Strange Stars IC

After the barrage of terrible magics, Qalare is uncertain of how to proceed. If he is protected by positive energy, an enervation ray is likely to be instantly counteracted. Likewise, he seems to be immune to all direct damage. Some indirect attack seems like the only wise choice.

Flying towards the east wall, darting between the pillars to foil the enemy archer, Qalare unleashes another spell of extreme power. A wispy, shifting force comes into being near the enemy wizard, and immediately pounces upon him, its extreme magical strength readily apparent.

[Move all the way to the east wall, to the squares directly below the brown bench(?), also making sure to stay out of the extended reach of the spiked chain wielder. Then cast Bigby's Grasping Hand and have it immediately grab the mage (and direct it to pin him and keep him from speaking when it can). Touch attack bonus is +31, no AoO is provoked, and Grapple Check is +36. If he has SR, I have Spell Penetration.]

Torvak screams with bestial fury from the pain of his wounds. Seeing that the disembodied hand that Qalare has conjourned is doing much as he would do he and strides through the pond towards Milar. Between his frenzied screams of anger, the half-orc manages to utter "I'll deal with these nightsoil, " before raising his sword and striking at the unarmed man.

[ooc: Enter rage: Str 36, Con 20, AC 26, HP 66/157, Will save +12. Move next to Milar so that I'm in attack range of the monk? and chain wielder and attack the Monk? with my Longsword using Power attack for an extra 5 points of damage (+18 attack, 2d6+19 slashing +1d6 frost +2d6 vs. Evil crit 17-20x2), cleave the chain wielder if I'm lucky enough to drop the monk]

edit: forgot +1 damage from longsword

Milar looks at the shapechanging spellslinger after he finishes his spell. "I did what I could to remove his protections, let us hope that it was enough. The rest is up to you."

Only moments later, the barrage of lightning hits him. Biting his jaws together, he gives a quick and silent prayer of thanks for the intuition that made him leave the comfort of the pond, only moments earlier. He looks around him, taking stock of the situation. "It seems that they did not fare any better than I, against the lightning", he thinks.

Milar hesitates slightly and decides not to enter the pond again. He holds out his staff with one hand, interposing it between himself and the unarmed attacker. Trying as best as he can to keep himself defended, Milar utters another prayer. "Wounds inflicted by lightning, but wounds of flesh nonetheless. Giver of life, lend strength to me and those with me. Cleanse our wounds, mend our bodies."

[Cast defensively, Concentration +13. Dropping Summon Monster V for Mass Cure Light Wounds, targetting myself and the four others. All of them are in range, I think...]

Rana mumbles a few word and disappears from sight, then tries to move away do that her enemies lose track of her.

"Damn...this guy is unkillable....Unless we can penetrate his defenses soon, I'm out of here..."

((Rana will turn invisible (Improved Invis, cast on the defensive) and move around the pond to the other side as far as possible. I do not provoke an AOO to move because I am invisible. I move one less square than my full speed to only get -5 on my Move Silently, which is thus a total of +6))

The pandemonium continues. Rana makes a few arcane gestures and a look of surprise appears in her face when the weight (very little, but still weight) of her armor had made her to miscast the spell. Not letting it stop her, he jumps into the pond and crosses it, disturbing the small fishes even more. Just whe she´s crossed it, a barrage of spells from Qalare and Milar cross the air: a large, disembodied hand grabs the wizard against the floor and healing energy makes you feel a lot better.

From behind the smoldering courtains the Caliph shouts: “Flee! He´s too powerful. Don´t waste here your lives!”

The men in red behold the wizard struggling against the Hand, after that brief pause they do their best to destroy it. They whack, shoot and puch, with not great success, and then the wizard says: “I think you should destroy this hand”

You can´t trust your eyes when the now huge Torvak flies next to the trapped hand and sinks his sword in it with all his might.


[Rana tries to cast Greater Invisibility but the 5% of spell failure disrupts the spell. She still can move to the other side of the pond, though crossing it and not moving through it. Let me know if you agree with the final position

One of the guards finally have an idea and they start pushing one against another. Several of them fall from the Reverse Gravity area, though most are disarmed (the scimitars still float) and prone.

The Caliph speaks

Qalare moves, though not as far as he would have liked –remember that Overland Flight gives you Average maneuverability, and turning cost movement- then casts Grasping Hand; the large hand sucessfully grapples his target.

Rashid double moves.

Milar is barely able to casts defensively Mass Cure Light Wounds, healing everyone 12 HP.

The guys in red try to free the wizard; the cleric casts Dispel Magic, with no effect. The archer shoots at the hand, hitting the wizard once (the instant healing effect is still in place) and the hand twice. The monk tumbles away and fails to damage the Hand.

The wizard finally SuggestTorvak to destroy the hand as quickly as he can (I know perfectly that Suggestion has a material component, thanks) makes his Concentration roll, and Torvak fails his Will ST.

The Dragon Disciple rages, flies through the Reverse Gravity areas and whacks the hand hard wielding the large sword in both hands. The Grasping Hand looks severely damaged.

Status: Rana 49/112, Rashid 61/117, Milar 24/82, Qalare 46/71, Torvak 50/129]

I almost frgot: There are more guards already outside the chamber and they´ll neter the next round.

The ingenuity of the enemy impresses Qalare. That was quick thinking, forcing Torvak to help free him. Those red-garbed men would have taken far longer to accomplish the task. Luckily, I know the limitations of his spell just as he knows the limitations of mine.

Knowing that Torvak must heed the suggestion, Qalare does not try to dissuade him. He also knows, however, that Torvak is not an automaton. Torvak is still aware of his surroundings despite the powerful suggestion to accomplish a singular goal.

"I can remove us from danger, but only if you come here Torvak! You are loyal to the Caliph and his orders supersede your bloodlust! End your rage, dismiss your spell and come hither!"

Qalare then pauses, waiting for Torvak's response.

[OOC: Qalare is delaying his action to wait for Torvak's response or lack thereof.]

(assuming Torvak does as asked, and Rana does not escape with Dimension Door) Speaking to the four others, softly, "you must submit if this spell is to work." Qalare then grasps his newest allies and utters the phrase that carries them all instantly through the Astral Plane.

[ooc: I will stop delaying after Torvak's initiative, but my actions also depend on everyone else's actions. I'll confirm or change when I see them. Hopefully the other spellcasters can contribute something *wink*. I will grab the 3 others (one in each arm and one in my tail) while touching Torvak and cast Dimension Door, going 945 feet back towards the river we entered from and 150 feet up in the air (I did my trig, that comes out to just under 960 feet at a 9 degree elevation).

The spell says that I can't take an action for the remainder of the round, but I just want to remain aloft and keep flying next round. If required, I'll use my move action before the spell, but after grabbing everybody to get forward momentum. My max. load as a Yuan-ti is about 700 lbs, which should be sufficient to carry everyone besides Torvak (who can fly himself) as I fly.]

Milar takes a step back to regroup with the others. He looks upon the results of their short struggle with a frown on his forehead. "So, the Caliph is indeed opposed to our being charged. That is good to know", Milar thinks. "His Highness is right too. This wizard might be too much for us too handle now."

"Can one of you get us out of here quickly?", he asks of the others near him. "I will try to stall them as long as possible." Making a decision, Milar takes his staff in both hands, ready to ward of any guards that might try to interrupt his casting.

"Let us pray that this works..." Focussing on the robed man once more, Milar's face gains a hard edge, unusual for him. He raises his voice, uttering ancient words of power. "Spirits of the deep, Taker of souls, hear my command! Strike at my enemy, rip his senses from him, strike him deaf!"

Anxiously, Milar waits for the tingling sensation that will tell him if the effect took hold on the robed wizard. If it did, he turns to Qalare, speaking hastily "He is deaf, this might stop him for just a moment. Remove the hand of force if you can, that will bring the scaled one back to his senses. We might have enough time to escape."

[OoC: 5-ft. step straight back. Casting Blindness/Deafness to rob the robed man of his hearing, will cast defensively if necessary.]

All happens very quickly. Now decided to leave the place, Qalare exhorts Torvak to leave the Hand alone, while Rana dissapears on her own with a gesture and a word. Milar does his best to do whatever could hamper or delay the misterious mage, and feels how the wicked energy bounces back and strikes him; Milar thanks the water spirits when the energy disspates without effect.

Meanwhile, the dragon disciple raises his sword once again and brings it down...

...destroying the hand, that disspears in a puff of transparet force. Now freed from his compulsion, Torvak flies roght next to Qalare, that descends and, grabbing all within range, cast an spell while the wizard stands up and starts casting too...

Hundreds of feet away, four figures appear; a huge snake with arms, grabbing two men and a ogre size half dragon. They start falling, before they manage to start flying again. Behind, Rana runs through the palace gates.

[Rana casts Dimension Door without problem.

Milar casts Deafness, but the unknow mage had still a Spell Turning effect working. (it bounced back the targeted Dispel Magic, too, but it had zero effect since Milar had no spells on him. Milar saves against his own spell.

Qalare delays.

The bad guys also delay, wating for Torvak to destroy the hand or finish it themselves.

Torvak must attack the hand, but finishes it with a single strike. Since he only made one attack and is now free from the compulsion, he can move, (though he can´t dismiss the Enlarge Person spell this round since it´s a standard action) and does so, ending withing Qalare´s reach. He Dimension Doors away, appearing over the docks, and calls a sandstom the next round that will appear in 10 minutes.]

Soaring on massive golden wings Torvak takes a moment to gather himself before shouting to be heard over the wind. "Where's Rana?" Dismissing his spell with a sharp gesture of his hand he circles back towards the palace, shrinking to his normal size as he does so, hoping to catch sight of his companion Rana.

[ooc: Dismiss my enlarge person and circle around trying to catch a glimpse of Rana. If I see her I'll try and swoop down and grab her and bring her to the others]