The Most Merciful Thing (Game Thread)

[Ascension]

Grug's breathing is labored, and he knows his injuries are close to dropping him, but still he wheezes out his war song and fights on.

Your swords and spears do I disdain,
Gah! Grah! Graaah!
You shall soon find your place among the slain,
Gah! Grah! Graaah!
And though I may grow gaunt and pale,
Gah! Grah! Graaah!
Never shall my war axe fail!
Gah! Grah! Graaah!

He lashes out again at the hexblade.

((Curse factored in, but no other negative modifiers considered.))
Attack: (1d20+12)[16]
Damage: (1d12+14)[25]

[Terraspaz]

Will
You slip beside the stock-still Pelorian figure, and drive your dagger deep into his side. You're dissappointed, however, as the familiar rush of magical energies is woefully absent with the strike. With wounds dripping onto the floor, the figure is barely hanging onto life.

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Though you've probably figured it out, the figure is not a spellcaster. Also, don't forget the +1 damage from Grug's Muzak

Grug
You turn and thrash wildly at the hexblade, as he tries to slip by you. The extent of your injuries ache within you, and send your deadly strike inches to the side of the warrior.

Remus
You step to the side, and firmly plant your feet in front of the duskblade, placing him between you and the wall. You raise your trusted greatsword, and drive it into the wall, severing his left leg as you do so. The warrior falls to the side, screaming with pain for the briefest of instant, before falling silent forever.

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Go go cleric time.

[AetherFox]

Nis'Amain Fistal

Nis'Amain stares in horror at the bloodshed al around her.
This isn't going to be stopped. I can only help the good side...

Seeing Grug take hit after hit, she floods her body with positive energy, and pushes it into Grug.

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Cleric time indeed.
Cure serious wounds: 3d8+8
Sacred Boost: 32
Augment Healing: 38

Keep on truckin', Grug!

[Terraspaz]

The orc's muscles renew with life as Nis' divine channelling washes over him, completely mending his wounds.

The man in Pelorian robes strains and groans to break John's hold on his mind, but manages little more than to shudder in terror at the carnage as the duskblade falls to the ground, lifeless. Eyes wide with fear, the figure remains rooted to the ground, still unable to move.

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Failed the will save with a natural 1. Still under "Hold Person" (Even happens to the bad guys)

We'll give SShhh until the end of Monday, then I'll post for him. Hopefully his internet goofs will be fixed soonish.

[Terraspaz]

Johnathon stands confidently at the doorway, readying himself for any who try to exit toward the staircase. Meanwhile, his fiendish wolf takes a snap at the frozen Pelorian's arm, gouging some deep scratches. (Readying until further notice)

Lil, you're up.

[TheBlackDog]

Lily

Lily gestures again, launching arcane energy in the direction of the false cleric, determined to bring him down.

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Attack: (1d20+7)[11]
Damage: (3d6)[8]

[Terraspaz]

Lily's arcane energy swirls once more around her, and streams into the eyes of the rogue in disguise. His eyes turn black with the infusion of energy, as his head droops downward. You watch as the life begins leaving him.

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He's dying. Having a dex of 0 kills your AC.

The other swordsman flashes a glare of anger at the young girl, but takes a second glance at Grug and Nis, still bearing down on him. As he brings his blade down against the cleric, you notice that his strikes don't come as quickly, and his reflexes turn a mite more sluggish.

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"Haste" has worn off

He curses as the blade scrapes against her metal armor.
He and his shadow shuffle and switch places, trying to get farther away from the murderer with the greatsword.

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Missed with an eighteen. Will, you're up. (This'll likely be the last round of combat.)

[knewsom]

Remus' chest heaved and his eyes smouldered with rage. He strode steadily towards the attacker, his greatsword dripping with gore.

"Pathetic fool! Drop your weapon and release your spell. Co-operate with us, and we may allow you a painless death... If you do not... I promise there will be no end to your suffering!"

[roll]intimidate (1d20+7)[12][/spoiler][/roll]

[AetherFox]

Nis'Amain Fisthal

Nis'Amain steps back away from Remus and the attacker, sincerly hoping the intimidation will work...

[RebelRogue]

Will Pickman

Since there was no magic to be stolen, Will's imminent hunger for spell power diminishes. Once again he looks a little lost and embarassed to be where he is. Seeing that the battle is just about won, he sheathes his bloodied sword and moves to the back of the line of combat again, letting the big, scary man do the talking.

[Ascension]

Still consumed by rage and freshly invigorated by Nis's healing, Grug does not even notice when the others stop swinging.

((Curse factored in, but no other negative modifiers considered.))
Attack: (1d20+12)[27]
Damage: (1d12+14)[24]

[Terraspaz]

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Failed Intimidate Check

"You think I'm going to bend down and simply submit to your will, weaklings?! You may have ended my weak, pitiful companions, but when faced with the might of a true warrior, as myself, there's little wonder you so soon switch to words rather than action.

You ask me to drop my weapon? Instead I DEMAND that you lower yours and let me pass, or you will soon discover a world filled with pain, misery, bloodshed, an-AUUUUUGGHHHHHHH!!!"

The warrior buckles forward, as the enraged bard lands a crushing blow deep into his back, dropping the man instantly.

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Feels nice to be out of initiative

[Ascension]

Panting, near exhaustion, Grug lets go of his anger.

"There... now... they're all... dealt with."

[knewsom]

Remus too, lowered his sword and released his anger with a deep breath.

"It's unfortunate none of them are alive... now we have noone to interrogate."

He looked to the deep wound on his shoulder, his side, and his thigh. Blood was running in rivulets down his legs, causing him to leave bloody footprints behind him as he walked. He grunted lightly as he did so.

"Search them. We must find out who is behind this."

[Terraspaz]

Searching the bodies, you find several items of note.

The Pelorian Cleric was wielding a magical blade, though it served him little good in the end. In addition, he had a belt around him that seems perpetually greasy... as you try and hold it in your arms, it constantly tries to slip out, and fall to the ground.

The wizard wore a hardened cloak, clearly designed to repel his foe's magical effects.

The first of the two swordsmen to fall also had a special blade... infused with the same sort of magic as the "Cleric's," though longer.

In addition, you find 300 GP between them. Upon close inspection, it appears to be of a foreign design, with slight differences between the local currency

Johnathon:

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You recognize this as the same style of currency you've found before

All

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Your haul amounts to:
+1 Longsword
+1 Short Sword
Silkslick Belt (Improves Escape Artist stuff... PM me for details)

[Ascension]

Grug picks up one of the coins and inspects it closely. He spits on it to be sure.

"Thought so. I've seen this sort of currency before. We raided a trade caravan coming down from the north. When we interrogated one of the survivors he said they were from some city called Seanarin way up northaways. I guess they minted the coins up there. Funny thing about 'em is, liquids slide right off of 'em like water off the feathers of a duck. Chief wanted us to make him some waterproof armor from them, but there weren't enough trade caravans from Seanarin to manage it. We only got as far as short pants, and he didn't like their fit. A blacksmith got strung up 'cause of that."

He drops the coin on the floor.

"I never did much like taking money off of the dead. Only mercenaries fight for money."

He picks up the longsword instead and tests its balance. He is pleased with the results.

"If you take up a fallen warrior's weapon, though, you do lasting honor to him by wielding it in his memory. He fights on through it."

He holds the sword, hilt first, out to the rest of the group.

"Who here thinks this man fought well? Who would do him honor?"

[knewsom]

Remus strode over to the top half of the fallen spellcaster and removed the cloak still draped over the disembodied shoulders.

If it could help defend him, perhaps it could help defend me. He thought to himself.

Walking back towards the others, he picked up the pouch of gold.

"Well, I have no problem taking from the dead. They have no use for it, and but for our skill we would be lying their instead. I am not an unfair man, if you others are of like mind as myself, I will share the gold with you."

[RebelRogue]

Will Pickman

Looking over the belongings of the dead men, Will quickly turns his attention to the slippery belt. Within a few seconds he's sitting on the floor playing with the thing, oblivious to what's going on around him.

[TheBlackDog]

Lily

Lily stares up at the sword Grug is holding. It's almost as long as she is tall.

"I don't think I can honor anyone with that. Besides, I don't think they really deserve the honor we would give them. They were not nice people." She turns to Remus. "But I will accept your offer and take some of the gold."

As she talks, Lily glances over at Nis. I hope she's okay. It doesn't seem like she's comfortable with killing like this.

[Ascension]

"Hmph. Well, I suppose as long as I sell the sword to one who will use it then it does not matter that I profit from the slain..."

[Terraspaz]

From upstairs, you hear Tyrio's shaky voice mumble

"Is... I-Is everyone alright down there?"

[AetherFox]

Nis'Amain Fisthal

Nis'Amain looks around at the gruesome marks of the battle around them.
"Y-yes, we're all right down here."
She tunrs towards the others, "Are any of you hurt from the fight?"

[knewsom]

Remus sighed and looked reluctantly to Nis, pointing out his grievous wounds. He didn't like to admit it, but being healed always left him feeling like he was in the healer's debt, one of his least favorite emotions.

"Yes, I suppose I could use the aid of a healer."

[Ascension]

"You already saved my hide, lass. Thank you," Grug says.

[TheBlackDog]

Lily

Lily walks over to Will, and taps him on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I don't think we've met. I don't even remember seeing you before the fight started. Who are you?"

[RebelRogue]

Will Pickman

Having somehow hoped he could avoid this awkward conversation, Will gets to his feet again. Well, I'm a friend of Davin's..., he tells Lily, eyes looking at the ground. Or actually, he was my teacher. I'm very sad to see what happened to him up there! I suppose you all knew him too.

[AetherFox]

Nis'Amain Fisthal

Nis touches Remus on the shoulder and concentrates on sealing the wounds.

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Cure Moderate Wounds (X2) (2d8+22)[33]

[TheBlackDog]

Lily

Lily replies to Will, "I think so. I've met Davin, and I think everyone else is connected to him somehow, but I don't really know for sure. I haven't met some of them before today."

[knewsom]

Remus breathed deeply, testing out the newly healed wounds... He nodded stiffly.

"My thanks."

Turning to Lilly and Will, "Another child? Or are you a halfling? I knew Davin. Owed him a favor, now its repaid with vengeance."

[RebelRogue]

Will Pickman

A little disturbed about being adressed directly by the mountain of a man that is Remus, Will replies: I turned thirty-one just a few months ago. To some, I guess that would mean I'm still a child... But yes, I am what you big folks refer to as a halfling.