Turn 18
[6] Aaron left the duel and flied towards left wing of the keep. Following the hallway, he found a sign showing way to barracks and captain's quarters. He entered barracks and saw some old, mostly damaged beds, on some of which skeletons still lying dead. Close to exit by a wall a few empty armor stands and weapon racks were standing. On the other end of the room there were doors to captain's quarters. As soon as Aaron started moving towards them, the doors opened violently and a dark spirit emerged from the room! Through it's energetical orb, wanderer could see it's dread and horrifying face!
[Aaron: 5, Poltergeist: 6] Aaron hastily approached the dark spirit with his crossbow. A few moments before he shot, poltergeist drained some of his health! In dark spirit form, wanderer was able to directly hurt the dark spirit and kill it immediately with a point blank shot at head. With a loud scream, the dark spirit exploded, spraying ghostly dust all around!
[4] After rather harsh landing, Pguhyuh telepatically ordered Smoke to remain watchful and move carefully. First, they tried to hear out any sounds coming from below. Demonologist heard a sound of burning torches or braziers and a woman whispering, he couldn't understand anything as the whispers echoed too much. On the other hand, Smoke could make out some of those words and told Pguhyuh that it was some kind of prayer, but he didn't knew gods it was directed to - some nameless wind godess and Dhynn, a rock giant.
[6] Then they inspected their surroundings. The passage was dark, and there was only one way down - leading towards light and the whispers. Traces of arcane energy were getting stronger down the passage as well. Those amethyst crystals were emitting a tiny fraction of arcane energy too.
[6] Demonologist and his companion from Underworld decided to carefully follow the path, but one of them skipped over a rock and fell at the other and they both tumbled down to another cave!
[1] They landed on the cavern's entry. There was some platform and several broken pillars and damaged blocks. Perhaps it was some ruined temple? There were braziers on each corner of the platform. Suddenly an enormous gargoyle made of amethyst, with broken wings and head of a bull approached them!
Utzhgefahl! - it slowly muttered out with a low booming voice, raising it's giantic war axe!
[3]
Ah, please Seymour! There's no need to attack, I'm sure that these two travellers mean us no harm! - a figure coming from within the temple said with a calming female voice. She was wearing a black, gold hemmed cloak and her face was hidden behind a hood. The gargoyle stepped aside as his mistress approached Pguhyuh and Smoke still lying on the ground, to help them get up. Then they could see her face: half ashen and disgustingly scarred, half golden with runic scriptures. One side of her head had hair of an elderly woman or a long reanimated corpse, the other half shiny and black. When she helped them get up, they could see other bits of her naked body under her cloak, and just as head, it was a beauty and an ugly witch in one.
I'm sorry for Seymour. In this place, only guests that I could possibly have are undead and dark spirits. Well, maybe except the old Jonathan. After all this time, he still thinks that I'm a full godess.... My name is Windrock Lyirah, and yours? - an immense yet curiously limited power could be heard when she spoke, and Pguhyuh realised that she was the source of arcane energy!
[3 +1]
Please Father, guide us. - Jeremiah continued his prayer and several rays of hope suddenly shone through numerous holes in the ceiling!
[Undead Duke: 4, Reynald: 3 +3]
Surrender you mortal fool! - the duke shouted.
You have no chance of winning this duel! - he countinued screaming while raising his left hand and forwarding a powerful flame wave towards inquisitor, but he rolled out to the side and the flames faded into thin air.
[Reynald: 5 +3, Undead Duke: 6]
Get out of here, I'll hold him off as long as I can! - inquisitor said to his companions then assumed a defensive stance. Duke didn't wait for his next move and charged with an overhead slash, but Reynald dodged it and calling upon powers of high heavens, he stabbed the undead through opening on the side of his plate armor with a mighty strike! Before he could recover from the attack, Duke smacked his face with an elbow and he fell over to the ground. At least his grip on longsword's handle was enough to maintain it's possession.
[1 +2]
Get up, Inquisitor! Shank this heathen! - Dennis encouraged Reynald to keep on fighting and he immediately got up from the ground!
Undead Duke: -16 HP [104/120]
Undead swordsman: [80/80]
Undead maceman: [80/80]
Undead spearman: [80/80]
Poltergeist: Dead
Team: Prayer bonus restored
Dennis: Faith Boost ended
Aaron: -5 HP, 1 dark spirit killed, 2 turns to become corporeal
Reynald: Damage blocked by defensive stance!
Pguhyuh: -5 HP tumbling/fall damage
OOC
Damage on Duke is low due to defensive stance reducing it by half, and also resistances took effect.
Might the Duke have something?
He surely does.