The World in Revolt IC

[WaffleLord]

Melhved

The explosion of the skeleton is less frightening than the eruption of words that happens between her companions. "Viola. Undead?" Mel mulls this over as Wolfen steps between the two. When she had noticed the Drow borrowing sustenance from Bugbear weeks ago, she had thought little about it. "Even the smallest insects rely on others for their food. They take what they need and are thankful. Only the foolish would take enough to kill their food source," Mel ponders. But this new claim about her companion, her friend?
This would take some thought. Mel nursed her wounds as she watched things calm down with the others.

Spoiler

Show

Yes, encounter (with the planned bad guys) done. If fighting breaks out between teammates, new initiative.

[MiketheMountain]

Bugbear - Fighter

Bugbear feels his way along the wall, listening carefully for any more steps shuffling towards them from the darkness. "Helloooo... anyone there?"

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+4)[9] Perception

Taking a pause to catch his breath, he calls back to his friends, "Would y'all it down back there? There might be more of these things hiding! 'Sides, I can't count the number of times I've been set on fire by accident, happens to the best of us. All part of the show!"

"Now, anybody got a light?"

[WaffleLord]

Melhved

Still lost in thought, Mel absently draws a sunrod out of her backpack, smack the base on the ground and tosses it into the darkness of the room.

[WaffleLord]

The room brightens into daylight, every corner illuminated by the brilliant but gentle glow of the sunrod. The twenty foot tall walls are decorated with more of the same writing you saw outside. Murals carved into the sandstone walls look slightly faded but easily recognizable as Tieflings paying homage to a central larger female Tiefling. Along the walls you see various acts of obedience and fealty being displayed. Some represent offerings of treasure, food, cloth, animals, while some show acts of bravery and, in some cases sacrifice. This room seems to glorify and tell the greatness of the Tiefling Empress whose name under one central image of her greatness is written in many languages: Empress Nemeia.

The runes on the ground, however, seem fresh. Even the newest apprentice could tell that these runes are written in arcane script, but have not yet been imbued with any power. The fissures in the center look natural in origin but attempts at widening them with tools are visible along the edges.

In the south western corner of the room is a passage that slants down into the darkness.

[NotScaryBats]

"No, we will not discuss this later -- I need to know if this zealot has a problem with me. What if I were undead? What if I were the Tarrasque -- or Pazuzu!? Would you turn on me just as soon as we've destroyed these skeletal guards together?" the petite Drow's ice cold finger stabs into the tall Deva's chest as she glares up at him.

Her generally sanguine disposition has vanished.

[Cheesy74]

This time Radiel grabs the drow's hand as it approaches and looks her directly in the eyes. "Do NOT question my loyalty. I have faithfully served far greater causes than you could possibly dream of, and I will not be treated as a traitor over something so trivial. If you do not trust your party members to defend you, perhaps I am not the one about whom we should be concerned," he growls, abandoning his normal monotone. "If you are undead, then I have no quarrel with you so long as your allies come before any hunger you might possess. Now let us move on, in all regards," he finishes, turning away and returning to his usual cadence. "Empress Nemeia..."

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+12)[22] History check to recognize the name
(1d6)[5] Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes bonus if I roll less than a total of twenty.
Pardon the multiple posts, I didn't format the rolls right the second time and forgot them altogether the first time.

[snake obsidian]

"Don´t worry, guys, I´m fine, by the way. Are you fine there too, Bugbear, hairy friend?"

Wilian approaches to Viola after the Cleric stops trying to exorcise her on the spot.

"Don´t worry. Even if you are undead, you stood on our side against a dragon, even at the front. No one less than an ally would´ve done that. Now, about these murals..."

Spoiler

Show

History roll to get some facts from these murals... (1d20+12)[26]
Took two healing surges, plus the 6 point bonus. From 9 hp, current life is at 33hp.

[NotScaryBats]

Viola huffs about, but seems to be regaining her composure. The blood pounding in her ears is deafening to her. Okay, that's the closest I've come to admitting my nature to mortals -- and so far, I haven't been persecuted.

She is no help with the murals, focusing inwardly during the rest.

Spoiler

Show

I finished the encounter with 3/2 surges. If my memory serves, the extra surge is burned and I gain my bloodied value in hp, putting me at full life (I regenerate when bloodied, so enter the rest above my bloodied value)

I could be wrong though.

[WaffleLord]

Wilian and Radiel

Spoiler

Show

The 'Demon Empress' Nemeia was one of Bael Turath's greatest rulers, a master of Necromancy and other dark arts, a High Mage and also Arch-Priestess of Asmodeus. She initiated the great wars with Arkhosia that would ultimately destroy both empires. The circumstances of her demise are unclear. She was buried with great pomp and ceremony, but some sages believe she may have been assassinated by her fellow High Magi - many were ambitious, resentful of her power, and fearful of her mad rages. Rumors abound of what was buried with her and what was divided amongst those who parceled out what was left of her rule.

[Cheesy74]

Radiel absentmindedly looks about the room, his voice smooth and serene as if the prior altercation had never happened, as he discusses his knowledge of Empress Nemeia. Following his short speech, he turns to the runes and gestures to Wilian. "Are you well enough to examine or, perhaps, even imbue these runes with power, if it would be to our benefit to do so?" he asks the young wizard. "I have some knowledge of the arcane, but I am certain yours is greater."

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+10)[29] (Arcana) I might as well.
Holy ****.

[WaffleLord]

Radiel

As you ponder the runes scratched upon the floor, the mists of memory coalesce into forms from an early lifetime. The young dwarf by your side, goading you on. Your own arm gripping the arcanely hardened stylus, etching nearly identical runes on the ritualistic dias. Chanting, sacrificing, enscrolling, entreating. The Summoning. Power, resistance, breech, chaos, destruction. The beginning of the next turn of The Wheel. The present reasserts itself.

Spoiler

Show

These runes are the foundation for a summoning ritual that you once attempted in a previous life. Many rituals need to be layered over this to make it safe, but its purpose is to force something banished back into this realm. It location and personal identifiers are different from the ones you used. In fact, neither the place nor person sound familiar to you.

[Cheesy74]

Radiel's eyes flash momentarily as the knowledge of his past lives sweeps across his eyes, illuminating the meaning of the runes, but he remains silent, looking to the wizard as though he were as ignorant as a peasant. "Do you recognize them?"

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+4)[23] Bluff check just in case.
How 'bout 19, does 19 work for you?

[snake obsidian]

"Yes, yes, the runes. Let me take a look..."

Spoiler

Show

Arcana roll:(1d20+12)[19]

[WaffleLord]

Wilian

Spoiler

Show

These runes are very similar to a summoning ritual that you once asked your mentor about. It differs from a traditional summoning in that the target of the central ritual was forcibly banished from this realm. You do not recognize the name of the creature being summoned, nor the location of its banishment.

[MiketheMountain]

Bugbear - Fighter

Bugbear sits against the far wall, near the entrance to the hallway leading further in. Still a little woozy from the draining attacks of the wights, he slaps his face a couple times, trying to clear his head.

"Are you fine there too, Bugbear, hairy friend?"

Hearing the concern in his friend's voice, Bugbear snaps out of it and jumps to his feet. Putting up his fists and hopping from side to side in a half-joking impression of a boxer, he responds with enthusiasm, "Woo! Yeah! OK! I'm up, I'm good. How are you doing back there Wil? I sorta lost you when those things showed up, but once lighting started cracking around in here I figured Billy Boomstick was up to his old tricks!"

[snake obsidian]

Wilian walked in circles outside the runes.
"Odd. These runes are part of a summoning ritual, but instead of bringing something, they vanish it. I can´t figure out what was banished this way or why, sorry."

[thereaper]

"Let's move out."

[Cheesy74]

"Where to, then?" Radiel asks, curious.

[MiketheMountain]

Bugbear - Fighter

Bugbear picks up the sunrod and heads towards the hallway leading further into the tomb. He stops just past the chamber to look back at his companions with a grin and a wink. "Only one way to go I suppose. Let's see what else is creeping around down here, looking for a rumble!"

[WaffleLord]

After Mel retrieves the sunrod and hands it to Bugbear, the group cautiously moves down the southern corridor. As the light form the sunrod turns the corner, it shines upon two skeletal figures standing in the corridor. The light from the sunrod seems to ignite the boney creatures and they burst into flame. They immediately launch balls of fire into the crowd and turn in retreat.

Spoiler

Show

As my time on line is limited, see OOC, I will need to post the readied attack results on Sunday. Please roll for initiative. Thank you again for your patience.

[thereaper]

Spoiler

Show

Initiative: (1d20+4)[19]

[Cheesy74]

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+9)[13] Initiative

[snake obsidian]

Spoiler

Show

Initiative roll: (1d20+3)[10]

[WaffleLord]

Spoiler

Show

Initiative - (1d20+3)[15]

[NotScaryBats]

Spoiler

Show

Init (1d20+8)[14]

[WaffleLord]

As the light form the sunrod turns the corner, it shines upon two skeletal figures standing in the corridor. The light from the sunrod seems to ignite the boney creatures and they burst into flame. They immediately launch balls of fire into the crowd and turn in retreat. Radiel moves to dodge but there is too little time. Fire splashes up his arm and continues to burn. Bugbear steps to the side and lets the fiery ball smash into the wall.

Spoiler

Show

Skeletons
Standard Action
Skeleton1 Flame Orb vs Radiel Reflex (17) - (1d20+10)[22] HIT
Damage - (2d4+4)[11] and ongoing 5 fire damage (save ends)
Skeleton2 Flame Orb vs Bugbear Reflex (16) - (1d20+10)[12] MISS
Damage - (2d4+4)[7]

Move Action
Move to K16 and K19 respectively.

Initiative for something else - (1d20+5)[17]

[thereaper]

Wolfen moves to J20.

[WaffleLord]

As Wolfen rounds the corner, a third skeleton fires into life throwing the room into flickering brightness. A narrow room ending in a closed portcullis with a glowing insignia on the floor lights with wavering light. What catches Wolfen's peering eyes, however, are the additional zombie standing on an icy patch on the floor. At the arrival of the Warlord they begin to shuffle forward.
WOLFEN

Spoiler

Show

As you would have noticed the zombies when you came in the room, would you like to change your action? Otherwise, they're up next.

[thereaper]

Spoiler

Show

Well, I forgot where I was and exactly how many squares I moved, so I'll just change my positioning a little. I have no idea what I was thinking, putting Wolfen directly adjacent when he's carrying a spear.

[WaffleLord]

The zombies shuffle forward, showing great care in avoiding the flames licking the skeletons. As they approach Wolfen, he feels cold radiating from them, the air hanging in near frozen clouds around them. They reach for Wolfen with their frozen limbs trying to bring him into their cold embrace. From each beast the blows land, chilling the Warlord to his core. Just being close to these fiends fills him with icy dread.

Spoiler

Show

Move Action (avoiding Opp Att)
Zombie1 to H18
Zombie2 to II18

Standard Action
Zombie1 Slam vs Wolfen AC (24) - (1d20+11)[30] HIT
Damage - (1d6+4)[6]
Zombie2 Slam vs Wolfen AC (24) - (1d20+11)[28]HIT
Damage - (1d6+4)[5]
Takes 11 damage, IMMOBILIZED until end of the next zombie turn, and ongoing 5 cold damage (save ends)