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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 2144047" data-attributes="member: 143">No worries, I'm snarky in the morning (which is why I post in the evenings, mostly) and my post was probably overly-defensive. Who says they don't? Like I said, this is a very bad week for the Heroes of Cauldron. And just when things were starting to look hot in the frying pan...* * * * * Chapter 361The companions could do nothing to aid Nidrama, as their situation rapidly devolved from bad to worse. Hodge had taken down the first kelubar with several strokes of his holy sword, the blessed steel opening huge gashes in the demodand’s torso and legs.  But even as the first foe fell, the second clambered forward over its ally to lay powerful blows upon Hodge’s armored body.  The dwarf was tough, but there was a limit to how much damage even he could absorb.  Even as the titanic struggle continued, Baiul’s insane laughter from behind continued, punctuated by sharp scratches as the mad cleric slapped his magical spiked chain against the nearby passage walls.  With the kelubar in the way, there was no way for the priest to join the melee, but Baiul seemed content to observe, taking delight in the predicament of the intruders whose interference in the plans of the Cagewrights seemed to be coming to an end. Dannel was likewise hard pressed.  Already seriously hurt by Doorgan’s wilting, the vrock was getting the better of him.  He’d managed a solid blow with Alakast, which had hurt it, but in turn he’d taken several hits from its claws.  It had also released a cloud of spores, which were starting to burrow painfully into his flesh.  Unfortunately, there was little he could do; while he might have been able to reach the nearby door into the chamber with the pipe organ, he had little doubt that the vrock would pursue him until it had torn him to pieces.  Mole let out a sudden screech and threw herself backward off of her awkward perch on the back of the injured haraknin as Aszithef thrust Coldburn at her with controlled precision.  The other haraknin gave way to their subcommander, letting her take the lead as she had in so many battles across the planes.  Mole managed to avoid being run through, but the searing blade with its doubly-deadly enhancements cut along her body, sending twin lances of pain through her side. Mole’s efforts had bought a few vital instants, however, long enough for Arun to shake off the effects of Nabthatoron’s power word.  The paladin roared an invocation to Moradin as he lifted himself up off the wall and stepped up to the two haraknin Mole had engaged.  One swept its axe at the dwarf, only to have its stroke diverted by Arun’s shield.  The paladin, in turn, unleashed a devastating series of attacks, the holy avenger tearing through its armor as though the magical chain links were merely decorative.  The haraknin crumpled, blood fountaining from its wounds, and Arun continued his last stroke into the second foe, crunching his sword into its ribs, driving the shattered bones like arrowheads into its lung.  The preliminaries completed, the paladin stepped forward to meet Aszithef.  But even as the two veterans engaged, Freija Doorgan unleashed another devastating gambit.  A bolt of lightning shot through the chamber, striking Dannel in the chest.  The elf tried to dodge out of the way of the blast, but the stream of energy nevertheless stabbed through his body.  Dannel’s scream was cut off as his chest exploded in a spray of blood and gore.  The chain lightning continued to explode in secondary blasts that tore mercilessly outward.  Hodge was struck in the back even as the dwarf stabbed the second kelubar, and the dwarf went down.  Mole dodged the bolt, but her boar was instantly incinerated.  Arun took the blast full on, but the stream of liquid energy flared on the length of his sword, draining off through the power of the weapon.  But as the flickering afterimage of the bolt faded, the paladin and the gnome were left nearly alone, still surrounded by deadly foes. “Mole!  Get out of here!” Arun said, blocking the first swing of Coldburn on his holy weapon, the two swords meeting in a flare of multicolored sparks. Mole refused to give up, tumbling between Aszithef’s legs, ready to set up a sneak attack in conjunction with Arun’s assault.  But even as the Mole sprang to her feet, a long limb stabbed into the melee, snapping her up.  She screamed as Nabthatoron lifted her into the air, crushing her in its pincer.  Around the demon’s feet, six haraknin stood at the ready, and behind them the huge giant, Ti’irok Coalfire, stood confident in the victory of his minions, his own terrible sword apparently unnecessary.  To the rear the injured kelubar lumbered forward over Hodge’s inert and blackened form, its oozing flesh rippling as it reached out for Arun from behind.  Baiul, in no hurry, laughed. “It’s over!” Freija Doorgan screamed.  “You are done!”</blockquote>

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