Murphy readies a shot, but before he can get it off, he hears a strange crackling roar. He holds his shot in case a greater threat is about to appear...
The strange frozen flames in the fireplace at either end of the dining room suddenly come to life, flickering as if they were normal fire, but bright blue. From behind the flames a claw appears, growing larger as it travels forward out from the fireplace. Two spindly white creatures, all arms and legs, grab onto the icy floor and pull themself from the fireplace as if clambering out of a boat onto dry land. They heave themselves to their feet and stand hunched over, staring around the room. Once they are through, the flames freeze again in their new configuration.
Ice Warrior Shardling:
As Murphy watches, he sees the same thing happening in the study to his left: a spindly Ice Warrior pulls itself from the fireplace, staring directly at him all the while. At raises its hand to point at him with long, taloned fingers, and a bolt of pure white ice flies at him. It shatters on the doorway.
The two in the dining room finish their survey of the room and their eyes lock on to the wounded pair of heroes. Licking their lips in anticipation, they hurl similar bolts at towards them. Fortunately they are still disoriented from their appearance, and the bolts impact on the walls and table.
Suddenly the door near Shorrin swings open, revealing a bedroom behind it. Like the other rooms, every surface is covered in ice, including the sheets on a narrow bed pushed against the far wall. Another fireplace stands beside the bed, also filled with frozen flame. A fourth shardling stands framed in the doorway.
[sblock=Status]
Shorrin shifts to E5, misses Raider 1, and fails his saving throw (
Save vs Slow (1d20=4)).
Larinza is already adjacent to Shorrin, so she doesn't move. She uses Inspiring Word on him: he regains 8 hp, and either 1d6 more or he gets to make another save vs. slow. Up to him. Larinza takes Second Wind, regaining 7 hp and +2 to defenses until EONT.
On initiative 8, before Murphy can go, three Ice Warrior Shardlings come out of the fireplaces at J10, J1 and A4 (move action). They use their standard actions to attack Balth, Janus and Murphy (respectively) with Ice Bolt:
Ice Bolt vs Janus, Shorrin and Murphy (-2 against Murphy for cover) (1d20+4=6, 1d20+4=9, 1d20+4-2=3) All 3 miss.
A fourth Ice Warrior Shardling appears from a fireplace you haven't seen yet at A5(move action), trades its standard action for a move to C6, and opens the door with a minor action.
Cancelling Murphy's action because the situation has changed - he can act again.
The doors at C6 and G6 are open, all others are closed.
Murphy's turn, then Janus! Shorrin can either roll 1d6 and regain that many hp, or make an immediate save vs. slow.
20 - Janus (
10/22 hp + 8 thp, +3 to all defenses until EONT, +1 afterwards)
23 - Ice Warrior Raider 1 at D5 (
16 damage, marked by Shorrin)
8 - Ice Warrior Raider 2 at G3 (48 damage)
19 - Ice Warrior Frostling at C3 (
0 damage, used Icy Burst, cold creatures within 5 squares gain Regeneration 2, held action)
19 - Ice Warrior Icicle Hurler at ?? (
21 damage, held action)
7 - ?? at ?? (
0 damage)
17 - Balth (
12/27 hp + 8 thp, +1 to all defenses)
12 - Shorrin (
19/33 hp + 8 thp, +1 to all defenses, slowed (save ends))
8 - Larinza (
23/29 hp, +2 to all defenses until EONT, allies in LOS who spend an action point regain 4 hp)
8 - Ice Warrior Shardling 1 at J10 (
0 damage)
8 - Ice Warrior Shardling 2 at J1 (
0 damage)
8 - Ice Warrior Shardling 3 at A4 (
0 damage)
8 - Ice Warrior Shardling 4 at C6 (
0 damage)
5 - Murphy (
26/26 hp + 8 thp, +1 to all defenses, Warlock's Curse on Raider 1)
[/sblock]
