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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 669405" data-attributes="member: 6294">Kull's First Report, Part 4The creature came in the middle of the night.It made no attempt to conceal its approach, and those on guard were quick to waken myself and the others.  Already weakened by our earlier battles, and with no knowledge of what approached, I knew we were ill-equipped to face another foe.  But when Hextor wills battle, it is foolish to try and deny Him.Brodnak and the more reliable of the human females took the front line of defence at one door, while I directed the others in blocking the second.  Weapons and spells at the ready, we waited: but not for long.The creature burst in through the door guarded by the two warriors, bringing with it a wave of frigid air.  Man-tall, but gaunt, it was dressed only in frost-rimed rags.  It's flesh was pallid, tinged with blue, and I knew immediately that we faced an undead creature far more powerful than the mere skeletons and zombies we had encountered thus far.Both warriors struck, their blades drawing sprays of ice crystals, but the creature ignored them both, lurching past them and down the stairs: toward the furnace.Zalich was the first to react, scrambling after it.  I called to him to use his magic to invoke fire, but he chose instead to cast a feeble beam of energy, which the creature barely seemed to feel.  It felt Troilan's contribution to the fight even less, as her blade did not even get within a foot of it.Pausing only long enough to backhand Troilan; a blow that immediately crumpled the woman to the floor; the creature lurched onward.  Knowing that I was the only one with the skills to stabilise the young fool, I moved to her side, while instructing the others to pursue the creature.They quickly disappeared beyond the corner, the sounds of combat clearly reaching me as I bound Troilan's injury.  The wound was as troublesome as the woman herself, and by the time I was done, the sounds had already lessened, moving further away.  I hurried on as best I could, knowing from the injuries it had already inflicted that the creature would soon fell more of the others.Even as I reached the store room, however, I saw the warm glow of the furnace suddenly snuffed out, plunging the chamber into darkness.  Thanks to my heritage, this made no difference to me, but I knew that the others would be even more helpless, now.Suddenly the creature burst back into the room.  I readied myself to face it as it strode forward, but then I heard Zalich call out for aid.  I was tempted to ignore the halfling, but as Hextor teaches us: the Only Honour is in Victory.  To face the creature alone, in my wounded state, would surely mean my death.  And thus instead I stood aside and let it past, then made my way to the furnace room.There lay Brodnak and the self-styled 'Druid', both in pools of their own spreading blood.  Judging the nature-worshipper to be closer to death, I attended him first.  As well for him I did.  Had I not, he would have learned first hand in the afterlife the folly of his misguided beliefs.Once I had also bound the wounds of Brodnak, I instructed the others to assist me in restarting the furnace.  At first they hesitated, protesting that to do so might draw the creature back, but they accepted the wisdom of my instructions when I reminded them out that without the warmth, we would surely not survive the night.It took time to clear the now frozen coal, and slowly build up the fire again, but the exertion helped keep out the chill, at least.Having already had some rest, and with injured at hand, I bade the women sleep, and stood watch for the rest of the night.  Even now, I give thanks to Hextor that the creature did not return at that time.  Our deaths would have been assured.At last, I knew the time had come when I could once more prayer to our Lord for his divine grace.  He knew my need, and granted me every ounce of healing that I requested.  Through His Will, I was able to restore both Brodnak and the druid to good health, and alleviate the wounds suffered by myself.Despite his ridiculous faith, the druid's healing arts soon proved useful, as he revived Troilan, and tended the injuries suffered by the others.  With all six of our number once more on their feet, and the navigator also much recovered, there seemed to be some who though the worst was past.This, of course, was foolishness.  The enemy had withdrawn, but was far from defeated: in fact, if anything, he had been victorious.  I reminded the group of this, and that it is Hextor's Will that only the strong and the disciplined will prevail.When night fell, we could be sure the creature would return, and we could be equally sure that we would either be prepared for it, or we would fall.</blockquote>

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