Turn 19: Not Dead
[6][6][6][4]
Another flash of lightning falls through the sky, brightening the storm clouds with their violet hue. The Storm is growing, and the temperature is dropping ever so slowly.
In CaelondiaHave the mass of flesh drag the three men inside as they enter. Send a gust of putrid air at them to nauseate and blow the door shut.
Order Ast to lead the charge, following shortly after with my Brusher's Pike.
Three pairs of feet sound through the warehouse, the guardsmen go forth from their path and for their deviance, they lie unaware of their fate. "So, Evans. As you are our leader for now, what...are we going to do first?"
The cracking of wood is heard, followed by a laugh.
"Begin the party! Kegs and Brandy!"
Laughter and cheering comes from their direction. Adil shakes his head and turns to the Mass of Flesh, grinning, "Well, let's get started, then..." He then nods to Leon for the time to act. The merchant then looks at Ast, and tips his Pike over in their direction.
The Mass of Flesh lurches towards the men, using it's pseudo-gelatinous form to squeeze between the numerous crates, casks and other wooden containers in the way while Ast walks confidently into view, his footsteps alerting the guards. The one known as Evans recovers first from his surprise and raises his flask to him with a lopsided grin.
"Ahoy there, Ast! Pleasant, um, surprise seeing you here. We aren't doing anything out of the ordinary, heh. Just a quick...break."
Ast just smiles, bringing out his axe into full view from behind him.
"Not a good answer. That is mine, by the way.""But this has the mark of the Irethian export. Surely even you can'-
aaaarrrhh"
The Mass of Flesh unleashes it's
four strands from above the men, locking each while causing them to drop their fine, fine wine. The man known as Stoic tries to strike back with his weapon, but fails, taking two around him. The three then get pinned to the floor.
"This is for leaving your duty!" Ast then raises his axe, taking two strides forward and drops the head on Delon's chestplate, causing him to spew out his take along with a few choice words from heavy bruising due to the weight.
"What in Aethier's name are you-"
"What's mine, is mine. Show them what it means to use others' items without permission, my friend." Ast stepped aside to show an incredibly sharp point attached to a long stick. Holding said stick was Leon, who
thrust it from his position, scraping the side of Evans' chainmail. Ast nods and steps back.
Meanwhile, staying hidden behind the others, Adil prepares to cast a nauseating cloud. Partly made from the toxic fumes that his companion left off, keeping his croc' hidden.
He raises his hands and the vapor rises, spreading out from the hole and engulfing the whole warehouse. He then realized that his power was not strong enough to contain it in a controllable manner. The first to be hit was the Dwarf himself, followed by Ast and Leon, then the three guards.
Adil gasps and is brought to his knees by the putrid stench, his mind fogging up from the dizzying
scents; his emotions at power wasted. The 'mercenary' pair are quick enough to cover their noses and continue staring at the guardsmen, idly remarking at a crate marked 'Époisses' nearby. Food for the culinary masters in the town. The guardsmen do the same, all except for Stoic, who has both arms stuck in trying to get his weaponry. The man's face contorts into a grimace of pain and disgust but is lucky enough to stay conscious, throwing a snarl at the two while tears stream down his face. Soon enough, the cloud dissipates. The warehouse door creaks in the wind.
Delon
Health: 20/25
0/10Inventory:
Bronze broadsword |
Copper Mail | Grey Cloth tunic | Rimmed Helmet
'Stoic'
Health: 20/35
10/10Inventory:
Iron Dagger |
Steel Kite shield |
Copper Mail | Grey Cloth tunic | Rimmed Helmet
Evans
Health: 25/25
5/10Inventory:
Bronze broadsword |
Copper Mail | Grey Cloth tunic | Rimmed Helmet
~~
Dash and hack it with a downwards vertical slash, pulling it closer with the hooked end of the halberd while dragging it against the ground.
Shield Bash! For Caelondia!
Scry that Spectre, use what I learned in the Guild.
Accompany Enidri, I guess
Muscles tense, breathing slows, and the calm of night echoes through the Graveyard, if it were not for the Spectral presence, it was a rather tranquil night.
A brief reprieve as both sides await the first strike - which the remaining Guardsman uses. "Syra, you can hit me later for forgetting my sword, but at least I've brought my other weapon." He raises his shield with both hands, his dagger tied to his belt. "For Caelondia!"
Enidri echoes his cry,
"Prepare to come from whence you came, foul creature!"The pair rush forward into battle, the Guardsman only a man's stride ahead of the young Smith, both are agile enough to evade the incoming streaks of darkness, missing by only a needle's width as they shoot behind them and explode into spiked balls, retracting quickly for another volley. Enidri can see his partner getting scathed by the upper arm, but he shrugs it off in his maneuver. Behind them, a mellow voice is heard chanting. Enidri spares a glance to see Syra in a solemn pose, with her hands held cradling the crystal tied to her neck, all essence of fear gone from her expression. From his position, he could make out a few words spoken.
"
...Benedicite oculos, O providentia."
As if in response to the chant, the crystal rises and shatters into multiple minute fragments, expanding into an orb. He turns his head away to focus on the matter at hand, then feels something akin to a wave pass through him in a gentle, smooth motion. Undaunted by the event, he charges onward.
Enidri sees a lopsided tombstone in his way and decides to use that as leverage for his plan. With a quick two-step, he leaps from it's edge, raising his halberd overhead with both hands and letting out a warcry at the same time. He is met by a tendril, which he manages to bypass by stepping and landing perpendicularly on it's elongated mass. It was actually solid.
"Causing any damage on my armor is an offense to me!" He uses the momentum to continue the strike, keeping balance on the wisps of shadow as his feet land on the ground. Two steps prove worthwhile, as he brings down his weapon in a vertical arc!
"...And to the man who assisted me in its forging!" he completes, seeing in slow motion the blade, dropping like an anchor onto the visage, cracking it from the temple down to the jaw. It wasn't natural for a smith to fight as effortlessly as this, but a smith should know his weapon and armor to even be competent. That, Enidri was.
The mask falls to the ground without a sound and as what Enidri would expect; the latter sufficed, as the Spectre made no audible note of the strike. He could feel waves of fear coming from the being as he twists the shaft and feels the hooked end connect from within, pulling back; only for the blade shaft to be caught by one of the tendrils in retaliation.
From behind, the silhouette of the Guardsman materializes into one holding a shield upraised with the intention of bashing the Spectre. As Enidri struggles with the grip, the remaining three tendrils sink back into the torso and plunge out of the backside, directly aimed at the Guard. The first to reach him envelops the shield with it's essence after being bashed back, keeping it's hold. The Guard then draws his dagger with a determined look, hopelessly parrying another tendril before the third wraps itself around his right hand and constricts, causing him to yell in pain. He tries to stab the tendril, but it embeds itself in his skin, causing him to miss once more and finally throws away his shield.
Enidri yanks out his weapon due to his other ally's help. Fornax shoots a small flare at the tendril,
singeing it slightly and causing it to uncoil and sink back into it's cavity. He sees the others join it's relative in place.
Health: 25/25
10/10Inventory:
Silver Crystal,
Consecrated Steel Broadsword,
Steel Heater shield | Grey Cloth tunic | Medium Helmet
Health: 20/50 (
Stalwart)
Inventory:
Wooden Training Dagger,
Steel Kite shield (
dropped) | Grey Cloth tunic | Rimmed Helmet
Health: ?/75 (
Counterattack |
Ethereal |
Unholy)
Inventory:
Archaic Vestments (
Imbued{?}) ,
Broken Visage (
Shriek)
Nat's Cove ; Beachfront"My primary focus in magic - not necromancy - is on controlling clouds: not only the clouds you see in the sky, but mists and clouds of smoke as well. That includes poisonous, cursed, magical and so on mists you see in the haunted bogs sometimes.
Other than that, I can improvise. It seems I know more about magic than I think I do, so memories just keep popping out on how to do this and how to do that. All I need is some practice and I can do a new school of magic."
Rano nods and turns to inspect the stockpile, quickly jogging back as the Elf finishes speaking.
"Erm, apologies if I didn't get that right, I know much about the physical, but not the magical. You'll have to talk with our mages for that. And, yes, even slaves can be mages if taught...correctly." he replies. She could see the man cast down his eyes upon the last word before he perked up and continued.
"Still, I'm thinking weather control, maybe? I can only hazard a guess, being but a bodyguard, as the sea is calm to only those who travel it with open arms - that is the path we'll take." He brought out a casing tucked under his arm
"Where we are headed, is back to Gin. To their Temple - the literal center of power of the city. This is Smoke Powder. Conceals from view, handy tool for escape or entry. This is yours to do with as you will. Take good care of it: for you can use it once on yourself, and once on someone else. Never twice on the same person. Magic work, that sort of thing."The Elf took the gift, and returned speaking on the same thoughts earlier,
"Speaking of which, what kind of magic do your people need most? I think I have just enough time to learn something new.""We have no time. The others have left, it seems. This place is well-known for it's moss, many possibilities with it's use, but moreso for it's location. You can get easily lost in the caverns without a guide." The man looks around and returns to speaking,
"My sire must have gone ahead. Let us return."The pair go back the way they came, firstly through the limestone-covered corridor and along the dank ledge, then back through rocky tunnels and scaling back walls. She could sense her companions following close by, with Rano unaware. Finally, the light of the moon is seen as the two emerge from the Maw and welcome themselves to a sight of wonder: along the shoreline lay about ten or eleven rowboats, with men and women gathered along the shoreline, piling their supplies in along with the kegs seen earlier. Nearby, streaks of lightning flashed in the direction of Gin, followed by thunder and dots of rain, illuminating the violet sky. They are met by a familiar face with a torch, Montago.
"So, my friends. I see we're all ready? There is our boat, and we shall set sail. I am glad we have liberated a few mages to keep our supplies dry, but it won't last until we get to the sewer culvert, under the market road. Milady Ima, you come with us, being under our custody by the Diviner. Shall we start our embark? I guess we have enough time, if you would like to do anything. Oh, and we're fine with you being a Necromancer. Beggars can't be choosers, aye? Just don't...touch my men. They're a bit superstitious," he said, a bit of a stutter in his speech.
Around her, Ima can sense her fish swarm waiting right under the boat directed by Montago. Her bat was perched on the side, being caressed by one of Montago's men. The rest of the boats were nearly finished readying up and she was the only mage on her own boat.
"Ah, before I forget, we have four other mages including the Diviner. Everyone else, fighters for the rebellion."
In BlackmarshBreak the Shades, and force them to become my minions.
"Dammit, this shouldn't have happened! Pallas be careful you can't die here." Zakroff said as he once again set to work, straightening and ignoring the pain, but this time he focused on the shades - they were beings of darkness so he would break them, and make them his servants.
He gestures at the shades, willing their control. His action is only met by the same cackling that emanated from their mouths, and feels his power sap from him, rendering him immobile as he hears their words echo in his mind.
"We shan't bow to thee, human! Ye have no power over us!" They screech, moving forward with an unnatural speed and focusing on the weakened Knight.
"For the Realm!" Pallas shouts, drawing it's sword and balancing the blade which begins to glow in the same bright light.
The Knight shifts it's legs into a more defensible stance, waiting for the strikes. The first shade leaps at it, only to be struck back into the wall by the sword, a burnt hole in it's cloak revealing the damage done. The second gets the same treatment, placing itself right next to it's brother on the wall.
Zakroff can see a flash of blue coming from a staff in his peripheral vision and feels his muscles regain control of themselves. The figure holding it seems to be a woman dressed in rural fashion with her clothes covering most of her body except her hands and head, right in front of the library doors. One of the local mages, perhaps?
Health: ?/? ; ?/?
Inventory: xBlack Cloakx, Black Cloak
Health: ?/?
Inventory: Blue staff (?) | Clothing
~~
Follow the newly risen human and attempt to get better control of it
Tyver started in a run, with Fluffy following closely behind, leaping over another tombstone while chasing after his newly risen friend. "Hey get back here. Here!"
Passing another mausoleum, and careful not to trip himself on the longland grass strewn about, he can sight out the backside of his target partly concealed on both ends by crypt structures. Then, he stops, pointing the tip of his pike at him and uttering a word.
Tyver can feel an intangible bond between him and the thing strengthen. The human seems to stop in recognition then gets thrown out of view, blocked by another building with it's aggressor moving towards it, revealing itself for just a moment before disappearing behind the right building. The same wail heard earlier echoed from the creature, causing the man's hairs to stand on end and
shaking his morale. From his position, Tyver can see what threw him away, a being clothed by vestments in a dark hue, with about four blackish tendrils protruding from it's chest cavity. It's arms and legs were like thin, bony copies of human design - indiscernible, while it's head seemed to be masked by the same clothing that covered it's body.
"This doesn't look good for us, Tyver. But our friend is in need and I have to help him."
~~
Ghouls, back! Bones, rise!
Cog's eyes widened in awe at the sight, for from behind his tombstone, all he had to speak of were two hunger-obsessed ghouls.
"WHOA! Where did he come from! Ghouls, get back here!" he said, assessing the situation. It
didn't look like the ghouls heard his command, just standing slack-jawed in their positions. "Dammit, I need more bones. Rise, minions, rise to do my bidding!"
With those words, and accompanied by a gesture of both hands, a single hand penetrates the dirt from behind him, followed by the weakening of earth and the crumbling of stone. As Cog turns to regard his work, a skeleton rises; nothing but bone and metal clinging to it's figure. It
raises it's weapon, buried alongside it and waits for the command. A bronze hauberk covers most of it's body, most likely from an earlier age.
The Spectre, however, does not seem to be paying any attention to the novice Necromancer and his deeds, focusing instead on it's attacker.
The tendrils extend themselves from their cavity once more, each grabbing one of the four main appendages of the human, who resists well: able to ward off any auxiliary damage to itself through subtle positioning. Yet it proves for naught, as the last two tendrils snake around his torso and throw him off, causing the human to land into a raised pile of dirt which cushions his blow. Now free from it's trouble, it lets out a
wail of victory.
As Cog turns back to view the scene, he can glimpse the outline of another man holding a pike and a dog-like figure in the distance, between the structures.
Health: ?/? (?)
Inventory:
Aged vestments (?), Obsidian Visage (?)
Health: 10/25 ; 5/25
Inventory: Naked.
Health: ?/?
Inventory: Archaic Vestments (?)
Man
Health: ?/?
Inventory: Pike (?)
Dog
Health: ?/?
Inventory: ?
~~
Investigate barfight.
Shalla blinked. 'Huh. So Lightbane was an ancient leader of the first official necromancer's guild... or someone who had taken the name when they ascended, or just happened to have the same name regardless...' she thought to herself.
She turned her attention to those sounds, putting the book back in her pack for later use. The woman moves quietly through the librarium, careful not to make a sound while dousing the lantern and putting it back in it's respectful place. The moonlight proved enough to get by, anyway.
Slowly opening the door, for the windows were too far away, she notices that the doors open just as quietly as her own footsteps. With a slinking of chain, she finds herself on the outside, the doors shutting themselves appropriately. Strangely, she gets the feeling that this place should have been thoroughly locked and secured judging by the presence of the chain at her feet - maybe it was actually just for decoration? She puts it back in place regardless.
Shalla's staff now radiated a colorful light blue, illuminating the surroundings. In the distance, she could sense through the staff, a few beings who were not of this world. They were outlined, two in black and one in white with the background being grey. She then returns to her normal vision and
raises her staff to investigate the area, letting it emit a pulse of blue light. Strangely, she can glean nothing new from the area yet the staff glows even brighter.
'Huh.'
Health: 100/100 (
Eri's Deal | +1 to Magic Resistance for
4 battle turns.)
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Backstory: Shalla was the daughter of a windmill owner, which meant she was too poor to not work but too affluent to go shovel muck all day. As a compromise, she mostly split her time between helping out with the mill, so as to be useful, and trying to improve her education and refinement, so as to be both useful and refined, which her parents hoped would allow her to squeeze into a political marriage with someone slightly more affluent than herself. She figured a brief stint in the sewers would both allow her to claim a hint of experience as an adventurer, adding a bit of mystique and excitement to her eventual marriage proposal, and give her a break from learning to appear learned, which would lessen her desire to hang herself.
Inventory: Mound of treasure (+3 buying modifier for
3 turns) |
Blue staff of the Ancients |
Thaumaturgical Vambrace | Cloth Clothing |
Tome of MagickaCompanion/s:
Undead Hippo
Health:40/40 (+10 Healing Aura, heals those around it)
Undead Human "Hound"
Health: 40/40 (can use misc. heavy items around area, adding to combat roll, used via
action)
Inventory:
Giant Tombstone Undead Skeleton
Inventory:
Sacrificial knife Health:40/40
3x Necromancer Apprentice'
Health: 50/50 ([Necromancer A 20/20] [Necromancer B 10/10] [Necromancer C 20/20])
Inventory: Basic Robes | Basic Staves
Health: 65/100 (+1 to all dark arts for 3 and above rolls |
Mental Exhaustion)
Gender: Male
Race: Dwarf
Backstory: Adil was long ago a novice engraver at a small dwarven outpost close by until it was overrun by honey badgers. He was one of the ones that escaped, but had to sustain himself by scavenging the sewers, as it turns out above ground towns don't have much in the way of stone to smooth.
Inventory: Black Robe | Cloth Clothing
Companion/s:
Undead Alligator "Noshtath"
Health: 40/40 (+1 Combat modifier, mountable)
Mass of Flesh
Health: 20/25 (
Corrosive |
Mentally Sentient |
Bio-luminescent )
Health: 90/110 (+1 to looting and raiding | +1 to rolls involving clouds)
Gender: Female
Race: Elf
Backstory: Ima was captured by a human warlord as a child during the human raid on The Wood of Rainbows, a small and long-forgotten elven outpost in a unicorn-filled forest. She escaped in her fifty-third year of slavery with a group of other elves; they traveled through deep jungles and traitorous marshes into another human kingdom, the one where citizens were treated equally regardless of their race. Once their trek was over, they split up and began their new lives as free citizens... though by no means rich citizens, of course.
Ima was luckier than most of other escapees: she managed to become an apothecary's apprentice. Today, she was tasked with collecting high-quality pigtails - and the best pigtails there were grew on concentrated dung-water deep in the sewers, so Ima decided to go there with the first party of adventurers she saw.
Inventory: Iron Cutlass (+1 combat modifier) | Cloth Clothing |
Smoke PowderCompanion/s:
Demonic Bat
Health 10/10 (Life drain, regenerates and can gain more health via sucking out a creatures
life force)
Undead Swarm of Fish
Health: 40/40 (Landwalker |
Shrouded in Darkness |
Smokescreen)
Undead Barracuda
Health: 30/30 (
Flight)
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Health: 65/100
Backstory: Leon was born to a merchant, and as such travelled a lot when he was younger. When he came of age, he began his own trading career with funding from his father to get started. For the past few years, he has been working in this town/city/village.
Inventory:
Brusher's Pike | Cloth Clothing
Companion/s:
Horde of Rats
Health: 40/40 (Equipped with a Fear spell)
Ast
Health: 70/70 (Sentient |
Inconspicuous)
Inventory:
Steel Battleaxe |
Metal-reinforced leather armourHealth: 100/100 (
Fear)
Gender:male
Race: Dwarf
Backstory: Tyver was a rouge working alone. He did some adventuring work around town mostly killing bandits and returning lost items. (or not) He has gained a small amount of notoriety in Blackmarsh and was always interested in gaining power for himself.
Inventory: Copper Pike (+1 attack) | Leather Tunic
Companion/s:
Undead Dog "Fluffy"
Health: 40/40 (+1 combat modifier | Sentient)
Inventory:
Dark Linen CloakHealth: 100/100
15/30 (Can use Body Magic with a -1 modifier |
Adept Smith)
Gender: Male
Race: Human.
Backstory: A very calm and young weapon and armorsmith of a small family which saw its business get thrown to the dirt due to the constant flow of dwarven-made equipment, the boy decided to cast away his old name and find him a new one after his last living relative, his older brother, withered and died in the nameless' early to mid teens. After a couple of years living of what he could get with odd jobs, he is finally ready to give the finishing touches in his self-made equipment and leave his rotten husk of a house, intent on following the plans he had been nourishing and training for since he heard various travelers tell stories about how the dwarven nobles were extremely unbearable and susceptible to a multitude of Unfortunate Accidents.
Inventory:
Copper Mail ;
Medium Steel Plate and Helm ;
Tempered Steel Halberd "Fulgor" | Cloth Tunic
Companion/s:
Healing Wisp "Fornax"
Health: 25/25 (Sentient | +10 Healing Aura |
Thermal Adaptation)
Health: 55/100
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Backstory: Zakroff grew up as a pick-pocket, and a thief trying to earn a living where he was forced to live underneath a makeshift hut of sticks, and rotted planks. He seeks power, and wealth, but not for personal gain, instead he wants to get back at the people who aim to gain power just for themselves.
Inventory: Cloth Tunic
Companion/s:
Venerable Knight "Pallas"
Health: 40/75 (Sentient |
Wreathed in flame |
Distrust)
Inventory:
LongswordHealth: 90/100
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Backstory: Born in Blackmarsh, Cog was orphaned at a young age after his parents were killed by bandits. He was taken in by an old necromancer who taught him about the dark art. He is traveling in search of other necromancers in order to learn more.
Inventory: Cloth Tunic, Traveling Cloak
Companion/s:
Skeletal Warrior
Health: 40/40
10/10 (
Fragile)
Inventory:
Rusty Shortblade |
Bronze hauberkGlobal Bonuses:Blessing of Lightbane; Crand's Folly
Notes:
> Melee - Ranged combat can be covered in one battle turn, provided that the one with a ranged weapon gets a bonus attack OR switches to melee. In Caellath's case, both happen.
>Orders can be given to companions, or they will follow the character and attack/defend if attacked personally.
>Wisps cannot directly attack, only counter through defense.
>Lore should be up...several hours later...somewhat...
>I got Ima and Shalla confused, led to a lot of fun in editing.
>Companions always follow/attack/defend if not ordered, but will not use special powers/abilities unless ordered to do so.
> Nothing else of note. Other than this. Note.
Note, that RP'ing is fully allowed and encouraged if two players meet.
Criticism, comments and suggestions are always welcome! Tell me if something is missed.
---
Author
Topic: Kings of Death - A Necromancy RTD: Turn 24: Blood and Honor (Read 39157 times)