The Sea of Starry Night II [IC]

[Dr._Bob]

Both of the Elthans finally decide to act on Thokk's behalf. One casts ray of enfeeblement while the other fires off a volley of magic missles. Achkby adds a scorching ray to the mix. Even Callos throws a spell at the shadow-Thokk, though he is not be sure whether or not blindness would even affect the creature.

The shadow-Thokk resists the effects of the spells, but the four magic users' combined power is enough to stagger the creature, giving Hajih an opening as he slashes away with his shadowstuff dagger.

[hr]
Dark blood streams down Lumpy's neck, chest and arm. Grunting, the half-orc entangles the shadow-Thokk with his flail, but when the creature pulls away, the flail (slick with Lumpy's own blood) slips out of his hand ...

[hr]
Thokk charges at his shadow counterpart, screaming. His (now merely masterwork) sword slips under the shadow-Thokk's guard, but at the last minute, the hasted shade twists away and Thokk hits only air.

The shadow-Thokk's counter-attack is so fast as to be essentially invisible. Suddenly, the point of the shadowblade appears from between Thokk's shoulderblades. Thokk has been impaled through and through ...

TIME TO DIE!!!!! TIME TO DIE!!!! The shadow-Thokk crows hoarsely, echoing Thokk's last words in mockery and triumph.

TIME TO DI ... urk? The shadow-Thokk's cry of victory is cut short as Lissa's shadowbolt strikes it in the middle of the forehead. The shadow-Thokk topples backward as the real Thokk likewise collapses backward, falling off of the shade's blade.

Both Thokks lie on their backs on the cold ground, their unseeing eyes and gaping mouths upturned toward the silent stars ...





OOC: The shadow-Thokk has spell resistance, but the combined effect of four spellcasters in enough to break through the SR. Hajih hits, but Thokk misses (the shadow-Thokk has AC 31 while hasted). Lumpy successfully entangles the shadow-Thokk, but loses the opposed STR check miserably. Lissa's shadowstuff bolt kills the shadow-Thokk, but not before the shadow-Thokk crits Thokk.

@sacreddeamon - PM sent to you.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

Stubbornly, Lumpy plants his feet, vainly attempting to keep himself from following Thokk to the dirt. Slowly though, his left knee buckles and he sinks to the ground. His demeanor and posture as he slumps back onto the ground are initally impossibly serene, a dull calm.

A single word, whisper quiet, slips from between his lips,

"Damn."

All at once, his body ends its self imposed paralysis, as if freed by the power of that baleful utterance.. Working one gauntlet free, he slips his bared hand beneath his bloody beard to apply pressure to his neck And in that position he sits, taking in the updated situation with an expression of impotent furstration.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

With the death of the nightwing/Thokk, the necromancer went over to the still form of the anti-Thokk and peered at it closely. Would never do to let this thing climb back to its feet because no one made sure it was dead. There was one good way of making sure...with a disgusted look on his face Callos gripped the bolt still in its forehead and turned his head away. With a splurch he began trying to force the bolt the rest of the way through. It may be able to survive a bolt to the head but probaly not one going THROUGH its head. Once that grizzly work was through he stood up and brushed his hands off before turning to Thokk.

"Someone check to see if he's still breathing. There might still be a chance to save him. Also look for a pulse."

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

Fizahn disdainfully stays out of the battle. It's a matter of Thokk's honor, he wouldn't like it if we interfered. When everyone else charges in, he sighs and readies his 'short sword.' It's probably much stronger now that they've interfered... A look of indecision appears on his face as the battle with the shadow-Thokk rages. He appears to make up his mind right as the beast falls and starts forward. Fizahn looks concerned down at Thokk. Could I have saved him had I stepped in in time? Looking slightly guilty, he starts mumbling to himself. "He could be continuing the battle with his shadow counterpart in his head... It seemed like powerful magic."

[Phasm]

Lissa

Lissa runs over to the two fallen Thokks as fast as her short legs will take her, anxiety written all over her face. "Oh gods Thokk, you stupid, brave, stubborn dwarf!" She kneels by the white-robed Thokk's side and starts feeling for a pulse at his neck.


OOC: Heal check = 8 Hopefully finding a pulse has a low DC. :P

[Zeal]

Hajih, Human Ranger

Sitting down beside Lissa at Thokk's prone body, Hajih reaches into his belt pouches. Searching around he eventually finds the thing he was looking for. Pulling the healer's kit out, he waits for Lissa's diagnosis.

[Dr._Bob]

Everyone gathers around Thokk, Sheyra is already there, holding Thokk's head in her lap. Silent tears drop from her cheeks into the dwarf's thick beard.

Lissa's small, nimble fingers search desperately for a pulse. She presses here and there on his neck for quite some time. Her shoulders sag, and she is just about to pronounce him dead when she suddenly freezes.

She's found a pulse. It's weak and thready, but Thokk is alive!

Her eyes meet Sheyra's, and no words need to be said. The young monk pours her last healing potion into Thokk's mouth. For a moment, nothing happens.

Then suddenly, Thokk coughs and starts breathing again. He is mumbling softly in the dwarven tongue, his eyes still open, though it isn't clear exactly what he is seeing ...

[hr]
Meanwhile, Lumpy sits on the ground, trying to staunch the hemorrhaging from his throat. The dark blood oozes from his neck. It's not arterial, but nevertheless it is a serious wound, and he could easily bleed out if not aided quickly ...

[Phasm]

Lissa

"Great Golden Lords, it's a friggin' miracle!," Lissa mutters in her native tongue. She looks up at Sheyra, switching back to Common. "Wow, I didn't know anyone had healing potions left!" With a glance at Hajih and his healer's kit, Lissa gets up. "Hope you know how to use that thing, Hajih, because I don't have much healing power." Quickly scanning the group for casualties, Lissa chokes back a gasp at the sight of Lumpy's throat. She hurries over to the bleeding half-orc, already chanting in Celestial. Her left hand begins to glow white just as Lissa reaches him, and she touches his neck as gently as possible.


OOC: Burn shield of faith for a CLW = 7 hp healed on Lumpy.

[sacreddeamon]

Thokk

"Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, my Deantrea..."

*Thokks eyes remain out of focus for several minutes, staring at a far away place. Slowly, the focus on the people around him*

"Ach...It wasnt your...fight...But thank ye all...I am not going back..."

*Thokk turns and looks at his anti-self lying next to him*

"Got ya, ye bastard"

*Thokk stands up on shakey legs, and moves to recover his sword. His formerly blue eyes are now the palest azure, almost white, and his golden hair has also taken on a very pale hue. Using his sword, the dwarf lops off a single finger of the shadow, raises it high, and then collapses, exhausted by the effort*

[Zeal]

Hajih, Human Ranger

Remarking to Lissa, places the small bundle in his "Not a whole lot I can do now, any long term treatment will have to wait until we get to Telflamm."

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

Achkby stands outside of the others' circle, still panting heavily.

Whoooo... that was... whoa... far too close for me.

Wow. Thokk, you are one lucky dwarf.

"Let's never fight one of those again. If there are more, Thokk, I'm of half a mind to leave ye to your own devices."
He has sunk down to rest his hands on his knees, and smiles up at the others through his habitually unkempt hair.

Far too close.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

Lumpy grunts something vaguely appreciative at Lissa, slowly stirring himself free from the shock and trauma of his wound, aided by her healing touch. The burly orc probes experimentally at his wound to see the extent of it's damage and the limits it would place upon his movement. It was still there, a gaping line across his neck. The cut had been close; only thickly layered muscle and the minutest of involuntary flinches had spared him a mortal wound. The downside, of course, was that those same muscles were generally used to move his head, which was sure to make the healing process exceptionally unpleasant.

Stiff-necked, he sets himself into motion, oushing himself up onto his knees. Half crawling, he gathers up three things nearby before standing - his flail, which he loops back around his belt, his discarded gauntlet, and the bottom half-foot of his beard, shorn free by the same strike. The latter he surveys forlornly, a red-fanged scowl forming upon his face. With a resigned shrug, he tosses the loosely braided length of hair back into the dirt.

Finally, he tries his hand at speech once more, his voice growing stronger, but definately a great deal softer than the norm, and raspy to boot,

"Just great. I hope everyone's happy now."

[Dr._Bob]

The party members tend to their wounded - Lumpy, Aeroz and, of course, Thokk. Sheyra is out of healing potions, but she binds their wounds as best she can, using Hajih's healing kit.

Everyone gives the shadow-Thokk a wide berth, just in case it decides to rise up again or something, but the nightwing/simulacrum remains inert.

[hr]
In a few hours, the sky lightens as the winter sun rises. As the first beams of pale light strike the riverbank, the nightwing's body dissolves into mist which blows away in the brisk north wind. Thokk's "trophy" also vanishes, leaving no sign that the shadow creature ever existed except for the wounds it left behind.

After breakfast, a flatboat ferry approaches from the southern bank. The polemen are surprised to see the condition you are in, but they accept 2 gold pieces to transport you across the river without pestering you with questions.

[hr]
Thokk and Aeroz lie in the cart. Lumpy insists on walking, hoarsely reassuring everyone that he is already feeling much better.

Telflamm lies a day and a half's journey across flat terrain according to the ferrymen. There are good healers in Telflamm, they assure you.

It is roughly mid-afternoon when a glint in the distance catches your eye. Eventually you can make out a column of armored horsemen approaching with great speed from down the road, presumably from Telflamm.

They will reach you in less than half an hour.

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

Fizahn stands up from his vantage point on the cart and looks disapprovingly at the galloping horsemen. "Pull over to the side of the road and let them pass. They're government officials, they have no qualms about trampling innocent travelers as long as they finish their job." Could things be going badly for Teflamm? Fizahn nervously fingers the hilt of his 'short sword.'

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

Achkby happily pays the flatboat men.

As Fizahn speaks, Achkby squints into the distance ahead. "We needn't pull off yet, unless we mean to take a meal now... or unless we want to hide," he comments, looking around.

[The_King_of_Durf]

((Hooray for free internet in the airports!))

Darius

Keeping still and silent during the whole battle after firing his first shot, Darius simply shrugs and strolls along with the party.

"That's a lot of men, and they're going pretty fast. I say we stand to the side, hiding may be a good idea right now... no reason not to."

((Ooh, almost time for the third thread.))

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

Lumpy squinted, trying to make out the column clearly. His sun-blindness was slowly fading, crossing the line from intolerably bright to the the throbbing glare he was used to. Certainly, compared to the ache of his neck, it was quite mild.

He shrugs, tenderly, the motion ackward without the use of his neck,

"I ain't got nothing ta hide, but SOME'a us got bounties on their heads. Either way I wouldn't dawdle too much about moving aside. Wouldn't do ta get run down, and rolling the cart off the road'll take longer than ya might think."

[sacreddeamon]

Thokk

"LKiklnie lkjiee kniaskn sawiedn"

*Thokk groans unconscously, spewing out random dwarf garble*

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

"I say we get off the road. Armed companies ar an indication of turmoil and I would rather not be noticed until we know whats going on. That and sometimes armed companies force people into conscription and I don't want a military term."

[Dr._Bob]

You decide to move off of the road and break for a light snack, hoping that the soldiers will simply pass you by.

Lissa has been tending to the wounded, praying over them and dressing their wounds. Thokk begins to speak more lucidly, though he is still grievously wounded. Lumpy and Aeroz find that their wounds are closing rapidly under the care of the little gnome.

[hr]
Sheyra stands alone in the middle of the road, gazing at the oncoming armored column intensely.

There are at least 20 heavily armored knights carrying long lances, from which long, thin banners billow in the wind. Behind them an equal number of crossbowmen follow at a light jog.

The banners are black with silver insignia. You don't recognize the design, but Sheyra apparently does. She almost jumps up and down in excitement.

"The Winged Serpent! The Winged Serpent! These are my father's men! My father's found me! He's found me!"

She waits in the middle of the road as the column approaches, slows, then stops. When the knights halt, the crossbowmen split into two groups and move forward, flanking the horsemen. Their bows are loaded and held ready, though they do not aim them at either Sheyra or the rest of the party.

The knights look splendid in their shining armor, with their long lances held at attention, their pennants snapping in the breeze. (Aeroz recognizes the style of armor as the same as that worn by the two escorts that died fighting the Mulhorandi on the Sea of Fallen Stars.)

The lead knight dismounts, handing his lance to a squire, who seems to appear from nowhere. The knight then steps forward toward Sheyra until he is only a few paces away. He is armored in full plate; a longsword and dagger are sheathed at his waist.

Towering over the young monk, the knight speaks first, "You are Lady Sheyra, I presume?"

Without a word, Sheyra pulls a worn letter from her pack. The knight breaks its wax seal and reads its contents. He hands the letter back to Sheyra, then suddenly steps back and kneels before her.

The other knights immediately dismount and kneel as well, as do the crossbowmen.





OOC: Lissa heals Aeroz for 4 points, Lumpy for 8 points, and Thokk for 8 points.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

Brow furrowed Callos silently mouthed what the armored troops had said to himself even as he scratched his head. This was definitly something he hadn't expected. Who was Sheyra really? Definitly worth trying to figure out at least, stepping out from the group and where he had been hiding he kept his arms up to show he was no threat.

"Er...Sheyra..who the bloody heck are these guys? If I'm not wrong, aren't these soldiers? Why do they kneel to you?"

[The_King_of_Durf]

Darius

Darius strolls over a little more so he can hear better. He leans against a tree, maintaining his distance from the soldiers.

Something big is going on...

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

Lumpy watches Sheyra with thinly veiled annoyance as she neglects to vacate the road. After all, even if they weren't planning on hiding, there were risks involved in making oneself's too obvious. Inevitably, he breaks cover himself, edging closer to the road, close enough to intervene if necessary.

When they're revealed as non-hostile he settles back rubbing at his bandaged neck thoughtfully. After a moment of considering the implications of the men's subservience, he scowls, wandering back towards his things to get a drink from his waterskins.

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

Has her father died?

Achkby edges closer to the road, trying to smile consoling towards Sheyra.

Where does this put us?

[Dr._Bob]

Sheyra looks as surprised as everyone else when the soldiers bow before her.

She asks the knight a question. Without raising his head, he answers back. Sheyra's knees begin to shake, and she raises her face to the sky as tears run down her face.

The knights and soldiers continue to kneel in awkward silence. Sheyra cries quietly for a minute or two, her eyes closed.

Then, the young monk pulls herself together, smoothing back her hair and wiping the tears from her cheeks. She opens her eyes and says one word.

"Rise."

[hr]
The soldiers provide you with horses to ride (for those without mounts). Thokk is allowed to remain in the cart. The knights remount their horses and form a protective circle around Sheyra and your party. The crossbowmen follow behind with the squires.

The Captain of the Guard rides at Sheyra's side as you head up the road towards Telflamm.

[sacreddeamon]

Thokk

*The injured dwarf tries to partially rise and look around*

"By the beard, what happened, lass?"

[Phasm]

Lissa

It's pretty rare that the talkative Lissa is at a loss for words... but the current situation has done just that. She just watches the interaction between Sheyra and the soldiers in clear amazement. (However, she did have the presence of mind to conceal her holy symbol as the riders came within sight.) Lady Sheyra? Her father's men? What in the Nine Hells is going on here?

After a bit, the gnome finally finds her voice. "Umm... Sheyra? Is there something you'd like to tell us?"

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

"You know...of all the questions racing through my mind right now that I could possibly ask I can only give voice to one. Will we be getting to Teflamm soon? I mean seriously, after all the **** we have in the past couple of days this seems normal though I would like to know why Sheyra is lord over a company of soldiers, but you know what? It doesn't even really seem important. I should have expected it. Just that simple."

The necromancer kept on looking around at the armored soldier's with a wary eye. Callos himself didn't even really know why but being surronded by armored troops and being lead to a city he didn't know under unknown circumstance's wasn't exactly an appealing thought. Still...did he really want to tick off the one who seemed to be in charge by trying to read hear thoughts? .....Better wait until the guards where gone at the very least.

[Dr._Bob]

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Sheyra turns in her saddle to explain this whirlwind of events to the rest of you. Her face is somber, and she looks as though she has aged years in only a matter of minutes. Her voice is flat and emotionless, as though she is reading from a manuscript.

"These are my father's men ... Or rather they were.

"When the Mulhorandi conquered my homeland, they demanded that all of the noble families of Unther pledge their allegiance to their Pharaoh. My father and many others refused. Instead, he fled from Unther with my brothers, and sent word for me to meet him in Telflamm, which is why it has been so important for me to reach that city ..."

She pauses and swallows hard.

"The Captain of the Guard has just informed me that my father and brothers were captured as they tried to cross the Sea of Fallen Stars. They were ... they were hanged for treason against the Mulhorandi Empire."

Her eyes fill with tears, but she blinks them away and continues with her explanation.

"The surviving members of the Great Houses have gathered in Telflamm, hoping to gather enough strength and resources to reclaim our homeland. As the last surviving member of my family, I have become the head of my House. These men and my people are now my responsibility.

"But do not fear. You will be safe. These men will die to protect me and, by extension, you."

Sheyra faces forward again. Her shoulders slumped with the weight of grief and her new responsbilities.

"We should reach Telflamm by sundown. Linda is waiting for us at the compound. It was she who told my father's ... my men where to find us ..."

[Frojoe21]

Aeroz

"I'm so sorry Sheyra. First your bodyguards and now this." Aeroz says as he quaffs a potion from his backpack, patching up most of what is left of his wounds. He places the vial back in his bag. "Still, there are other deaths that do need to be prevented. So, Lady Sheyra..." he says as he takes a short bow.

[OOC: Using a potion of cure moderate wounds, healing 9 points of damage]