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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spider_Jerusalem" data-source="post: 1750765" data-attributes="member: 5507">Strahd! Uh... sorry, Thalin! Great to see you. Nice to have the team on here now. Yes, we have completed the Magic Circle! Or is that Circle of Madness?Yeah, you guys nuked the guards. Dammnit. By the way, this last part is another whopper.anyway:Part 4 of 4Torious roared again, his voice cracking with bursts of celestial fury. Drawing Freedom’s Edge from the chest of a flailing guard, he whirled and pitched a second into the courtyard. The Ulutians pressed forwards, their frenzy of revenge having left a spattered trail along the wall. Two of the barbarians had fallen to the crossbowmen of Robar, a further three had died in the assault. Led by Torious’ beacon of scarlight, they plunged into the last ragged line of guards. - - - - - - - - - -Thalin slid to his right, and guided the flaming blade to the ground. The illusion was cheap, and Thalin had soon worked out where the real mage was. The border-mage was clothed for the cold, his chubby face a snarl of concentration as Thalin slid Shard into his shoulder, dashing another spell from his mind.The duelling mages crashed swords together again. Slivers of ice and droplets of fire cascaded around them, baring the courtyard in a bleeding pulse of light. They weaved between the statues of the frozen crossbowmen, waiting for a moment to strike. Thalin altered his grip, then aimed low. His sword crackled across his opponent’s thigh. As he darted away, Thalin felt a molten pain rip through his shoulder.The two mages disengaged for a moment, their blades trailing sparks of energy as they circled each other.“You must be the boy from the Glacier,” crowed the border-mage as his free hand crafted another attack, “Such a pity to come so far to die in a place like this!”“Boy from the glacier?” spat Thalin as he prepared to counter “well yes, but then you must be the pig from the wall.” “Petty child!” laughed the mage, his eyes narrowing to vicious beads, “then let this pig be your slayer!”The border-mage shot both hands forwards with a grunt. Thalin whipped his free arm from behind him, sending discs of ice hissing into the gut of his opponent. The border-mage fell back with a gasp. As he toppled, a white-hot spark flew from his outstretched hands and landed just behind Thalin. - - - - - - - - - -Torious ducked instinctively as the blast shook the wall. Ice and mud rained around him. A guards’ sword found his side in the confusion and Torious staggered back, quickly healing the seeping wound. The Ulutian leader pounced past, bludgeoning the guards head into a pulp with a howl. Torious stepped back from the melee and took in his position. Only two guards left on the wall. The explosion came from the courtyard. His aasimar eyes couldn’t pierce the cloud of ice and dust that bulged into the air. On the far side of the gate, Torious could see the hunched form of Milo. The halfling was crouched over a dead guard. Probably checking for money. Dammnit Milo, we need you right now. Torious felt the flesh knit together in his side as Tyr blessed him another wave of strength. As his muscles flaring with the might of Tyr, Torious didn’t feel the first crossbow bolt puncture through his waist. He felt the second and third. More crossbowmen had appeared on the far side of the wall. Torious could only make out three through the fog of the explosion. There are always more. One was advancing on Milo, the others were firing into the throng of Torious’ melee. The aasimar snapped the bolts from his waist with a grunt and moved to intercept the first guard. - - - - - - - - - -Thalin spat ice from his mouth and tasted hot blood. His skin was alive with a tearing pain. Through the haze of the rubble-strewn courtyard, the border-mage stalked forwards. Thalin’s hands clutched the cobblestones. Trying to push himself to his feet, Thalin collapsed back as his legs buckled and pain tore through him.As the border-mage looked down with a satisfied smirk, he outstretched a hand and began to summon a last attack, “I told you. You never stood a chance you fool!” gloated the mage, “ Robar wanted to kill you himself, but it looks like I’ll have the pleasure”.Thalin lolled his head to the side and coughed a laugh. The mage only had time to glance up as Dariel dove through the fog with a predatory shriek, and plunged his talons into the mage’s face. With a gasped incantation, Thalin cast his final attack through his familiar. With a violent hiss, the border-mages’ head shattered into a fine mist of blood and ice.The mage stood erect for a moment, his body trembling before collapsing in a heap. Dariel was lost momentarily in the fog, then came swooping back. He skittered to land next to Thalin, his feathers burnt and ugly. A pained squawk escaped his beak. Thalin pulled his familiar close, his fingers teasing at the crusted feathers. As one, Dariel and Thalin slipped into unconsciousness. - - - - - - - - - -Torious vaulted another body and cleaved Freedom’s Edge through the backtracking crossbowman. His voice lost in a continuous whispered prayer, Torious toppled two more guards with cold precision. His scarlight cast brilliant shadows across the border-fort, then died in an instant.Milo was crouched at Torious’ feet, his back to the aasimar.“Milo! What are you doing?!?” cried Torious as he miraculously deflected a crossbow bolt with the hilt of Freedom’s Edge.Milo did not answer. Torious saw then that Milo’s arms were coated crimson up to the elbow. The halfling bent forwards again and Torious felt sick as he watched Milo immerse his head into the hollowed chest space of a guard. “MILO! By the gods!” roared Torious.The halfling slowly moved his head to look at Torious. His pupils were pinpricks in pools of white. His head was slick with blood. Torious felt two more bolts scatter off of his backplate.Torious saw Milo’s hand clutched Vampire. Its hilt was a vicious web of teeth, and the blade was bulging and misshapen. Torious crouched down. Milo looked up with no recognition and Torious knew he was lost. Milo lulled his head for a moment then shot forwards and clamped onto Torious’s arm with his mouth. His teeth grated against the cold steel. The aasimar tried to pull away, but Milo’s grip was like a vice. Torious felt the Ulutians rush past him on their way to the remaining guards. Milo’s eyes stared straight through Torious as he chewed against the metal.“You have been tempted by this foul creature, dressed as a blade” began Torious, his body tuning to the restorative energies of Tyr “and you have paid the price, for you are now nothing more than an animal”.Torious channelled the flux of power that flowed through him. The sounds of battle dimmed to a murmur. “Return now Milo, for there is”, Torious began to stumble for words, “uhh… much to be done yet, and…well… lots of justice to be dealt.” He paused for a moment. “Now I banish thee, foul curse, to the depths of hell!”Milo blinked, and his pupils filled back to normal. Torious looked down at the halfling with a stare of admonishment. Milo meekly relaxed his jaw and sat back cross-legged. He coughed into a fist, then slicked his hair away from his face. Milo shook his arm about until the teeth of Vampire had slid out and the gorged blade clattered to the ground. Torious shook his head at the wayward halfling, “now that I have saved you, what do you say?”Milo looked at the devastation about him. “Who’s winning?”Torious wondered that himself and looked across to where the barbarians were. Having successfully waded into the clutch of guards, the battle was almost won. But not quite. Pulling the bloody halfling to his feet, Torious now saw the courtyard was almost clear of the cloud of dust. He could make out the collapsed body of Thalin leant against one wall. Milo peered down with awe, trying to piece together the last few minutes of action.Idly, and with one eye on the courtyard, Milo fired his crossbow at the last of the guards. The bolt lodged in his back, and spiralling his arms like a windmill, the guard fell into the courtyard with a thump. The two remaining barbarians hollered in victory and shook their weapons above their heads. Torious looked about at the heaps of dead bodies, he realised not all of the guards wore the emblem of Robar. Is this justice?Milo dangled off the edge of the battlement then dropped into the courtyard. Torious took the stairs. Jogging over to Thalin, Torious made sure the mage was alive. He was, though his face was a rash of blistered skin and his beard was burnt to a cinder.Above the courtyard, the barbarians began to loot the bodies of the wall guards.Torious felt the ebb of another healing spell sink into Thalin. A faint sound, something like a buckle being undone, caught the aasimar’s attention. The final guard had dragged his way to the dead body of the border-mage. With wild eyes staring at Torious, he had opened the mages cloak and snatched a coin from the pocket. Torious felt disgraced a half dead man would ransack his own captain!But the crossbowman slung his arm to the ground and sent the coin spiralling into the centre of the courtyard. With a final gasp of air, the guard died. Milo glanced over and joined Torious as they together watched the coin spin to a stop. The coin glowed red and ran into the matrix of cobblestones. The patches of ice and slush in the courtyard began to melt.Milo locked another bolt into his crossbow and crouched ready in the shadows. Torious shook Thalin awake. The mage’s eyes snapped open. His skin had healed a little from Torious’ powers. His beard was still gone.Thalin immediately felt the pulse of magic. “Summoning coin. Dammnit Torious. I leave you for a minute and look what happens.” Torious nodded like a child then helped the mage to his feet.The cobblestones peeled away like an orange as something forced a doorway into existence. Thalin was nearly drained of spells. Torious was all out, the last of his power having pumped Thalin to consciousness. Milo felt sick and was covered in someone else’s blood.A rumbling hiss of sulphur and a wave of heat burst into the courtyard. A molten hole of fire bubbled where there had been ground. A red lance tipped with fire shot forwards, followed by a huge warhorse with a rider in red platemail. The rider’s helmet was down, though through his visor glared two burning eyes. Wicked barbs and hooks covered the rider’s armour. The horse was a monster, its features demonic.“Emberguard!” shouted Torious. He had learned of these fell creatures on his travels. They were the servants of the demonlords and cavalry of Kossuth’s armies. Horse and rider were one, their minds linked by infernal magic.On the walls, the barbarians turned and ran with their loot. Their revenge complete, they had no deal to risk their lives further.The Emberguard pulled itself from the ground. It’s bodies glistened with sweat and fire. Wheeling once to gauge its surroundings, the Emberguard reared up to face Torious. Torious had moved fast and leapt to the attack. Torious closed his eyes and prayed to Tyr. Freedom’s Edge hewed clean through the Rider’s leg. With a heavy thud, the armour-plated limb fell to the ground. Torious went to retreat. His chest exploded in fire as the Emberguard struck back. Torious cried out in pain. The horse thrashed sideways and Torious felt his thigh almost snap under a hoof as he was forced back.Milo released his bolt as the Emberguard span with Torious. The bolt, infused with the luck of Tymora, sped true and slotted neatly between the neck plates of the Emberguard. The bolt punched through the Emberguard’s armour, but the bolt burnt to a crisp a moment later. Not much use thought Milo. Thalin leapt to his feet, leaving Dariel cowering in the corner. A barrage of ice shards thundered into the Emberguard. Thalin felt his heart sink as two of the shards whirred away from the demon and spun into the sky. Torious dodged around the gaping pool of fire, but neglected to see the Emberguard’s next attack. With a crush of bones, Torious was caught by both of the Emberguard’s hooves. Spilling onto his back, Torious narrowly avoided another sword strike to this chest. Milo considered for a moment using the magic bolts he had found in the mines, but decided against it. He could always sell them later. Milo didn’t notice the clouds above momentarily shudder with the possibility of thunder as his thoughts contemplated Talo’s Laughter. Putting the bolts out of his mind, Milo sprung forwards, his crossbow clattering to the floor as he unsheathed Sliverspike. He wished it was Vampire. The Emberguard turned in time to receive the sprawled form of Milo crashing into his breastplate. Milo felt the air in his lungs rush with heat and the blood on his body flake away. Keenly finding the chink in the armour from his crossbow bolt, Milo stabbed the thin length of Sliverspike into the throat of the Emberguard.Thalin watched as Torious and Milo swarmed around the hulking demon. Suddenly he remembered what his father had taught him of summonings. Thalin reached his mind out and dissipated the magic in the courtyard.With a popping of everyone’s ears, a wave of anti-magic rippled over the melee. Thalin felt the Emberguard try to break through his dispel, but somehow failed. With a final thrust of his longsword into the clambering form of Milo (who was now clung to the Emberguard’s back), the Emberguard backed quickly into the closing portal. Milo realised what was happening and leapt clear. The Emberguard spat a curse in an infernal language as its body stepped back from whence it came.Then the Emberguard was gone. The courtyard was silent. Thalin noticed a light snow had started. Torious propped himself up with Freedom’s Edge as he began to sway from loss of blood. His chestplate was twisted and crusted black. Blood flowed freely from beneath his thigh armour. Milo held his side where the Emberguard has left his departing blow, though his wound had already been burnt shut. Thalin looked at the mangled cobblestones from where the Emberguard has arisen, then pushed the courtyard gates open with a grunt and scream of its hinges.Vaerana, Mikka, Errilinth and the villagers were traipsing towards them already. The tiefling hurried over, Vaerana just behind.Mikka shouted his questions “Thalin thank the gods you’re alive! Has the battle been won? Why have you shaved? You look terrible!”Thalin motioned to the villagers to stay back. Vaerana dashed inside as Torious gave up and crumpled to the floor. Milo waved at Mikka. Mikka wondered why his friend was coated in blood.- - - - - - - - - -Hours passed. Bodies were looted and cleared. Rooms were searched and villagers were kept warm with a bonfire. Mikka took advantage of the wall’s parlour and crafted a small feast (aided a little by his magical servants). Everyone agreed the food was excellent. Torious eventually admitted it certainly filled him up. Milo was feeling a little queasy and for the first time in his life declined to join in the revelries.The night went uneventfully and with everyone rested, healed and full, the adventurers continued their passage into the valley.To be continued in…Ice, Luck and HonourChapter 11: Out of the Frying Pan…Our heroes have made it to the valley floor alive. The furious Robar has doubled his patrols and now everyone wants the illustrious heroes dead or alive. As they trek to the town of Illinvur, and amid the plunder of an Umberhulk’s lair, suspicions about the two women in red reach boiling point.</blockquote>

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