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The Doomed Bastards: Reckoning (story complete)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3770439" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Quite a ways back, actually:</p><p></p><p></p><p>I have been leveling Navev more or less along with the good guys; he's picked up a few new invocations since we last saw him. Likewise the <em>Lesser Wand of Orcus</em> has powers that increase with the level of the owner. I'll post more info about both in my next Rogues' Gallery update.</p><p></p><p>* * * * * </p><p></p><p>Chapter 253</p><p></p><p>FALLEN AND LOST</p><p></p><p></p><p>Nelan continued to give ground before the goblin cleric’s assault. Allera’s last burst of healing had helped him, but his side still throbbed where the evil little monster’s mace had struck him, and his shield hung limply at his side, the arm broken just below the elbow. </p><p></p><p>The goblin followed, giving him no respite. Nelan’s own counterattacks had been feeble; the goblin’s armor was of exceptional quality, and magical to boot. Furthermore, it appeared to be <em>protected from good</em>, a product of either its own magic or the dark nature of this place, Nelan was unsure which. </p><p></p><p>He was able to get his shield off his arm, grimacing as a knife of pain shot up from the damaged limb. But he had no choice; it wasn’t doing him any good now, and without both hands free he could not both cast and attack. Not that either seemed to be of any use against this foe. </p><p></p><p>The goblin merely came in again and swept his morningstar around toward the cleric’s knee. Nelan tried to get away, but his bruised limbs moved slowly, and he braced himself for a boneshattering impact. </p><p></p><p>The blow hit, but the force of it was surprisingly light, and the weapon’s spikes failed to penetrate even the light armor covering the joint. Nelan looked up in surprise. The goblin, too, seemed to be caught off guard, and it looked around, snarling. </p><p></p><p>Alderis stood behind him, several paces back. To a casual look, he wasn’t doing anything, and he made no move toward the wands or spell component pouches attached to his belt. </p><p></p><p>Tribitz, however, recognized what he could not see. The goblin’s wards had suddenly all vanished, and it could feel the abrupt loss as its <em>divine power</em> and <em>bull’s strength</em> faded. The goblin had never encountered an <em>antimagic field</em> before, but it was quick to discern the nature of the enemy’s spell, and likewise learned that it did not like it one bit. </p><p></p><p>Nelan had no idea what was happening, but he was quick to take advantage. He struck with his mace, smashing the metal head across the goblin’s back. To his surprise, the blow had a noticeable impact, and the goblin cleric staggered forward. </p><p></p><p>That was enough for Tribitz; the goblin turned and headed away from the mage, seeking to escape the radius of the field. But Alderis had been expecting flight, and he followed the goblin, outpacing him within a few steps, and throwing himself at the creature. The two struggled for a moment, and then with a snarl the goblin pushed the larger and heavier elf away. The two got tangled together, however, and both fell to the ground, the goblin’s heavy armor clanking loudly as it hit the floor. </p><p></p><p>Dar had to strike carefully, to avoid hitting the struggling woman held aloft in the skeleton’s dangerous clutches. But the skeleton, already damaged, was certainly not ready to handle <em>Valor</em>. The first blow took off the creature’s left leg at the knee, and as it fell he came around behind it, and drove the pommel of the weapon through the creature’s skull. It came apart in an instant, and Dar rushed to help Allera as she fell amidst the clatter of heavy bones. </p><p></p><p>“Are you all right?” he asked her. The <em>silence</em> spell had ended with the monster’s existence, and Allera quickly took advantage, casting another <em>mass cure</em> that infused her allies with new strength. Dar let out a deep breath as the spell coursed through him; he’d taken a heavy beating, but the combined effects of the three healing spells he’d gotten from Allera had brought him almost back to full strength. He started looking around for something else to kill, but then Allera drew him back around with a shout of alarm. </p><p></p><p>“Shay, Talen... by the gods!” And then she was running, and Dar had to hurry to keep up with her. </p><p></p><p>The goblin cleric struggled to its feet. Without its magical enhancements, it looked truly pathetic, a wretched little creature clad in armor too big for its shriveled frame. Nelan came up behind it as it picked up its weapon, smashing it again with his mace. Once again the blow was telling, but the goblin priest had no interest in engaging him now. Instead it tried to run again, to escape the bubble of magical nullity surrounding Alderis, to once again seek the power that came from communion with its master. The elf, just coming to his feet, could not keep up with its sudden burst of speed. </p><p></p><p>But as it reached the edge of the <em>antimagic field</em>, it found another elf blocking its path. Seeing that this one was a slight female, it tried to simply push its way past. </p><p></p><p>For Tribitz, underestimating Mehlaraine was the last mistake it would ever make. The nimble woman easily sidestepped the goblin’s rush, tripping it with an outstretched leg, diverting it back toward Alderis as it fell with a sublte twist of her body. She then stepped forward to loom over the evil cleric, <em>Avelis</em> shining in her hand. Within the <em>antimagic field</em> its magic was nullified, but the slender sword was no less deadly for it. </p><p></p><p>What Dar saw as he ran filled him with rage. Shay lay against the edge of the pool, covered in blood. Talen... yes, that was him, lying in a heap at the warlock’s feet. His sword had fallen to the ground nearby. Of more immediate concern was Allera; she was running straight for Navev, heedless of the danger posed by the undead warlock’s magic blasts.</p><p></p><p>Dar put on an added burst of speed, his fingers tightening around the hilt of <em>Valor</em>. </p><p></p><p>Navev could have blasted them without difficulty, but instead the warlock reached down and grasped the front of Talen’s armor. It took some effort, but the revenant lifted the slain knight onto its back, bowing beneath the heavy weight. </p><p></p><p>“Release him!” Allera shouted, her own voice thick with anger. The warlock lifted a hand, and Dar tensed, expecting an attack on both of them. He was only a few steps behind her, now, as she slowed near the edge of the pool. </p><p></p><p>But Navev only smiled, and saluted mockingly. There was a flash, and then Talen was gone; just the warlock stood there, waiting. </p><p></p><p>Allera, confused, stopped, but Dar charged past her, rushing around the edge of the pool. The warlock did not react, and as Dar reached it he swept <em>Valor</em> through it... literally, as the weapon passed harmlessly through the illusiory body of the revenant. Dar only barely recovered in time to avoid pitching headlong into the pool of blood. He looked up to see the warlock’s <em>major image</em> already fading. It spoke to him, the words vanishing along with its body. </p><p></p><p>“He is ours, now...” </p><p></p><p>Then it was gone, leaving only a faint hint of laughter hanging in the air.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 3770439, member: 143"] Quite a ways back, actually: I have been leveling Navev more or less along with the good guys; he's picked up a few new invocations since we last saw him. Likewise the [i]Lesser Wand of Orcus[/i] has powers that increase with the level of the owner. I'll post more info about both in my next Rogues' Gallery update. * * * * * Chapter 253 FALLEN AND LOST Nelan continued to give ground before the goblin cleric’s assault. Allera’s last burst of healing had helped him, but his side still throbbed where the evil little monster’s mace had struck him, and his shield hung limply at his side, the arm broken just below the elbow. The goblin followed, giving him no respite. Nelan’s own counterattacks had been feeble; the goblin’s armor was of exceptional quality, and magical to boot. Furthermore, it appeared to be [i]protected from good[/i], a product of either its own magic or the dark nature of this place, Nelan was unsure which. He was able to get his shield off his arm, grimacing as a knife of pain shot up from the damaged limb. But he had no choice; it wasn’t doing him any good now, and without both hands free he could not both cast and attack. Not that either seemed to be of any use against this foe. The goblin merely came in again and swept his morningstar around toward the cleric’s knee. Nelan tried to get away, but his bruised limbs moved slowly, and he braced himself for a boneshattering impact. The blow hit, but the force of it was surprisingly light, and the weapon’s spikes failed to penetrate even the light armor covering the joint. Nelan looked up in surprise. The goblin, too, seemed to be caught off guard, and it looked around, snarling. Alderis stood behind him, several paces back. To a casual look, he wasn’t doing anything, and he made no move toward the wands or spell component pouches attached to his belt. Tribitz, however, recognized what he could not see. The goblin’s wards had suddenly all vanished, and it could feel the abrupt loss as its [i]divine power[/i] and [i]bull’s strength[/i] faded. The goblin had never encountered an [i]antimagic field[/i] before, but it was quick to discern the nature of the enemy’s spell, and likewise learned that it did not like it one bit. Nelan had no idea what was happening, but he was quick to take advantage. He struck with his mace, smashing the metal head across the goblin’s back. To his surprise, the blow had a noticeable impact, and the goblin cleric staggered forward. That was enough for Tribitz; the goblin turned and headed away from the mage, seeking to escape the radius of the field. But Alderis had been expecting flight, and he followed the goblin, outpacing him within a few steps, and throwing himself at the creature. The two struggled for a moment, and then with a snarl the goblin pushed the larger and heavier elf away. The two got tangled together, however, and both fell to the ground, the goblin’s heavy armor clanking loudly as it hit the floor. Dar had to strike carefully, to avoid hitting the struggling woman held aloft in the skeleton’s dangerous clutches. But the skeleton, already damaged, was certainly not ready to handle [i]Valor[/i]. The first blow took off the creature’s left leg at the knee, and as it fell he came around behind it, and drove the pommel of the weapon through the creature’s skull. It came apart in an instant, and Dar rushed to help Allera as she fell amidst the clatter of heavy bones. “Are you all right?” he asked her. The [i]silence[/i] spell had ended with the monster’s existence, and Allera quickly took advantage, casting another [i]mass cure[/i] that infused her allies with new strength. Dar let out a deep breath as the spell coursed through him; he’d taken a heavy beating, but the combined effects of the three healing spells he’d gotten from Allera had brought him almost back to full strength. He started looking around for something else to kill, but then Allera drew him back around with a shout of alarm. “Shay, Talen... by the gods!” And then she was running, and Dar had to hurry to keep up with her. The goblin cleric struggled to its feet. Without its magical enhancements, it looked truly pathetic, a wretched little creature clad in armor too big for its shriveled frame. Nelan came up behind it as it picked up its weapon, smashing it again with his mace. Once again the blow was telling, but the goblin priest had no interest in engaging him now. Instead it tried to run again, to escape the bubble of magical nullity surrounding Alderis, to once again seek the power that came from communion with its master. The elf, just coming to his feet, could not keep up with its sudden burst of speed. But as it reached the edge of the [i]antimagic field[/i], it found another elf blocking its path. Seeing that this one was a slight female, it tried to simply push its way past. For Tribitz, underestimating Mehlaraine was the last mistake it would ever make. The nimble woman easily sidestepped the goblin’s rush, tripping it with an outstretched leg, diverting it back toward Alderis as it fell with a sublte twist of her body. She then stepped forward to loom over the evil cleric, [i]Avelis[/i] shining in her hand. Within the [i]antimagic field[/i] its magic was nullified, but the slender sword was no less deadly for it. What Dar saw as he ran filled him with rage. Shay lay against the edge of the pool, covered in blood. Talen... yes, that was him, lying in a heap at the warlock’s feet. His sword had fallen to the ground nearby. Of more immediate concern was Allera; she was running straight for Navev, heedless of the danger posed by the undead warlock’s magic blasts. Dar put on an added burst of speed, his fingers tightening around the hilt of [i]Valor[/i]. Navev could have blasted them without difficulty, but instead the warlock reached down and grasped the front of Talen’s armor. It took some effort, but the revenant lifted the slain knight onto its back, bowing beneath the heavy weight. “Release him!” Allera shouted, her own voice thick with anger. The warlock lifted a hand, and Dar tensed, expecting an attack on both of them. He was only a few steps behind her, now, as she slowed near the edge of the pool. But Navev only smiled, and saluted mockingly. There was a flash, and then Talen was gone; just the warlock stood there, waiting. Allera, confused, stopped, but Dar charged past her, rushing around the edge of the pool. The warlock did not react, and as Dar reached it he swept [i]Valor[/i] through it... literally, as the weapon passed harmlessly through the illusiory body of the revenant. Dar only barely recovered in time to avoid pitching headlong into the pool of blood. He looked up to see the warlock’s [i]major image[/i] already fading. It spoke to him, the words vanishing along with its body. “He is ours, now...” Then it was gone, leaving only a faint hint of laughter hanging in the air. [/QUOTE]
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