Island Empire, Part IV To face the Lich

[mleibrock]

Radoon

[sblock=Zurrik] I have to wonder why you'd pick the Gnome rather than H'Roosh to try and conceal your actions, but either way, Zoolema seems to take no notice. Both the dagger and the wand are magical. There is also a magic ring and something concealed in her hair. There is at least one item below the table as well. [/sblock]

Zoolema nods to the others as they introduce themselves and fixes silent H'Roosh with a stare before addressing Radoon. She laughs. "I would say we are enemies, but I doubt he cares enough to consider me an enemy. Well those are mighty bold words. I wonder are you completely deluded? The Sea Sorcerer is quite powerful. I hear he has returned even more potent than before. What makes you think you'll have a chance?"

As the witch fixes her gaze on H'Roosh and he remains silent Radoon will offer, "H'Roosh". "Yes, we are not on his best side either. We had a previous run in with the sorcerer and nearly killed him but in our lack of undead knowledge didn't realize we had to destroy his phylactery as well. So we now have to engage him all over. We had hoped you might be able to provide us a little inside knowledge on the tower and where he possibly might be keeping his box."

 

[Scotley]

Her demeanor changes at this latest comment. "You fought him? Nearly killed him? Forgive me if I doubt you. What did he look like? What sort of spells and items of power did he use in his defense? If you convince me that you are telling the truth and are serious about going after him again, I will help you."

 

[Lou]

Zurrik Odeil

Zurrik speaks up quickly, "Mistress Zoolema, we are very serious about killing the lich. I joined the party after the first battle, so I have little first-hand knowledge about the battle at the compound at Mermaid's Rest. My friends have told me about the large numbers of undead surrounding him, including undead water trolls and sharks. The lich was sitting on an altar of ice holding a dagger of some kind. He summoned a bone devil, they believe it was, to protect him. At the end, when my friends had bested him, he destroyed the altar and cursed them." Turning to Gnurl, "Master Gnurl, what spells do you recall the lich casting during the battle?"

OOC: I hate to speak first here, but I'm trying to jog the others' memories so they can give a first-hand account of the battle. Recall that Zurrik has asked about the details of the battle and what abilities the party has so he can prepare for this coming battle with the lich.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

H'Roosh stirs slightly and speaks up. "There was a priest with him as well . . . a fairly powerful one." He turns his gaze to Gnurl and Radoon. "Do you recall if we took anything from him that would demonstrate the veracity of our claims?"

 

[mleibrock]

Radoon

Radoon will show the witch some of the sores on his body and I'm sure she might be able to pick up on the stench. (Though I know we had a priest help with these symptoms). "He has cursed us and though we may have let sleeping dogs lie otherwise. He has forced out hand in this. In order for the curse to be broken we have to do away with him. We also have another party member (a fairly powerful priest) who can't be with us right now but will again when we have this final fight."

 

[Leif]

Gnurl Whiskerling

Zurrik speaks up quickly, "Mistress Zoolema, we are very serious about killing the lich. I joined the party after the first battle, so I have little first-hand knowledge about the battle at the compound at Mermaid's Rest. My friends have told me about the large numbers of undead surrounding him, including undead water trolls and sharks. The lich was sitting on an altar of ice holding a dagger of some kind. He summoned a bone devil, they believe it was, to protect him. At the end, when my friends had bested him, he destroyed the altar and cursed them." Turning to Gnurl, "Master Gnurl, what spells do you recall the lich casting during the battle?"

OOC: I hate to speak first here, but I'm trying to jog the others' memories so they can give a first-hand account of the battle. Recall that Zurrik has asked about the details of the battle and what abilities the party has so he can prepare for this coming battle with the lich.

"Sadly, Zurrik, I now have no specific memory of the spells used in the battle.... But, let me think on it more, I do seem to recall a summoning of some sort....perhaps?"

 

[Scotley]

OOC: Sorry gang, I and my youngest have been felled by a stomach virus this week. Trying to recover and get caught up on posting. I will get things moving again before the weekend is out.

 

[Leif]

OOC: No worries, Dude. I'm still struggling somewhat with my "sick foot," too.

 

[Scotley]

She examines you more closely now, casting a detection spell to see the magic upon you. "Yes, I see the mark of his magic, though it has changed. His power has become darker, colder even than it was before. His talents were mostly illusion before, but I see now he has a raw energy that was lacking before. He has become even more dangerous than when I knew him." She rises and goes over to the animal pen and selects a small goat. With one quick expert slash she dispatches it, spilling hot blood onto her brazier and adding a handful of herbs and incense. A bluish cloud of smoke filled with sparkling motes rises up. The air becomes thick and it becomes hot and close in the little room. Zoolema examines the motes with care, a wild glassy look in her eyes. Shouting in an ancient Gnollish language, she slashes upon the belly of the goat and cuts a length of entrail. Zoolema studies it a moment before tossing it into the flame. She takes a drink from a skin flask and spits a potent liquor into the fire. It flares up green and gold and the heat of it forces you back toward the door. She screams a long ululation and begins a leaping dance about the brazier. You are in the presence of raw primitive magic now and the hair on the back of you neck rises and you heart races. It becomes hard to breath. A face, gnollish, but more bestial with horns and fangs appears in the flame and Zoolema drops to her knees and lets out a final almost orgasmic wail then prostrates herself before the image. She implores three times in the same strange language and is answered each time by the figure in the flames. She lets out a final exhausted wail as the bestial head rises toward the ceiling and turns from her to stare at each of you in turn. The gaze makes you weak in the knees and a cold chill runs down your spine despite the heat in the room. You have the sensation of being prey stared down by a predator. The fiery head explodes and embers fly forth to strike you. Gnurl takes burn on an palm upturned to shield his eyes, H'Roosh is struck on the back of a fist raised as if to ward off a blow, Zurrik is struck on the chin and Radoon is seared at a spot just above and between his eyes. Zoolema herself is stuck down with a larger burn on her chest. She curls into a fetal position on the floor that seems quite unnatural in her large fearsome form. The flames die down to a glow and the smell of burned flesh is strong in the darkened room. After a moment Zoolema picks herself up off the floor and takes another pull of the liquor this time swallowing it rather than spitting into the flame. In a raspy voice she calls for goblins from the bar. They bring you ale and take away the slain goat. Zoolema cleans her dagger on the tunic of one of the goblins who looks terrified and flees the room. She tucks the blade back into her wrist sheath and stumble back to her seat. (continued below)

 

[Scotley]

"So, Kalima has blessed you all with his gifts. You may have a chance against the Lich after all. It is hard to see the fate of one so powerful as he, but Kalima says he can be bested. Another seeks his destruction as well."