The Lost City - Part 8 (Session 31)
Brigit growled a complaint about Trollgrater not flaming on command before stalking towards the advancing mummies. Her axe nevertheless slashed through bandages and undead flesh alike. The mummy seemed especially resilient to her attack. Kanadius and the Maidens found that their weapons did even less damage. The mummies' resistance to their blows was alarming. Even though they hit frequently, not one of the allies' attacks seemed to faze the undead horrors.
The mummies lashed out at the allies, slamming into those not bowing in abject worship of Zenobea. Brigit shrugged off one blow with dwarven hardiness. She could feel the mummy's curse try to take hold but managed to resist the disease. Others were not so fortunate. Brigit suffered a stroke of good luck as a second zombie lunged for her. The wrappings covering its desiccated corpse were a bit too loose. The mummy actually tripped over its own bandages and fell to an ignominious heap at her feet.
Milo definitely didn't like the looks of things with Zenobea casting down on them from on high and a batch of enemies that none of their troops could damage. He lapsed into a chant and summoned his limited knowledge of Usamigaras. His recitation seemed to flow from him like pristine water from a fountain. His words strengthened his allies with a divine power while simultaneously weakening his foes. The Magi in the rear ranks stood with mixed expressions of awe and content as the holy words of their god reached them through the din of the battle. They began chanting his name as soon as he finished his impromptu oration.
"Kill the women!" came a telepathically broadcast demand. Kanadius' men stood as one and readied their arms to attack their former allies. At the same moment there came a sound as if an immense cart were traversing a wooden bridge. The loud creaking seemed to come from the roof of the temple. Milo groaned, it couldn't be good news.
Before the Brotherhood could attack the Maidens, a quick-thinking Mazithra completely immobilized them with a well-placed web. The men struggled against the sticky bonds to no avail. Another stroke of luck imprisoned one of the mummies within the mystical strands.
Unfazed by the sounds from the temple, Brigit dropped her shield and pulled out her magical warhammer with blinding speed. Her arms rose and fell in quick succession, landing multiple blows on a hapless mummy. Mazi commanded her troops to unleash what little magic they had left. The remaining mummies groaned as mystical energy disrupted them. Milo brandished his holy symbol again. Light poured forth from the star to slam into the undead. Two more mummies turned to flee.
Jeremiah had finally rallied the rest of Kanadius' men and they entered the fray just in time to attack the fleeing mummies. Brigit got her shots in before the undead could run. Her relentless blows rained down on the weakened mummies. Her first hit sliced completely through the first mummy, bandages, corpse, and all. She used the force to slide into the other, following up with four more solid blows. Despite the heat of the battle, Kanadius' men whistled in appreciation.
The creaking on the temple roof increased in volume as it drew nearer to the edge. Milo's fears were confirmed as a scaly black shape loomed over the temple wall. It's triangular-shaped head was covered with horns and shiny obsidian scale. Two bright red eyes gazed malevolently down at the assembled forces. Someone from the rear shouted a hoarse alarm, "DRAGON!"
It seemed to Milo that the dragon's mouth curved up in a malicious smile before it opened its jaws wide. A piercing roar washed over them, intimidating the strongest willed of the warriors. The roar was followed by a viscous stream of acid. The black dragon that was Zenobea sprayed Jeremiah and Kanadius' men with deadly accuracy. The only standing man after the attack was Jeremiah, his armor steaming from the caustic fluids.
Mazithra rallied the Magi and led them closer to the battle. On her command two of the men sent flames from their hands into the mummies that had not fled. The burning hands caught their bandages and they flared with the heat. Mazi sent a lightning bolt at Zenobea for good measure. The spell was resisted once again and the electricity played across its scales harmlessly.
One of the flaming mummies toppled before Brigit could finish it off. The other mummy Milo turned fled past Brigit and Jeremiah. They both scored hits as it disappeared into the darkness of the temple. Things would be looking great right now, thought Milo, if it weren't for the frelling dragon!
