"It's all down to you, Baby," Bari whispered to Jordann. He wasn't prepared to accept that it would end here. Jordann was clearly with them all and so far, against all odds, they had succeeded. "So what do you do, hmmm?" the large cleric continued, looking down at the stave, running his hand over the smooth wood. "Why don't you tell Papa Bear all about your fine self? Don't be shy now..."
Bari will do his best to determine anything interesting about the stave - either for curiosity's sake, or to actually find a solution to the current predicament.
The mighty snake lord retreated before the paladin, shuffling backwards on his great coils as he called to his soldiers. Three snakemen threw down their bows and drew sword and shield to come to his defence. Seu took one last swing at the creature, but his blade did not find his foe. The three Yuan-Ti began to circle Seu, interposing themselves between their lord and the deadly warrior.
Robin made a dash for the nearest piece of cover, a large fallen piece of roof. Tracking the motion with their bows, two Yuan-Ti loosed arrows at the swift ranger, but they clattered harmlessly off the rocks that now shielded him.
Bari gazed wonderingly at the stave in his hands. The letters inscribed on the sides of the pyramid top, ARIA, what could they mean? Were they the key to unlocking it's power? The object loomed large in his vision, radiating holy power. He almost felt as though he were on the verge of touching something, or someone...
One of the snakemen facing Seu worked up the courage to attack, but his hasty swings with the curved blade were easily avoided by the paladin.
Eggbert began quietly chanting the words of a protective illusion that would make multiple copies of his image, to confuse the foe and hopefully buy them some valuable time...
The figure of Rambulge proved a tempting target for one of the snakeman archers, who fired a deadly shaft at the spellsword. Fortunately, the shot went wide.
Rambulge, having narrowly avoided being shot, ducked behind a rock and started mumbling an incantation and pointing his finger high in the air, firing out a burst of multicoloured, dancing lights. Two of the archers, not expecting this sudden display of colour in the grim chamber, lost their concentration as they gazed into the lights...
Yngwie continued his song, the stomping, clapping beat filling his companions with a sense of purpose and guiding their hands with it's power. He suddenly struck the strings with his fingers, letting out a long distorted note, before breaking down into a raw, chunky solo.
The second snakeman stepped up to Seu, intent on redeeming the Yuan-Ti race and their martial abilities, but succeeded in doing nothing but looking foolish as both his attacks missed horribly.
Snarling with anger at the impotence of his minions, the Yuan-Ti Lord stepped forwards and swung at Seu, intent to end the man's life, but the paladin continued to dance out of the way of their swings, blocking here, dodging there - they couldn't touch him!
Bari's concentration upon the holy stave was interrupted by the arrival of an arrow, which pierced the pauldron of his fancy arm armour and lodged in his arm-meat. "Damn!" yelled the cleric, his focus broken. He had felt something, he just knew it... Looking up, he saw the source of the arrow, a snakeman, who was even now drawing another shaft for a second shot.
Eggbert's spell cast without a hitch, and suddenly there were six Eggberts in the chamber, all moving as one, but which one was the true Eggbert...?
A third snakeman, blade whirling, rushed at Seu, who turned aside and laid a boot in for good measure as the creature went by, completely failing to connect with the paladin with either of it's strikes.
Sensing the power emanating from the elven bard, a Yuan-Ti archer took aim and fired, lodging an arrow into the musician's chest. The Music that had flowed so strongly from him faltered and died, and the elf staggered and slumped, leaning hard on his guitar for support. The snakeman nodded with contempt at the sight, and drew another arrow to finish the job...
Seeing the ranger ducking out of cover with his bow at the ready, another archer sought to stop him before he could fire. Taking aim, the creature loosed an arrow, but was unable to hit his target.
Robin scanned the scene and carefully chose his target. Seeing a Yuan-Ti about to fire an arrow, he let loose with his own shaft, piercing the creature through it's breast armour. The creature looked pained, but did not let his aim falter.
The last snakeman archer grimaced at the pain of Robin's arrow, and took bead on the dancing gnomes that had appeared moments before. It fired a shot, striking one of the creatures true. The gnome image vanished in a spray of light particles, leaving thin air behind! The snakeman gaped at the foul magiks it had witnessed...
Combat Round 6
Seu attacks Yuan-Ti lord with Flamebrand +1. He misses.
Yuan-Ti archer 6 attacks Robin with a longbow. He misses.
Yuan-Ti archer 7 attacks Robin with a longbow. He misses.
Yuan-Ti Swordsman 3 attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti Swordsman 3 attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Eggbert casts mirror image
Yuan-Ti archer 8 attacks Rambulge with a longbow. He misses.
Rambulge casts colour spray on Yuan-Ti archers.Archer 5 and 2 are dazzled by the lights.
Yngwie continues playing his inspiring song (+1 to hit)
Yuan-Ti Swordsman 1 attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti Swordsman 1 attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti Lord attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti Lord attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti archer 9 strikes Bari with a sheaf arrow, dealing 7 damage.
Yuan-Ti swordsman 2 attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti swordsman 2 attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti archer 4 strikes Yngwie with a sheaf arrow, dealing 5 damage
Yuan-Ti archer 1 attacks Robin with a longbow. He misses.
Robin strikes Yuan-Ti archer 3 with a sheaf arrow, dealing 7 damage!
Yuan-Ti archer 3 strikes Eggbert with a sheaf arrow, dealing 0 damage!
Party Hitpoints
Seu 18/45
Yngwie 2/23
Rambulge 12/14
Eggbert 18/18
Robin 30/30
Bari 17/24
Eggbert now has 5 simulacra left.
Bari's Aid effect on Seu will last 3 more rounds
Rambulge's colour spray will stay in effect until the snakemen are disturbed with an attack.
This is the biggest fight we've had yet, with nearly 20 combatants... that's a lot of initiative rolls you know! Yeah yeah, it's my own fault :p
These Yuan-Ti are really struggling with Seu's aura of goodness - several attacks have missed by just one point... but one is all it takes! Will the paladin's luck hold...?
Yngwie struggled to stand as the arrow lodged in his chest made his lung burn and his knees weak. He coughed blood, and there was a rushing noise in his ears, accompanied by the crying of the infant on his back. He had to hold on, for her sake, and for his...
Bari staggered back in shock, not realising what had happened. Eyes wide, he looked at the shaft of the arrow protruding from his shoulder for a good two or thee seconds before registering he'd actually been shot.
"Muthafugga," he mumbled.
Then the pain kicked in.
Bari stared at the triumphant yaun-ti, who casually drew another arrow and was preparing to fire.
"Muthafugga!" the cleric roared, his calm demeanour exploding into passionate rage. That such an act of hate could be expressed against a priest of luurve!
You are a lover, not a fighter.
"Huh? Jordann?" Bari asked, looking around, confused. It was then that Bari saw Yngwie. "Shit!" Bari turned his back on the snake man ("Next time, bitch!") and ran to the faltering elf. "I got you, man! I got you!"
Sorry James but I will not shed a tear for the 20 combatants and initiatives, I've been living with the feeling that Seu is about to die for a whole week now, it's almost as you want us dead !
Bari, please rub that stave like you've been tought and fill that room with Luuuuuurve so everybody gets naked and do the catterpillar dance !
Allowing himself a small breath of relief as the unmistakable sound of an arrow zipped past his head and his spell taking effect, Rambulge prepared to return fire with a missile of his own, attempting to make use of the cover afforded by the rock as best he could.
Robin looked around. Yngwie was clearly hurt badly although Bari seemed to be doing his thing there, there were multiple Eggbert's around. Hopefully that should be keeping some of the Yuan-Ti busy.
Robin trusted Rambulge to do what he needed to do; it was Seu who should be needing the most help but he almost seemed to be enjoying himself. Robin dew a deep breath, now was not the time for archery. In this combat it was blades that were needed.
Drawing his sword and hunting knife, Robin launched himself into the melee surrounding Seu: they would conquer all or die trying...
. Robin is going to charge one of the Yuan-Ti swordsnakes attacking Seu and attack it in melee.
Eggbert could see his friends takin hits. Things were looking desperate. Robin sprang up and charged the enemy heroically. Eggbert decided to take his lead from the ranger.
Eggbert and his copies will move menacingly towards the archers. The aim is not to charge into close combat, but to draw their fire.
Robin could see the situation could rapidly turn for the worse, and, laying aside his precious bow, he vaulted out of his place of cover, drawing sword and dagger as he charged the group of Yuan-Ti surrounding Seu.
Rambulge found himself facing down a multitude of foes, and he somehow had the advantage of speed over all of them! His mind was clear and focused as he pointed his finger at the snakeman Robin had previously shot, and let loose with two bright, flaring missiles which pierced the creature's armour and sizzled their way through flesh.
Eggbert saw the epic charge of the ranger, and, inspired by his valour, raised his staff above his head and yelled out the famed and feared battle-cry of the Gnomish barbarians of the Utter East. Running towards the snakemen archers with his five mirror images at his side, he presented an oddly threatening figure. Several of the archers turned their attention, and arrows, towards the plucky illusionist...
Yngwie struggled to find the ingredients in his pouches that he needed for his last spell. Powder of rhubarb... adder's stomach... and... he fingered the last object at the bottom of his pouch, a small, inoffensive dart...
Eggbert was not the only one who had seen the ranger break cover to attack - one of the Yuan-Ti followed his movement with the tip of his arrow, letting it loose as Robin closed range with the melee. The arrow seemed to fly true but at the last second, through chance or just bad timing, the shaft missed it's mark, shooting between the woodsman's running legs and dashing to pieces on the stony floor.
Bari ran as fast as he could towards Yngwie, horrified at the sight of the stricken elf with the arrow lodged deep in his chest, red blood seeping through his shirt. The cleric prayed he could make it in time. Arrows whizzed by, some coming too close for comfort, but he couldn't worry about that now - Jordann's love was needed right away!
Yngwie finished his incantation, his mind almost wandering with the pain as he said the last few precious words. The dart in his hand transformed into a dripping green arrow, which he drew back with a bow of glowing energy. His faltering gaze found the Yuan-Ti lord, cowering behind his minions, urging them to fight his battle while he licked his wounds. "Curse... you..." the bard muttered, and, with a shuddering breath, let his magical arrow fly. It sped towards the hulking figure and lodged in his neck, splattering him with acid which sizzled and burned. The creature screamed in fear and pain, looking about to see the source of his anguish - but the elf had already slumped down to the ground, his energy spent.
The great Yuan-Ti Lord, arm hanging limp, his flesh hissing with the bubbling acid, stepped through his bodyguard to attack Seu while he was distracted, landing a glancing blow with his khopesh that cut into the paladin's side. The Yuan-Ti's next stroke was dodged by the agile warrior, but Seu could little afford to take many more hits.
Bari saw Yngwie collapse and put on an extra burst of speed, but a sudden jolt of pain from his leg caused him to stumble and fall to the floor, flat on his face. Looking back, he saw the arrow jutting from his thigh, and groaned with the pain. He could have sworn he saw the same damn snakeman who had shot him last time reaching for another arrow. "Not... now," he grunted, fighting back the anger and pain. His friend needed him. He lurched back to his feet, his leg stiffening with the agony. He limped and stumbled onwards, the body of the elf was so damn close now. "Jordann... give me strength baby..."
Robin roared a mighty battle-cry of his own as he entered the melee with the devastating impact of a falling star, bright steel flashing as his longsword cleaved into the nearest Yuan-Ti swordsman with such strength that it sent the creature staggering into it's accomplice, sending both off-balance. The creatures hissed with shock at the unexpected attack, and struggled to get back to their... well, to regain their balance. Robin's elven dagger flicked out but was unable to reach the snakes which lay in a tangle on the floor.
Startled by the oncoming horde of miniature robed gnomes, a snakeman archer took aim and fired, hitting a figure which instantly vanished!
Scrambling upright, one of the swordsnakes that Robin had knocked down came at him with a whirling khopesh, leaving a slash across his upper arm with it's second strike.
Seu Antheus, paladin of the Lady of the Lake, saw the way to the Yuan-Ti Lord had been cleared by the heroic ranger. With no minions to protect him, the giant snakeman quailed before the paladin's holy power. Seu stepped over the fallen snakes and leapt forth, cleaving through the evil monster's sword-arm, severing it at the elbow. He reversed the stroke for his next attack, plunging Flamebrand into the creature's chest right to the hilt, piercing it's black heart and punching through the backplate of it's ornate armour - a killing stroke!
Faltering at the sight of his master impaled on the paladin's burning blade, the snakeman who had not fallen to the ranger's mighty charge was ably blocked by Seu, even as his sword remained buried deep in the monster. Seu turned to his would-be attacker, his impassive helm looming large in the creature's sight, and the Yuan-Ti knew what it was to fear...
Another arrow was sent whizzing towards Eggbert and his rapidly shrinking army, dissolving another of the images. Eggbert bravely kept up his pretend assault, knowing that any minute an arrow may hit the real him.
Rambulge was doing his best to remain inconspicuous after his magical assault, and was lucky enough to avoid another arrow as it came winging towards him. The wind of it's passing was uncomfortably close to his face though...
Bari finally made it over to Yngwie, crouching over the prone form protectively. The baby on his back was bawling, and the cleric scooper her up and held her close as he rolled over the lithe body of the bard and assessed his injuries. The elf's breath came with a bubbling sound that was awful to hear, and the arrow shaft had snapped off, leaving the head and part of the wood protruding. Muttering a prayer to Jordann, Bari yanked the arrow out and pressed his free hand over the wound, staunching the flow of blood with the magical healing power of his goddess. As colour returned to the elf's cheeks, he opened his eyes and looked upon the cleric.
"Don't talk now man, daddy bear has got you..." murmered Bari, gritting his teeth against the pain he was in.
"The... the child?" Yngwie gasped.
"She's right here, see? She's...HURK... uh... she's...fine..." Bari gasped out the last few words as a sudden pain seared his back.
"Are... are you okay?" Yngwie looked with alarm at the sudden pained expression on the cleric's face.
"It's... nothing. Everything's cool...ugh... man," Bari tried to smile his most convincing smile. He didn't have to look to see the arrow sticking out of his back, just below the shoulderblade. He felt the warm blood begin to drip and hoped the elf couldn't see it. Jordann help us all...
Seu drew the blade from the Yuan-Ti Lord's corpse with a flourish, the black blood sizzling as it boiled from the mortal wound. The huge figure slumped and rolled over backwards, never to darken these once-hallowed halls again. The remaining three snakemen guards hissed in dismay, and fanned out around the paladin and the ranger. One of the snakemen who had fallen lashed out at Robin, missing with his first strike but nicking his arm on the second, leaving a small gash. The archers, seeing their master fall, turned and began hissing amongst themselves with confusion. Several nocked arrows and aimed them at the combatants hesitantly, not knowing exactly what to do.
Then a hissing voice spoke. It was Hisston.
"CEASE THIS NOW!" came his commanding words. The snakeman was clearly in a lot of pain, and was unsteady on his tail, but there was still strength there. He slid over to where the opponents were facing off.
"In the name of the misstress," Hisston continued, "you will stop now. Thesse creatures have committed a grave crime againsst the yuan-ti thiss day, and they musst be brought to the misstress for punishment! For the murder of our ssnakemother there musst be retribution! Which amongsst you would deny the misstress her rightful claim to vengeance?"
The yuan-ti looked at each other, clearly unwilling to make that call.
To the adventurers, Hisston spoke:
"Thiss iss not a fight you can win. Throw down your weaponss and ssubmit to the jusstice of the misstress..." In a low voice he added, for Seu and Robin's ears alone, "You will find she will be mosst pleassed at the deedss you have accomplished thiss day. I will sspeak for you... you musst trusst me if you are to esscape this place..."
Combat Round 7
Rambulge casts magic missile x 2 at Yuan-Ti archer 3, dealing 8 damage!
Yuan-Ti archer 7 fires at Robin. He misses.
Yngwie casts Acid arrow on the Yuan-Ti Lord, dealing 7 damage!
Yuan-Ti Lord attacks Seu with a khopesh, dealing 6 damage!
Yuan-Ti Lord attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti archer 9 strikes Bari with a sheaf arrow, dealing 6 damage!
Robin charges Yuan-Ti swordsman 1, attacking with a longsword, CRITICAL HIT! Dealing 8 damage! Yuan-Ti swordsman 1 and 3 are knocked off balance!
Robin attacks Yuan-Ti swordsman 1 with a dagger +1. He misses.
Yuan-Ti archer fires at Eggbert, dealing 0 damage!
Yuan-Ti swordsman 1 attacks Robin with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti swordsman 1 attacks Robin with a khopesh, dealing 4 damage!
Yuan-Ti archer 3 fires at Eggbert, dealing 0 damage!
Seu attacks Yuan-Ti Lord with Flamebrand +1, dealing 7 damage!
Seu attacks Yuan-Ti Lord with Flamebrand +1, dealing 8 damage! Yuan-Ti Lord is killed! 7000EXP GAINED!
Yuan-Ti swordsman 2 attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses!
Yuan-Ti swordsman 2 attacks Seu with a khopesh. He misses!
Yuan-Ti archer 6 fires at Eggbert, dealing 0 damage!
Yuan-Ti archer 8 fires at Rambulge. He misses.
Yuan-Ti swordsman 3 attacks Robin with a khopesh. He misses.
Yuan-Ti swordsman 3 attacks Robin with a khopesh, dealing 2 damage.
Bari casts cure light wounds on Yngwie, restoring 7 HP
Yuan-Ti archer 4 strikes Bari with a sheaf arrow, dealing 4 damage!
Party Hitpoints
Seu 12/45
Yngwie 9/23
Rambulge 12/14
Eggbert 18/18
Robin 24/30
Bari 7/24
Eggbert has 2 simulacra left.
Bari's Aid effect on Seu will last 2 more rounds
Rambulge's colour spray effect actually only lasts one round on high level enemies, but i gave it an extra round due to my error. It will no longer be in effect next round.
All i can say is hot damn, when Yngwie rolled a 20 to hit the Yuan-Ti lord with acid arrow i nearly cheered aloud! He is not the best shot and gets no bonuses to hit etc so the spell is no guarantee (unlike magic missile which always hits), but if he hadn't landed the shot the Monster would still be alive...
I could talk a lot more but i really need to go to bed!!! My apologies for the somewhat wooden prose but i was racing against the clock a bit :S
Robin shifted so that he was covering Seu's back against any other assaults; his arm ached where the blade had cut him but out of many of his companions, he was in a better shape. He looked over at Hisston, then round at his friends.
Seu's armour looked like a three year old with a sledgehammer had used it to work out a bit of temper tantrum. Bari looked like a small pun cushion with multiple arrow shafts sticking out of him. Yngwie, although his colour looked better, clearly was in no state to continue. The multiple Eggbert's looked fine but Robin wasn't sure which was which and Rambulge... Robin was grateful that Rambulge had avoided his usual combat tactic of absorbing blows.
A glance at the snakeman showed a different story: fresh, confused but with few obvious injuries compared to his companions. Hisston was correct - there was but one way this would end. With a look at Hisston that said, "if you betray us there will be revenge". Robin lowered his weapons with a slight nod to Seu.
at the moment Robin is lowering his weapons but not dropping them out.
Once again the noble knight had stood against a mighty foe and won through. Eggbert was a little in awe of the paladin. But they were still overmatched and their chances didnt look good. So it was that Eggbert was very relieved to hear Hisston intervene.
Eggbert stopped his advance on the archers and held his arms up in a gesture which hopefully would be interpreted as surrender.
As he drew his sword from the body of his fallen foe, Seu stared at his friends... it seemed they were willing to take another path than that of blood and could he blame them for it ? So much lives had already been wasted in this temple... so much. The priests used to tell Seu "for every drop of blood spilled, the gods shed a tear". Though his guts told him they couldn't trust the Snakeman, what other choice did they have? He could not force them into certain death even if it meant an honorable one. Maybe...just maybe the Lady meant for them to surrender for a while to fight other fights rather than die on this one...
Once again Seu felt dazed and confused by the choice he had to make when outside of the dance of swords...
The paladin responded to Robin's message and rose his sword to his lips, the flames vanished as he uttered the words but the Lady knows how bitter they tasted...
Rambulge was overjoyed to see the badly injured Paladin slay the fearsome Snakeman, and then crestfallen at the next turn of events.
This was beyond out of the cauldron and into the fire, tears almost welled in Rambulge's eyes, it had been a succession of cauldrons and fires and now it seems they had floated into a river of molten lava and were on their way to the centre of a volcano.
His weapon was already lowered but, like the ranger, the raggedy, soiled spell sword did not let it drop from his hand just yet.
"You'll be okay, little one," Bari said in a low voice as he hugged the child close to his chest. Not best pleased with the turn of events, she continued to wail, although it dissipated somewhat when she noticed the arrow wedged into his shoulder and started reaching for it. "Attagirl," he winced as she tugged at the thing.
Bari stood and faced the rest of the party. "Dude's right," he said, nodding toward Hisston. "We can't go on like this."
I've been thinking about all ot this and the only way out of this situation may not be the classiest one : see for yourself
It could have worked if Yngwie and Seu were in a better shape, the paladin would have sung and I would rhave loved to see Bari dancing in his sack...
" We will follow you to your mistress as you will... But we are keeping our weapons."
The resolve in the paladin's voice was strong and cold as steel his eyes scanning the guards around them, slowly sheathing his sword.
"You have our word we will not attack any more of you from now on. I believe since we met, you have figured we are men of honor and that we do not give our word lightly. If trust shall be an issue, please remember that we have just ended the life of your Snakemother and your lord, if you consider yourselves bigger threats to us than they did, then you either presume a lot or lack a lot of respect for them...
You have seen what our bows and blades can achieve but there is still more to be seen of us if your unleash our wrath, our wizard can summon the great mongoose demon and rain 10 days of fire on your temple in a blink of an eye...
We are going to face your mistress's justice as you will but the weapons are ours."
As Seu was trying to talk the guards into letting them keep their weapons, he slowly turned to fix Eggbert's eyes, hoping he would get his meaning...
The guards reacted angrily to Seu's action. Swords were waved about and bow strings stretched taut by fingers itching to release their deadly load. Hisston hissed at them to be calm.
"My dear paladin, now iss not the time to be sstubborn." The snakeman gestured towards Rambulge, "you should follow the ssensible example of your friend here. He can ssee the futility of ressissting."
Hisston slid over to the spellsword and put his arm on his shoulder companionably. "Thiss man iss very ssmart, for an inferior..." The grip on Rambulge's shoulder became uncomfortably tight. Two more hands appeared, holding long knives to Rambulge’s throat. The fourth hand gripped him tightly around his upper arm. "But alsso very foolish. Now throw down your weaponss, or i remove hiss head!"
Bari shifted the infant onto his shoulder as he unhitched Piledriver from his belt. "There," he said, tossing the mace into the centre of the gathering. "We gotta think of the little one here."
The cleric grunted in pain, leaning on the stave like a walking stick.
Bari drops his weapon, but will try to use the stave as a walking stick. He does have two arrows sticking out of him and an infant to tend, after all. I'm aching to know what the thing does...
Seu untied the knot that linked the sheath to his belt and he carefully put his sword on the ground. The vision of the blade on Rambulge's throat was more than he was ready to bet against. Snakemen were cold-blooded and unlikely played bluffs, they would kill the spellsword and Seu just could not tolerate that... and there was the baby girl too, she had to be at the centre of their thoughts.
"let me help you Bari"
Seu took the baby from Bari's arms as the Cleric was under pain. He wished he could help his chocolate friend but his power had vanished...
"please allow me to give her something to eat"
Seu went to pick something for the baby to ease her.
Seu is very slowly openning his bag with food to get a biscuit or some bread for the baby. he will also take a couple of dried meat slices to discretly put them on the ground in a cross shep to the attention of Bufo if he is not already in the room and comes by this place.
Will the paladin's luck hold...?
