H1 Keep on the Shadowfell.
Encounter #24 Area 19: The Shadow Rift.
Round #2.
Grey's hands begin to shake, he strains to break free from the dark energies of the Shallowgrave Wight's Grave Bolt. The Decrepit Skeleton comes again, and without thought he attempts to swat the creature aside with his magical staff- and so it comes to pass, he smiles momentarily, the thought he should try to fight his way out- with his staff, almost makes him laugh.
“For even in the darkest places there is always, somewhere, a speck of light”, something that Kaspard had said a while back- Gret turns to look at the inky Portal, raises his magical staff aloft, fighting all the way the dark energies and in a resonant voice pronounces words of power- a thousand strands of glowing ice dart from his staff, a fiery swarm of miniature comets that implode and explode as they meet the yawning abyss, a glimmer, a spark, a... hope.
The Portal has been weakened.
Grey falls forward, the Wights Immobilising energies now entirely spent.
Grey- Immobilised. Quarterstaff SS6; Hit 4 damage- DEAD. Disrupt Ritual- Arcana Check '20'- Success (1:0). Save vs Immobilised- Success.
Need 8 Successes before 3 Failures to disrupt the Ritual and Close the Portal.
And as if by way of reward the Mage is suddenly infused with the warmth of Kaspard's Healing Word, Kaspard smiles a reply and then concentrates her efforts again- her Healing energies, her essence is sent forth again, this time aimed at the dark Portal, and again the glorious radiant power leaves behind traceries of gold in the shadow window- the Portal is being sealed.
Just in time Kaspard turns back as another of the Skeletons darts toward her, it's longsword fails to connect but her blow is also mistimed, a third call on her Healing Powers goes unheeded, the prayer lost in the fracas.
Kaspard- Healing Word +7 HP Grey (21 HP). Disrupt Ritual- Heal Check- Success, channels Healing Surge into Portal (2:0). Healing Strike SS5; Miss.
Winstanley ducks down, looks swiftly left, then right- where next, he scooches over, again at a low crouch, again his dagger comes, spirals from his hand- but this time, at the last moment, is glanced aside by Kalarel's Rod of Ruin, a second later it is back in the Halfling's hand.
Winstanley- Move. Sly Flourish K; Miss.
Grey is forced to turn again, to stare at the inky abyss- some dark force reaches out to him, beckons him, calls for him- he shakes his head free of the clouds.
TitP- Whispering Lure Grey; Miss.
Phrenic dodges in towards Kalarel, a practised stroke, his longsword zig-zags down, deflecting three or four of the Scions blows before lancing in and deep, straight into Kalarel's gut, he withdraws the blade now slick with blood. Kalrel mouths half words, and bleeds a little from his mouth.
“Destroy the Abomination! On me!” Phrenic screams and rallies his forces, alas his blow is turned aside, however his anger is reflected in the eyes of the other adventurers- eager to see Kalarel slain.
And still he is not spent, his sword lances out, points at the Portal, just for a second, whispered words and a blancing lance of light which etches the jet black surface and leaves behind a glistening ragged scar.
Phrenic- Shift. Leaf on the Wind Combat Advantage K; Crit 25 damage (115 HP). Action Point. Daily Lead the Attack K; Miss +1 To Hit K for Phrenic, Dirty & Winstanley. Disrupt Ritual- Arcana Check- Success (3:0).
SS1- DEAD.
SS2- DEAD.
The Skeletons come again at Phrenic, he dodges one blow but is caught by the second, as of yet only flesh wounds, he grimaces and is quickly back in the fight.
SS3- Move. Longsword Phrenic; Miss.
SS4- Move. Longsword Phrenic; Hit 5 damage (28 HP).
Another of the Skeletons manages to knock aside Kaspard's mace, stab her in the side- more blood, and yet she is still strong.
SS5- Longsword Kaspard; Hit 5 damage (36 HP). Shift.
SS6- DEAD.
Grey is less fortunate... THUNK! THUNK! He suddenly sprouts two more arrow shafts, Kaspard's Healing Word is too soon spent, he sags.
SS7- Longbow Grey; Hit 5 damage (16 HP bloodied).
SS8- Longbow Grey; Hit 5 damage (11 HP bloodied).
Dirty however is still up and swinging, he puts all his strength into a Brutal Strike, connects again- this time with Kalarel's left shoulder which crunches and is crushed, the Scion of Orcus' left hand hangs limp.
“Give up laddie?” Dirty hisses with a grin.
“Or?” Kalarel enquires.
“Die.” Dirty finishes with a shrug.
The effects of the Rod of Ruin now completely gone.
Dirty- 5 ongoing Necrotic -5 (Resist) = 0 damage. Daily Brute Strike K; Hit 29 damage (86 HP bloodied). Marked. Save vs ongoing Necrotic- Success.
The Shallowgrave Wight is not done however. He creeps a little closer, maintaining eye contact with Grey, another bolt of Necrotic power slams into the Wizard, once again his limbs stiffen, and worse still he teeters on the brink of black.
SW- Move. Grave Bolt Grey; Hit 6 Necrotic damage (5 HP bloodied) & Immobilised.
“It's you that shall die...” Kalarel declares., and then brings down the Rod of Ruin onto Dirty's helm, almost crushing it in an instant- once again the dark energies rush into the Dwarf... and again the Rod comes, the second blow leaving Dirty bloodied and battered he staggers, looks up just in time to see Kalarel's smiling face before... BLINK.
The Scion of Orcus is gone.
“Mwha-hah-hah-hah, do you think my Master would come so far and have me fail.”
Kalarel reappears inside a newly formed circle of dark power before the Portal.
“You will serve as the final sacrifice, your energies will fuel the final Ritual- the Portal will open and my Master's forces will pour through- all of the Nentir Valley will be submerged in the shadow tsunami...”
Behind Kalarel the Portal stretches and shapes into a taloned tentacles of shadow.
“Come now, let us end this.” Kalarel states.
K- Rod of Ruin Dirty; Hit 12 damage (33 HP) & ongoing 5 Necrotic damage. Action Point. Rod of Ruin Dirty; Hit 13 damage (20 HP bloodied) & ongoing 5 Necrotic damage. K Teleports to Magic Circle.
Time to play 14 minutes.
End of Turn-
Good Guys
Dirty Biskit, Male Dwarven Fighter 4 (HP20/55)
Kaspard, Female Half-Elf Cleric of Bahamut 4 (HP36/41)
Winstanley Portico, Male Halfling Rogue 4 (HP41)
Grey Morlock, Male Human Wizard 4 (HP6/36)
Phrenic, Male Tiefling Warlord 4 (HP28/44)
Bad Guys 2104XP Level 9 Encounter (including Ritual).
Skeleton Sentinels Level 3 Minion [SS] (x8) (HP1) 3 DEAD
Shallowgrave Wight Level 4 Controller [SW] (HP54)
Kalarel, Scion of Orcus 8 Elite Controller [K] (HP86/186)
Hazard: The Thing in the Portal [TitP] Level 4 Lurker
Skill Challenge: Close the Portal- 3 Successes 0 Failures
Action Points 1 Total 1
Daily Powers 2 Total 2
Healing Surges 1 Total 1
2nd Winds 0 Total 1
Crits 1 Total 2
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crits 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Action Points 1 Total 1
Ritual Success 3 Total 3
Ritual Failures 0 Total 0
Comment: It's swinging back and forth, doesn't look good for Grey, usually the go-to-guy; Kalarel is bloodied but far from beaten, and the PCs have expended quite a few of their choicest powers.
Which way will it go?
Who will make it out alive?
Any of them?
