[1][1][2] The sound of a battlefield not of this world suddenly filters in with a resounding cry, the shadows suddenly attacking the people and guests in the hall. Blades and claws and teeth of darkness arc through the air as the beasts begin their assault in earnest.
"FEAST, MY KIN."
"When Blood flows and Steel sings, the men of the Third dance! To arms, brothers! Dark magic in the King's court!"
[Charisma] Incite the soldiers of the hall to attack the specter.
[2+1] What would of surely been a slaughter is suddenly turned into a even battle as Jarod calls out and rallies the scattered Named Men and Carls in the hall. Some of them, who didn’t think to bring blades to the party, snatch up tankards or benches and fight back, a few smart souls flee from it with their tails between their legs.
RUN AWAY!
[6] When danger reared it’s ugly head, sir Raoul, bravely turned his tail and fled. Pushing the door open and bolting out into the better lit night like a bat out of hell. [1] And, as soon as he nears the stable, he’s clothes-lined by the thick, metal-armored arm of a guard. Before being roughly hauled to his feet by his collar. [1] As his vision slowly begins to tunnel with black from the force of the blow, or rather, his speed upon impacting solid steel plate, he’s hauled up to view a rather ugly looking mug of a palace/hall guard.
[3] However, a sharp slap from a gauntleted hand keeps him from passing out. The smell of alchohol assaults your nostrils, farther jarring you awake, “Where…d’ya think…ya’ll goin’…in such a hurry…”
"When Blood flows and Steel sings, the men of the Third dance! To arms, brothers! Dark magic in the King's court!"
[Swordsmanship] Attack the specter.
[3+1] vs. [4]
Jarod, after singing his battle-hymn, lunges at Erid, sword swinging down in a sharp arc. With a graceful whirl and impossible strength, the beast lifts the specter corpse of Logan up, blocking the blow. He growls at the attack and the impact into the soft flame-matter of the dead specter numbs Jarod’s hands.
[1] The dead fire-specter Logan shifts, a single eye- still hanging from an optic nerve - swivels towards Jarod, and what’s left of the face turns up in a twisted grin. Erid drops the now filled with life specter and turns his attention back to the King.
[Jarod is now fighting Logan’s Mutilated Specter!][6+1]vs.[2]
Jarod dodges back from a clumsy swipe of over-elongated claws, retaliating with a blow that removes an arm at the shoulder, dropping it to the floor, where it quickly becomes nothing more than a scattered pile of ash. [6] Warmth fills Jarod’s hands as he moves them, the numbness rapidly fading…to be replaced with slightly blackening skin at the tips of his fingers.
[1+1] vs. [4]
The other clawed hand swipes up, slashing Jarod across the face. The flesh blackens around the claw mark, numbness setting in a moment too late to hide the lash of pain…and fear that wracks the Knight. Blood begins to drip a moment too late as well.
[1+1] vs. [2]
The knight blocks a blow that would have been deadly a moment before it impacts, kicking the Mutilated Spectre to get it out of his guard.
[1+1] vs. [6]
The claws rip through Jarod’s armor like tissue paper, almost disemboweling him. [3] The pain and fear once more impacts him, and through gritted teeth he whispers a weak hymn. The pain and unnatural fear fades enough for you to lunge toward the creature in a final, do or die, attack.
[6+1] vs. [1]
With a final deft slash, your sword cuts through the creature's neck, black blood splattering over the floor. [1] It’s lifeless corpse turns to ash before Jarod‘s eyes, but a creeping coldness drifts over him. The sword falls from his hands, its edge hissing with the black blood, and he falls to his knees. Unconsciousness follows moments later.
Charge at the Appariton (Axemastery +1) if the mage fails to banish it
[4+1] vs. [3-
1]
Just as the specter Erid turns towards back towards the king, the axe comes down hard, cleaving into the creatures shoulder, down to its spiny chest, splattering black blood over the floor. The creature hisses and spits, jumping back and cradling it’s wound.
[4] The black blood sizzles on the cold steel, hissing much like the creature it came from. Unlike the stones, however, it isn’t pockmarked by the apparently acidic blood…
Why is fire bleeding…
Attack the specter with my hammer. (+1) (agility +1 if it counts)
[6+1] vs. [5]
With a sickening thud, Valerian’s hammer impacts the spiny flesh, crunching bone and flesh. The force slams the creature back towards the King, as well as staggering it, and rendering…a non-too-friendly looking bit of anatomy permanently useless. Verid screams in pain, turning around sharply to face Valerian, who’s hands go numb, either from the force of the impact or from something else.
Charge the Specter and put myself between it and the King. Use magic to launch a icicle at the specters head. (Swordmastery +1)
[3][1][3]
The mage is promptly ignored as he draws out a water-skin and forms it rapidly into a thick, pointed icicle. The ice impacts the fire-specter with a strangely material slish, jamming into its flesh and coming out the other side.
[1]A sharp hiss of breath comes from the beast, before a wry smile crosses what it has for features. The ice rapidly begins to form into a sort of carapace, spreading over the creature. The air gets drier and drier…until Talasam quickly retracts his command. The armor fades rapidly, melting and falling to the ground.
[6+1] vs. [1]
Talasam draws his sword, lunging towards the beast, swinging it in an overhand arc. The steel impacts something very physical, digging deep into it’s lack of a neck. It’s softer, than human flesh, but your fingers go numb at the contact, even through the blade.
With a sickening slish, the creature’s head falls to the floor, real, black blood spewing over the floor, pockmarking it. Fire begins to lick at the flesh, and soon it’s burned away, leaving ash in the shape of the fallen corpse.
Action: Try to rally my servants, vassals and armsmen to attempt to douse the spirit with buckets of water and ice. At least keep the hall and the diners therein from burning up or down.
Also, hang back and try to gauge how effective our weapons are against it.
[5+1] The creature falls before the armsmen and vassels can rouse themselves enough to try and douse the creature in water, but, when they finally do get back, the blue flames in the cooking pit rear up once more, streaking over the floor towards the ashes. A sudden splash of water turns the flame to ice.
[3+1] Normal weapons seem to work quite well on the creatures. But, you notice that the blades of several people’s swords, axes, and spears, upon impacting the creatures, and upon being bloodied, catch fire with the same sort of blue flame that the creature came from.
[2+1] The shadow army lingers for a few moments, dealing a few deathblows, before slowly fading. Then the room is plunged into darkness…and silence.
[13] A number of corpses litter the floor, mostly of free and named men. A well named warrior lays in a pool of blood, the shadow army that apparently surrounded him having eviscerated and started to
EAT him. His sword is still aflame with the blue fire.
[13+1] A number of others lay wounded, blood dripping from their wounds, which each bear black flesh around the cuts and marks.
A number are bleeding to death, and will continue to do so if medical attention is not found; Jarod is among this number.[4] Of these injured lay huddled in a fetal position, whimpering, eyes wild, oblivious to the marks they bear on their flesh, some of which are still grievously bleeding.