Shackled City Epic: "Vengeance" (story concluded)
- Thread starter Lazybones
- Start date
Lazybones
Adventurer
Chapter 434
Having released a huge, advanced devourer clearly set as guardian over this place, the companions wasted no time in getting down to business.
“Destroy it!” Cal shouted, stating the obvious in case anyone was too overwhelmed by the creature’s sudden appearance to attack. Cal was quick to put his own words into action, blasting it with an acid arrow from a wand. The acid splashed over its body, doing little damage, but one look had told the gnome that this enemy would not go down easily.
But the others were already adding their own attacks to the tally. Mole darted around the edge of the threshold long enough to fire her crossbow into the creature; the tiny bolt did little damage but unleashed a jolt of electricity into its body as it sank into its thigh. Dannel likewise was able to fire over Dana, scoring two hits that ricocheted off of the thick bones of its torso, tearing away strips of ugly green flesh. The imprisoned being inside the devourer’s chest tried to shrink away from the impacts, shielding its head in a pathetic gesture.
“Dana, clear the doorway!” Lok urged, his axe at the ready. The priestess lifted a hand and fired a bolt of searing light into the devourer’s body, blasting away part of its substance, driving it back. She stepped aside, deeper into the room, to let her companions enter, but the undead monster was already reaching for her. Its claw was large enough to seize her head entire, but it merely reached out, touching her lightly with the tip of a claw, drawing a pinpoint of red blood from the center of her forehead.
Dana staggered, fighting off a cold chill that she recognized as an attempt to paralyze her. She was made of stern stuff, however, and she was further bolstered by Arun’s still-active magic circle against the evil touch of the devourer. But even as she regained control, she felt a wave of mental energy wash over her, forcing her to shift focus from strength of body to strength of mind. Her will was such that this attack too slid off of her without effect.
But her companions were not all equally gifted. The confusion effect unleashed by the creature took hold of Mole and Lok, taking hold of their minds and temporarily stealing their sanity. Lok just stood there, his axe lowered, but Mole lifted her crossbow and shot her uncle point-blank in the shoulder.
Arun turned as Cal grimaced in pain, but the gnome pointed at the creature with his wand. “Destroy it first, then we’ll worry about them!” he urged. The paladin nodded, and followed Beorna into the room, their weapons raised to strike down the huge undead abomination.
The creature’s size and reach made just getting to it difficult; Beorna took a powerful hit that staggered her, its claw crushing into her shoulder, the brief contact draining her of a fraction of her life essence. The templar merely grunted and shook off the monster’s claw, driving forward to rip her adamantine sword deep into its leg, shivering the bone beneath the emaciated flesh.
Arun, a step behind, rushed around the odd mushroom-shaped tables to flank the creature, coming at it from the side. But before he could reach it, the devourer released another wave of mental power. Again Dana and Beorna, their minds fortified by their commitment to their gods, resisted the effect, but this time Arun faltered. The dwarf, screaming incoherently, brought his holy blade down across the table, striking the iron claws and sending them flying across the room.
The devourer followed up its advantage by blasting Beorna with a ray of enfeeblement that sapped her strength. But the templar merely tightened her grip on her sword, and invoked Helm.
“You made your mistake by letting me get close,” she hissed, her jaw clenched.
Then, with a roar, she unleashed a full assault of power attacks against the huge undead creature. The devourer, being undead, was not vulnerable to the critical strikes that would have disemboweled a living creature, but it was nonetheless staggered by the powerful impacts of the templar’s ultrahard bastard sword.
But Beorna found herself nearly alone against the monster, as her companions were finding their hands quite full with their confused companions. Dana tried to release Arun from the magic holding his mind, but her attempt to dispel the devourer’s magic failed, and the paladin charged at her in a rage, swinging his holy avenger. Dana darted back, narrowly avoiding a cut that would have impaled her, but still taking a glancing hit along the ribs that stung through her light tunic. She leapt into the air, her magic boots carrying her out of the paladin’s reach.
Back in the outer chamber, Cal and Dannel were likewise having difficulties. The gnome had lifted his wand to fire another blast at the devourer, but he saw Lok turn to face him, madness in his eyes, and quickly aborted that plan. Knowing that he could be diced into stew meat if he remained adjacent to the genasi, he instead fell back, out of Lok’s reach. Predictably, the warrior followed, but Cal quickly summoned a displacement and leapt to the side. It was a close call—close enough for him to feel the breeze caused by Lok’s axe as it whipped close by his head.
But while Cal had temporarily escaped his ally’s attack, the maneuver left Lok close by Dannel, who likewise had no choice but to withdraw, taking him out of the line of sight of the doorway, and the enemy.
“We’ve got to take that thing out!” he yelled.
“Working on it!” came Cal’s voice, from nearby.
Beorna felt her life force ebbing as the devourer tore at her with both claws, tossing another quickened confusion at her for good measure. Again she resisted—barely—and returned its attacks with more two-handed strikes from her sword. But she was getting weaker, the energy drains combined with its earlier ray of enfeeblement to sap her vitality and very skill with the blade. She had no choice but to cut back on the all-out desperate strength of her blows, as a power attack deflected harmlessly by its unnaturally durable hide. The entity trapped in its ribs cowered, shrinking with each release of its captor’s powers.
Thus occupied, she did not see Arun turn away from Dana, and step toward her from behind, his holy sword coming up slowly above his head.
Having released a huge, advanced devourer clearly set as guardian over this place, the companions wasted no time in getting down to business.
“Destroy it!” Cal shouted, stating the obvious in case anyone was too overwhelmed by the creature’s sudden appearance to attack. Cal was quick to put his own words into action, blasting it with an acid arrow from a wand. The acid splashed over its body, doing little damage, but one look had told the gnome that this enemy would not go down easily.
But the others were already adding their own attacks to the tally. Mole darted around the edge of the threshold long enough to fire her crossbow into the creature; the tiny bolt did little damage but unleashed a jolt of electricity into its body as it sank into its thigh. Dannel likewise was able to fire over Dana, scoring two hits that ricocheted off of the thick bones of its torso, tearing away strips of ugly green flesh. The imprisoned being inside the devourer’s chest tried to shrink away from the impacts, shielding its head in a pathetic gesture.
“Dana, clear the doorway!” Lok urged, his axe at the ready. The priestess lifted a hand and fired a bolt of searing light into the devourer’s body, blasting away part of its substance, driving it back. She stepped aside, deeper into the room, to let her companions enter, but the undead monster was already reaching for her. Its claw was large enough to seize her head entire, but it merely reached out, touching her lightly with the tip of a claw, drawing a pinpoint of red blood from the center of her forehead.
Dana staggered, fighting off a cold chill that she recognized as an attempt to paralyze her. She was made of stern stuff, however, and she was further bolstered by Arun’s still-active magic circle against the evil touch of the devourer. But even as she regained control, she felt a wave of mental energy wash over her, forcing her to shift focus from strength of body to strength of mind. Her will was such that this attack too slid off of her without effect.
But her companions were not all equally gifted. The confusion effect unleashed by the creature took hold of Mole and Lok, taking hold of their minds and temporarily stealing their sanity. Lok just stood there, his axe lowered, but Mole lifted her crossbow and shot her uncle point-blank in the shoulder.
Arun turned as Cal grimaced in pain, but the gnome pointed at the creature with his wand. “Destroy it first, then we’ll worry about them!” he urged. The paladin nodded, and followed Beorna into the room, their weapons raised to strike down the huge undead abomination.
The creature’s size and reach made just getting to it difficult; Beorna took a powerful hit that staggered her, its claw crushing into her shoulder, the brief contact draining her of a fraction of her life essence. The templar merely grunted and shook off the monster’s claw, driving forward to rip her adamantine sword deep into its leg, shivering the bone beneath the emaciated flesh.
Arun, a step behind, rushed around the odd mushroom-shaped tables to flank the creature, coming at it from the side. But before he could reach it, the devourer released another wave of mental power. Again Dana and Beorna, their minds fortified by their commitment to their gods, resisted the effect, but this time Arun faltered. The dwarf, screaming incoherently, brought his holy blade down across the table, striking the iron claws and sending them flying across the room.
The devourer followed up its advantage by blasting Beorna with a ray of enfeeblement that sapped her strength. But the templar merely tightened her grip on her sword, and invoked Helm.
“You made your mistake by letting me get close,” she hissed, her jaw clenched.
Then, with a roar, she unleashed a full assault of power attacks against the huge undead creature. The devourer, being undead, was not vulnerable to the critical strikes that would have disemboweled a living creature, but it was nonetheless staggered by the powerful impacts of the templar’s ultrahard bastard sword.
But Beorna found herself nearly alone against the monster, as her companions were finding their hands quite full with their confused companions. Dana tried to release Arun from the magic holding his mind, but her attempt to dispel the devourer’s magic failed, and the paladin charged at her in a rage, swinging his holy avenger. Dana darted back, narrowly avoiding a cut that would have impaled her, but still taking a glancing hit along the ribs that stung through her light tunic. She leapt into the air, her magic boots carrying her out of the paladin’s reach.
Back in the outer chamber, Cal and Dannel were likewise having difficulties. The gnome had lifted his wand to fire another blast at the devourer, but he saw Lok turn to face him, madness in his eyes, and quickly aborted that plan. Knowing that he could be diced into stew meat if he remained adjacent to the genasi, he instead fell back, out of Lok’s reach. Predictably, the warrior followed, but Cal quickly summoned a displacement and leapt to the side. It was a close call—close enough for him to feel the breeze caused by Lok’s axe as it whipped close by his head.
But while Cal had temporarily escaped his ally’s attack, the maneuver left Lok close by Dannel, who likewise had no choice but to withdraw, taking him out of the line of sight of the doorway, and the enemy.
“We’ve got to take that thing out!” he yelled.
“Working on it!” came Cal’s voice, from nearby.
Beorna felt her life force ebbing as the devourer tore at her with both claws, tossing another quickened confusion at her for good measure. Again she resisted—barely—and returned its attacks with more two-handed strikes from her sword. But she was getting weaker, the energy drains combined with its earlier ray of enfeeblement to sap her vitality and very skill with the blade. She had no choice but to cut back on the all-out desperate strength of her blows, as a power attack deflected harmlessly by its unnaturally durable hide. The entity trapped in its ribs cowered, shrinking with each release of its captor’s powers.
Thus occupied, she did not see Arun turn away from Dana, and step toward her from behind, his holy sword coming up slowly above his head.
Last edited:
AnAverageDM
First Post
Lazybones said:
I thought there was a permanent invisibility purge on Scullrot???
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
AnAverageDM said:
Come on, grant the author some right not to stick to the module 100%. I'd rather have him writing and not constantly rereading the module to include every trap or spell...Solarious said:Plothole!
Poor dwarven tanks - but tell them they have a weak mind and they'll take your head right off! :[
Lazybones
Adventurer
Chapter 435
“Beorna!” Dana warned, seeing the confused paladin step forward to strike down the templar from behind. The templar glanced back and tried to adjust, but was hindered by another series of attacks from the devourer, including a claw that seized at her helmet, ripping the adamantine headpiece roughly from her head, exposing her to death if she took another blow to her exposed skull.
“Selûne’s light!” Dana cried, hurling her second—and last—dispel magic at the paladin in a desperate attempt to forestall a tragedy.
Arun hesitated, his sword quivering in his hand, just another step away from being within reach of Beorna. Then he roared out a challenge in dwarvish, this time his fury directed at the monstrosity that had nearly caused him to strike down the woman he loved. He came forward, but it was not to attack Beorna, but rather to bring his holy avenger down in a brilliant arc of white light that cut through the devourer’s body. The trapped being seemed to flicker and then vanished, as half of the devourer’s body—its left leg and a big chunk of its torso—went flying across the room, while the rest simply dropped to the ground in an inanimate heap.
Meanwhile, out in the chamber, Lok turned toward Mole, who’d simply remained there will a dull look on her face, occasionally breaking out into a series of crazy giggles. The genasi’s body trembled with effort, and for a moment lucidity returned to his gray eyes. He did not hesitate, ripping his helmet off of his head and shucking his shield, and with a mighty effort he slammed the flat of his axe into his own face.
His face splayed with blood from his shattered nose, Lok toppled to the ground, unconscious.
Mole screamed, running at full speed across the room, and through the far door, into Slouva’s personal chambers. Fortunately there was no trap or other guardian waiting there, and the others found her huddling in a corner, whimpering. Arun and Beorna took hold of her, and shortly thereafter she returned to her own senses.
Dannel had bound Lok securely with rope, using about five times more than what he would have used to tie up a normal man. But when they healed the genasi he too had recovered from the devourer’s magic. Cal and Dana plied their healing arts, and quickly restored most of the wounds they’d taken in the battle. Beorna was still drained, however; it would be another day before Dana could prepare more restorations.
“That was a close one,” Cal noted. “If one or two more of us had succumbed to the confusion, we could have done real harm to ourselves.”
“I am sorry,” Lok said.
Dannel grinned. “Don’t be. In fact, we owe you gratitude, for what you did… to yourself. Can’t say I’ve ever seen that approach to enemy mind-control magic before.”
Arun looked equally grim, but Beorna poked him with the tip of her sword. “Don’t you be feeling sorry for yourself, either. Mind magic is nothing to sneeze at, and there is no shame in being under its power.”
“It was potent,” Dana said. “I failed to dispel it the first time, and very nearly failed to the second as well.”
“This always happens to me,” Mole said. “I may as well hang a sign around my head that says, ‘Weak mind here, cast a spell on me.’ I need something… Uncle Cal, is there an item you can make for me that will help protect my mind from these sorts of things?”
“I may be able to craft something,” Cal replied. “But it will have to wait until we return home.”
“Speaking of which,” Lok said. “Perhaps we should attend to our task.”
“Let’s clear out these rooms,” Cal suggested. “Quickly, but carefully. Mole, if you would?”
Arun and Beorna kept watch on the outer door while they conducted a quick search. Lok assisted Dana in carefully wrapping Benzan’s body, which they stored in one of their larger bags of holding. The priestess’s body shook as she bound the mutilated corpse of her husband in white cloth, but when they finished, her expression was frighteningly intense as she stood and took up her weapons. Lok, too, looked uncharacteristically grim.
Cal, Dannel, and Mole found nothing worthwhile in the annis’s chamber, other than a bed apparently fashioned of flayed skins, but the same could not be said for the other room, the black chamber where they’d fought the devourer. There they discovered numerous items of magical potency, on the tables and in the iron chest in the back of the room. They found the rest of Benzan’s items, which they temporarily shared out to those best able to use them, along with a number of magical potions and scrolls, another bag of holding filled with thousands of gold coins, and a small ebon lacquer box containing three huge black sapphires. They also found a pair of bundles with some familiar items: a longbow carved with a leaf pattern accompanied by a quiver, sword, cloak, bracers, and an amulet wrapped in a mithral chain shirt; and a headband, pearl pendant, wand, and a small wooden replica of a chest wrapped within a bright red robe. Even before Cal found the two familiar rings in a vellum wrap at the bottom of the chest, they had a good idea of who the two packages of items had belonged to.
“It looks like the Cagewrights that fled here were unsuccessful in their bid to release their master,” Cal noted, handing the unstrung bow and quiver to Dannel. The elf admired the weapon—Kyan Winterstrike’s frost longbow—for a moment before storing it, along with the extra arrows, in his efficient quiver. Cal placed the other items into his haversack, for review later when they had more time to spare.
“Do you think they’re held here now?” Dannel asked.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Cal noted. “Although I would be surprised if they were in any condition to speak with us right now.” As if to bolster the gnome’s comment, a fresh surge of screams filtered through the walls, a babble from dozens of voices that seemed to mesh together in a backdrop just shy of painful upon the ears. Of more concern was the damage being wrought to their minds and souls; Cal wondered how long it would take all of them to become mad, in this place.
“These are worth a lot of money,” Mole said, lifting one of the sapphires to examine it with an expert eye.
Cal had turned to the books upon the tables. “These are foul tomes, full of dark lore, sacred to the Prince that is our enemy.”
“We should destroy them,” Dannel said.
“I agree, but we lack the time and perhaps the means to do so here,” Cal noted. “And we may learn something of use about our foe. I will exercise caution,” he added, noting Dannel’s expression, “but for now, we will at least remove them from the grasp of our enemies.” He placed the books into his haversack, making room by redistributing some of their extra supplies.
“Are you ready?” came Dana’s voice from the outer room. “I’m getting sick of this place, and want to be quit of it soon.”
Dannel, Mole, and Cal rejoined the others. The archmage looked at each of his friends, noting the effect that the discovery of Benzan’s body had had upon Lok and Dana, in particular. He understood all too well what they were feeling, but he also knew that they risked even more, if they let their emotions dominate them, in an unforgiving environment like this one.
But the part of him deep within, beyond his godlike intellect, beyond the clinical analysis of the archmage’s mind, grieved for the loss of his friend.
“Let’s go,” he said, barely able to keep his voice from shaking.
They opened the door and started back into the main hall of the prison.
And screamed as a horrid wilting blasted into them, sucking the very life from their bodies.
“Beorna!” Dana warned, seeing the confused paladin step forward to strike down the templar from behind. The templar glanced back and tried to adjust, but was hindered by another series of attacks from the devourer, including a claw that seized at her helmet, ripping the adamantine headpiece roughly from her head, exposing her to death if she took another blow to her exposed skull.
“Selûne’s light!” Dana cried, hurling her second—and last—dispel magic at the paladin in a desperate attempt to forestall a tragedy.
Arun hesitated, his sword quivering in his hand, just another step away from being within reach of Beorna. Then he roared out a challenge in dwarvish, this time his fury directed at the monstrosity that had nearly caused him to strike down the woman he loved. He came forward, but it was not to attack Beorna, but rather to bring his holy avenger down in a brilliant arc of white light that cut through the devourer’s body. The trapped being seemed to flicker and then vanished, as half of the devourer’s body—its left leg and a big chunk of its torso—went flying across the room, while the rest simply dropped to the ground in an inanimate heap.
Meanwhile, out in the chamber, Lok turned toward Mole, who’d simply remained there will a dull look on her face, occasionally breaking out into a series of crazy giggles. The genasi’s body trembled with effort, and for a moment lucidity returned to his gray eyes. He did not hesitate, ripping his helmet off of his head and shucking his shield, and with a mighty effort he slammed the flat of his axe into his own face.
His face splayed with blood from his shattered nose, Lok toppled to the ground, unconscious.
Mole screamed, running at full speed across the room, and through the far door, into Slouva’s personal chambers. Fortunately there was no trap or other guardian waiting there, and the others found her huddling in a corner, whimpering. Arun and Beorna took hold of her, and shortly thereafter she returned to her own senses.
Dannel had bound Lok securely with rope, using about five times more than what he would have used to tie up a normal man. But when they healed the genasi he too had recovered from the devourer’s magic. Cal and Dana plied their healing arts, and quickly restored most of the wounds they’d taken in the battle. Beorna was still drained, however; it would be another day before Dana could prepare more restorations.
“That was a close one,” Cal noted. “If one or two more of us had succumbed to the confusion, we could have done real harm to ourselves.”
“I am sorry,” Lok said.
Dannel grinned. “Don’t be. In fact, we owe you gratitude, for what you did… to yourself. Can’t say I’ve ever seen that approach to enemy mind-control magic before.”
Arun looked equally grim, but Beorna poked him with the tip of her sword. “Don’t you be feeling sorry for yourself, either. Mind magic is nothing to sneeze at, and there is no shame in being under its power.”
“It was potent,” Dana said. “I failed to dispel it the first time, and very nearly failed to the second as well.”
“This always happens to me,” Mole said. “I may as well hang a sign around my head that says, ‘Weak mind here, cast a spell on me.’ I need something… Uncle Cal, is there an item you can make for me that will help protect my mind from these sorts of things?”
“I may be able to craft something,” Cal replied. “But it will have to wait until we return home.”
“Speaking of which,” Lok said. “Perhaps we should attend to our task.”
“Let’s clear out these rooms,” Cal suggested. “Quickly, but carefully. Mole, if you would?”
Arun and Beorna kept watch on the outer door while they conducted a quick search. Lok assisted Dana in carefully wrapping Benzan’s body, which they stored in one of their larger bags of holding. The priestess’s body shook as she bound the mutilated corpse of her husband in white cloth, but when they finished, her expression was frighteningly intense as she stood and took up her weapons. Lok, too, looked uncharacteristically grim.
Cal, Dannel, and Mole found nothing worthwhile in the annis’s chamber, other than a bed apparently fashioned of flayed skins, but the same could not be said for the other room, the black chamber where they’d fought the devourer. There they discovered numerous items of magical potency, on the tables and in the iron chest in the back of the room. They found the rest of Benzan’s items, which they temporarily shared out to those best able to use them, along with a number of magical potions and scrolls, another bag of holding filled with thousands of gold coins, and a small ebon lacquer box containing three huge black sapphires. They also found a pair of bundles with some familiar items: a longbow carved with a leaf pattern accompanied by a quiver, sword, cloak, bracers, and an amulet wrapped in a mithral chain shirt; and a headband, pearl pendant, wand, and a small wooden replica of a chest wrapped within a bright red robe. Even before Cal found the two familiar rings in a vellum wrap at the bottom of the chest, they had a good idea of who the two packages of items had belonged to.
“It looks like the Cagewrights that fled here were unsuccessful in their bid to release their master,” Cal noted, handing the unstrung bow and quiver to Dannel. The elf admired the weapon—Kyan Winterstrike’s frost longbow—for a moment before storing it, along with the extra arrows, in his efficient quiver. Cal placed the other items into his haversack, for review later when they had more time to spare.
“Do you think they’re held here now?” Dannel asked.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Cal noted. “Although I would be surprised if they were in any condition to speak with us right now.” As if to bolster the gnome’s comment, a fresh surge of screams filtered through the walls, a babble from dozens of voices that seemed to mesh together in a backdrop just shy of painful upon the ears. Of more concern was the damage being wrought to their minds and souls; Cal wondered how long it would take all of them to become mad, in this place.
“These are worth a lot of money,” Mole said, lifting one of the sapphires to examine it with an expert eye.
Cal had turned to the books upon the tables. “These are foul tomes, full of dark lore, sacred to the Prince that is our enemy.”
“We should destroy them,” Dannel said.
“I agree, but we lack the time and perhaps the means to do so here,” Cal noted. “And we may learn something of use about our foe. I will exercise caution,” he added, noting Dannel’s expression, “but for now, we will at least remove them from the grasp of our enemies.” He placed the books into his haversack, making room by redistributing some of their extra supplies.
“Are you ready?” came Dana’s voice from the outer room. “I’m getting sick of this place, and want to be quit of it soon.”
Dannel, Mole, and Cal rejoined the others. The archmage looked at each of his friends, noting the effect that the discovery of Benzan’s body had had upon Lok and Dana, in particular. He understood all too well what they were feeling, but he also knew that they risked even more, if they let their emotions dominate them, in an unforgiving environment like this one.
But the part of him deep within, beyond his godlike intellect, beyond the clinical analysis of the archmage’s mind, grieved for the loss of his friend.
“Let’s go,” he said, barely able to keep his voice from shaking.
They opened the door and started back into the main hall of the prison.
And screamed as a horrid wilting blasted into them, sucking the very life from their bodies.
Solarious
Explorer
Well, Mole wasn't inivisible anymore when she first entered Skullrot, so you might as well keep the plot consistant. I'm also completely sure some of the demodands would have imposed on their own ability to become invisible if they had the option. As things stand...
I wonder why they don't just Plane Shift right out of Skullrot. Maybe it has something to do with more consistant magical effects within Skullrot? Or perhaps they just want to use the Instant Fortress and save the headache of tracking down Skullrot once more.
And an excellent Friday Cliffhanger! Horrid Wilting is always a great opening party favour to greet your guests with.![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
I wonder why they don't just Plane Shift right out of Skullrot. Maybe it has something to do with more consistant magical effects within Skullrot? Or perhaps they just want to use the Instant Fortress and save the headache of tracking down Skullrot once more.
And an excellent Friday Cliffhanger! Horrid Wilting is always a great opening party favour to greet your guests with.
Lazybones
Adventurer
Yeah, Cal's action was an oversight so I switched it to a displacement spell.Solarious said:
Another effect of Skullrot is that no form of interdimensional travel works from within. Since the heroes rely a lot upon Dimension Door and Teleport, in addition to Plane Shift, this presents problems for them. I had actually written several scenes when I went back into the mod and saw that, so I had to do a major rewrite at one point. The story's stronger now, I think, but there are some unpleasant moments for the Heroes (of course!).
Indeed. It was even nastier in 3.0 when it did 1d8/level.And an excellent Friday Cliffhanger! Horrid Wilting is always a great opening party favour to greet your guests with.
Story continues on Monday.
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