Strife in Sokara - A solo game for Brother Shatterstone

[Jarval]

"Sounds like a good plan to me." Ged puts a hand on Hestia's shoulder. "Come on, let's go and find Ryat." Hestia nods wordlessly, still shaken from the recent fight.

"This was a well laid trap." Velimir says as he and Bryastasia make their way towards the far side of the room. "Thank the gods that it was us who had to deal with it, rather than the city watch. A pack of ghouls could easily finish..." He stops talking abruptly, holding up his hand for Bryastasia to stop. After a moment she can hear a munching sound coming from a short distance ahead...

"Ryat." Velimir says flatly. He look to Bryastasia, checking she is ready for battle, then charges forwards. After fifty feet or so, the pair come across Ryat sprawled across the floor, his eyes open and unfocused. A ghoul sits gnawing on his right leg, gore staining the front of it's tattered shirt.

Velimir utters a choking cry of anger, and swings his sword in a sweeping arc. The ghoul throws itself back to avoid the blade, growling in annoyance.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

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

Trying not to focus upon Ryat, and what his unmoving body could only mean, Brystasia charges the creature only a few steps behind Velimir.

As she runs she drops the torch, its job done, to the floor and she draws her other blade.

Reaching the creature she lunges while she screams for the others, “Hestia! Ged! We found Ryat, but we're under attack!”

 

[Jarval]

"Damn it!" Ged curses from the dark. "We're coming! Come on Hestia!"

Bryastasia throws the torch to one side and stabs at the ghoul. It ducks, and her blade goes over its head by a good eighteen inches. It throws itself forwards, biting down onto Bryastasia's shoulder. Again her armour takes the brunt of the attack, and again she fights back the feeling of slow cold that flows from the wound.

Velimir thrusts his sword into the ghoul's back and out through its shoulder, the wound mirroring the bite it's delivering to Bryastasia. Cold blood soaks through Bryastasia's overshirt, carrying the sickly smells of decay with it. The ghoul throws back its head and bellows at the hurt, trying to turn and claw at Velimir.

Ged and Hestia burst into view, closing quickly with the melee. Hestia starts to pray, while Ged charges to the fight...


(OoC: That 20% miss chance is proving a real hindrance to Bryastasia, loosing her another hit. The ghoul's bite does 2 points of damage after taking her armour's DR into account. Velimir hits (as you might have guessed) and deals 10 points of damage.)

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

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

Grunting from the bite Brystasia grinds her teeth to help stifle the pain, and to keep from vocalizing it, fanning out and around the creature in the hope of making the fool creature’s choice on who to attack much more difficult.

Taking her blue eyes from the creature she looks upon her down companion a look of worry upon her face, “Ryat! Are you okay?”

As she waits for her reply she strikes at the undead creature once again.

 

[Jarval]

Charging in, Ged's sword whips past the ghoul's ear, missing by a mere fraction of an inch. The ghoul flinches, obviously still in pain from Velimir's strike.

Ryat lies still and silent on the look, unresponsive to Bryastasia's call. His face has started to go pale, and blood flows freely from his savaged leg, pooling around him.

Bryastasia stabs again, and this time her aim is true. The thinblade punctures straight through the ghoul's neck. The creature drops to the floor, twitching wildly for a moment, then lies still.


(OoC: Bryastasia does 7 points of damage, finishing the ghoul.)

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

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

The creature is still twitching as Brystasia drops to her knees to check on Ryat but between the blood and the damage she looks panicky as she calls for the white robe, “Hestia! Ryat badly needs your help!”

Trying to look in the gloomy darkness she barks orders to the others, “Ged, grab the torch, Hestia will need all the light we can find.” Her eyes glance up apologetically at the tall man, “Velimir, please stay with your friend and brother I shall watch for more creatures.”

Once Hestia is in place Brystasia backs away and moves slightly away from them so she can look and listen for trouble.

 

[Jarval]

Hestia moves quickly to kneel beside Brystasia, the sight of Ryat's wound displacing her shaken nerves from the fight with cool professionalism.

Ged moves to scoop up the torch, holding it high to provide some little illumination on the scene. Even he blanches slightly that the state of Ryat's leg.

"Gods, it was eating him..." He makes a slight choking sound, trying not to gag at the sight and smell.

"It's bad, but he's not dead yet." Hestia says after quickly examining the fallen holy warrior. She places her hands on either side of the torn flesh on his leg, and calls out to Morwyn. The pure white light lightens the dark once more, muscle and skin flowing back to fill the gap. The light fades, but still Ryat does not stir.

"Brother Ryat? Can you hear me?" Hestia leans forwards, placing her fingers at the base of Ryat's neck. "His pulse is strong, but he's a still as the grave..."

"It is the ghoul's foul touch." Velimir explains. "They carry an unholy curse that can leave even the strongest man unable to move. I am surprised only one of our number succumbed. Fortunately, such paralysis is usually brief, although even the shortest span can be fatal under the wrong circumstances."

Brystasia backs away a small distance, and stands listening intently. The chamber is silent apart from the sound of her and her companions breathing.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

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

Brystasia smiles at the good news, but fights off the urge to draw near to the others, but she does join them in are discussions, “That would seem to explain the coldness I felt after it wounded me?” Her voice caries a little of horror she feels from the new knowledge, “I imagine if one was to succumb to this touch it would be deadly if one was alone. We must still in pairs, no one do a fool hardly think and wonder off alone.”

Nodding at the downed Ryat, “Will he be okay to continue or should we take him to help first?”

 

[Jarval]

"He should recover soon, although I would imagine his leg will be sore for a day or two to come." Velimir says to Bryastasia.

"I would heal him further, but I only have the power to call upon Morwyn once more today. She ask us to be prudent in using our skills, and I would have some magic in reserve in case we run across any more trouble." Hestia replies.

Proving Velimir's words true, Ryat sits upright abruptly, reaching for the warhammer at his side. He relaxes a little on see Velimir, then winces in pain.

"I see you got him, then." Ryat says, nodding towards the body of the ghoul. He rubs his leg cautiously, examining the damage.

"I've done what I can, you'll need to take it easy." Hestia says. Velimir shakes his head in disagreement.

"The gods have seen fit to give me some skill at healing, although not the degree of finesse you have Sister." He takes off his gauntlets and lays a hand on Ryat's leg. A pale glow surrounds his hand, the light like the embers of a dying fire, and the remaining signs of Ryat's hurt vanish.

"Thank you Brother." Ryat says warmly, getting back to his feet. He looks around for his greave, only to find the armour piece buckled on the floor a short distance away.

"Cursed creature couldn't even be bothered to unbuckle it." Ryat sounds annoyed as he shows Velimir the bite marks on the leather straps.

"Hullo? Hullo? Are you all alright in there?" Aster's voice comes from the direction Bryastasia assumes the doorway to be in. The dwarven craftsman sounds rather worried. "Should I fetch help?"

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

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

Having not seen, or heard, anything Brystasia quickly approaches the others, but mainly she moves to Ryat’s side where she gives him a light kiss on the cheek, “You had me worried there Brother Ryat.” Flashing a small smile she continues, “I’m happy to see you on your feet.”

She quickly turns to the sound of the voice but she turns back towards her friends for confirmation, “If there’s no way to catch those responsible, wouldn’t it be wiser if we turned back and let the guards watch the place for the night?” Looking the two obedient brothers in the eye, “You two have the more experience with this, how should we proceeded?”