NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ltclnlbrain" data-source="post: 2416057" data-attributes="member: 12882">Chapter 38"To one end, Taigiel!" Rumar barked, whipping Pergium out and thrusting it skyward. "I will stand guard at the other!" A burst of light and faint music issued from the sword as he said this, its presence helping to soothe scattered minds and uncertain arms. Metal-encased feet dug into the ground as Rumar bunched his body up behind his shield, positioning himself in between two of the incoming golems and the rest of the group.Taigiel dropped the bodies of Grundar and Terenon unceremoniously to the ground as he unlimbered his bow. He snarled once as he interposed himself between the other pair of constructs. In between the half-dragon and the aasimar, the others prepared for combat. Allanon cloaked himself in a mass of mirror images, and Rhys began the words and gestures of a summoning spell. Jelani drew his spear and concentrated, the tip of the weapon glowing briefly as the metal transformed into solid adamantine.Then the golems were upon them charging forward and lashing out with powerful fists. Rumar stood firm before their assault, catching one fist on his shield while sidestepping the second. Taigiel also managed to dodge one golem’s slam, but the second connected solidly with his chest and drove the half-dragon back a step. Bruised, Taigiel backed up some more and quickly nocked a series of adamantine arrows to his bow before driving them into the body of the nearest golem.Rhys completed his summoning, and a trumpeting noise signalled the arrival of a golden celestial elephant behind the golems menacing Taigiel. The magical beast laid into the constructs with its massive tusks, shearing off chunks of magically enchanted ice. The aasimar priest nodded, then cast another spell. “May Torm grant us the heart and strength to survive this battle,” he intoned, and a brief golden glow surrounded the party, suffusing them with vigor.Jelani meanwhile attended further to his spear, chanting softly. A bright green glow covered the weapon, running down the haft and settling on the adamantine point. The spear was now temporarily bane against constructs, and would deal extra damage with each hit."I'm really—starting to—hate these blasted things!" Rumar snarled. A small chunk of ice flew through the air, all but literally beaten off one of the golems by the paladin's wild swings. Pergium buzzes furiously, the sword irritated by it's inability to truly hurt its target.“This will protect you for a time,” said Allanon as he withdrew a slender wand from his belt. He spoke its activation word and touched it to Rumar, and the aasimar’s skin became as tough as stone. And just in time too, for the golems slammed their fists into the paladin, hurting him even through the protection the stoneskin offered. At the other end of the alley, the golems turned to face the massive elephant that had appeared behind them. Fists flashed reflected light as they pummeled the summoned creature, battering it quite badly. However, Taigiel seized upon the distraction the elephant caused, sending several more adamantine arrows to crack through the ice golem’s body.The elephant retaliated against the golems, goring another chunk out of the damaged golem. Rhys cast another spell, conjuring a glowing golden hand that swooped down to grasp at an undamaged golem. Unfortunately, the golem’s spell immunity held, and the hand passed through it as if it wasn’t even there.Jelani moved up to support Rumar, stabbing out with his enchanted spear. The weapon did not penetrate the enchanted ice armor that the golem was encased in, merely poking at the thick surface.Grunting a quiet thanks to Allanon, Rumar considered the golems for a few moments before grudgingly assuming a defensive position. Much as he hated to admit it, he really probably should have bought one of those scarabs that everyone else went out and obtained. Just seemed like such a dirty tactic at the time...[/i[ he thought as he prepares himself to get pummeled about some more. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Allanon hustle across the street to use his wand of stoneskin on Taigiel.The golems facing Jelani and Rumar split up, each choosing one of them as a target. Both mystice theurge and paladin took a heavy blow from the golems’ fists. On the other side, one golem bashed the celestial elephant until it had taken too many hits for it to bear and vanished in a puff of smoke, sent back to the plane from which it was conjured. The fourth golem moved up to engage Taigiel once more, delivering a solid hit to the half-dragon’s shoulder. He felt his arm grow numb from the blow, but there was nowhere else for him to back up to, and he dare not eschew his bow for his blades would do little against the golem. At poink-blank range, he dropped his defenses, taking another blow to the side. Ignoring the pain, Taigiel drove three more adamantine arrows home, and he was rewarded as the golem toppled over, bereft of movement.Rhys frowned as the elephant disappeared, but he wasted little time, beginning another summoning. This time, he sent his prayers out ot the Elemental Plane of Fire, and a crackling portal of flames began to open as he worked his magic.Jelani fared better against the golem he faced, his glowing adamantine spear driving two large holes in the construct’s body. Though clearly damaged, the golem showed no sign of letting up.Allanon returned his wand to his belt as he retreated a bit, resorting to his innate magical talents. A few quick words and gestures, and the party members began to move faster, enchanted with a haste spell.The golems showed no imagination in their tactics, continuing to swing away with their fists. For all they lacked in variety, their attacks continued to prove effective, battering Jelani, Rumar, and Taigiel.Bleeding and badly beaten, Taigiel ducked an opportunistic swing as he turned around to aid Jelani, sending a barrage of adamantine arrows into the theurge’s opponent. “Rhys! Healing!” he growled.The roar of fire heralded the arrival of Rhys’ conjured elemental, which wasted no time in laying into the golems with flaming fists. The priest heard Taigiel’s call for healing, and he was happy to oblige. “By Torm’s will,” he said, channeling positive energy and restoring the half-dragon’s battered form.Jelani drove his spear twice more into the golem before him, the enchanted weapon easily tearing through the construct’s body. It slumped forward, the binding that held the animating spirit severed by his spear. He allowed himself a grim smile; all told, they were doing well so far, and it felt good to be tearing apart these abominations. They would prevail yet.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Unseen by the adventurers, a dark-clothed figure watched from the shadows of a rooftop above the battle. Yarrick Zan, once more disguised in the body of a female half-elf, watched and waited. Its thoughts were cold and calculating, its belly sated with fresh brains. Unconsciously, it licked its lips. The brains of adventurers were always particularly sweet, full of a myriad of experiences. And once this fight was over, it would have even more to feast on. Zan saw the priest heal the half-dragon, and knew it was time to act. If Rhys was allowed to restore the others too, there was no way the assassin would be able to take the rest down. That would be a mistake, and Yarrick Zan would not have earned its reputation as one of the greatest assassins in the world by making mistakes.Calmly, the transmuted illithid loaded its hand crossbow. Calmly, the assassin took aim at Rhys Thurn’s exposed neck.Calmly, Yarrick Zan pulled the trigger.</blockquote>

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