he knew. The duration of bodily possession was inversely proportional to the personal magnetism and force of character of the host. While Entropy was mentally defective by his lofty standards, her charisma could build nations . . . or annihilate them. And her consciousness was inexorably reasserting itself . . .
-------------------------------------
Adimarchus was too busy gloating over Gunther’s impending death to notice Ike charging him sideways. Forcing the top of his hammer directly into the Prince’s gut, the Goliath forced him to drop the bleeding Theurge. Meanwhile, Grimm applied two deft slashes across the Demon’s back – supplemented by yet another energy drain from Entropy’s Crown of Corruption.
The dwarf, half-ogre, and the shapechanging arcanist represent the most dire threats. The rest of them are nothing to me.
Turning from Rusty’s corpse, Adimarchus launched a greater dispelling upon Grimm who found his remaining spells stripped away.
-------------------------------------
Houshang feared for his life. The threats of Druxus Rhym simply paled in comparison to his current plight. All thoughts of recovering the Ashen Blade and his meteoric advancement in Thay’s magocracy were supplanted, overwhelmingly, with thoughts of self-preservation. Certainly, magical escape appealed to him but it was obvious that a Demon Prince, unlike the Zulkir of Transmutation, would have little trouble finding and slaying him.
No, the current situation dictated that he fully throw in his lot with the Bright Axes. Only together did they have a shred of hope. He gestured at the Goliath and watched as his polymorph any object spell turned him, like the imploded Kiko, into a mighty Stone Giant.
Houshang’s morale was quickly deflated however, when his would-be protector failed to connect his warhammer with the Demon, despite his augmented strength.
-------------------------------------
Tilly quickly flew to Gunther, providing him a healing draught before the afterlife claimed him. The halfling’s self-confidence had been shattered by their encounter with Adimarchus. Never before, had the Bright Axes faced an opponent so clearly out of their league. One thing was apparent – they were never destined to emerge alive from this battle.
Though he was by no means a coward, his preservation instinct was strong and he had no desire for his life to be ended in an evil-aligned Outer Plane. Tilly exchanged a concerned glance with Dalthon, whose maximized magic missile finally inflicted a modicum of damage upon Adimarchus. Clearly, the sorcerer was having similar thoughts.
The Rogue quickly flew over to him, hoping that he could convince him that the survival of two was superior to the death of all.
-------------------------------------
Ignoring everything and everyone else, Adimarchus advanced towards Grimm.
“Warrior, your resistance has been inspiring to me. But know that your victory was never meant to be. A mere squire cannot hope to defeat his Knight. And, by virtue of carrying my symbol, you are perhaps my greatest pawn. Though I could slay you with ease, it would be a wasteful death. Once more, I offer you the opportunity to serve me . . . what say you, Champion of Madness?”
“I say, to HELL WITH YOU!”
All alive on the battlefield paused to watch in awe as these paragons of combat clashed.
Grimm’s half-chain was deadly as it rapidly spun in front of him, making the Prince pay dearly for every step he took forward. Despite the remarkable agility of his foe, Grimm’s weapon rained horrendous damage. Black ichor began to pool on the stone floor as unholy flesh was rent.
In the end, it was not enough to prevent Adimarchus from closing.
The first swing of the Ashen Blade was partially deflected with adamantine chain links that made up Grimm’s weapon. However, with a quick flick of his wrist, the Prince brought the artifact underneath the chain at a parallel angle, nicking both carotid arteries.
Smiling as blood began spraying on his face, Adimarchus sent the Ashen Blade into the Half-ogre’s left kneecap, ruining the joint and causing the mighty Planar Champion to fall prone.
“A pity you remained a hero to the end.”
With a final thrust, the blade’s tip entered the back of Grimm’s head only to erupt through his right eye socket – dripping with blood and spinal fluid.
Last edited:
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
Goes to show that you simply can't underestimate a being who has a CR... somewhere in the range of 6 or 7 points above the party average, if I remember correctly.
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
With Grimm's death, things are really looking grim, indeed. (Sorry 'bout that.) Retreat might not be the worst option for the survivors.JollyDoc said:
Winterwood is a pain in the ... If Entropy survives, I guess, she'll be even madder than before.
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