Strife in Sokara - A solo game for Brother Shatterstone

[Jarval]

Hestia nods, still nervous, but seemingly reassured by Brystasia's words.

Brystasia steps though the line into the gloom. After a moment, her eyes adjust to some degree, and she realizes that it's not totally dark, but the lighting is muted to the level of a cloudy night. Ahead, she can make out Ged, and less distinctly Velimir and Ryat, partly hidden by their black armor.

"Oops, sorry." Hestia whispers as she runs into Brystasia. The torch's flame is almost invisible, suppressed by whatever magic fills the room.

"There! Movement! Velimir calls, and moves swiftly after an indistinct shape. Ryat and Ged follow suit, but Brystasia pauses when she hears something shuffling from behind her. She turns to see an emaciated figure reaching out one clawed hand towards Hestia...

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

Brystasia screams in near panic as she steps in between the withered figure and the unprotected cleric, “Hestia! Lookout!”

Her lightblade bats at the clawed hand reaching for out for Hestia as she thrusts her thinblade at the dark figure.

OOC: She doesn’t have a way to protect Hestia so simply consider it two attacks.

 

[Jarval]

The sound of a melee starting a little way across the chamber is barely noticed by Brystasia or Hestia, as she spins to face the figure behind her.

Brystasia moves quickly to intercept Hestia's attacker, but her haste cost her accuracy. Both her blades go wide of the mark, the figure chuckling as she misses. It ignores Brystasia for now, lunging again for Hestia.

Hestia screams in panic, ducking back from the raking claws to swing her quarterstaff. This too misses, the darkness making accurate strikes difficult.

"Hestia?" Ged's voice calls, a note of panic filling the young warrior's normally confidant voice. Running footsteps can be heard for a moment, then Ged yells in pain.

"Blast you, you foul creature!" The sound of a sword striking flesh echoes through the chamber, and there's a bubbling howl of pain.

"Ryat, to your left!" Velimir calls out, and a sword-strike is heard again.

"Agggh, damn it, I've been bitten!" Ryat shouts, then he groans incoherently. This is followed by a metallic thud, akin to the sound an armored man falling onto a paved floor might make...


(OoC: Brystasia, Hestia and the figure's attacks all miss. I'm keeping the rolls for the others under wraps for now, as Brystasia can't see what's going on.)

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

Muttering unladylike beneath her breath Brystasia, continues her assault against her antagonists by thrusting her swords at the center of his body.

Her face crinkles in anger as her blood starts to boil, “Laugh at me will you! Why don’t you taste cold steel!”

Not turning her attention away from the fight she yells over her shoulder, “Hestia! Call upon Morwyn to protect us!”

OOC: Keeping them under wraps is fine... I'm not sure I want to know them anyhow...

 

[Jarval]

From behind Brystasia, the sound of Ged's struggle continues. A sword strikes again, and there's another chilling inhuman howl.

Brystasia attacks again. In the gloom, she misjudges the distance with her thinblade, the point finding nothing but air. Her lightblade proves more successful, puncturing the figure's stomach. It spins to face her, the stench of rotting flesh emanating from it's innards.

"You hurt me!" It sounds shocked, fixing Brystasia with an unsettling stare. She dodges the figure's clawed hands easily, but it leans forwards, sinking its teeth into her arm. Her chain shirt bares the brunt of the assault, the teeth scratching over her skin rather than tearing the flesh. Even so, a strange numbness momentarily fills Brystasia's arm, but she forces herself to keep hold of her blade and stay on her feet.

"Morwyn, help us now, for our need is great!" Hestia prays fervently. A halo of pure white light briefly penetrates the gloom, washing over the figure in front of Brystasia and Hestia. It staggers back, then throws itself forwards again.

"Silly girl with her silly little god. I'll eat you, and He will eat Her, and Her family, and the tree itself." It jeers, chuckling happily. Hestia looks first shocked, then enraged by these words. Her knuckles go white as she grips her crystal pendant, and a new determination blazes behind her eyes...

"Blessed Mormekar, I ask you restore order! Give death back to these beasts, and let them be judged!" Velimir's voice rings through the darkness. Another burst of light, this time fire-red, floods the chamber. The snarls from whatever creature he is fighting are not of agony by rather anger, and there are several thuds from that direction.


(OoC: Brystasia would have hit with both attacks, but the darkness is giving concealment to everyone. One attack hit, dealing 5 damage. Hestia's Turn Undead attempt failed, and Brystasia takes 1 point of damage. She also succeeds a Fortitude save.)

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

As Brystasia fuming in anger, her blue eyes stay intent upon her adversary study him as they continue there dance, her voice is still tense but slightly calmed by the fact she’s drawn first blood, “And I shall hurt you again…”

Brystasia smirks as she hears the strong voice of Velimir and the effects of his faith, “Sounds like your friends are having issues.”

As if to punctuate her point she thrusts with both weapons…

 

[Jarval]

"Pah! We will eat you all, including the two filthy Mormekims." The figure leers at Brystasia, baring it's rotted teeth in amusement.

From Ged's direction, final howl is cut off mid-way through, and a moment later he bounds into view, his sword covered in black blood.

"I've finished one, but there's at least two more!" He says to Brystasia, putting himself in between Hestia and the figure. It scowls at Ged's arrival, but keeps its focus on Brystasia.

Brystasia thrusts with her swords, the figure batting one aside only to step into the path of the other. Brystasia twists her lightblade inside the creature's chest before pulling it free, and the figure gasps in agony. Dark blood wells up from the wound and from the creatures mouth as it staggers back. Its previous confidence has fled it, and it bolts for the doorway.

Hestia swings hard at the creature's unprotected back, her staff striking with a loud CRACK. The figure collapses in a limp heap on the ground, its back broken by the blow.

"Oh gods, I killed him." Hestia puts her hand to her mouth in shock, the color draining from her face. "Oh goddess, oh goddess, oh goddess..."

"Now's not the time, Hestia." Ged says briskly, although concern for his charge is clear in his eyes. "To Velimir?" He asks Brystasia.

The sounds of battle still come clearly from one side of the room, but then stop suddenly. Then the sound of something fleshy hitting the stone floor is heard by Brystasia and her two companions.

"Hello? Anyone? Where's Ryat?" Velimir calls out, his voice echoing around the still unseen chamber.


(OoC: Brystasia dealt 8 points of damage with her lightblade, nearly finishing her foe. Hestia got lucky (rolled a 19) to deal the killing blow.)

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

Brystasia quickly replies to the panicked Morwynite, “Hestia, it’s okay the thing was trying to kill us, so please be strong for me sister.”

Not waiting for her response she replies to Ged after the last sound of battle finishes echo thought the chamber, “Or him to us.”

Speaking loudly so everyone can hear Brystasia address the tall Mormekim, “Brother Velimir, We are here, fallow my voice and we shall look for Brother Ryat together!”

Not sure what else to say Brystasia projects her voice though out the chamber as she begins to softly sing about a noble knight and even more noble deeds.

OOC: Yay! I got to use my Perform: Sing skill. Oh a that’s a + 18 on the check, not that it matters.

 

[Jarval]

"I've never stuck another soul before..." Hestia continues in a mortified tone. She looks to Brystasia and nods. "But you're right. Oh goddess..." Her free hand is visibly shaking, and she looks more scared by her own strike than the appearance of the creature.

"Thank goodness, I feared the worst." Velimir calls back. Brystasia starts to sing, her voice filling the darkness with song. Every note is a thing of beauty, the tune crystal clear. Aymara herself must be watching over such a performance. Hestia calms visibly, and Ged can only stand and listen in wonder.

"Fairest Sister, your voice could call the fiends of Hell back to the celestial planes and have them repent for their sins." Velimir says as he emerges from the gloom, his armour, sword and shield dripping with blood. Ged nods in mute agreement, his resentment towards Velimir seemingly forgotten.

"But Ryat is not with you?" Velimir asks. "We must find him, for at least one more ghoul remains."


(OoC: It may not have mattered, but Brystasia rolled a 20 on her Perform check. I kid you not. A grand total of 38 results in a song that no-one in the room is likely to ever hear bettered. Or at least until Brystasia has gained a few levels... )

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

Though the darkness hides most of the blush upon her cheeks its still easy for all to tell that Brystasia is utterly embarrassed by the attention and the compliment, she replies softly and modestly, “I’m not really that good… but thanks for the complement anyways.”

Snapping out of her embarrassment Brystasia quickly speaks of her plan, hoping that Velimir doesn’t think she’s waiting the precious time they have to rescue Ryat, “No, Brother Ryat is not with us but now we know where the four of us are we can break up into pairs and look quickly for him with less overlap.”

Not sure if Velimir, or the others will like the idea, Brystasia quickly moves towards the tall Obedient Brother’s side, “I think Ryat was closer to you, we should begin are search from there. Ged, I’m sure you would prefer to stay with Hestia so you two look upon this side of the room and work over to us.”

Putting the shorter blade back in its sheath Brystasia pulls out the everburning torch from her backpack, “I doubt it will help us much but any light is better than none.”

OOC: Wow, that’s got to be a record… I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t levels, 5 or so, before she scored higher. As for the searching, stay in pairs, and try to cover as much ground while being thorough.