NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mathew_Freeman" data-source="post: 4625271" data-attributes="member: 1846">Leap of FaithThe skeletal creatures were just as fast and as deadly as before, but this time the group were ready for them.Staying tightly bunched together, they worked hard to protect each other and guard each other’s flanks. Karl’s possible loss had dimmed their spirits a little, but the pressing concerns of staying alive made their hearts sing with the joy of battle.Ducking beneath the claw-slash of one creature, Thunder drove his spear into it’s shoulder, hearing it hiss in pain as the magical weapon struck home. He punched forwards with his shield, wrenching back with the spear at the same time and pulling it clear. To his left, he could see Aldis swinging her greatsword in clear, bright arcs, her scales glowing gold in the dim light.An echoing boom rang through the chamber, and two skeletons were blasted backwards off the ledge, their bones splintering in the air as they fell. A cry of “Melora!” came from Sigurd as she celebrated the success of her magic.Aengus had worked a bit more space for himself. Teleporting to an adjacent ledge, he began peppering the attacking skeletons with Eldritch Spears, the emerald blasts of arcane power slamming into each foe in turn. Thunder himself used his power to Turn Undead to crush another skeleton to powder. The tide began to turn.Just then, climbing into view, came Karl, blooded but undefeated. Of the three skeletons that had taken him over the edge there was no sign. Attacking from the side, his return threw the skeletons in chaos and within a few seconds more they had once more fled from whence they came, their whispers their only presence amongst the group.Aengus’ face broke into a wide grin as he saw the diminutive gnome stand panting, keeping a careful eye out for any further foes. “How did you manage that?” he called. “We thought you were lost to us!”Grinning in return, Karl told his story. “Well, my Lord,” he began. “They took me over the edge and were clawing away. I didn’t want to drag our esteemed Warforged friend over the edge with me, so I cut the rope and took the drop. Managed to twist around on the way down and land on one of them, so that left two more. Got the drop on one nice and swiftly, and then one-on-one it turned out my fighting skills were better than his. His head is down there somewhere. Body too – nearby. Then a short climb back up and back into the fray.”“Oh, incidentally, my Lord – thank you for the Eldritch Spears. Most, uh, illuminating when you need a little light to climb by.”Now able to cross safely to the larger platform, the group swiftly moved across to examine this strange machinery. After some examination of the device, built into the actual stonework of the tower, Aengus and Sigurd were together able to offer some ideas as to what it actually does.Sigurd’s quietly assured voice gave the news. “It appears to be a magical device that requires a power source. And by that, it requires some sort of captured spirit in order to function. It strikes me that in order to get this to work, one of us will have to sacrifce ourselves.”Thunder knew in his heart that this was the moment he had been brought back for. He was the obvious choice, surely, being a spirit within an artifical form, rather than flesh-and-blood like the others? But before he could voice this thought, Aengus made a surprising suggestion.“Bully!” he said. “How about our minotaur friend?”Opening the box, he swiftly coversed with the minotaur spirit, offering it peace away from the demands of the group. With some persuasion, the minotaur spirit agreed to inhabit the machine and power it – floating gently through the air and sinking into the metallic construction.Within seconds, a faint portal had appeared, which swiftly grew strong and whole. Exchanging looks, the group headed through to see what features they could discover in this strange place.They emerged into a smaller room in better repair. Around the walls was a huge mural telling the history of the Swordlands region. For full details, see the <a href="http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/swordlands/wikis/glorium" target="_blank">Glorium</a> page of the wiki.Note: Having a Paladin in the party made a notable difference in this fight, with the undead hordes going down much more quickly with her radiant powers!Next time: The room beyond the portal is revealed!</blockquote>

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