House Millithor in COSQ: part 3

[Serpenteye]

Backdated:

Then the Bebilith stops suddenly. And the other Bebilith, behind Tierak and Dariel, starts to snap its claws and fangs, as the Bebiliths turn around and start chasing the invisible intangible enemy back the way you came, towards the Matron. The invisible intangible caster stops right in front of Matron Ki'Willis. Both Bebiliths, Dariel, and Tierak right behind it.

Once it has been determined that the gaseous vampire is completely invulnerable to anything they can throw at it, the Matron will briefly adress it and state the obvious fact that it will not survive for much longer if it remains a servant of the Tsannans.
Confident that her people will have the good sense to beware its precense she will greet the approaching Draegoloth.

Matron Ki'Willis, using the memories of Alisannara Morcane, recognizes the Draegloth as Zieggrek. The son of Alisannara's adopted daughter Dessa Sik-Morcane and a Glabrezu fiend known as Z'ker'zzt. Dessa was highly favored by Lolth and had conceived the Draegloth after a ceremony in the Temple of Lolth in Maerimydra. Tierak also remembers Zieggrek. Zieggrek was famous for his battle lust and his desire to protect his female superiors.

The acid-scarred flesh of her face twists slightly as she smiles at the fiend, and speaks to him with the voice of Matron Morcane."Grandson, I am pleased that the rumours of your demise was as exagerrated as those about my own permanent death. I would speak with you at greater length later, for now other matters must take precedence."


The report about the second destruction of Marcarius is met with an emotionless nod. On the inside she seethes in impotent fury at the knowledge that everything she could do about the situation would only weaken her further, including doing nothing at all.

----

Current:

Dorina T’sarran sits upon her throne. She is a gaunt drow vampire with deep black skin and yellowish-white hair. She wears black elven chainmail. Her face is beautiful but angular, with something of a feral look about it.

Kiernan Morcane, Leonon Morcane, and two of the skinless female drow undead known as Quth-Maren flank the throne, kneeling in Dorina’s presence, but also kneeling in the direction of the members of House Millithor and House Morcane..

Dorina’s commanding voice fills the chamber as she speaks to Matron Ki'Willis in the drow language.

“Matron Ki’Willis, the time of your conversion to the worship of Kiaransalee is finally upon you.

“Your transformation to become one of the ever-living in death was a necessary step in your conversion to the worship of the Lady of the Dead. Death comes to all.

“Revenants are favored in the eyes of the Revenancer. Most revenants fall to dust within months. Their hatred burns so hot that it literally burns their body apart. Not so those who worship the Revanancer. Revenants that worship the Revenancer have their hatred harnessed and they toil forever in her service.

“Once you perform the ceremony and become a high priestess of the Vengeful Banshee, the Goddess will grant you true power.

“I will give this place to you and serve you loyally upon your ascension.

“With my aid, your destruction of Irae T’sarran will be assured. Irae’s death is the will of the White Banshee, why else transform you into a Revenant?

“The Goddess offers divine power, immortality, and revenge. To accept her generous offer, all you have to do is perform the ceremony to become a High Priestess of Kiaransalee. Transform this pathetic spider-kisser into one of the Quth-Maren!

“You desire this. The Goddess desires this. Embrace your destiny!”

The Matron leads the group into the room, where they fan out in preparation for battle even as she considers her reply. After a second or two, spent marvelling at the desperate audacity of her opponents, she shakes her head and smiles a sad little smile that carries a subtle flavour of pity.

"I have some knowledge of your kind, Vampire. And that knowledge makes me question the veracity of your statement of identity. You appear to be Dorina Tsarran but I have every reason to believe her to still be in her coffin, regenerating herself after her temporary destruction in battle. I must consider the possibility that you are not who you clam to be, or indeed that you are nothing more than a magical illusion intended to stall, or entrap, me.
Until those particular suspicions have been allayed I can make no further reply to your offer. I suggest that you do not attempt to prevent us from searching your coffins."

 

[Endur]

After the Matron finishes speaking, Zieggrek yells "Mother" and leaps forward to attack.

The kneeling drow vampire Kiernan Morcane speaks a word, "Ripper!"

A mutated black tiger leaps out of the stone column upon which Dorina's throne rests, as if the stone column is not solid. Zieggrek attempts to alter his leap to intercept the Black Tiger in the air, but Zieggrek's claw passes right through the Black Tiger without resistance.

The Tiger lands on Matron Ki'Willis, its body all too solid as it slams her into the ground, and its jaw takes a hold of her shoulder (inflicting 6 points of damage, essentially Ki'Willis is now grappled).

Quertus casts a fireball spell at the kneeling Vampires and Quth-Maren.

Kilcif attempts to wrestle the Black Tiger off the Matron.

Carcelon becomes certain that the stone column and Dorina are an illusion of some sort.

 

[Serpenteye]

The Matron will draw her dagger and stab at the cat with all the ferocity her undeath-magnified strength is capable of.

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

Backdated:

The acid-scarred flesh of her face twists slightly as she smiles at the fiend, and speaks to him with the voice of Matron Morcane."Grandson, I am pleased that the rumours of your demise was as exagerrated as those about my own permanent death. I would speak with you at greater length later, for now other matters must take precedence."

Zieggrek bows his head reverently at the Matron. "Yes, Matron Mother. Zieggrek is at your call."

Current:

Zieggrek roars in frustration as his claws pass through the tiger without effect. He pauses for a split second to survey the room; seeing that the bugbear is assisting the Matron with the tiger, but Dessa is unprotected, Zieggrek leaps to attack the foe nearest to her, screaming in rage.

OOC: Rage on Zieggrek's action, followed by attack on nearest enemy to where Dessa is captured. If things look to be going worse for the Matron, Zieggrek will help her instead.

 

[Endur]

Zieggrek engages the skinless drow female closest to his mother. As he attacks the revolting undead creature, he realizes that he recognizes her scent. She is or was, Dreshalla Morcane, one of Dessa's rivals to replace Matron Alisannara as Matron of House Morcane. Zieggrek remembered Dreshalla taunting him and calling him a 'stupid half-breed' when he was young. After he grew big, nobody ever taunted him again.

Zieggrek howls in rage as his claws rend Dreshalla's skin, but Dreshalla's very blood burns Zieggrek's claws.

Meanwhile, some of the furniture in the room has caught fire as a result of the fireball.

The Black Tiger has long tentacles coming off his back, that are flailing this way and that, adding to the confusion.

Kilcif is paralyzed with fear, as is Guldor Morcane and Quertus (after casting his first fireball).

Durdyn Morcane takes the opportunity to stab Kilcif in the back for four points of damage. Kilcif does not succumb to the drow sleep poison on Durdyn's blade.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

Zieggrek engages the skinless drow female closest to his mother. As he attacks the revolting undead creature, he realizes that he recognizes her scent. She is or was, Dreshalla Morcane, one of Dessa's rivals to replace Matron Alisannara as Matron of House Morcane. Zieggrek remembered Dreshalla taunting him and calling him a 'stupid half-breed' when he was young. After he grew big, nobody ever taunted him again.

Zieggrek howls in rage as his claws rend Dreshalla's skin, but Dreshalla's very blood burns Zieggrek's claws.

Meanwhile, some of the furniture in the room has caught fire as a result of the fireball.

The Black Tiger has long tentacles coming off his back, that are flailing this way and that, adding to the confusion.

Kilcif has decided that it is time to retreat once more, and flees out of the battle.

Tierak moves to flank what remains of Dreshalla, striking with her morningstar.

 

[Endur]

Quertus casts Fireball for 33 points of damage. Dorina was not affected; the others were.
Ripper took 23 points. Both Quth-Maren took 18 points. Kiernan took 33 and Leonon took 16 points.


Dorina T’sarran: sits on her throne
Ripper: Grapples Matron Ki’Willis
Dreshalla Morcane (Quth-Maren): fear gaze
Unnamed Quth-Maren: fear gaze
Kiernan Morcane: attempted to dominate Tierak Morcane, but failed.
Leonon Morcane: Dominates Durdyn Morcane,

House Millithor/House Morcane Order of Battle
Matron Ki'Willis Millithor: grapples Ripper
Carcelen Millithor: Attacks Ripper (doing 8 points of damage)
Tierak Morcane: Attacks Dreshalla Morcane (doing 6 points of damage)
Zieggrek Morcane: Destroys what remains of Dreshalla Morcane (doing 29 points of damage with one claw). Zieggrek took 8 points of damage from acid.
Bebilith: Attacks Ripper (doing 51 points of damage, Ripper survives the poison)
Bebilith: Entangles a Quth-Maren and Leonon Morcane in webbing
Dariel Millithor: Attacks Ripper, hitting with the blade covered by sleep venom, Ripper does not succumb to the poison. (doing 20 points of damage)
Belarbreena, female drow Aranea: paralyzed by fear
Kilcif: paralyzed by fear
Guldor Morcane: paralyzed by fear
Durdyn Morcane: attacks Kilcif, then is freed as he moves within 10’ of the matron
Quertus Millithor: paralyzed by fear


Dorina T’sarran: sits on her throne
Ripper: Grapples Matron Ki’Willis for 25 points of damage
Unnamed Quth-Maren: Entangled in webbing, uses acid to burn her way free.
Kiernan Morcane: Turns to gaseous form and floats to rear of the room.
Leonon Morcane: Escapes from webbing by turning to gaseous form, floats towards rear of the room

Ripper, the huge displacer beast, is slain by the Matron, Carclon, Dudryn Morcane, and one of the Bebiliths.

The remaining Quth-Maren fights on for a little while, but is shredded by the combined forces of House Millithor and House Morcane.

Kiernan and Leonon Morcane, both in gaseous form, float out the rear of the room through cracks in the wall.

 

[Serpenteye]

The Matron pushes the huge beast to the side as she rises, her beautiful clothes stained with blood. After using the Cephalometer on Kilcif to override the vampiric domination with her own and keep him from turning on them she signals to Durdyn that he should stay near her.
She strides forwards towards the hidden door and Dorina's coffin, ignoring the illusion on the throne.

"Let's finish this."

 

[Endur]

Kilcif is still paralyzed with fear as the Matron places the Cephalometer around his head. The Matron's will overrides the vampire's domination and takes control of Kilcif's brain.

The fear effect wears off those who were frightened by the gaze of the Quth-Maren.

Dessa Sik-Morcane moans in pain, but her voice is muffled and hard to hear because of the tube that has been forced down her throat.

 

[Pyrex]

"Mother, what about her?" Carcelon asks, nodding towards Dessa, "If her mind is whole she could be valuable."