Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1410879" data-attributes="member: 143">Yeah, with Arun I think the question is not so much whether to Power Attack, but rather how much to Power Attack.  Of course, the down side of PA is that you miss a lot more, as we find out in today's installment...* * * * * Chapter 115The water rose to the mummy’s hips as it waded through the pool, but it barely seemed to slow the creature as it drove mercilessly onward toward them.  Arun met it at the edge of the pool, bringing it around in a wide arc that culminated in a powerful blow to the creature’s side.  The blow would have likely crippled a living foe, but the mummy seemed to shrug it off, its rotted carcass absorbing the blow like a fist hitting a side of beef.  The mummy responded with a powerful cross that caught Arun solidly across the face, knocking him roughly backward with the sheer force of the impact. Zenna, driven beyond fear by the appearance of the creature, sought desperately for the words of a spell.  She remembered her wand, but even as she reached for it, something else occurred to her, a memory of something that Esbar Tolerathkas had told her... or had it been her step-mother?  Even as the source of the thought scrabbled away from her, her fingers closed on the symbol, etched in silver, that she wore on a clasp about her neck.  Her divine spells came to her through focused thought and meditation, although deep down, she’d always understood that their final source was something... other, a tangible entity unlike the vague and permeating essence of the Weave.  Azuth... she’d never thought of him as a “patron,” even as she used that power to work miracles such as bringing a dying friend back from the brink.  But she called upon that power now, channeling it through the symbol, holding it boldly before her.  Although the dim light cast by Dannel’s spell remained the only illumination in the chamber, to her eyes the symbol of Azuth glowed like a beacon, driving back the shadows.  “Back!” she yelled, willing the undead abomination to obey. But the mummy only turned from Arun, fixed its sinister stare upon her, and lunged forward.  The invisible glow failed and faded as the mummy came upon her, too fast for her to do anything but scream as it lashed out with one withered and twisted hand.  Stars exploded around her as the blow knocked her roughly back, and she stumbled, barely able to keep from collapsing to the ground. The mummy followed, intent on destroying this pathetic cleric that had dared to challenge it. But before the creature could strike again, another foe stepped forward to block it.  Dannel, finally able to shake off the grim effects of the creature’s power out of fury at its assault upon Zenna, drew his sword and brought it around to hack at the creature’s outstretched arm.  Chips of bone flew from the impact, although the assault appeared to do little to slow or hinder the creature as it raised its other arm and turned toward the elf.  Behind it, Arun rushed once more into the fray, but once again his powerful blow to the small of the mummy’s back seemed harmlessly absorbed by its unnaturally tough hide.  Snarling in frustration, Arun tossed his shield aside and took up the hammer with both hands, intent on overcoming its defenses through sheer strength. “Zenna!” Dannel cried, his distraction nearly costing him as the mummy lunged for his throat with both claw-like hands.  The elf dodged backward, nearly falling as he stumbled against Mole.  The gnome was still shaking off the effects of the mummy’s despair, and Dannel caught her up, dragging her free of the melee.  The mummy followed, and would have caught them, but for Arun surging in again, his hammer raised again to attack. “Face ME!” he said, bringing down the hammer in an incredible two-handed strike, smiting the mummy.  The undead monster clearly felt that attack, though it still seemed nigh-unstoppable as it spun to face the dwarf.  Its claws tore at his arms as he pulled back his hammer, but the dwarf’s bracers protected him from damage, and he was able to draw free before the mummy could get a clean grip on him.  “Help Zenna!” Dannel said to Mole, putting the rogue down a few paces away before turning back toward the melee.  But Zenna had already recovered, and even as the elf turned away from Mole she stepped forward boldly, words of power flowing from her lips.  The mummy heard and turned toward her, just in time to absorb a scorching ray that flared over its withered body like a dragon’s deadly breath.  The mummy screeched as its upper body turned into a pyre, but it kept coming, staggering toward Zenna, its arms outstretched with its burning fingers clutching at air as they sought to rend her flesh.  The tiefling darted back in alarm, but before it could reach her Dannel ducked in and swept his sword around low, catching the mummy solidly on one leg and knocking it off-balance.  Before it could recover, Arun’s hammer had arrived with its own message for the creature’s spine, and it went down, flames still spreading across its body.  It tried to get up, but never made it. Hodge finally “unfroze,” staring at the scorched carcass of the mummy with a look combining shame and disgust.  Arun clasped the dwarf’s shoulder.  “There is no shame in it; the effect was magical, and affected Mole and the elf as well.”“It dinna affect yer,” the dwarf replied.  “My faith was my shield, but that is not to say that I did not feel the terror of its gaze.”Dannel, meanwhile, came over to Zenna.  “That wound looks bad,” he said, examining her face, drawing out his magical wand.  The tiefling was pale, her skin cracked and bleeding where the mummy had struck her. The elf sang to his wand, calling upon its power, but frowned as the healing glow failed to do anything to Zenna’s injury.  “Arun,” he said.“What’s the matter?” Zenna asked, noticing the change in Dannel’s expression. “Nothing, I’d just like Arun to take a look at it,” the elf said.  “I... I feel weak,” Zenna said.  “I think that creature hit me harder than I thought; maybe I should sit down for a moment...”  There were no chairs or other convenient objects on this side of the room, so Dannel made a pad out of his cloak and helped the tiefling sit down.  Arun came over and examined Zenna, frowning as he looked at the wound.  “What is it?” Zenna asked. “Your skin is starting to crack, around the injury,” he said.  He took off his gauntlets and touched his thick hands to the woman’s face.  Zenna felt a sudden surge of energy pass through her at the dwarf’s touch, as a sensation like being dipped in a cold mountain stream spread throughout her body.  But a moment later the sensation abruptly faded, and she felt suddenly ill.  Leaning over, she was barely able to keep from losing the contents of her stomach upon the wet stone.“Zenna!” Mole exclaimed, worry in her voice. “What... what’s happening to me...” the tiefling said, her voice tight. Arun looked to Dannel, and shook his head.The elf nodded.  His expression was that of a man who’d just been stabbed in the gut. “Dannel,” Zenna said, pulling herself back up to a sitting position, using Mole for support.  “Tell me.”Reluctantly, he met her gaze.  “You have contracted mummy rot.”</blockquote>

Verification