Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Alriand is now posted:
http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1287630#post1287630post1287630
http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1287630#post1287630post1287630
The Band of Four (The Village of Oester)
- Thread starter Hairy Minotaur
- Start date
Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Emthur's eyes blaze with hate. Emthur throws the table against the near wall, his rage sends shards of wood cascading across the room. Alriand's body loses it's greenish tint, and becomes a gray, her brown eyes turn black. Her skin is fried off by the power of the negative energy, her blood coagulates and becomes black, heavy with death. Her heart, already black with selfishness, shrivels and beats no more. Alriand's world goes dark and she feels the stone below her give way, Alriand watches as she slips past her body and through the stone slab, looking up she sees her body wither into nothingness. Resigning herself to the end, Alriand watches as the last of the light winks out, and a deep red color wells up around her. Alriand feels heat, and hears countless screams below her.
Then, just as the heat, color, and screams begin to wrap themselves around Alriand, a shaft of light streaks down and envelopes Alriand in a fist of light. The fist tugs at her, and then she is sent hurtling upwards, The heat dissipates, the screams die off, and the red glow becomes dark again. Then the stone slab comes into view again, and Alriand slams into the desiccated body laying on the slab. The force of the thrust, causes Alriand's body to leap from the stone, and fly into the wall opposite the slab.
Tharhack watches as Emthur mutters arcane words for a spell, bracing himself for another blast of a death bolt. Then Alriand jumps off the stone slab, and thuds into the wall to Tharhack's right. Emthur, startled by the movement from what he thought was a dead body, loses his concentration.
The shaft of light, without Alriand to block it's path, comes into contact with the stone slab. The slab develops cracks that burst with a golden glow from within it's depths, and begins to spin clockwise on it's base. The warm light begins rotating around the room, whenever the light strikes Emthur, his bones singe and his robe smokes. Emthur recoils from the pain of the heavenly light, shielding his eyes, Emthur grabs his staff from against the wall. Tharhack rushes to Alriand's side and checks her for any signs of life, finding her still breathing, Tharhack lifts her into his arms.
"I don't know what the hell kind of trick you pulled here, know this, my wrath is never ending. I have all the time in the world to break you. You faith is nothing compared to the power of death." Emthur tells Tharhack while the light falls upon him, sending little wisps of smoke off his body.
"No, I think it is you who have no power." Tharhack responds while slamming a fist into Emthur's jaw.
Emthur reels from the blow, taking two steps back and rising a bony hand to his skinless jaw. Emthur rubs his jaw, then begins to laugh, slow at first then building in volume and tempo.
"Stupid half-breed, I have countless ways to kill you, but I have only one way to make you suffer." Emthur tells Tharhack, trying to get the half-orc to retreat before Emthur's powerlessness is exposed. The blast of negative energy must have affected Emthur's mind a tad, as he can't seem to recall any spells at the moment.
Tharhack hears Gothmog and Rebrey enter the room from behind him, and with Alriand slung over his left shoulder, Tharhack takes a long stride and backhands Emthur in the head again.
"While I admit to not being as worldly as you, I do know more than one way to kill you." Tharhack replies
"How did it feel? Death gripping your heart, your soul enslaved by an entity of pure evil. Your mind left to ponder the insanity of a cage with no bars." Emthur asks Tharhack, while he backs up to the only window in the room
"Tharhack we have to get out of here fast, and the way behind us is useless." Rebrey tells Tharhack
Tharhack swings at Emthur again, however this blow misses, but Emthur falls back and falls out the open window. Tharhack rushes to the window, peering down he watches as Emthur holds his staff perpendicular to the ground, mouths something, and then winks out of sight.
"&%#$@" Tharhack curses
"Gothmog hot, fire too close." Gothmog states while pointing at the next room which is ablaze in it's fiery glory.
Tharhack points to the hole in the ceiling, and motions for everyone to get up through it.
Then, just as the heat, color, and screams begin to wrap themselves around Alriand, a shaft of light streaks down and envelopes Alriand in a fist of light. The fist tugs at her, and then she is sent hurtling upwards, The heat dissipates, the screams die off, and the red glow becomes dark again. Then the stone slab comes into view again, and Alriand slams into the desiccated body laying on the slab. The force of the thrust, causes Alriand's body to leap from the stone, and fly into the wall opposite the slab.
Tharhack watches as Emthur mutters arcane words for a spell, bracing himself for another blast of a death bolt. Then Alriand jumps off the stone slab, and thuds into the wall to Tharhack's right. Emthur, startled by the movement from what he thought was a dead body, loses his concentration.
The shaft of light, without Alriand to block it's path, comes into contact with the stone slab. The slab develops cracks that burst with a golden glow from within it's depths, and begins to spin clockwise on it's base. The warm light begins rotating around the room, whenever the light strikes Emthur, his bones singe and his robe smokes. Emthur recoils from the pain of the heavenly light, shielding his eyes, Emthur grabs his staff from against the wall. Tharhack rushes to Alriand's side and checks her for any signs of life, finding her still breathing, Tharhack lifts her into his arms.
"I don't know what the hell kind of trick you pulled here, know this, my wrath is never ending. I have all the time in the world to break you. You faith is nothing compared to the power of death." Emthur tells Tharhack while the light falls upon him, sending little wisps of smoke off his body.
"No, I think it is you who have no power." Tharhack responds while slamming a fist into Emthur's jaw.
Emthur reels from the blow, taking two steps back and rising a bony hand to his skinless jaw. Emthur rubs his jaw, then begins to laugh, slow at first then building in volume and tempo.
"Stupid half-breed, I have countless ways to kill you, but I have only one way to make you suffer." Emthur tells Tharhack, trying to get the half-orc to retreat before Emthur's powerlessness is exposed. The blast of negative energy must have affected Emthur's mind a tad, as he can't seem to recall any spells at the moment.
Tharhack hears Gothmog and Rebrey enter the room from behind him, and with Alriand slung over his left shoulder, Tharhack takes a long stride and backhands Emthur in the head again.
"While I admit to not being as worldly as you, I do know more than one way to kill you." Tharhack replies
"How did it feel? Death gripping your heart, your soul enslaved by an entity of pure evil. Your mind left to ponder the insanity of a cage with no bars." Emthur asks Tharhack, while he backs up to the only window in the room
"Tharhack we have to get out of here fast, and the way behind us is useless." Rebrey tells Tharhack
Tharhack swings at Emthur again, however this blow misses, but Emthur falls back and falls out the open window. Tharhack rushes to the window, peering down he watches as Emthur holds his staff perpendicular to the ground, mouths something, and then winks out of sight.
"&%#$@" Tharhack curses
"Gothmog hot, fire too close." Gothmog states while pointing at the next room which is ablaze in it's fiery glory.
Tharhack points to the hole in the ceiling, and motions for everyone to get up through it.
Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Gothmog helps Rebrey up the burned out hole in the ceiling, Rebrey then helps Gothmog up through the hole. Tharhack lifts Alriand up to Gothmog, and then ascends the opening himself. Rebrey takes a quick look around the crescent shaped room, noticing that one whole wall is covered in a giant map, the floor is littered with books and scroll cases. The ceiling of this room has also been compromised with a hole, at a slight angle to the one the party just came up through. Rebrey can see clouds through the hole above.
"Last stop, next floor roof." Rebrey tells the party
"Do you see any exits from this room?" Tharhack asks as he's pulled through the hole in the floor
"Well, there's still a hole in the ceiling." Rebrey answers
Tharhack and Gothmog take a glance around the room, looking for a door or corridor leading out of this room. Finding none, Tharhack bends down and picks up a scroll case. "Do these things come trapped?" Tharhack asks Gothmog
"What thing? Gothmog know nothing of trap." Gothmog responds
"Well," Tharhack says while removing one end of the metal tube. "Looks like it's not trapped."
Reaching inside Tharhack pulls out a tattered scroll, unfurling it, Tharhack looks over the arcane runes. Unable to decipher the runes, Tharhack hands it over to Gothmog. "Are you able to read any of these?" Tharhack asks Gothmog
Gothmog takes the scroll and holds it up to the light streaming in from the hole in the ceiling.
"Hmm, look like bunch of stick men dancing." Gothmog replies, having no idea what the scroll reads.
"Do you have any idea what it says?" Rebrey asks Gothmog
Gothmog holds the scroll to his ear, "paper not say anything" Gothmog states
Tharhack and Rebrey stare blankly at Gothmog, who lowers the scroll, and smiles. Tharhack scoops up an arm full of the scroll tubes, and asks Rebrey to do the same.
"Why? What good would that do us? Evil has been dealt a powerful blow here today, I say we burn these, then find a way to bring this whole place down." Rebrey offers
"Ambitious, although an undead wizard has as much time as he needs to find you, I think we should find him first." Tharhack advises
"Now that's ambitious, what gives you the impression we can take out a prepared wizard, let alone an undead one?" Rebrey asks
"Faith Rebrey, I know the four of us will be able to take out a cowardly hiding wizard, why I myself was smacking the guy around like a rag doll." Tharhack answers
"My faith tells me I am unprepared to deal with that menace at this time." Rebrey answers
"Gothmog know best way to kill enemy, find and kill root, body die." Gothmog announces
"The Tao of troll? Can't read but you spout wisdom as though it's as abundant as water?" Rebrey asks
"I think he has a point, Emthur went somewhere, and by creating a starting point, think of all the evil and undead we'd be laying waste to." Tharhack offers
"Now you're just being manipulative, although one cannot argue against the value of wisdom. What's the plan then?" Rebrey asks
"Collect as much as we can from here, and then hope something shows us where we should start looking." Tharhack answers
The three men pick through every tube, book, and scrap of paper they personally find interesting, and load up as much as they can carry in their arms. Tossing them through the hole in the ceiling and onto the roof. They then repeat the same process that brought them up the prior hole, and attain freedom from the tower, albeit over a mile from the ground.
Looking out at the surrounding land, they can see snow for as far as they can see, except for a dark streaky line leading away from the tower on the opposite side of where they entered it. It travels for a little bit, and then disappears into the snow.
"Gothmog think we need pretty horsey to fly us off." Gothmog says looking at Rebrey
"You have flying horse?" Tharhack inquires of Rebrey
"Yes, for in the service of my deity." Rebrey answers
"You've found a faith? That woman must've really messed you up." Tharhack replies
Rebrey removes the small figurine from a pocket, and rolls it in the palm of his hand. Tharhack goes to the edge of the tower top, and peers over.
"Long way down." Tharhack comments
"Yes," came a familiar but unwelcome voice.
Tharhack heard the voice the same time a force pushed into his back with enough effort to cause him to tumble over the edge. Gothmog turns and draws his greatsword in the same movement. Rebrey calls forth the pegasus and asks it to catch and retrieve Tharhack.
"The odds are a little more even now, eh, one more of you wouldn't hurt." Emthur's voice cracked in the wind.
Raising a bony hand to Rebrey, Emthur activates the power of a gold band on his ring finger. A powerful telekinetic force pushes at Rebrey's chest, carrying him out towards the lip of the roof. Gothmog throws up another flare this one aimed for Emthur, the flare temporarily dazes Emthur who momentarily ceases Rebrey's trip. Using the couple of seconds he has before Emthur snaps out of the daze, Gothmog bull rushes Emthur.
"Last stop, next floor roof." Rebrey tells the party
"Do you see any exits from this room?" Tharhack asks as he's pulled through the hole in the floor
"Well, there's still a hole in the ceiling." Rebrey answers
Tharhack and Gothmog take a glance around the room, looking for a door or corridor leading out of this room. Finding none, Tharhack bends down and picks up a scroll case. "Do these things come trapped?" Tharhack asks Gothmog
"What thing? Gothmog know nothing of trap." Gothmog responds
"Well," Tharhack says while removing one end of the metal tube. "Looks like it's not trapped."
Reaching inside Tharhack pulls out a tattered scroll, unfurling it, Tharhack looks over the arcane runes. Unable to decipher the runes, Tharhack hands it over to Gothmog. "Are you able to read any of these?" Tharhack asks Gothmog
Gothmog takes the scroll and holds it up to the light streaming in from the hole in the ceiling.
"Hmm, look like bunch of stick men dancing." Gothmog replies, having no idea what the scroll reads.
"Do you have any idea what it says?" Rebrey asks Gothmog
Gothmog holds the scroll to his ear, "paper not say anything" Gothmog states
Tharhack and Rebrey stare blankly at Gothmog, who lowers the scroll, and smiles. Tharhack scoops up an arm full of the scroll tubes, and asks Rebrey to do the same.
"Why? What good would that do us? Evil has been dealt a powerful blow here today, I say we burn these, then find a way to bring this whole place down." Rebrey offers
"Ambitious, although an undead wizard has as much time as he needs to find you, I think we should find him first." Tharhack advises
"Now that's ambitious, what gives you the impression we can take out a prepared wizard, let alone an undead one?" Rebrey asks
"Faith Rebrey, I know the four of us will be able to take out a cowardly hiding wizard, why I myself was smacking the guy around like a rag doll." Tharhack answers
"My faith tells me I am unprepared to deal with that menace at this time." Rebrey answers
"Gothmog know best way to kill enemy, find and kill root, body die." Gothmog announces
"The Tao of troll? Can't read but you spout wisdom as though it's as abundant as water?" Rebrey asks
"I think he has a point, Emthur went somewhere, and by creating a starting point, think of all the evil and undead we'd be laying waste to." Tharhack offers
"Now you're just being manipulative, although one cannot argue against the value of wisdom. What's the plan then?" Rebrey asks
"Collect as much as we can from here, and then hope something shows us where we should start looking." Tharhack answers
The three men pick through every tube, book, and scrap of paper they personally find interesting, and load up as much as they can carry in their arms. Tossing them through the hole in the ceiling and onto the roof. They then repeat the same process that brought them up the prior hole, and attain freedom from the tower, albeit over a mile from the ground.
Looking out at the surrounding land, they can see snow for as far as they can see, except for a dark streaky line leading away from the tower on the opposite side of where they entered it. It travels for a little bit, and then disappears into the snow.
"Gothmog think we need pretty horsey to fly us off." Gothmog says looking at Rebrey
"You have flying horse?" Tharhack inquires of Rebrey
"Yes, for in the service of my deity." Rebrey answers
"You've found a faith? That woman must've really messed you up." Tharhack replies
Rebrey removes the small figurine from a pocket, and rolls it in the palm of his hand. Tharhack goes to the edge of the tower top, and peers over.
"Long way down." Tharhack comments
"Yes," came a familiar but unwelcome voice.
Tharhack heard the voice the same time a force pushed into his back with enough effort to cause him to tumble over the edge. Gothmog turns and draws his greatsword in the same movement. Rebrey calls forth the pegasus and asks it to catch and retrieve Tharhack.
"The odds are a little more even now, eh, one more of you wouldn't hurt." Emthur's voice cracked in the wind.
Raising a bony hand to Rebrey, Emthur activates the power of a gold band on his ring finger. A powerful telekinetic force pushes at Rebrey's chest, carrying him out towards the lip of the roof. Gothmog throws up another flare this one aimed for Emthur, the flare temporarily dazes Emthur who momentarily ceases Rebrey's trip. Using the couple of seconds he has before Emthur snaps out of the daze, Gothmog bull rushes Emthur.
Jon Potter
First Post
Hairy Minotaur said:
This is the part where we all hope that Emthur's staff doesn't allow him to teleport (or dimension door, or whatever) more than once per day! How many d6's for a mile-long fall?
This situation kind of brings to mind the old story in Dragon Magazine about the party who killed Thor by pushing him off a cliff.
Of course, they got Mjolnir out of the deal, so maybe our heroes will find some nice magical goodies on Emthur's flattened corpse.Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Jon Potter said:This is the part where we all hope that Emthur's staff doesn't allow him to teleport (or dimension door, or whatever) more than once per day! How many d6's for a mile-long fall?
This situation kind of brings to mind the old story in Dragon Magazine about the party who killed Thor by pushing him off a cliff.
Emthur's staff allows him to teleport 2/day. Once to his personal cache of magic, and then to the top of his tower. Loading up on rings, a girdle, a necklace, and one other magic item that plays an important part in the next update.
Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Tharhack watches as the tower speeds up from behind him, refusing to turn over and watch his death come at him. He then catches a glimpse of a white horse with white wings speeding down the side of the tower heading after him, this causes Tharhack to look over at how far he has until he's paste and how much further the pegasus still has yet to go, to catch up to Tharhack. Tharhack prays as he freefalls down to the ground, watching as a cavern walls appear to either side of him, knowing that the end won't be long now.
Gothmog slams into Emthur, causing Emthur to lose his concentration on pushing Rebrey over the edge as well. However instead of the wizard flying away from the half-troll and flying over the edge, Emthur merely glides along the tower roof, pushed along by Gothmog who was expecting a violent collision. Gothmog pushes Emthur over the edge of the tower, and watches as Emthur continues in a straight line off the edge of the tower for about five feet and hovers in midair.
Emthur rotates in the air and points his ring at Gothmog, forcing his feet to slip out off of the tower and onto the non-supportive air, feeling himself fall, Gothmog flails his arms out and manages to grab hold of Emthur's boot covered left foot. Dangling in midair, Gothmog calls for help.
Rebrey recovers from the force of Emthur's ring, draws his crossbow, and begins to load it.
Tharhack watches as the sun disappears behind the west tower flanking mountain, the sides of the cavern also darken the area. The cavern walls are dark with deep reds along with black streaks that meander through the red. The pegasus gains ground on Tharhack, but Tharhack believes it to be too little too late. Unsure of whether he wants his eyes open or shut when he creates his own crater, Tharhack begins to count backwards from ten, as the pegasus gets about ten feet away from Tharhack.
"Well, my big trespasser, looks like you've created a messy situation for yourself." Emthur says to Gothmog.
Emthur looks up to see Rebrey aim his crossbow, Emthur throws open his arms, and taunts Rebrey with an open shot. Rebrey fires the bolt, it sails true towards Emthur's head, but just before it reaches it's target, it swerves and clangs off a silver breastplate worn by Emthur. Rebrey watches as the bolt tumbles from the armor, and begins to make it's mile long descent to the ground.
Emthur, grabs something off his necklace, and tosses it over to Rebrey. Rebrey watches as the small glass ball arcs down to the tower roof. The glass ball strikes the tower's stone, and erupts in a huge blast of heat and fire, the hot air burns Rebrey's skin as it flings him backwards away from the epicenter of the blast. Rebrey lands on his back just a couple feet from the edge of the tower. Recovering Rebrey notices something amiss on the roof, Alriand's body is missing.
The pegasus attempts to extend it's legs out in an extended stride as it flies towards Tharhack hoping he can latch onto a leg or two, as the pegasus realizes getting under Tharhack is impossible now, there's just not enough time. Tharhack brushes against a hoof a couple of times with his finger tips, but is unable to get a handhold. Twenty feet from death, Tharhack manages to grab hold of the pegasus' kicking hooves, the pegasus uses Tharhack's weight to fly out away from the tower and out into the cavern. Trying to slow Tharhack's fall as gradual as possible, unfortunately there isn't enough room, and the pegasus drags Tharhack a good thirty feet before being able to pull up far enough to get him off the ground. Tharhack's back is burned with friction and peeled from the rough stones on the pass floor. This causes Tharhack to lose his grip and fall to the ground, and roll to a stop, heart pounding but still alive.
Rebrey sensing that Tharhack has been saved from plummeting to death, recalls the pegasus back to the tower, just prior to Tharhack dropping to the ground. The pegasus thus obeys Rebrey and begins to return to the rooftop.
Gothmog grabs Emthur's right leg with his left hand, and begins to ascend Emthur's legs. Emthur grabs another glass ball from his necklace and throws it to the tower's roof, Rebrey watches as another glass ball falls to the stone, Rebrey covers his eyes and braces for an impact he hoped wouldn't send him over the edge of the tower. The glass ball strikes the stone and a brilliant flash of light erupts around Rebrey, then disappears as quickly as it arrived. Feeling no heat, hearing no fire, and feeling no concussive force, Rebrey uncovers his eyes to see that instead of a broken ball of glass, there stands a tall lizard like biped. Long fingers end in claws, two small tendrils flank each side of it's mouth that's filled with sharp pointed teeth. It hisses at Rebrey and leaps to attack.
Tharhack manages through clenched teeth to mutter out a cure moderate spell on himself, stopping the bleeding and numbing enough of the pain for him to stand up. Tharhack surmises that he's about in the middle of the crevasse, tower at one end, and at the other a huge skull sits on the path. The skull's eyes shine with a white-blue light that gives Tharhack a feeling of inner peace, and calmness. Tharhack looks back up the tower to the roof, but can't make out anything. Tharhack turns to the skull and starts off towards it.
Gothmog feels his hands becoming numb with cold, he can no longer feel his fingers gripping onto Emthur's meatless legs. The cold begins traveling up to his wrists, and he wonders just how long he'll be able to hold out, when he sees a smaller body float up behind Emthur.
Emthur, sensing another behind him, twists his head around to look behind him. Emthur stares into the soulless pits of Alriand's eyes, as she drifts alongside Emthur.
"My, my. Learn some new tricks have we? Or did you just steal mine?" Emthur says growing more angry with each word
Alriand remains silent, lowering herself down to Gothmog's level, she withdraws her dagger from her belt. Looking into Gothmog's eyes, Alriand begs him for trust, and then cuts off the boot on Emthur's right leg. Emthur lists to right, pulled down by Gothmog's weight.
"What are you doing?!" Emthur shouts, as Alriand cuts off the Left boot.
Gothmog, and Emthur immediately begin their mile long descent. Alriand flies off after Gothmog.
Gothmog slams into Emthur, causing Emthur to lose his concentration on pushing Rebrey over the edge as well. However instead of the wizard flying away from the half-troll and flying over the edge, Emthur merely glides along the tower roof, pushed along by Gothmog who was expecting a violent collision. Gothmog pushes Emthur over the edge of the tower, and watches as Emthur continues in a straight line off the edge of the tower for about five feet and hovers in midair.
Emthur rotates in the air and points his ring at Gothmog, forcing his feet to slip out off of the tower and onto the non-supportive air, feeling himself fall, Gothmog flails his arms out and manages to grab hold of Emthur's boot covered left foot. Dangling in midair, Gothmog calls for help.
Rebrey recovers from the force of Emthur's ring, draws his crossbow, and begins to load it.
Tharhack watches as the sun disappears behind the west tower flanking mountain, the sides of the cavern also darken the area. The cavern walls are dark with deep reds along with black streaks that meander through the red. The pegasus gains ground on Tharhack, but Tharhack believes it to be too little too late. Unsure of whether he wants his eyes open or shut when he creates his own crater, Tharhack begins to count backwards from ten, as the pegasus gets about ten feet away from Tharhack.
"Well, my big trespasser, looks like you've created a messy situation for yourself." Emthur says to Gothmog.
Emthur looks up to see Rebrey aim his crossbow, Emthur throws open his arms, and taunts Rebrey with an open shot. Rebrey fires the bolt, it sails true towards Emthur's head, but just before it reaches it's target, it swerves and clangs off a silver breastplate worn by Emthur. Rebrey watches as the bolt tumbles from the armor, and begins to make it's mile long descent to the ground.
Emthur, grabs something off his necklace, and tosses it over to Rebrey. Rebrey watches as the small glass ball arcs down to the tower roof. The glass ball strikes the tower's stone, and erupts in a huge blast of heat and fire, the hot air burns Rebrey's skin as it flings him backwards away from the epicenter of the blast. Rebrey lands on his back just a couple feet from the edge of the tower. Recovering Rebrey notices something amiss on the roof, Alriand's body is missing.
The pegasus attempts to extend it's legs out in an extended stride as it flies towards Tharhack hoping he can latch onto a leg or two, as the pegasus realizes getting under Tharhack is impossible now, there's just not enough time. Tharhack brushes against a hoof a couple of times with his finger tips, but is unable to get a handhold. Twenty feet from death, Tharhack manages to grab hold of the pegasus' kicking hooves, the pegasus uses Tharhack's weight to fly out away from the tower and out into the cavern. Trying to slow Tharhack's fall as gradual as possible, unfortunately there isn't enough room, and the pegasus drags Tharhack a good thirty feet before being able to pull up far enough to get him off the ground. Tharhack's back is burned with friction and peeled from the rough stones on the pass floor. This causes Tharhack to lose his grip and fall to the ground, and roll to a stop, heart pounding but still alive.
Rebrey sensing that Tharhack has been saved from plummeting to death, recalls the pegasus back to the tower, just prior to Tharhack dropping to the ground. The pegasus thus obeys Rebrey and begins to return to the rooftop.
Gothmog grabs Emthur's right leg with his left hand, and begins to ascend Emthur's legs. Emthur grabs another glass ball from his necklace and throws it to the tower's roof, Rebrey watches as another glass ball falls to the stone, Rebrey covers his eyes and braces for an impact he hoped wouldn't send him over the edge of the tower. The glass ball strikes the stone and a brilliant flash of light erupts around Rebrey, then disappears as quickly as it arrived. Feeling no heat, hearing no fire, and feeling no concussive force, Rebrey uncovers his eyes to see that instead of a broken ball of glass, there stands a tall lizard like biped. Long fingers end in claws, two small tendrils flank each side of it's mouth that's filled with sharp pointed teeth. It hisses at Rebrey and leaps to attack.
Tharhack manages through clenched teeth to mutter out a cure moderate spell on himself, stopping the bleeding and numbing enough of the pain for him to stand up. Tharhack surmises that he's about in the middle of the crevasse, tower at one end, and at the other a huge skull sits on the path. The skull's eyes shine with a white-blue light that gives Tharhack a feeling of inner peace, and calmness. Tharhack looks back up the tower to the roof, but can't make out anything. Tharhack turns to the skull and starts off towards it.
Gothmog feels his hands becoming numb with cold, he can no longer feel his fingers gripping onto Emthur's meatless legs. The cold begins traveling up to his wrists, and he wonders just how long he'll be able to hold out, when he sees a smaller body float up behind Emthur.
Emthur, sensing another behind him, twists his head around to look behind him. Emthur stares into the soulless pits of Alriand's eyes, as she drifts alongside Emthur.
"My, my. Learn some new tricks have we? Or did you just steal mine?" Emthur says growing more angry with each word
Alriand remains silent, lowering herself down to Gothmog's level, she withdraws her dagger from her belt. Looking into Gothmog's eyes, Alriand begs him for trust, and then cuts off the boot on Emthur's right leg. Emthur lists to right, pulled down by Gothmog's weight.
"What are you doing?!" Emthur shouts, as Alriand cuts off the Left boot.
Gothmog, and Emthur immediately begin their mile long descent. Alriand flies off after Gothmog.
Jon Potter
First Post
NICE!!
Very clever on Alriand's part, but how is she able to fly? I took a look at the half-vampire template in B&B and didn't see anything approximating this ability. Is Daywalker a different template from another source?
Whatever the case, cutting off the boots was very clever!
And I thought I'd never have anything nice to say about Alriand.
Very clever on Alriand's part, but how is she able to fly? I took a look at the half-vampire template in B&B and didn't see anything approximating this ability. Is Daywalker a different template from another source?
Whatever the case, cutting off the boots was very clever!
And I thought I'd never have anything nice to say about Alriand.
Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Jon Potter said:NICE!!
Very clever on Alriand's part, but how is she able to fly? I took a look at the half-vampire template in B&B and didn't see anything approximating this ability. Is Daywalker a different template from another source?
Whatever the case, cutting off the boots was very clever!
And I thought I'd never have anything nice to say about Alriand.
Use Magic Device, she's woke up the round before the fireball went off. Evasion allowed her to not take any damage, she had been lain out next to the hole, so we decided that she jumped down when she saw the glass ball coming down. I had a list of every scroll in that room, rolling randomly she found the fly spell in 2 rounds, cast it, and flew out while Rebrey was covering his eyes hoping for the best.
Alriand is actually a Daywalker from Fang & Fury (also by G.R.), which also shifted her alignment from NE to CN (funny she becomes a half-vampire and her alignment shifts away from evil). She's become less of a selfish individual and more of a self-preserving person. I really like this version of the half-vampire better, greater roleplaying chances.
Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Gothmog falls like boulder, easily passing Emthur on his way to the ground, followed by Alriand. Quickly gaining ground, Alriand speeds past the flapping robes and flailing bones of Emthur, Emthur turns his head to watch Alriand with blazing eyes. Pointing his staff at Alriand, he mutters the activation word, and Alriand loses control of her descent. Alriand felt the spell dissipate, now falling she begins to panic, as she slows up a bit from the air friction. Trying to spread herself out to slow the fall even further, Alriand only manages to send herself into a end-over-end spinning descent. Emthur smiled on the inside, knowing he'd survive the fall regardless of the damage done to his skeleton, these two thieves however were going to be wiped off the face of existence.
The creature leaps onto Rebrey lashing out with it's claws, digging into his leather armor, the creature rips a large section of the armor off of Rebrey's chest, along with some flesh. Rebrey tries to grip his heavy flail, but the creature pins Rebrey to the stone, his arm bent back behind him in a painful pose. Leaning in close, the creature lets it's tendrils caress Rebrey's checks, it's snake like eyes reflect the anguish on Rebrey's face within it's dark pupils. It's mouth opens, and Rebrey swears he can hear the saliva of the creature being sucked back down it's throat. The creature raises it's left arm flares out it's fingers, showing off it's claws, it's hand starts it's vicious attack. The creature's attention however is diverted as the pegasus shoots up over the tower roof, just to the left of the creature. Startled the creature loosens it's grip of Rebrey enough to allow him to kick the beast off him. The creature tumbles backward, and like a cat lands on it's feet.
The pegasus flies over the roof, and begins it's quick trek down the front side, towards the falling Gothmog and Alriand.
Rebrey draws his heavy flail, and gets to his knees, as the creature leaps again at Rebrey's chest. Rebrey swings his flail into the side of the creature, deflecting it's path enough so that it lands next to him, as opposed to on him. Their eyes lock, and mutual hatred follows between them. Rebrey rises to his feet first, and slams the head of flail into the left shoulder of the creature. The creature rolls with the blow and swipes Rebrey with it's right claw, latching onto the leather on his right leg. Digging it's nails into Rebrey's leg under the leather, the creature pulls itself up to it's knees, and bites at Rebrey's hip, only getting a small bit of leather in it's teeth though. Dislodging it's claws from Rebrey's leg the creature stands to face him again. Rebrey's chest wound has bled enough to start dripping off of his belt, and land on the stone beneath him. Rebrey hears the creature suck some more saliva back, as it watches the red blood begin to pool.
Rebrey swings his flail low this time, taking out the right knee of the creature, and tripping it backwards, as it grabs it's knee in pain. The creature swings at Rebrey, more to keep him away than to hit anything. Rebrey patiently waits for the creature to make it's move, the creature tries to rise to it's feet, and Rebrey brings the flail to bear against it's left shoulder again, and then swings back around and slams the head of the flail into the back of the creature's head, sending a spray of red blood into the air. The creature screams and tries to back away from Rebrey, rolling to it's right to give itself more distance, it rolls right off the roof. Reaching back the creature manages to get a hand on the roof, and hold on. However it's his left hand, whose shoulder was twice damaged by Rebrey, and before Rebrey can reach the edge, the creature's weight pulls it's hand off. Rebrey watches as the beast falls, screaming as it goes.
Tharhack runs as fast as his battered body will take him towards the huge skull, something in him tells him he will find sanctuary it that place of death. Tharhack hears a faint scream behind him, not wanting to look behind him to see who it was, Tharhack presses on. Tharhack reaches a small paved path that inclines up to and into the mouth of the skull, which is open slightly, showing a set of ivory doors with a misshapen hole in the middle of them, where the doors meet. Walking up the incline, Tharhack looks up and sees the odd light streaming out from the skulls eye sockets envelope him. Feeling a strange sense of anxiety and peace simultaneously, Tharhack can see now that the doors do not have a hole in them at all, there is a human body embedded into the doors. One half in the left door, the other half in the right door, the head of the man sits right on the crack separating the doors.
The pegasus flies as fast as it's magical wings will take it, flying past Emthur, the pegasus gives a snort and continues on towards Gothmog and Alriand. The magical horse realizing that with Alriand in a tailspin, and Gothmog hurtling to the ground like a brick, that only one can be saved. Conveying that sentiment to Rebrey, Rebrey contemplates, then asks the horse a question. Without answering, the horse flies past Alriand, on it's way to Gothmog. Alriand realizing what this means, for the first time cries a tear from her heart, as she watches the pegasus reach Gothmog only a hundred feet from the ground. Gothmog grabs a hold of the horse's midsection, as the pegasus tries to slow their descent, the pegasus also moves out to position itself between the ground and Alriand's line of descent. Gothmog looks up and watches as Alriand come quickly into view, Gothmog straddles the pegasus and opens his arms for Alriand to fall into.
Alriand sees the huge man open his arms, and she aims for his chest, slamming into his chest. The pegasus tries it's best to slow down with the added weight, it sends it's answer back to Rebrey. The three of them slam into the ground, the response come back to Rebrey "Yes, I can save them both, if I sacrifice myself."
Gothmog lands back first, holding onto Alriand, as the pegasus lands head first, breaking it's enchantment.
The creature leaps onto Rebrey lashing out with it's claws, digging into his leather armor, the creature rips a large section of the armor off of Rebrey's chest, along with some flesh. Rebrey tries to grip his heavy flail, but the creature pins Rebrey to the stone, his arm bent back behind him in a painful pose. Leaning in close, the creature lets it's tendrils caress Rebrey's checks, it's snake like eyes reflect the anguish on Rebrey's face within it's dark pupils. It's mouth opens, and Rebrey swears he can hear the saliva of the creature being sucked back down it's throat. The creature raises it's left arm flares out it's fingers, showing off it's claws, it's hand starts it's vicious attack. The creature's attention however is diverted as the pegasus shoots up over the tower roof, just to the left of the creature. Startled the creature loosens it's grip of Rebrey enough to allow him to kick the beast off him. The creature tumbles backward, and like a cat lands on it's feet.
The pegasus flies over the roof, and begins it's quick trek down the front side, towards the falling Gothmog and Alriand.
Rebrey draws his heavy flail, and gets to his knees, as the creature leaps again at Rebrey's chest. Rebrey swings his flail into the side of the creature, deflecting it's path enough so that it lands next to him, as opposed to on him. Their eyes lock, and mutual hatred follows between them. Rebrey rises to his feet first, and slams the head of flail into the left shoulder of the creature. The creature rolls with the blow and swipes Rebrey with it's right claw, latching onto the leather on his right leg. Digging it's nails into Rebrey's leg under the leather, the creature pulls itself up to it's knees, and bites at Rebrey's hip, only getting a small bit of leather in it's teeth though. Dislodging it's claws from Rebrey's leg the creature stands to face him again. Rebrey's chest wound has bled enough to start dripping off of his belt, and land on the stone beneath him. Rebrey hears the creature suck some more saliva back, as it watches the red blood begin to pool.
Rebrey swings his flail low this time, taking out the right knee of the creature, and tripping it backwards, as it grabs it's knee in pain. The creature swings at Rebrey, more to keep him away than to hit anything. Rebrey patiently waits for the creature to make it's move, the creature tries to rise to it's feet, and Rebrey brings the flail to bear against it's left shoulder again, and then swings back around and slams the head of the flail into the back of the creature's head, sending a spray of red blood into the air. The creature screams and tries to back away from Rebrey, rolling to it's right to give itself more distance, it rolls right off the roof. Reaching back the creature manages to get a hand on the roof, and hold on. However it's his left hand, whose shoulder was twice damaged by Rebrey, and before Rebrey can reach the edge, the creature's weight pulls it's hand off. Rebrey watches as the beast falls, screaming as it goes.
Tharhack runs as fast as his battered body will take him towards the huge skull, something in him tells him he will find sanctuary it that place of death. Tharhack hears a faint scream behind him, not wanting to look behind him to see who it was, Tharhack presses on. Tharhack reaches a small paved path that inclines up to and into the mouth of the skull, which is open slightly, showing a set of ivory doors with a misshapen hole in the middle of them, where the doors meet. Walking up the incline, Tharhack looks up and sees the odd light streaming out from the skulls eye sockets envelope him. Feeling a strange sense of anxiety and peace simultaneously, Tharhack can see now that the doors do not have a hole in them at all, there is a human body embedded into the doors. One half in the left door, the other half in the right door, the head of the man sits right on the crack separating the doors.
The pegasus flies as fast as it's magical wings will take it, flying past Emthur, the pegasus gives a snort and continues on towards Gothmog and Alriand. The magical horse realizing that with Alriand in a tailspin, and Gothmog hurtling to the ground like a brick, that only one can be saved. Conveying that sentiment to Rebrey, Rebrey contemplates, then asks the horse a question. Without answering, the horse flies past Alriand, on it's way to Gothmog. Alriand realizing what this means, for the first time cries a tear from her heart, as she watches the pegasus reach Gothmog only a hundred feet from the ground. Gothmog grabs a hold of the horse's midsection, as the pegasus tries to slow their descent, the pegasus also moves out to position itself between the ground and Alriand's line of descent. Gothmog looks up and watches as Alriand come quickly into view, Gothmog straddles the pegasus and opens his arms for Alriand to fall into.
Alriand sees the huge man open his arms, and she aims for his chest, slamming into his chest. The pegasus tries it's best to slow down with the added weight, it sends it's answer back to Rebrey. The three of them slam into the ground, the response come back to Rebrey "Yes, I can save them both, if I sacrifice myself."
Gothmog lands back first, holding onto Alriand, as the pegasus lands head first, breaking it's enchantment.
Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Rebrey stands upon the roof, watching wisps of black smoke rise from the hole in the roof. The warmth of the stone from the heat below, only rises to his ankles, as a biting cold breeze blows across his face. Not knowing the fate of Gothmog and Alriand, and unsure as to what Tharhack might be doing, Rebrey sits down on the roof. Watching the smoke puff out of the hole, Rebrey waits for the fire to die down, so that he can descend the tower.
Emthur's body collides with the snowy ground, the three remaining glass balls on his necklace all explode at once. The wind whips up around Emthur's broken body, picking up snow and pieces of decaying body parts, sleet begins to fall through the whirlwind. Bolts of lightening crackle in the spaces between debris, giving the ice storm an electric blue tinge as it grows in size. Lightning rains down from the black cloud twisting above Emthur, mounds of snow are vaporized from the heat of the electrical strikes.
Alriand felt the sting of ice chips bouncing off of her face, and opened her eyes to find herself cradled in Gothmog's arms. She could still feel the breathing of the big man, relived that he had made it through, Alriand looks around for the pegasus. Alriand only spots a patch of disturbed grass and earth, where the snow seemed to have been shoveled away by something big.
Alriand watches the light show within the raging sleet storm, she sees a dark figure walking towards her through the swirling chaos. Immediately fearing the worst, Alriand stands up, and tries to wake Gothmog. Alriand shakes Gothmog, then slaps him, but he's still knocked out. Turning back to the storm, Alriand watches as lightening strikes the figure, but it doesn't slow it's progress. During the time between lightening bursts, when the dark cloud drowns out all light under it, the figure seems to disappear from Alriand's vision. Even darkvision is unable to locate the figure, but once another bolt of lightening arcs through the cloud, the figure is visible again, even in darkvision.
The figure comes within forty feet of Alriand, Alriand can make out the jet black skin of the figure, it's head appears devoid of any hair. It's eyes appear to be all black, but it's teeth are a pale white, almost ghostly white. Alriand turns back to Gothmog and begins shaking him violently, trying to get him to come to, but the half-troll remains unaffected. Alriand turns back to the figure, but can't seem to locate it. Turning back to Gothmog, Alriand sees the figure leering over Gothmog's body. A foul stench emanates from it's body, it's skin is pulled tight across it's bones. It's eyes are pitch black, it opens it's very wide mouth, and a snake like tongue slithers out from between it's teeth, the tongue drops down and licks the sweat off of Gothmog's forehead.
"Get away!" Alriand screams at the creature
The creature though completely ignores Alriand, and with it's sharp claws, begins to remove Gothmog's stone armor plates. Alriand pushes the creature off of Gothmog, and imposes herself between the creature and Gothmog. The creature sits back up, and snakes it's three foot tongue out to Gothmog, Alriand slaps it away. The creature seems to not even notice Alriand's presence, instead training all of it's focus on the unconscious Gothmog.
Tharhack makes his way up the ramp, and comes to the ivory doors, a human man is fused to the middle of both doors. Tharhack looks on in wonder and disbelief, Tharhack can hear the man snoring, so me must still be alive. Reaching a hand out to touch the man's head, causes the man to awake from his slumber.
"Kill me." The man says
"Who are you? Why are you stuck there like that?" Tharhack asks
"Who..... am ..... I? Who? Whoo whoo. Owl, whoot owl." The man replies
"I don't understand. Is your name Owl?" Tharhack inquires
"Is today blue? Master doesn't like green, turns it white." The man replies
"You aren't making any sense, how can I get you out of the doors?" Tharhack asks
"Think you're a little bit closer to changing me? You're never winning me over, you're wasting time." comes the reply
"How long have you been here?" Tharhack tries another question
"Take all the pain away, I cannot stay my hand from reaching out, so that I can empower you for all eternity." answers the man
"You poor man, did Emthur do this to you?" Tharhack asks
"Look at what you've done to me. You've become my enemy, poisoning the world for me. Take away my everything, weakened as I am." the man replies
"You're a nut case. How do I get inside?" Tharhack asks
"Do you really think I covet like you do?" The man answers
Tharhack gives up trying to interrogate the man, and starts looking for a way to gain entry to the building. After a couple moments of searching, Tharhack locates a small lever to the right of the door.
"Don't touch that!" Shouts the man
Tharhack's hand jumps back, but then Tharhack theorizes that the man is delusional anyway, and reaches out again for the lever.
"I said don't touch that!" The man shouts at Tharhack again
"So, you can hold an intelligent conversation, why can't I touch it?" Tharhack asks
"I stand on the brink of your mind, living inside a nightmare from which I just cannot awaken." Comes the response
Fed up, Tharhack pulls the lever down. The doors begin to creak, and dust drops from the doorframe above the doors. The man lets out a terrible scream, as his body is torn in two by the separating doors. Blood flows from the two halves, and quickly floods the landing in front of the doors. Tharhack startled by the scene, quickly returns the lever in the upright position. The doors closes again, and like a zipper, the man is returned whole again.
"I told you to not touch that!" The man yells at Tharhack
Standing in an inch of fresh blood, Tharhack removes his hand from the lever, and stares at the man.
Emthur's body collides with the snowy ground, the three remaining glass balls on his necklace all explode at once. The wind whips up around Emthur's broken body, picking up snow and pieces of decaying body parts, sleet begins to fall through the whirlwind. Bolts of lightening crackle in the spaces between debris, giving the ice storm an electric blue tinge as it grows in size. Lightning rains down from the black cloud twisting above Emthur, mounds of snow are vaporized from the heat of the electrical strikes.
Alriand felt the sting of ice chips bouncing off of her face, and opened her eyes to find herself cradled in Gothmog's arms. She could still feel the breathing of the big man, relived that he had made it through, Alriand looks around for the pegasus. Alriand only spots a patch of disturbed grass and earth, where the snow seemed to have been shoveled away by something big.
Alriand watches the light show within the raging sleet storm, she sees a dark figure walking towards her through the swirling chaos. Immediately fearing the worst, Alriand stands up, and tries to wake Gothmog. Alriand shakes Gothmog, then slaps him, but he's still knocked out. Turning back to the storm, Alriand watches as lightening strikes the figure, but it doesn't slow it's progress. During the time between lightening bursts, when the dark cloud drowns out all light under it, the figure seems to disappear from Alriand's vision. Even darkvision is unable to locate the figure, but once another bolt of lightening arcs through the cloud, the figure is visible again, even in darkvision.
The figure comes within forty feet of Alriand, Alriand can make out the jet black skin of the figure, it's head appears devoid of any hair. It's eyes appear to be all black, but it's teeth are a pale white, almost ghostly white. Alriand turns back to Gothmog and begins shaking him violently, trying to get him to come to, but the half-troll remains unaffected. Alriand turns back to the figure, but can't seem to locate it. Turning back to Gothmog, Alriand sees the figure leering over Gothmog's body. A foul stench emanates from it's body, it's skin is pulled tight across it's bones. It's eyes are pitch black, it opens it's very wide mouth, and a snake like tongue slithers out from between it's teeth, the tongue drops down and licks the sweat off of Gothmog's forehead.
"Get away!" Alriand screams at the creature
The creature though completely ignores Alriand, and with it's sharp claws, begins to remove Gothmog's stone armor plates. Alriand pushes the creature off of Gothmog, and imposes herself between the creature and Gothmog. The creature sits back up, and snakes it's three foot tongue out to Gothmog, Alriand slaps it away. The creature seems to not even notice Alriand's presence, instead training all of it's focus on the unconscious Gothmog.
Tharhack makes his way up the ramp, and comes to the ivory doors, a human man is fused to the middle of both doors. Tharhack looks on in wonder and disbelief, Tharhack can hear the man snoring, so me must still be alive. Reaching a hand out to touch the man's head, causes the man to awake from his slumber.
"Kill me." The man says
"Who are you? Why are you stuck there like that?" Tharhack asks
"Who..... am ..... I? Who? Whoo whoo. Owl, whoot owl." The man replies
"I don't understand. Is your name Owl?" Tharhack inquires
"Is today blue? Master doesn't like green, turns it white." The man replies
"You aren't making any sense, how can I get you out of the doors?" Tharhack asks
"Think you're a little bit closer to changing me? You're never winning me over, you're wasting time." comes the reply
"How long have you been here?" Tharhack tries another question
"Take all the pain away, I cannot stay my hand from reaching out, so that I can empower you for all eternity." answers the man
"You poor man, did Emthur do this to you?" Tharhack asks
"Look at what you've done to me. You've become my enemy, poisoning the world for me. Take away my everything, weakened as I am." the man replies
"You're a nut case. How do I get inside?" Tharhack asks
"Do you really think I covet like you do?" The man answers
Tharhack gives up trying to interrogate the man, and starts looking for a way to gain entry to the building. After a couple moments of searching, Tharhack locates a small lever to the right of the door.
"Don't touch that!" Shouts the man
Tharhack's hand jumps back, but then Tharhack theorizes that the man is delusional anyway, and reaches out again for the lever.
"I said don't touch that!" The man shouts at Tharhack again
"So, you can hold an intelligent conversation, why can't I touch it?" Tharhack asks
"I stand on the brink of your mind, living inside a nightmare from which I just cannot awaken." Comes the response
Fed up, Tharhack pulls the lever down. The doors begin to creak, and dust drops from the doorframe above the doors. The man lets out a terrible scream, as his body is torn in two by the separating doors. Blood flows from the two halves, and quickly floods the landing in front of the doors. Tharhack startled by the scene, quickly returns the lever in the upright position. The doors closes again, and like a zipper, the man is returned whole again.
"I told you to not touch that!" The man yells at Tharhack
Standing in an inch of fresh blood, Tharhack removes his hand from the lever, and stares at the man.
