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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 686005" data-attributes="member: 1210">The Battle of Five ArmiesRed-Eye whirls, focusing his central eye on the onrushing celestials, and Alcar cries out in dismay as the spell he tries to cast fails to manifest.  Behind him, around the corner, St. Vitus manages to activate divine power, but Norlin's flame strike fails to take effect.The "human" with the beholders- his name's Thuurgen- casts a shield and steps away from the three angels, then casts another spell.  He seems reluctant to enter the fray.  Horbin gulps, looking from angels of his god to his friends and party mates.  He stumbles away from the fight, still shaken from his death and subsequent raising.  Sybele, spider climb already active, rushes up the wall to the ceiling, then away from the wall- and somewhat away from Red-Eye.  He creeps her out.The icy sting-tailed giants are casting spells and moving in on the angels, and the other beholder seems to be keeping multiple eyes focused on the party.  Red-Eye himself spits a mass of yellow stinking bile at the three, and it explodes all over them, sapping their vitality and burning them with acid.  Angelfire is moving up next to Red-Eye, whipping the Airsword out and flying with it.  An arrow zings forward from a hasted Sheva, but it misses Alcar.  Then something appears, its invisibility dissipating as it moves into the antimagic to attack.  It's large, with a long, flexible neck, bat-like wings, long claws and hideously large fangs.  Its deep eye sockets are dark and its skin is the grey that comes from death.  It claws, bites, and buffets with its wings, attacking Alcar savagely.  He staggers back as it tears into him, and he can feel negative energy sinking into his bones as it claws his flesh.  An aura of fear rolls out of it like a shot from a catapult, and Horbin panics, using his slippers of spider climbing to ascend to the ceiling where he cowers.With a grunt, Alcar strikes back.  His mace snaps into the thing's chest, and he hears the crack of bone, but it takes the blow quite well.  A second shot to the forearm also sounds satisfying but is disquietingly ineffective in stopping it.  St. Vitus, gripping his holy symbol, shouts, "Back, foul creature!"  But even the faith of an angel is not enough to turn this terrible monster.The ice giants are all around the angels, attacking them.  Norlin ignores them and flies in at Red-Eye, his flaming sword leaving a trail of smoke behind him.  "Die, abomination!" he screams, but even as he swings, a ray of doom shoots at him from one of Red-Eye's small eyes.  His sword slices across the beholder's body, drawing a trickle of blood, but the ray disintegrates the celestial in a puff of dust.  "Norlin!" Alcar cries.  "You'll pay for that!!""No, outsider," Red-Eye grates.  "You will pay- for daring to disturb Red-Eye!"  He roars and flies into a rage.Angelfire tumbles in on Alcar, striking at him, but he misses.  St. Vitus glares at him and activates an antimagic shell.  Thuurgen is casting something in the background- and the undead creature gives a hollow laugh as the desecrate goes off, and Red-Eye spews more bile, which bursts to cover the two remaining angels- as well as several of the ice creatures.  Sheva and Sybelle are firing more arrows while the ice creatures keep St. Vitus and Norlin tied up in melee.  Now that Angelfire's in there, the two human females think that things are pretty well decided.  After all, one of the celestials is already dead- and Angelfire and Sheva were a match for Alcar before without much help.  Then things get messy.One of Sybele's shots goes wild.  There's an ice giant in the way, and the shaft sinks into its back."HOW DARE YOU!!" shouts the other beholder.  There's a sizzle as it disintegrates her bow.  A couple of the ice giants break off and turn on her, flying to attack.Next Time: The Battle of Five Armies gets messy!  Who- or what- is Thuurgen really?  Will Alcar and St. Vitus be overwhelmed?  Will Sybele be disintegrated?  Will the rest of the party?  Stay tuned!!!</blockquote>

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