Beyond the Rerisen Tower(DM Iron Sky, Judge: renau1g)

[Iron Sky]

The group makes the final scramble towards the light, climbing through a crack in the cliffs and nearly being blinded by the light, Kaz leading the way as Scarm vanishes and watches for signs of pursuit. Toeto drags Yishim towards the light but it's a struggle as the undead mage resists going towards the light like a cat to water.

A golden wall of energy shimmers in front of the party, keeping them held at bay, but something glows uncomfortably hot in one of Scarm's bags. After digging around for a while, he pulls out a small golden statue of a woman that is glowing with its own inner light. The vial of holy water with it also flares brightly.

Once Scarm has them in hand, the group quickly discovers they can push through the barrier, where inside is a grotto with a pool of what looks like liquid gold in the center. A woman's voice echoes inside the grotto:

"There isn't much time. Your friend that stayed behind still stands, but he will not for long. If I told you that if you stepped into the pool that you would die but that your brave dwarven companion would be saved, who would step forward?"

A second later, Yishim shrieks as if in agony, streams of golden light darting from the pool and lifting him into the air, shimmering radiant energy surging into him from the grotto. A moment later, he is back in his normal state, gasping for air. When he finally makes eye contact with the rest of the party, his eyes have changed to a liquid gold, like the pool...

---

Meanwhile, the beasts on the walls have closed in and leap to the cliffs on either side of Fredrock, harrying him from above as he is assaulted from all sides. A rain of arrows embed on his shield and purple energy flickers across the dwarf's armor as more and more motes tear into him.

A stalker shimmers into existence in the ranks and Fredrock accidentally meets its gaze while the Lord urges his fellow dead on and inflicts Fredrock with a rotting curse that siphons his blood out and strengthens the dead.

While he yet stands, there is little doubt in the dwarf's mind as he stares at the horde of undead assaulting him what his fate must eventually be...

GM: A non check would count as a 0 result for the purposes of any final-round individual effects (like Eithal's Natural 20 and Fredrock's good roll giving him a shot at the surprise round last combat and poor rolls costing healing surges. In this case, there is no penalty however.

[sblock=The Path(Skill challenge)]Round 2 results:
Kaz: Athletics 27 - 3 points
Eithal: Nature 18 - 1 point
Scarm: Bluff 15 - 1 point, AP: Stealth 25 - 3 points
Toeto: 0 - 0 points
Total: 8 total points, Advantage(reached the light, Scarm's statue automatically noticed)[/sblock]

[sblock=The Ravine(Combat)][sblock=Terrain]The area in front of Fredrock narrows to a 3x3 area before dropping to 1 square (that Fredrock is filling). 1 square behind Fredrock it widens to 2 squares, beyond that it is 3. If he gets pushed back more than 1 square, they'll be able to quickly surround him.[/sblock]

[sblock=Enemy Actions]Rerisen Hulk(behind gap), 17 AC, miss.
Rerisen Hulk x 3: vs AC 19, 11, 9, all miss.
Rerisen Beasts: vs AC 8, 17, 24, 15 ACs, 1 hit, 3 damage reduced to 0.
Death Mote x 7: vs Fort 9, Nat1, 14, 19, 19, 23, 24, 4 hit, each 5 necrotic damage reduced to 1 for 4 damage total.
Rerisen Archer x 7: doesn't matter, can't get through DR.
Rerisen Stalker: 25 Will, hit, 11 psychic damage reduced to 7 and Fredrock has -2 defenses and is slowed(save ends)
Rerisen Lord: CRIT, 5 ongoing necrotic damage(save ends). When Fredrock takes this damage, all enemies within 5 of the Lord gain THP equal to the amount of hp Fredrock loses (1, already marked below)[/sblock]

[sblock=Combatants]
Behind Gap: Rerisen Hulk, 1 THP, marked
On Cliffs: Rerisen Beast x 2, 1 THP each
In Gap: Fredrock: 27 damage taken, bloodied, DR4, -2 defenses and slowed(save ends), 5 ongoing necrotic damage(save ends), Regen 5 bloodied
First Row: Rerisen Hulk, Rerisen Hulk(12 damage taken), Rerisen Dead, 1 THP each
Second Row: Rerisen Dead, Rerisen Hulk, Rerisen Stalker, 1 THP each
Third Row: Rerisen Dead x 2, Rerisen Lord, 1 THP each
Support: Death Mote x 7, Rerisen Archer x 7, 1 THP each

Stats
Rerisen Dead: Minion, 14 AC, 14 Fort, 12 Ref, 12 Will, Resist 10 Necrotic. MBA - Slam: +6 vs AC, 5 damage and push 1.
Rerisen Dead destroyed: 6
Rerisen Hulk: 36 Max HP, 15 AC, 14 Fort, 11 Ref, 12 Will, Resist 10 Necrotic, Vulnerable 5 Radiant. MBA - Slam: +6 vs AC, 2d6+3 damage and push 2.
Rerisen Hulks destroyed: 1
Rerisen Archer: Minion, 14 AC, 12 Fort, 14 Ref, 12 Will, Resist 10 Necrotic. MBA - Slam: +6 vs AC, 3 damage.
Death Mote: Minion, 15 AC, 12 Fort, 15 Ref, 14 Will. MBA - None.
Rerisen Lord: 74 Max HP, 17 AC, 14 Fort, 16 Ref, 17 Will, Resist 10 Necrotic, Vulnerably 5 Radiant. MBA - Rot Blade: 1d6+4 necrotic damage + 5 ongoing necrotic.[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Xeterog]

Quickly siping the potion, and redrawing his hammer, Fredrock gets back to the business of slowing the undead hoard, bloodying another Hulk. Fredrock looks at the undead lord, If you were a good leader, you'd take me out your self, prove to your worth to this, Fredrock looks with disdain at the other undead, rabble.

[sblock=actions]

Start of Turn: Regen 5 hp
Start of Turn: Ongoing 5 Necrotic reduced to 1 from DR
Minor: Drink Potion: heal 10
Move->Minor: Draw Weapon
Standard: Iron Fist on Hulk with 12 damage on it in the 1st row: Hit for 13 damage (forgot to put +6 for damage ) effect DR 4 TEONT
Save vs ongoing 5 necrotic: Success
Save vs -2 defenses: Failure

[/sblock]
[sblock=Fredrock]
Regen 5 when bloodied
DR 4
down 13 hp (32/45) not bloodied
-2 Defenses and slowed (save ends)

Fredrock Hammersmith - Male Dwarf Battlemind, level 3
Passive Perception: +15, Passive Insight: +20 Senses: Low-Light
Init +0, Speed:5
AC:21, Fort:16, Reflex:16, Will:18
HP 32/45, Bloodied:22, Surge Value:11, Surges left:0/13
Action Points: 0/3, Power points 0/4
Powers-
Battlemind Demand link
Mind Spike link
Blurred Step link
Bull's Strength link
Iron Fist link
Mist Weapon link
Second Wind link
Battle Resilience link
Telepathic Challenge link
Aspect of Elevated Harmony link

Item powers
deathscarred boon link
Dwarven Scale armor link

MBA +7 vs AC, 1d10+4 (brutal 2)
RBA -0 vs AC, 1d4-1 (improvised..would have to pick up a rock or something)
[/sblock]

 

[Mewness]

"There isn't much time. Your friend that stayed behind still stands, but he will not for long. If I told you that if you stepped into the pool that you would die but that your brave dwarven companion would be saved, who would step forward?"

Scarmiglione's first reaction is simple disbelief. A obvious, cruel trick, a matter of getting one's hopes up, persuading one to give up one's very existence willingly. Not that such a trick would seem to serve any purpose. What if the offer is genuine? "Ha," Scarmiglione croaks harshly. He is certainly no hero, but he considers it nonetheless: after all, he's done for. Whatever it was that the sinister floating orbs were hitting him with doesn't seem to be leaving his body. It's getting difficult to breathe, and he can barely stand. What is his life worth at this point?

It crosses his mind that his afterlife is not likely to be a pleasant one. Scarmiglione has not exactly been attentive to the gods. In fact the chief priest of Joven once asked him to sing a special service in the Daunton cathedral and, if he recalls correctly, he called the man a self-aggrandizing fraud and laughed in his face. Scarmiglione utters another grating croak. When was the last time he actually went inside a church? He thinks hard. Surely he's been in one at some point... Although he can't seem to recall any specific occasions at the moment...

One of his companions will almost certainly step forward. They're like that, credulous well-meaning types, the lot of them. He snorts contemptuously. And far more suited than he to disposing of this menace once and for all.

Scarmiglione totters toward the pool.

 

[Luinnar]

Wait, this one will go. Kaz says to Scarm, stepping forward. This one is always ready to die for ones friends. Fredrock-san has protected Himura Kazuhira so much in the past, it is time for him to do something for him.

OOC: You don't just go leaping into pools because women who live in them tell you too! (King Aurthur is a bad influence). Rolls: Arcana = 8; Insight = 17; Religion = 7 to tell more about the voice, and if it is telling the truth and if there is any good or evil "aura" type thing in the area. [MENTION=14889]Mewness[/MENTION] You just created the character and don't have any others in any other adventures (as far as I know of). I have one in LEB and another one starting soon in L4W, so I will go.

 

[Iron Sky]

[sblock=Kaz's rolls]Only your Insight is high enough to be able to gauge much about the voice, but judging by how it just brought Yishim back to life from unlife, it probably has the power to kill all of you right now if it wanted.[/sblock]

GM: Oh, @ronakshah2000, see last post. Yishim is back.

 

[Dekana]

Toeto isn't sure what to think, between the golden pool, mysterious woman, and a resurrected Yishim. She hesitates, trying to decide what Fredrock - no, what the entire party - means to her. In her heart, she knows she doesn't want to see any of them hurt, even if it means taking that pain onto herself. Nothing is more devastating. But on the other hand, she has other hopes for life; other dreams. How can she throw them away so rashly?

She starts stepping forward to the pool slowly, still making up her mind, but Kaz is much quicker. While waiting for a response to Kaz's bravado, she tries to determine the identity of the powerful being in the grotto.

OOC: [MENTION=44459]Luinnar[/MENTION]: At least she isn't lobbing a scimitar at you. Perception and/or Nature to determine the identity of the woman. Nature because she might be a fey. /shrug

 

[ronakshah2000]

As the immensely powerful radiant energy restores life to Yishim, he stands there dumbly. He sees his friends and allies slowly make their way towards the pool. From a parched throat, he rasps What's happening? What are you doing? Where's Salgyn and Fredrock?

OOC: Nice to be back. Based on conversation, I woke up after the exhortation to walk into the pool...

 

[Iron Sky]

As the group step forward one, by one, beautiful laughter tinkles inside the energy dome.

"I hadn't expected this, perhaps you could be the ones," the voice says finally. "Perhaps this is why all the old gods died away - notions of sacrifice die hard. Very well, if all of you enter the pool together, perhaps we can make this work a different way. My power is almost gone and if I am not to take one of your lives, then you must offer whatever you can to aid my summons."

---

Fredrock is knocked back from the gap and falls to one knee as more arrows rain in from the fog and the dwarf begins to weaken not only from his exertion, but from the constant slow drain of his life force into the cloud of death motes.

The Rerisen Lord answers his challenge and steps into the gap before Fredrock, bringing his black sword down and embedding it deep into Fredrock's shield. Fredrock kicks the Lord back and pushes himself to his feet as his vision begins to tunnel...

[sblock=Toeto's rolls]This doesn't seem to be a fey, but you do locate the source of the sound - it's coming from the small gold statuette of a female goddess holding up the sun that Scarm used to get you into the grotto.[/sblock]

[sblock=The Grotto]Those of you who are willing may step into the pool and offer whatever you can to aid Fredrock, whether it's a prayer or speech(Skill check), an item, consumable or otherwise, healing surges (if you have any left), action points, daily powers that you channel into the water, anything you can think of might help.[/sblock]

[sblock=The Ravine(Combat)][sblock=Terrain]The area in front of Fredrock narrows to a 3x3 area before dropping to 1 square (that Fredrock is filling). 1 square behind Fredrock it widens to 2 squares, beyond that it is 3. If he gets pushed back more than 1 square, they'll be able to quickly surround him.[/sblock]

[sblock=Enemy Actions]Rerisen Hulk(behind gap), 25 AC, hit, 8 damage reduced to 4, nowhere to push.
Rerisen Hulk x 3: vs AC 14, 9, Crit, crit does 17 damage reduced to 13 and pushes 2 reduced to 1.
Rerisen Beasts: vs AC 24, 17, 21, 23 ACs, 3 hits, 5 damage reduced to 1, 6 damage reduced to 2, 10 damage reduced to 6 for 9 damage total.
Rerisen Lord: Nat1.
Death Mote x 9: vs Fort 23, 12, 15, 21, 23, 12, 25, 12, 15, 6 hit, each 5 necrotic damage reduced to 1 for 6 damage total.
Rerisen Archer x 9: doesn't matter, can't get through DR.[/sblock]

[sblock=Combatants]
Behind Gap: Rerisen Hulk, 1 THP, marked, Fredrock: 44 damage taken, bloodied, DR4, -2 defenses and slowed(save ends), Regen 5 bloodied
On Cliffs: Rerisen Beast x 2, 1 THP each
In Gap: Rerisen Lord, 1 THP
First Row: Rerisen Hulk, Rerisen Dead, 1 THP each, Rerisen Hulk(24 damage taken, bloodied)
Second Row: Rerisen Dead, Rerisen Hulk, Rerisen Stalker, 1 THP each
Third Row: Rerisen Dead x 3, 1 THP each
Support: Death Mote x 9, Rerisen Archer x 9, 1 THP each

Stats
Rerisen Dead: Minion, 14 AC, 14 Fort, 12 Ref, 12 Will, Resist 10 Necrotic. MBA - Slam: +6 vs AC, 5 damage and push 1.
Rerisen Dead destroyed: 6
Rerisen Hulk: 36 Max HP, 15 AC, 14 Fort, 11 Ref, 12 Will, Resist 10 Necrotic, Vulnerable 5 Radiant. MBA - Slam: +6 vs AC, 2d6+3 damage and push 2.
Rerisen Hulks destroyed: 1
Rerisen Archer: Minion, 14 AC, 12 Fort, 14 Ref, 12 Will, Resist 10 Necrotic. MBA - Slam: +6 vs AC, 3 damage.
Death Mote: Minion, 15 AC, 12 Fort, 15 Ref, 14 Will. MBA - None.
Rerisen Lord: 74 Max HP, 17 AC, 14 Fort, 16 Ref, 17 Will, Resist 10 Necrotic, Vulnerably 5 Radiant. MBA - Rot Blade: 1d6+4 necrotic damage + 5 ongoing necrotic.[/sblock][/sblock]

We're in an anarchosimulus commune; we elect a sort-of executive officer of the week...

 

[ronakshah2000]

Yishim mind races to make sense of what's happening. As he realizes the golden creature needs power to fill the pool, Yishim unleashes a torrent of arcane magic. Phantasmal energy, his own lifeforce and all the strength he can spare pour forth as Yishim's golden eyes glow incandescent with power.
[sblock=Actions]
If I can't do all of this let me know. I'm not sure if I just come back to where I was (full HP + AP) or some other status.

Standard: Daily Phantom Chasm Burst 1, +7 vs. Will, 2d6+6 damage, prone and immobilized on hit until EONT, just immobilized on miss.
Action Point - give action point
Healing Surge - give 2 surges
[/sblock]
[sblock=Yishim Stat Block]Yishim- Male Human Wizard 3
Passive Perception: 14, Passive Insight: 17
AC:18, Fort:13, Reflex:18, Will:17, Resist 10 Force -- Speed:6
HP:29/29, Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges left:0/6
Initiative +5
Action Points: 0, Second Wind: not used
Powers: Scorching Burst, Chilling Cloud, Phantom Bolt, Shield, Grasping Shadows, Maze of Mirrors, Orb of Deception, Phantom Chasm, Orb of Unintended Consequences, Brooch of Shielding[/sblock]

 

[H.M.Gimlord]

OOC: *Sorry. Double Post*