(CSToA) Touch of the Abyss [IC]

Initiatives
31 Tesla
25 Insane Man
22 Jesme
21 Errol
13 Slisik
12 Shadows

Tesla gains the ability to make out the positions of the remaining shadow and the Mad Marquis. Arcs ray connects with the remaining shadow, dealing 14 points of damage.

The Mad Marquis whistles out a one-liner in the darkness, "Time is the best teacher; unfortunately it kills all of its students." Errol suddenly loses control of himself, feeling compelled to laugh. In his fit of laughter, he drops his weapon and falls to the ground, chuckling uncontrollably at the Mad Marquis words. Maybe it was the way he said it, maybe it just hit his funny bone, or maybe the Marquis used a spell. (will saved vs. tasha's hideous laughter if it still isn't obvious.)

Jesme feels around, trying not to hit her allies or get struck by the remaining shadow. She runs to the far edge of the room, near the western door. The sunrod in her hand begins to glow once she's sufficently moved. "There, I got it working!" She then realizes that her efforts were not sufficient to light the way to the group, as the barrier of darkness interposes.

Errol remains laughing, not yet able to resist.

Slisik strikes out into the darkness, but fails to strike the rather invisible shadow. The shadow counter-attacks, it's icy paw touching Slisik's chest, dealing 5 additional points of strength damage.


(Tesla and Arcs would be aware that the north-east S is the location of the shadow, but just them.)

Tesla & Arcs

“Enough!” Shouts Telsa. Carefully she calls forth her psionic powers and begins to warp the very existence of time and space around the Marquis. Her hope is that the Marquis’ mind is so far gone that he will not be able to resist her powers and be sent into the near future.

OOC: Manifest on the defensive (Con +20) Time Hope (5pps, 6 rounds, DC 16 Will negates) on the Marquis. Arcs will manifest Energy Ray (Ranged Touch: +5, 3d6) on the remaining Shadow.

Tesla (HP: 28/28, PPS:14/44, AC: 25 (3 dex, 2 deflection, 11 Force Armor & Shield)
Arcs: (HP: 13/13, Energy Ray x1, Control Air x2, Demoralize x2 AC: 30 (3 dex, 5 Natural, 11 Force Armor & Shield, 1 size)

Initiatives
31 Tesla
25 Insane Man
22 Jesme <- Ending Here
21 Errol
13 Slisik

Tesla manifests a powerful spell in the hope that it will disable the marquis for the time being. The visual area around the marquis starts to shift inwards, but then suddenly stops. The mad marquis laughs. "Nice try, but no good!" Arcs releases another energy ray at the remaining shadow, hitting and destroying it.

The Mad Marquis points at tesla and chants, "You know what, we should be friends!" For a brief second Tesla is forced to consider that painful idea. What has the marquis really done wrong? He was unfairly imprisoned! We shouldn't be trying to hurt him! We should be helping him set things right, restoring the rightful ruler of Istivin! However, Tesla shrugs off these strange compulsions easily, almost without effort.

Jesme, at the far side of the room, rummages through her pack, producing a can-like container six inches in diameter and height. She twists and pulls it in odd ways, unfurling another attached can five inches in diameter and five inches in height. Then another lair four by four. Then three by three. Two by two. And at last, a 1 inch final piece. The whole device is 20 inches long, and looks a bit like a telescope.

HP: 58/58 (w/rage), AC: 17, Flat: 16, Touch: 10, F +10, R +2, W +9

Slisik, who now feels significantly weaker than usual, moves in the direction of the voice that taunts the group. When he reaches the bars, he wordlessly slams his greatsword against the gate - again, and again! He still trusts in his raw fury to prevail regardless of reason.

[sblock=actions]Move to I5 and attack cell door.
Power Attack -4atk/ 8dmg (1d100=2, 1d20+3=20, 2d6+10=18)
I'm not sure if the door has concealment since Slisik can feel where it is, but I rolled a miss chance anyway.
(and 9 points of strength damage so far, ouch!)[/sblock]

Telsa & Arcs

"Damn!" She mumbles when she realizes that he in fact did resist her power. "If you insist on defying me then I shall just remove that which makes you made." Says Telsa as she begins to summon her little friends into the fray.

Help Slisik with the door my friend... She tells Arcs as he floats towards Slisik and helps her with opening the cell doors.

OOC: Manifests Larval Flayers (5pps, 1d3+1 creatures and one is already attached) on the Marquis.

Tesla (HP: 28/28, PPS: 9/44, AC: 25 (3 dex, 2 deflection, 11 Force Armor & Shield)
Arcs: (HP: 13/13, Energy Ray x0, Control Air x2, Demoralize x2 AC: 30 (3 dex, 5 Natural, 11 Force Armor & Shield, 1 size)

I had a feeling that he would make his save, but I figured it was worth a shot....

Initiatives
31 Tesla
25 Insane Man
22 Jesme
21 Errol <-Ending Here
13 Slisik
12 Shadows

Errol continues laughing at the poor joke, unable to quite stand himself up, though he's certainly trying.

Slisik takes greatsword against the Mad Marquis cage, cracking one of the bars, but that alone doesn't seem sufficient to get in.

Tesla creates 4 larval flayers... one squirming a bit too close to the Mad Marquis. The madman seems a bit amused. "So cute!" The Marquis, however, seems to change, and the attached creature struggles to get away from whatever it has its hands on.

Where the Marquis was standing, now a single shadow exists in his place. The Marquis suddenly comes into existence sitting comfortably on his luxurious throne. "Oh my! So close to checkmate! My only option left was to castle! I am, however, rather backed into a corner now... This is no good! No good at all!"

The Marquis rings a small bell sitting next to his throne. "My dearest Reukala! We have company! Please, hurry!"

Jesme pops two little cylinders into her telescoping can and then points it at the darkness. "Cover your eyes! I've got this!" Jesme then points the contraption that's half her height at the darkness and flicks a switch. Suddenly a burst of blue light explodes out of the large end of the device, temporarily removing the effects of the darkness spell.

Errol, still compelled to laugh, continues to do so. At one point he almost seems to regain control of himself, but then he starts laughing again.

Suddenly, there is a sound from the western door. The sound of a door handle being turned open. Jesme, quite spooked since she's standing right next to it yells out, "What now?"

HP: 58/58 (w/rage), AC: 17, Flat: 16, Touch: 10, F +10, R +2, W +9

Slisik either doesn't know or doesn't care about the newcomer. He continues hacking at the bars single-minded in his pursuit of the Marquis. He backs off after a few slashes to catch his breath: the shadow touch taking its toll.

[sblock=actions]Attack cell door, move to H6.
Power Attack -4atk/ 8dmg (1d20+3=21, 2d6+10=22)

Rage: 3 rounds
STR: 11 [16+4-9][/sblock]

Tesla & Arcs

“Be wary Slisik, there is another shadow in there. Help Errol to his feet and watch out for whatever comes through the door.” Warns Tesla as she withdraws her crossbow. Carefully, she takes aim at the newly created shadow and fires.

OOC: Attacks the remaining Shadow with her cross bow (Att: +9, Damage 1d8)
Arcs floats back towards Tesla.

Tesla (HP: 28/28, PPS:4/44, AC: 25 (3 dex, 2 deflection, 11 Force Armor & Shield)
Arcs: (HP: 13/13, Energy Ray x0, Control Air x2, Demoralize x2 AC: 30 (3 dex, 5 Natural, 11 Force Armor & Shield, 1 size)

Initiatives
31 Tesla
25 Mad Marquis
21 Errol
Jesme
Reukala
13 Slisik
12 Shadows

Slisik bashes the prison yet again, succeeding incracking one of the bars in twain. He'll need to either destroy another segment of that bar, or make a strength check to bend it wide enough to squeeze through.

Tesla fires a bolt into the shadow, but it passes through harmlessly.

The Marquis sits upon his great throne, watching with a huge rotten-toothed grin.

Jesme tries to conceal herself from whatever is coming through the door, her blade in one hand.

Errol giggles, still prone.

The door swings open, revealing this ugly creature...

[sblock][/sblock]

Jesme dodges out as the door opens wide, snaking in an attack, but failing to actually land a hit. The ugly creature speaks with a shrieking and dull sound that echoes through the halls. "Guggla Grah Merut!" Seeming angered by Jesme's sudden attack, the monster reaches out with her hand and scores a touch against the goblin. Jesme takes 6 points of strength damage!

[sblock=Abyssal]"Hello there little girl!"[/sblock]

HP: 58/58 (w/rage), AC: 17, Flat: 16, Touch: 10, F +10, R +2, W +9

For the briefest of moments after Reukala attacks the goblin, Slisik realizes that this battle might be his last. The thought terrifies him; he hasn't acquired nearly enough treasure yet for death to take him! The dragonborn's greatsword almost blurs in a flurry of motion as he desperately strikes at the cell bars.

Slisik does pick out Tesla's words through the mind-fog of his rage, but he cannot think of anything he can do to cure Errol's affliction. And as for Reukala, Slisik would rather destroy the Marquis first as he seems to be the one generating trick after trick.

[sblock=actions]Full attack on the bars and expend an action point to make one extra attack. (The rolls)
Attack 1: 1d20+3=12, 2d6+10=15
Attack 2: 1d20+3=13, 2d6+10=21

Rage: 2 rounds[/sblock]

Edit: It also occurs to me that I've completely forgotten about my animal companion during the fight. I'll say my monitor lizard is hanging out in the previous corridor if that's alright.