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Message: <blockquote data-quote="htetickrt" data-source="post: 1772787" data-attributes="member: 16534">Vampire Smackdown II: Dorina T’sarranThough exhausted, Trella takes charge.  “Down the hall, but go save Andy first.  Before she becomes something even stranger than she is now.”  The druid heals herself after she gives her orders, sighing as her heartbeat slows a bit from its frantic pace.Kyree obliges, reaching Calla’s position with alacrity.  A few arrows convince the vampires that discretion is the better part of continuing a meal later, and both flee in gaseous form immediately, though one does manage to kick Andy’s body before leaving.Most of the others arrive soon after, just in time to heal Andy back to awareness.  The monk awakens with a start, looks around nervously, and crawls to the wall.  With less than her usual attitude, she mutters, "What a freaking mess."Unlike the rest of the group, Khail moves through the double doors to the north, waiting for the return of the priestess.  He refuses to be caught unaware by her "dastardly evil" as his internal monologue puts it.Meanwhile, Buttercup rattles his chains, showing more animation than he had since being dominated.  "Let me out!" he cries pitifully.Seeing the vampires gone and still desirous of a good smashing, the stone giant stomps over to Buttercup and lays into the chains twice.  The sheer strength of the large humanoid is sufficient to break the manacles, and Buttercup tumbles to the ground.  Before anyone can go to him, the half-orc raises his head, bloodshot eyes wide and staring.  "They shouldn’t hear us!" he half-shouts, half-whines, and speaks words of magic that render the area completely devoid of sound.Watching Buttercup warily, Kyree nocks an arrow and waits for a return of the vampires.  Trella leaves the region, gesturing for the remaining stone giant to follow.  Once free to speak, she heals him with a prayer, adding her profound thanks for his efforts.  He grunts his acceptance, though proves unwilling to nursemaid the goblins, despite the druid’s subsequent request.Quid drags Andy over to her, restoring the monk’s abilities with a prayer of her own.  “What now?” she asks, as all save Buttercup and Khail gather around.Trella sighs tiredly.  Pointing to Kyree, she orders, “Find out if Buttercup’s still dominated—I don't care how—and keep him from doing anything rash.”  As an after thought, she adds, "Please."  To Calla, she says, “Scout for coffins, secret doors, or trouble, and, though it may be hard not to, do not engage anything you find that fights back; return and report it to us.”  Andy thanks Quid and pads off after his fellow halfling.To Quid, Kai, and Rhien, she says wearily, "First and foremost, we need Dobi back.  Not that I miss the little freakzilla, but frankly, another body could make all the difference here.  Second, we're hurting and I'm betting those vampires are just regrouping for another go 'round with us.  I'm seriously pissed off and want to summon some more earth elementals to go on a holy tear, but that's not exactly a well-thought-out plan I have there so I need some input.  Oh, and if it turns out Buttercup is much friendlier with vampires, we'll need to deal with that, too, and I don't have any helpful magic there.  We also need some healing."Quid ponders for a second, "I do miss indeed miss the little Dobster very much, and I have some new spells I'd love to try out on some vampire butt, but I feel we should press our advantage while we have it. We have them on the run. If we let her misty holiness off the hook for another day, she'll come back with all her spell protections again. I suggest we heal up here and press the attack, though perhaps in a more careful manner.  As in we send Calla ahead, and can keep track of her with detection.  Let’s see if we can dispatch the priestess before she can regroup.Unless maybe there are bigger baddies down the hall that she has fled to, in which case, perhaps we should regroup." Quid shrugs somewhat indecisively."Okay, sounds like as good a plan as any.  Let's see what we're up against.  Calla, get back here."  The rogue pads back, with Andy in tow.  Her initial frustration over being called back fades rapidly upon realizing she is being called to make renewed contact.  So much so, in fact, that Trella feels it necessary to caution her not to overstep her mandate."But protection is a matter for local security," the halfling whines.  "Investigation is implied in my mandate.""Whatever," Trella says with a sigh.Calla pads off again, this time without Andy in tow.  As she makes for the outer ring of the House Morcane level, the rest of the group turns to healing.  All save Buttercup, that is, who remains sulking in a corner.  His continued reticence to act normally—or at least less weirdly than he is presently—is a continued source of worry, and eventually Kai determines to do something about it.  Subtly-cast magic indicates an enchantment aura around the half-orc, and Kai’s shoulders sag.  After backing away as nonchalantly as she can manage, she conveys the situation to Khail in a whisper.The paladin, as is his wont, abandons subtlety as he draws his blade and approaches Buttercup.  “No one is going to hurt you,” he says, unconvincingly.Buttercup whimpers and backs away himself; Khail approaches boldly.  For his trouble, he receives a ray of searing light to the chest, answering the group’s remaining questions definitively.Khail booms, “Begone foul domination!” and invokes the abjuring power of his blade.  Buttercup draws his greataxe; Kai indicates that the domination remains.The paladin tries again, this time removing the silence radius.  This apparently causes Buttercup great emotional anguish, as he charges Khail in a fury.  His axe swing is horribly wild, however, and connects with nothing but air.“Do not make this more difficult, friend Buttercup,” Khail patronizes.  A third abjuration fails.  Buttercup cries, “Leave me alone, human!” and hacks out a gouge of paladin-flesh.Khail begins to grow frustrated.  “Come on, now, just sit still.”  More failures follow, along with three more axe wounds that leave the floor slick with blood.  “Argh!” he moans.Rhien tumbles in, kicking up at the half-orc’s axe.  His aim is true, and the weapon is knocked clean out of Buttercup’s hands.  Undeterred, the cleric leaps at Khail and attempts to grapple with him.  The stronger, more experienced paladin easily pushes him away.  “Get out of his brain you doomed evil thing!” he screams, and the domination fails.Buttercup’s face untwists, and he begins to weep.  "Wha—what happened?   Oh no!  I'm so sorry.  So sorry…."  The half-orc retreats back to the corner.Calla returns then, looking dejected.  “Nothing there.  No drow flesh to skewer.”Trella goggles at her.  “You’re really starting to disturb me.”  Before she can say more, Dorina reasserts her presence from afar.  Khail, on the periphery, is assaulted by the sudden appearance of a spectre; those closer to the middle of the room are forced to dive in all directions to avoid a whirling mass of razor-sharp blades that just as abruptly manifests.Of all the companions, Kyree has the easiest time evading the barrier, and he rolls to his feet and has an arrow ready for the spectre while most others are still sprawled ungainly across the cold stone floor.  Unfortunately, this narrow focus leaves him open to the unexpected, which here takes the form of coruscating negative energy that threatens his very existence.  The elf grits his teeth, and fires true.Rhien watches the spectre’s recoil, but can spare it no more attention, thanks to the enemy forces now arrayed in the eastern doorway.  The monk rebounds off of the far wall, flips in the air, and skims the ceiling as he charges.  The intent of his action is clear—someone must take the brunt of the assault while the party regroups—and Rhien conveys as much to Trella with a glance back.Trella reacts instantly, screaming at those inside the blade barrier, "GET OUT, GET OUT OF THERE!"The message doesn’t need to be repeated, and a mad rush of bodies exits the chamber to join Khail in the archway.  On the way, Andy yells at Buttercup, "No time for tears, we NEED you, Butters!" which earns her a look, a loud snuffle, and the lumbering approach of the burly priest.Next to her, Quid groans, wondering not for the first time what she has gotten herself into by joining this odd band.  Nevertheless she acts with resolve, placing a blade barrier of her own across the eastern entrance.  The metal cuts into the huge spiders in front, but its action on those shielded by the arachnids is less easily discernable.  Soon after, the blades vanish, a victim of Kai’s attempt to remove all impediments to rushing Dorina.  The drow’s answering cackle grates on both women; her flame strike has a more tangible effect, leaving most present badly burned.Rhien seeks her out, but is foiled by a deep darkness that blankets the passage.  “If we don’t get her soon, she’ll destroy us from a distance!” he shouts, uncharacteristically perturbed.  Supporting his urgency, he exhausts the power of his boots to heal the party fully.The party is stymied from following the monk’s advice, however, by the continued reluctance of Dorina’s magic to succumb to abjurations.  Eventually the group gives up; Trella flits over to the corridor in the form of a hummingbird, while Kai takes those she can on a short inter-dimensional jaunt.  Rhien scoops up the stragglers and flies them over.“Finally, the battle is joined!” Khail cries boldly, as his comrades file in behind him.  “Let evil quake before us!”  For a moment it seems to do just that, as the paladin’s training permits him to strike with skill when others could only flail.  Two spiders fall to his charge, and, when the light of Quid’s stone cancels the darkness itself, Danek’s rage slaughters the third.Unfortunately for the holy warrior, the arachnids were more shield than defender of the doughty Dorina.  With a word green fire immolates Khail, and when it passes all that remains of him are dust and clattering armor.Quid screams in horror, and lashes out with holy fire to scorch the drow.  Calla’s blade adds acid to the mix, and Andy’s siangham sends the spectre back to oblivion.  For her trouble she is nearly stabbed to death.Trella flies to the fore and resumes her own shape; standing by her side Kyree releases a storm of arrows that strike with stunning accuracy.  Three send a vampire to dust; the fourth sails through the spreading mist to embed itself in the priestess’s neck.Kai acknowledges Kyree’s display grimly as she arrives, firing off a pair of fireballs at the two remaining drow.  Dorina’s focus is on Kyree as well, though hers is far less benign.  Finding his offensive prowess to far exceed his defensive ability, she swiftly crushes his resistance with her potent will.  Making sure that the elf’s behavior shows no measure of this, she quietly retreats from the battle, joined by the last noble guard of House Morcane.Kyree makes as if to follow, and then turns smoothly on his heels to face Kai.  Her back provides a tempting target to the elf’s controller, and it soon becomes home to four of Kyree’s best arrows.  Stunned, Kai reels in shock, spinning to face her assailant in anger.  Luckily for them both, Quid is ready with the appropriate magic, and a touch delivers freedom for the archer.  Freedom from domination, that is, not from the look of reproach the frequently-targeted Kai cannot help but give, nor from the near-homicidal gaze of the raging Danek.  Anger and remorse alternately color Kyree’s delicate features.As this drama plays out, the others batter at the locked door that separates them from following after Dorina.  Calla slips in underneath them and deftly picks the lock.Trella pushes open the door and screams, “Fan out and find her!”  Obeying, the band splits up, passing through ruined bedchambers and bare hallways in their quest.  Kyree ranges out ahead, both to avoid recrimination and escape his noisy comrades, and so he is the first to hear the coming of the noble guard.  A call to Quid brings light to illuminate the vampire, and Danek and Buttercup charge in unison to bring steel.  Kyree tries to add fletched wood, but after his first arrow lodges in Buttercup’s behind, the elf sadly puts down his bow.Kai picks up the slack, boring ten holes in the guard, and he quickly reverts to mist to escape more punishment.  Trella slams her staff into the wall as the gas passes, cursing the small holes that provide such convenient escape routes for the vampires.Calla releases a far more virulent curse after not arriving to the action fast enough, and immediately goes to work on the next locked door.  This lock also falls quickly to her skill, and the halfling is storming through a lavishly-furnished room before the door is fully opened, determined not to miss out again.  The rest of the group follows behind, catching up only when Calla is forced to halt at ornate double doors.  They find her examining the woodwork closely.Trella is in no mood for such attention to detail.  “Open them!” she screams, somewhat shrilly.“Could be a trap,” Calla huffs.“Then get rid of it.”“I said could; I haven’t found anything, but the damned drow are deviously diabolical.”“Just open it then.  Everyone else get back.”  The druid stands her ground with the rogue, in case anyone is waiting just inside the portal.Calla masterfully picks the well-worked lock for the third time in a row and turns the handle on the door.  As she does so, flames sear the pair, and both are forced to dive away from the portal.  They start to struggle to their feet, but are again sent sprawling by a second column of fire, which this time encompasses all those present.  Buttercup’s body, untouched by the healing prayers he freely bequeathed to others, has had enough, and it fails under the onslaught.  The half-orc’s body fades into insubstantiality while the lingering stench of charred flesh provides an odious counterpoint to the fell chamber past the doors.Kyree pushes aside thoughts of the growing cost in lives, ignores the majestic dark tapestries depicting unspeakable horrors that hang above long tables of gleaming black wood, and concentrates fully on the unmistakable drow woman draped casually across a throne of bones.  The missiles that fly from his bow are soon joined by Kai’s enchanted variety, but none appear to have the slightest effect.  Quid analyzes the data and comes to a simple conclusion: illusion.  True sight confirms her estimation, revealing the true Dorina standing below the throne inside of a false column, though convincing the others of this proves difficult.Once they realize the truth, however, the battle once again descends into chaos.  With so many ready to disrupt her spells, Dorina is forced to adopt more aggressive tactics, and blows from both sides are dealt with reckless abandon.  Even without Khail’s strength, such a scrum favors the party, and inexorably—though not without serious injury—they wear away at the vampires.  Finally, with a slash and an arrow, both turn to gas.  Dorina, so vocal earlier, vanishes into another room without a whisper.Calla, on the other hand, cackles madly and unleashes a string of invective that makes even Trella’s ears burn.  She is almost thankful when Kai’s warning that the vampire’s crypt has not yet been found gives the rogue pause.  Trella uses the break to order the others to search.Danek snarls, trying hard to maintain the anger that supports her continued consciousness, and storms off to slam the butt of her longsword against the walls.  Despite her passion, it is Quid’s enhanced sight that picks out the hidden door, and Calla’s skill that pries it open.A moment’s glance into the revealed room yields the prize—a stone sepulcher covered in gorgeous, shining copper leaf—as well as the unwelcome presence of a dozen skeletons, all holding up one foot.  These cause little fear in the seasoned group, but their intent was not to engage in a hopeless combat.  Instead they all put their feet down with awful synchronicity, triggering Dorina’s final defense: another deadly blade barrier.Shards of bone fly outward, as the expanding radius shreds the minor undead.  Kyree, Kai, Calla, and Rhien sprint at the wave’s edge, barely diving to safety in time, but their friends are not so lucky.  Quid, bleeding heavily from numerous slashes across the midsection, is slammed against the opposite wall like a discarded toy.  Trella, made of sturdier stuff but taxed beyond even her limit, is knocked to the earth, her consciousness fading with each spurt of blood.  Andy and Danek fare even worse, though their end is relatively painless as the two are instantly beheaded.  They vanish before their empty bodies can join Trella under the blades; an answering mist passes from Quid’s bag as they pass out of the room, and out of the story.Though the loss will be felt later, the group is not yet out of danger, and only Kai’s quick reaction and ready telekinesis save Trella from a similar fate.  Once her limp form has been dragged out of the barrier, Quid restores a measure of health with one of her few remaining spells.The druid moans as she comes back to herself.  “How long do we have left before the bitch returns?”Kai answers, “Less than an hour.”“No good; the barrier will be around longer than that.  Can you dispel it?”Kai grimaces.  “I’ve got one shot at it, but I haven’t had the best of luck in the past.”Kyree pulls back his bowstring.  “Let me try; I may get lucky.”  The archer summons an arrow of dispelling and lets it fly, but the blades do not vanish.  He slumps his shoulders in defeat.Rhien takes flight, looking profoundly guilty about something.  “I can fly over the blades and try to open the coffin. I am unhurt.”Trella looks like she is going to say something, but thinks better of it.  Finally she suggests, “Take Calla with you.  There may be more traps.”  The halfling responds enthusiastically, eager to do whatever harm she can to her hated foe.  Rhien picks her up gingerly and conveys her to the coffin; Calla foils another trap with a calm focus that belies her slightly deranged aspect.  Rhien’s fists do the rest, breaking the copper bands holding on the lid, and sending the carved stone to shatter against the blade barrier.  Flecks of stone spiral in every direction, but cause no permanent harm.Rhien drags Dorina from her rest, and brings her to his companions.  Once there she is assailed by every manner of vampire-slaying tactic available, eventually resulting in both her demise and a floor soaked with holy water. This proves enough for Trella, and the druid slides down the wall into the puddle.  “Someone should search the area,” she mutters, and puts her head in her hands.  “And find the others.”  Calla, still oddly enthused, volunteers, accompanied by Rhien.The two don’t take long to return, she with a set of golden chess pieces, he with the requested news.  Trella ignores her appraisal of their worth, focusing on her fallen comrades.  “Any sign of what the little buggers turned into this time?  I’m guessing Andy’s a kumquat.”Rhien shakes his head grimly.  “No, none.  In fact, I don’t even see their belongings, which used to fall to the ground when they changed.  And the mist is gone entirely.”“Any other ways out?”“Just the ladders up.”“Might as well check out the front, now that we’re healed up all pretty.”“The goblins will be happy to see us; they’re scared witless in the center of the maelstrom.  Steve and the stone giant are still out there too.”Kai rolls her eyes at their mention.  Kyree pulls up short after examining a bone scrollcase he found.  “Hey, I found a letter in Elven,” he announces, and begins to read:‘Daughter:    Our Dark Lady favors my efforts, and my research proceeds well.  Within five tendays, perhaps six, all will be ready for the Day of Great Vengeance.  The Spider-Queen is dead; we have already brought low the Spider-kissers and seized our rightful place in the realms of the dark.  Now the Day draws near when we shall avenge ourselves upon those of the day-blasted lands, too, and achieve that ultimate triumph denied us so long ago.    While I prepare my Great Revenance, it falls to you to make ready the way.  Harry the surface-dwellers, hunt them in their woods and fields, and take the measure of their strength.  Do not concern yourself with putting them on their guard; Our Lady desires their blood, their fear, and their dreadful anticipation of our ultimate act of revenge.  With each slaying we grow in her favor and sow the seeds of our coming victory.    If they come against you in Szith Morcane in irresistible strength, slay as many as you can.  Withdraw from the fight if you must, and bring Zedarr with you, but as for the rest—they are to stand and die for the glory of the White Banshee.  The battle for Szith Morcane will come to nothing when our Great Revenance comes to pass.  If anything, our final vengeance is made ever sweeter by each fleeting, false hope our enemies entertain before it falls upon them.    Work great slaughter for our Lady’s dark glory, my daughter Dorina.  Soon I will come to you from Maerimydra with such dark and terrible might that all of Faerun will tremble before us.    Mother’”At its conclusion, Kai moans, barely suppressing a scream of frustration.  Calla’s eyes gleam wickedly.  “Does this mean we’re off to kill more drow?” she asks enthusiastically.  The others ignore her.Rhien retrieves a second scrollcase from Dorina’s coffin.  “There’s a rough map of the surrounding Underdark here, with a marked trail leading to Maerimydra and markers for places of interest.”Trella asks, “Can we teleport to the city?”Quid shakes her head.  “Too risky.  Faerzress—a magical radiation—fills the Underdark and makes scrying difficult and teleportation dangerous.  With only a rough map to guide us, we may as well deliberately teleport into solid rock.”“We just have all the luck, don’t we,” Trella grumbles, before leading the diminished group back to the blade barrier.  Rhien and Quid ferry all over, and then carry the remaining goblins across, kicking and screaming all the way.  Devoid of any rational thought, they run screaming toward the entrance, several falling into the chasm below in their haste to escape.  Kai and Kyree both glare at them.As the group follows behind more slowly, all halt on Quid’s mark a dozen feet from the exit to the level.  The cleric, still gifted with superior vision, says through clenched teeth, “We have company.  It’s the archmage.”  Unshed tears gather in her eyelid, threatening to fall.Trella exclaims, “Oh goody.  I wonder what he wants.”The drow wizard inclines his head slightly.  “You have done well in destroying Dorina, but you are not yet done with our deal.  There is one more priest with power here, residing in the fane of Lolth above.  You must destroy her as well.  Once you have done this and paid me my remaining gold for the slaves, your debt to me will be repaid.”</blockquote>

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