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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
@Harin and Radley: Going into the residence you see several ways the wight could have gone. As you turn to look into the kitchen the wight bursts from it's hiding place by the door. Radley barely gets his readied spell off as the wight hits him, landing 3 solid stabs into him even as the missiles put holes in his undead flesh. Spoiler
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48 Damage to Radley
Barely standing what's left of the wight falls as Harin's spiritual weapon lands a hit from behind the wight, having finally reaquired the target it sought before fading.
@Harin: Spoiler
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As you run into the room too late to really do anything (as everything basically happened at once due to held actions) you see your spiritual weapon get the last hit on the wight, you can't help but notice it seems to look a bit more like a polearm than the usual two handed sword of your god.
@AP: Spoiler
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actually I was counting your extra HP, but I'll give it to you this time as it saves me having you reroll in a moment :smallfrown: the confusion came from me having the wight wait for you to go, so he lost his turn, but I already calculated his damage... it's a mess just go with it :smallwink: I guess the wight took an extra turn looking intimidating or something.
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@Mathias and Orrum: The girl looks slightly confused as she answers "Um I'm.. I'm Rachel, Your really Alive? not spirits or ghosts or illusions? The Hag isn't using you to torture me some more, she does that, tries to give me hope before... Just Please Be Real? Oh and why's that grown man so short?" She says in a surprisingly blunt reference to Orrum, like she's never seen a dwarf before.
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Matthias
"Yep. We're really here, and alive. He's a dwarf." He narrows his eyes. "And yeh say there's a hag 'round these parts?"
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Harin
Seeing the weapon's new form shocked Harin. But seeing his dying ally shocked him back. "God's be damned Radley, once in a while it'd be nice if you tried somethin other than bleeding." The Celestial's normally calm manner is slipping.
"Almighty Kord, bring this man back from death's door. He is one of few who can stop this evil, so I beseech you, retrieve him once more so that he may ear his stay of excecution." Even as he speaks the words aloud he can see that the light flowing from his hands is paler than usual. And it scares the hell out of him.
As Radley's wounds knit back together and the man comes round, Harin's hand is on his shoulder. "Thought you'd got away without paying that donation did you? No such luck I'm afraid, come on, back to the mansion." If he looks like he's going to argue Harin will simply say "No arguments."
As they move to leave he will however add "Oh, and that cheque you were planning to write, it'd better be a big one." Unlike before this one comes with a slight grin.
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
OOC: Sorry, forgot.
Cure Critical Wounds: [roll0] = 21HP for Radley. And that's my last other than Cure Light, so make it last (Bloody +4LA is really starting to hurt).
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Radley
Radley comes back to consciousness. He isn't really sure what happened. He sees the pieces of dead Wight and hears Harin's joking words and he smiles faintly.
"I guess... I see why the people love you religious mages so much."
He struggled to his feet. "Not that it changes anything, mind you. But... thank you." The last part even sounds sincere!
He drags what's left of his sorcerer behind back to the mansion.
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Harin will fly overhead, looking for any other problems.
Spot: [roll0]
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
@Harin and Radley: You safely return to the mansion without any further problems. The refugees are beyond being any more worried... though Radley doubts there will be many more volunteers to go foraging until supplies start to run low. You both note that it feels cooler than it should for the season and the sky seems very pale and lifeless, not a good sign.
@Orrum and Mathias: Rachel says "I've heard of Dwarves... never met one before.. Sorry if I was rude.:smallredface:" she says doing a curtsy to Orrum. "Well you guys seem nice, and usually when it looks like people are saving me and they really aren't, they smell much nicer than you, so I'm going to say you are real for now." She takes a deep breath. "Yes the Hag that had me enspelled will probably be looking for me... could you help me hide, she is very bad. I think I finally got away from her though, the portal.. I don't think she saw it. The Sky is so beutiful here, so vibrant and full of color... is this a nice place?"
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Matthias
The ranger laughs bitterly. When he stops, he says, "No, it's not a nice place at all. A lich has taken over the city and undead monsters are runnin' around killin' everything they can find."
His eyes narrow once more and his hand moves to his crossbow. "And we've had more'n our share of tricks. The last kid we found alone was just a hallucination that led us to a crazy dryad-thing that tried to kill us. Orrum, you can sense stuff like that, can't you? Is she for real?"
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
@Orrum and Mathias: "So there's only one Lich and only the city has undead in it.. That sounds nicer than where I was... It was a spooky castle with a lot of undead, surrounded by a swamp with even more undead, there was a Huge White spider and the sky was always angry and black. And there were ghosts and stuff everywhere, well nearly everywhere, An the Hag who had me was so worried she let her guard down.. so I ran. I figured she would catch me, but then there was a portal and then I was here and the sky was so much nicer, so much warmer." She sighs "You should appreciate it, it could be worse."
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Orrum
Orrum grunted non-committedly.
"Hmph. Hasn't been that bad... but that's because we're on a battlefield where the fallen do not lay still," Orrum studied the girl a moment, "I do not have any more of the divination I used earlier when I noticed the undead in Radley's cellar... I could attempt to dispel her, if we fear she is an illusion... but other than that, our only true test is to keep a close eye on her." Orrum sat down heavily on a nearby stool, leaning against a wall.
"...or, I could try this..." Orrum concentrated a moment, willing the helm to grant him a glamer that only effected the undead... if this girl were in fact not alive, she would likely react in some way to the Dwarf vanishing from sight.
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Orrum will burn off his second to last Hide from Undead to test the livingness of this girl "Rachel". However, I must ask once more, have things been getting their triggered Will saves to attempt to come near? By my judgement, Orrum's Magic Circle Against Evil has at *least* 80 minutes left, and that's being overly generous on the part of "We ran away, and Secure Shelter has a 10 minute casting time".
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Radley
Once arrived at the mansion Radley locks himself in his study and goes to work on some research...
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Radley wants desperately to contact Calvin, his imp familiar who is supposed to be tailing the king. Is there any chance he has some ceremony he can do to contact his familiar? Or even just a scroll of Sending or similar lying around?
The fact that the wights wanted to find the king disturbs me. We may actually have a leg up here...
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Matthias
Matthias doesn't really notice what Orrum is doing - he just thinks Orrum is thinking hard when he seems to be concentrating, and can't notice the final result. "Well, there's another way to check. Can yeh give me directions to this portal, Rachel?"
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
@Orrum and Mathias: "Um.. it was a ways back, I don't really remember.. it was close to a big wall.. I think... it had lots of pretty bushes along it... an it was a spooky white blue color and glowed. OH now your not gonna bwelieve me are you.. Mr Dwarf do you believe me?" She looks back and forth seeking confirmation from both of you and she looks like she's on the verge of Crying.
@Orrum: Spoiler
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Well she addressed and looked right at you while your spell was up... also the prot evil 10' radius is still up and she had no problem running right through that...
@Radley: Spoiler
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You begin to look up.. there was something in here about recalling and contacting familiars... just take a bit to set up. (give me 3 spellcraft checks specific to divination, invokation, and conjuration.)
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Harin
Landing Harin will offer what help he can, his remaining healing going to he surviving militia first, then to anyone else he can help. After that he'll set up the watch again (telling them rather than asking them) before flying up to the roof of the mansion.
Once there he draws his greatsword, the physical symbol of his faith. Looking at it properly for the first time in days, it was streaked with congealed blood and the signs of mortal decay. It was painful even to look at it. Drawing a robe he had found in one of Radley's many wardrobes he began to clean it, removing the death from every inch of it. He worked for over an hour in silence as people moved about below him.
When he has finished the sword gleamed like a mirror, and as he looked into it he almost wept. He could just about see the face of Kord, his God, his patron, his friend. All his life he had felt the Brawler's strong arm on his shoulder, pushing him forward into battle, defending him in his darkest moments. But now he could barely hear his voice, his image was pale and blank. When he had joined the order he had vowed to never rebuke the deity's influence, but his duty now was to those pitiful people below him. Radley may have the firepower to level a city block, but only he could truly protect them.
As night crept on Harin knew what he had to do, though the pain it caused him was immeasurable by mortal minds. Standing on the highest point of the roof, wings outstretched and his sword raised one handed into the air, his voice seemed magically enhanced, as though it shook the very foundations of the city. And though it had a resolve stronger than adamantine, it was filled with with fear and sorrow, for he knew there was no way back.
"I am Harin Storn, son of Larto Storn. In this dark night I call upon you Kord, to stand before me. I have been your humble servant, but for the greater good I call on you know and deny you. Your power wanes in this place and so I return it to you. Begone from my mind, begone from my heart, leave me and do not return. My name is Harin Storn, and I am your servant NO MORE!"
And in a flash of light, so bright and yet so dark, the light that once suffused Harin's body was drained away into the skies, and though most could not understand it, a great sorrow beyond their reckoning filled the sky.
Harin merely sat in silence on the roof, all night, in the rain, alone. And as the sun rose once more, as the first light crossed his lonely mind, he looked up with blank eyes and said in a hollow voice "Tahrain."
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
OOC: here it comes, helps to put on this while reading to get the proper effect. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcRCCg01I
@Harin: Spoiler
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A gentle voice in your head, almost mournful tells you... "Boldly done.. I gladly offer you what your former master cannot, in hopes that you may use it wisely and with such conviction as you have shown this day. Hopefully, when you leave this place your master will understand this transgression and take you back, if not what powers I can grant you are yours to command from this day forward. Though you should know I am not like the God of Strength you know so well in several respects. I value strength, but of mind as well as body. Bravery certainly has it's place, but so too does wisdom to guide it. I believe your God meant well, but he is not directly involved as I am, Hopefully I shall be able to guide your will to confront your enemy as did he, but temper it with guidance to insure both your survival and success against the impossible odds you face... For I am Tahrain, God to Warriors and Generals, Lord of Tactics and War, Guardian of Souls and Marshall of the Undying Legions and as you mark the Undead of this City your enemy this day Know that they shall be defeated so long as your will remains true. Togeather we shall find our enemies weakness and lay it bare. Draw your sword and rename it Harin, hold it aloft for your enemies to see your defiance.. to see what end awaits them."
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Radley
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*gulp*
divination [roll0]
invocation [roll1]
conjuration [roll2]
Note: I have no ranks in Spellcraft and am going off straight Int. Spellcraft is, I believe, trained-only so I am guessing I auto fail, but here are the rolls just in case :)
Beginning a frustrating night of research, Radley hears the hollering of someone on the roof. Part angry, part alarmed he opens the window to see what the ruckus is. Then he hears Harin's proclamation. He ponders for a moment, dumbfounded, then very slowly slides the window shut and walks back to his work.
Shortly after sunrise - not long after communing with Tahrain, of which Radle knows nothing - Harin hears a clatterign sound behind him. If he turns he can see an exahusted-looking Radley inching along the guards' roofwalk. He carries a tray with two saucers and two cups of hot tea, a little cream pitcher and a tiny jar of honey.
Radley manages to set down the tray next to the winged man without spilling. He sits on the roof next to him and takes one of the cups for himself. He doesn't ofer the other to Harin; the offer should be self evident.
He takes a sip of the steaming black tea, without adding cream or honey. And then at last he says,
"It's alright, Harin. I remember the day I realised They aren't real. It will be alright."
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Orrum
Orrum's eyes stared at the girl, as if the Dwarf were attempting to pierce her very soul. His expression was passive, probably more neutral than Matthias had ever seen it.
"I believe you," he intoned quietly, "Get some rest, catch your breath; Matthias and I will keep watch." With that, Orrum got up and strode to the table; with a soot stained finger, he smeared over much of temple street, save for the temple to foreign gods.
"We cannot leave her here without risking losing her to incorporeal possession," Orrum stated flatly, "We have little choice left. We either take our rest now, and attempt to rescue the temple when I've restored my magical energies... or we attempt a very dangerous gambit, Matthias." Orrum looked at the woodsman, his expression now grim.
"One of us will have to draw off that abomination... while the other attempts to enter the temple, likely with the girl in tow."
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Matthias
"Or," Matthias says, "one of us takes the girl back to Radley an' Harin while the other breaks in to the temple, and we ignore the hag for now. By the girl's account she doesn't even know how to get here yet. Maybe we'll get lucky and the hag will take a shot at those burning things."
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Orrum
"..." Orrum appears lost in thought, trying to gauge just how much ground there is to cover between their shelter and the manse. His arcana had been of no use against the creatures, whilst it seemed Matthias had at least been able to encounter them and remain unscathed.
"As established, I have little practical skill in stealth. Whom would you suggest for either task?"
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Matthias
"On second thought, you should be able to protect the girl back to Radley's place. I'll check out the portal. When you get back, we'll use your shelter to rest, and then we'll try and get into the temple."
He removes his curious double holy symbol. "Take this to Forge, and tell him to find me. He'll get you to wherever I am."
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Orrum
"Very well," Orrum nodded, taking the holy symbol and slung his haversack off his back, holding it out, "Here. This may give you a little extra carrying capacity, should it be necessary. He gestured to Rachel, instructing her silently to come to his side by the table so she could study the map with him.
"Now, lass, this is a map of the city we're in. We are approximately here," Orrum pointed near the coal smudging that indicated the devastated temple district, "Our allies, as well as several refugees, are here," Orrum pointed to Radley's manse, "Memorize that. If, for any reason, we are separated by danger, or I should fall, you are to run. Run like your life depends on it. Reach the manse, Rachel. You'll be safer there." Orrum slipped the holy symbol's necklace over his wrist, the better to quickly hand it off.
"Further, if it should come to that, I will either give this to you... or you must take it from me. It belongs to the woodsman named Matthias," Orrum nodded to the ranger, "His companion is a large wolf named Forge. Do you understand?"
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Harin
Though he was glad to no longer be so empty, Harin felt no comfort from Tahrain, he was like a stranger. Still he knew that to do his duty he must take the new God's aid. Standing he lifted his weapon, and it felt unusually heavy and cumbersome, like the first time he held it. It was then that it dawned on him, his mastery of the great blade was due to Kord's will, without him the weapon was as much use in his hands as a Wizard's spellbook. He would have to seek out an alternative, perhaps Radley had a weapons cache somewhere.
All the same he stood and held out the blade and spoke solemnly. "I am Harin Storn, son of Larto Storn. I pledge my service to you Tahrain, Guardian of Souls. Lend me your strength and cunning so that I may end the perverted unlife which Darvis the Lich has lain upon himself, and protect the people of Calamdan from his wicked power. I name this weapon Duty and it shall strike as yours from this day onwards. I am yours."
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OOC - This will be added to depending on what happens next. I'll answer/kill Radley then if that's ok.
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
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Yeah I assume your pledge happens before Radley shows up with his atheist counselling service.
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Another_Poet
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Yeah I assume your pledge happens before Radley shows up with his atheist counselling service.
((Yeah I think it does, but for no reason whatsoever, what are Radley's Spells?))
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
@Harin:Spoiler
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OOC thinking of any particular name for your weapon? I think the god may have mentioned something about renaming your blade... waiting on it, though if you've got nothing I'm going with "Service"
@Radley: Spoiler
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We'll assume your just getting there after he completes his last statement, you are there now however.
@Orrum: The girl nods and seems prepared to follow you. Setting a brisk pace the young lady has no trouble keeping up. (ah the energy of youth, and not carting around armour, weapons or equipment) Arriving back at the Mansion without anything but the suspicion that "something" is about to happen, with the now solemn acting young miss following dilligently behind.
@Mathias: Tracking the girls path proves to be not terribly difficult. Just looking for anything without a shambling gait heading for the middle of the city leaves you with a clear winner. Though you are surprised that she's wearing such large boots, though by her tread she definately has the feet appropriate for her size, just ill fitting footwear. Just as you are getting through a very plain buisiness district, You see a wall dividing this district with the next. Along it are large decorative bushes, and an eerie light is coming from down the street, oddly rippling like reflected light off a still pond.
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
((Sorry, forgot that. I edited it in above. And thanks for the thematically appropriate suggestion, I was going to call it Bessy :smallwink:))
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Radley sips from his cup of tea and looks sidelong at Harin, waiting for a response to his effort at consolation.
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
((Awww you don't have fly, or even Feather Fall, I'll feel bad now if I throw you off the roof.))
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
@Harin and Radley: The sky splits with a thunderous roar, power seems to split the very nature of existance apart and before you a vast vista not of your plane stretches out. A great army, countless in number and containing every manner of being you've heard tell of, Elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, Humans, orcs, giants and dragons kneels to a regal figure in armour the color of sunset. He stands just before you with calm poise, and a frighteningly oversized Halberd like polearm. Taking Harin's weapon from him with a nod, he holds it out and it transfigures before your eyes into a weapon much like his. Handing it back with a wink Spoiler
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and a mentally transmitted "I even like the name, very nice use it well"
he nods politely at Radley and takes one of the cups of tea, adding a touch of honey in practiced fashion he takes a sip and nods appreciatively before taking a step back.
The sky seems to resume it's normal color, and the sudden lack of a massive divine army extending to the horizon indicates a return to normal for planar physics as well.
Harin holds in his hand an equisite well balanced polearm, looking like a cross between a crossier and a halberd, the reverse head from the axe blade is a hammer and it is topped by a sharp spearhead like tip. Silver frosted over a shining steel base it gleams so bright it's almost painfull to look at in the dawning sun.
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"Duty" +3 "Tavin's Staff" 1d10 damage (counts as piercing, slashing or blunt depending on what part of the weapon is used), 20 crit, reach 1. holy (+2d6 Damage vs evil) Ghost touch, counts as adamantine, silver and magic. Also counts as a holy symbol of Tahrain
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Re: Of Light, Life and Liches
Matthias
It had been ten years since Matthias had operated this way - just him vs. the monsters, without even Forge with him. He doesn't wax nostalgic, though - he knows that any distraction could lose him a mouthful or two of brains.
Matthias slows down as he sees the shimmer, entering a stalking mindset rather than a tracking one. He creeps up to the portal and observes from the shadows.
OOC:
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I think we've hit a temporal rift here. It should be, what, sunset where Matthias is, nightfall where Orrum is, and the next morning for Radley and Harin, if I've kept track correctly, right?
Also, checks:
Hide: [roll0]
Move Silently: [roll1]
Spot: [roll2]
Listen: [roll3]