Family Matters, part 6
- Title: Family Matters, part 6
- Emitter: Thurid
- Characters: Aimarra, Donna, Ashes,
- Place: The Jade Isles
- Time: Thursday, May 13, 2021, 2:05 PM
- Summary: The trio continue exploring the castle, with Aimarra and Donna coordinating using handspeech, and Ashes doing her own thing regardless. They decide north would be best, she checks the room she hears movement in and sees zombies. Checking north, it's empty, exploring further, is storage and passageways. The group decides to tackle the main hall and open the door wider. Eight opponents face them. Aimarra kicks it off with an arrow to a zombie, then Donna and Ashes rush in. The brawler's fists and the Mourner's channeling take two foes, but this seems to be empowering a giant suit of armour that holds the spear they seek. Ashes takes a calculated risk, miscalculates, and brought to the brink of death. She managed to touch the spear. The Armor rises and starts attacking everyone, except the Mourner, who stays out of it's way. The battle continues!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aimarra 5'1" 128 Lb Half-Elf Female Brown hair and eyes, breastplate, leathers, pointed ears. Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face Donna 5'4" 106 Lb Human Female A black-haired human girl in black robes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thurid 7'1" 249 Lb Giantborn Female Bright-eyed, muscular, blond Giantborn woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Having dispatched the would-be assassin the party are left to listen to see if the noise of their conflict has drawn unwanted attention. Ashes, at the far door of the kitchen, can hear vague shuffling from outside the room- but the door does not open yet. No signs of pursuit back the way they came, from the sewers, but none of the party are observing the northern door, purported to lead the way through servan'ts quarters. It seems as though they have gotten away with it, though- nothing is rushing at them.
Which leaves the next question- where to go next. The map they received from Hiei's spies indicated that the ancestral spear they seek to dispel the evil mages ritual was kept with his ancestor's armor in the main hall. Unless it has been disturbed by the new occupants, it should still be there. There are also the sevan'ts hidden passages they could explore.
Having finally satisfied herself that they have not given the game away with that fight, Aimarra looks around at the others and raises her hands again to use handspeech. "I say we use the servants' passages, if those will bear fruit. They probably go everywhere, and servants are a lot less likely to be armed." <handspeech>
Having caught her breath, Donna rises to her feet. A glance Aimarra's way, and a nod of agreement. "Best to give it a try at least, just keep your eyes open. If servants are supposed to be invisible, assassins might like their territory too." <handspeech>
<OOC> Ashes says, "+3 Chippen, +5 Shadowy" GAME: Ashes rolls stealth+3+5: (7)+19+3+5: 34
Ashes contemplates the options. From Aimarra's map, there are two large rooms before the Main Hall and the small shrine. Alternatively, the servant's secret passages would allow some sneaking and access to other places. Although, those might be places they don't need to go if the armour hasn't moved.
She squeezes her lips together, searching the places it likely isn't first doesn't seem the best strategy. Better to gamble high. She watches the other two communicating, and nods also. She gestures the door she's guarding, holds up two, then three fingers, makes a through then a circling motion, for going around.
Carefully, she pulls her door open a crack to peek through.
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (13)+10: 23 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (4)+0: 4 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
As Ashes opens the door a crack to peek through, she will see the reason that any guards in the front room failed to respond to the ruckus in the kitchen. They appear to be undead. Withered human bodies, skin tight and dry and clinging to jerky muscles. They are clad in scale male, laquered sheets of interlocking metal, and wide conical hats- the outside of which are covered in a layer of dried reed, but the underlayer is iron. One stands right next to the door Ashes opens. Another two stand opposite, their backs to her, guarding the main entrance. A large, low table stands on the floor between them.
She can't see much more of the room from her current angle- she'll need to poke her head out further to get a better look.
Ashes is a curious sort, but not so much she's willing to stick her neck out and see what chops at it. She leans away from the door, easing it closed. Facing Aimarra and Donna, she holds up three fingers and points to where she saw the undead guards. She holds up her other hand, counts up one, two, three more and shrugs.
At least three, locations known, possibly more, unknown.
The ashen Arvec waits for their response, she's not the best in the front for this door, and the other hasn't been checked.
On the map the spy sketched, the armor was at the northern side of the main hall. About 30 feet from the doorway Ashes stands at.
Aimarra stiffens as Ashes opens the door, at once abandoning the conversation in favor of reaching for bow and arrow once again, scowling in a not-so-nice way at the Arvek. She doesn't dare so much as breathe while the door is open, let alone speak, but she does come forward a few paces, to position herself at the door to what is presumably the servants' quarters, cracking the door to peer through.
Signaling for Ashes to come back from the door, Donna purses her lips. It was a count that needed to be made, and the Mourner has often been as much shadow as flesh when the situation calls for it. Flashing Ashes a thumbsup, she gestures to Aimarra at the servant's door, moving up to take place behind the archer.
As Aimarra peeks through the door, it seems at first that it's simply too dark for her to see anything- it takes a few moments before her eyes resolve the shade well enough to realize that there simply isn't much to see. From her position at the door, she can see a stretch of empty room- and two doors. One headed east, and one opposite the one she peeks through.
Ashlee nods, moving away from the door to stand behind Donna. She holds her parasol and readies her Khopesh once more, silent and still.
A few moments of peering, and Aimarra shakes her head, freeing one hand just enough to make a symbol meaning _nothing_ with that free hand. Slowly, carefully, she eases herself through the door, waiting while the shade resolves once more to verify that there truly is nothing here.
Once in the room, Aimarra has to spend several moments allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness before she realizes that the shadowy shapes she sees are bedrolls and abandoned clothes, not creatures waiting to attack. The bedrolls are on the groound and threadbare, this is likely the servants' quarters.
Ashlee watches the western door as Aimarra explores, in case the undead guards come through. They're unlikely to, from what she's seen undead only respond if they directly sight something, or it's in their 'commands'. She reflects further on the injustice of their afterlife indenture. Were they friends when they were alive, or just doing their job. Perhaps they had secret grudges, which now have an undead life of their own. Trapped in endless servitude.
The Feiu of the Tears would want her to put them down. She wants to as well. All things in their own time.
Looking into the north room, the Mourner raises her silvery khopesh a little, ready to follow Donna in should they all advance further.
Metal creaks as Donna clenches her fists momentarily, nerves keyed up for more undead assault. Peering around Aimarra's head into the gloom, she raises one hand to ask a simple question; "Do we press on this way? Or say hi to the guards?" <handspeech>
Aimarra turns back after only those few moments, and steps back out, shaking her head as she moves to where she can be seen. "Do you think you saw them all?" she asks, turning to look up at Ashes. <handspeech>
GAME: Ashes rolls sense motive: (13)+12: 25
To someone who doesn't understand handsigh, they are discussing whether to go north or west.
Ashlee watches the hand signs, and stares at Aimarra and Donna. It's not her personal glare of malevolence that she inherited from her foster mother, but it's still an intense look, where she wonders what is on their minds and their true intentions.
She nods, and as Aimarra steps out of the room and her way, she slips into it. Creeping forward, she halts at the eastern door. She recalls this was some kind of secondary storage, from Aimarra's map. Gently, she eases it open a crack to peer beyond. Once her dark loving eyes have seen all they can, she moves to the northern one. This should be secret passages, and a similar slippery peek is performed.
As Ashes heads into the room, her arvek eyes have an easier time with the dark than the half-sil's. Peeking into the side room, it's full of boxes and barrels of foodstuffs- some are spoiled, some are dry goods and keeping well enough. The room to the noth leads to a narrow corridor- at one end of which is a staircase leading upwards.
The ashen Arvec waves an 'ok' or perhaps a 'zero - nothing' after looking past both doors.
The brawler looks similarly intense; focusing on the mission, and the objectives therein, is an *excellent* way to keep from really sitting down to contemplate invading a castle -- however pretty -- filled with the hungry dead. Avoid the woogies whenever posible, they will get you killed.
"If there's a way to get to the armory from here, that'd be great," she signs. "But if not... Probably gonna have to rush the main hall." <handspeech>
Based on the maps you havem the barracks are on the floor above you right now, and one floor up from that is the lord's chambers. The barracks connect to battlements that run the perimeter wall, and also connect to the north and south towers. North tower has a guardhouse and guest chambers. South tower has another guardhouse and prison cells."
The Spear that the party seeks was originally in the room to the West, but Ashes didn't see enough of the room to confirm its presence. The ritual site, that's unclear, but there are a few good possibilities. The Lord's Chamber, or Guest Chambers. Possibly the Main Hall or a chapel.
All the secret passages seem to be mostly a run of secondary staircases, separate from the main stairs and between the private Lord's Chambers.
GAME: Aimarra rolls stealth: (20)+8: 28 GAME: Donna rolls stealth: (12)+10: 22 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (19)+0: 19 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (17)+0: 17 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (10)+0: 10 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (12)+0: 12 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (2)+0: 2 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (6)+0: 6 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (18)+0: 18 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (16)+0: 16 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, all three of you are undetected."
Ashlee watches Donna's handsigns and nods slowly. She's reviewing the options, continue sneaking while leaving potential threats behind, or dealing with the threats and possibly alerting others further in, or up.
She's confident she could move like a ghost pretty far without being detected. Probably far enough to seriously get herself in trouble.
Best to work as a group. Silently she returns to the tiefling demon's room, and moves over to the western door. She signals for Donna and Aimarra to move closer and take up defensive positions. She and the brawler will frame the door, and Aimarra can be a few steps back for some uninterupted archery.
When everyone is positionned, the ashen Arvec cracks the door a little further and peeks through.
Now that they dare open the door a bit wider, and all three of them are arrayed around it and peeking through into the far room- they will notice the zombies are not alone. There are also skeletons- in similar armor, with the conical caps. While the zombies wield axes or clubs, the skeletons seem to be wielding bows- with elegantly curved longswords at their hips or spears over their backs for backup.
The room is lovely- the floor seems to be made up of segments, uniformly sized, and carefully unterlocked of dried reed mats. The joinery making up the wooden joists and beams in the room are excellent, with intricate patterns holding the joins together. The table is richly laquered wood, inlaid with patterns in gold leaf, and surrounded in silken cussions- likely once for sitting on.
At the northern end of the room, they see it. A suit of armor- full plate armor, though not like anything Ashes has ever seen before. It is intricately painted with laquers in shades of burgundy and crimson, and sports a pair of prominent stag antlers on the helmet, which itself has an unusual sweeping shape. The paldrons, too, are enormous with a strong outward curve, and the kilt seems to be made of dozens if not hundreds of small iron plates all intricately joined together. The armor even has a face mask as part of it, with am artificial silver moustache on a glaring face.
The armor is also enormous- too large for even the biggest Jotun Blooded. It seems more likely to be sized for an ogre, or some other true giant, than a human. It is posed kneeling, but even so it is easily six foot tall. And, perhaps most importantly, it has a spear laid across its lap, gripped in the armor's gauntlets.
None of the undead seem to have noticed anything.
Heel to toe, one foot in front of the other, Aimarra moves nearly silently, bow and arrow in her hands, eyes peeled for the target they seek. When the giant suit of armor comes into view, she glances at the others, eyebrows raised. One hand frees, and she signals, "I do not think we will manage the armor." <handspeech>
Ashlee stares. The room is beautiful. The carvings, the workmanship, even the colours extend into the darkly visible spectrum, adding striking shadows to the room. The undead seem unaware, and by their armour and weapons were once the loyal guards of the house. Close in fighters, and archers.
She also sees the spear, what they're after, and the magnificent armour. It's much larger than she was expecting. Possibly even too large for her magic satchel. And the armour sits in a meditative pose, as if its owner slipped out while he was deep in trance and left it minding his posture.
And that spear.
Signalling to the others, she points first at herself, then the spear, and turns over her right hand. She follows this with a shaking, wiping motion, then points to Donna, Aimarra and herself, lifts her Khopesh a little, and indicates one of the far guards, and turns over her left hand.
Aimarra's signs are watched, and then she looks at Donna.
"Probably not," Donna signs, leaning just far enough to see further into the hall. The spear gets a moment of extra attention, and the brawler chews on her cheeck for a moment, thinking. "Yeah. Rush the guards, get to the spear, and see if it's feeling lively. If it's holy, then if nothing else it'll make the fighting easier to draw them to it." <handspeech>
Ashlee nods, staring at Aimarra's bow for a long moment, then pointing at one of the guards on the far side of the room. She makes a small drawing gesture with both hands, as she sinks a half step back into a ready position, bringing up her parasol and holding it short handled like a shield.
GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon1: (9)+9: 18 GAME: Aimarra rolls 1d6+3: (1)+3: 4
Aimarra seems to have already been of that mind, whether Ashes recommended it or no. She raises the bow, ever so slowly, brings the fletching to her ear, and lets fly, holding for just a breath before stepping behind Donna.
The arrow flies straight and true, pinning the first creature - with seemingly little effect.
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1: (15)+11+1: 27 GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+3: (2)+1+3: 6
Before the bowstring can finish releasing its stored-up energy, Donna slips into the doorway, throwing a looping left fist into the Zombie on the other side. Metal impacts rotted meat with a satisfying sound, that only marks the beginning of the battle.
The arrow flies. Donna moves in. Ashlee follows, ducking past the brawler, unwilling to leave her the only target alone in the room. Quickly assessing, she moves to the low table, the corner at the southern end of the room and tucks her parasol close, hiding behind the skulls and bones from the skins and bones.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Two shoot at Donna, Two shoot at Ashes." GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (7)+4: 11 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (14)+4: 18 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Thurid damaged you for 9 points. 45 HP remaining. <OOC> Thurid says, "Zombies 3 and 1 attack ashes. Zombie 2 attacks Donna. Zombie 4 charges Donna." GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (16)+6: 22 GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Thurid damaged you for 7 points. 38 HP remaining. GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Thurid rolls 6+2: (12)+6+2: 20 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d12+4: (2)+4: 6 <OOC> Donna also notes, DR 1/-
Once the adventurers dash into the room, starting off their assault- and landing a couple of less than ideal hits on their enemies, all hell breaks loose in the main chamber. The decaying guardsmen shudder into action, red embers glowing deep within their dead eyes. The skeletons are the quickest to react, knocking arrows and loosing a volley towards the center of the room, overlapping fire from each end of the main hall striking both Donna and Ashes.
The Zombies are slower on the uptake. The one Donna punched slowly turns towards heer, and then swings a club- it looks like it used to be the haft of a weapon, but it has broken at some point and the zombie has yet to notice- at her. He swings wide, but his friend is luckier who lurches at her from behind with a two-handed axe, swinging it at her and catching her in the shoulder. The two near the door move towards Ashes, these both armed with clubs, which they swing back and forth wildly, groaning. They manage to strike her in the knee with one wild swing.
GAME: Donna RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 16 temporary HP GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1-2: (17)+11+1+-2: 27 GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1-2: (20)+11+1+-2: 30 (THREAT) GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1-2-5: (12)+11+1+-2+-5: 17 GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1-2-5: (14)+11+1+-2+-5: 19 GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1-2: (11)+11+1+-2: 21 (Confirmed) GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+3: (1)+1+2+3: 7 GAME: Donna rolls 2d6+2+4+6: (7)+2+4+6: 19 GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+3: (2)+1+2+3: 8 GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+3: (4)+1+2+3: 10
The club was an amusing attempt, but when the axe bites into her leg, Donna has quite visibly Had Enough. "You fucking--" she begins, and whatever else she would say is lost in a soundless burst of pale-blue fire, climbing up her arms and leaking from her eyes, smearing her form into a blurry shape that turns and just *unleashes* on the axe-wielding zombie.
When her fists stop flying, the axe is now settling atop a mound of sundered bone and pulverized flesh.
<OOC> Ashes says, "Channel to damage undead, 30' radius, which gets all zombies and skeletons 3 & 4," <OOC> Ashes says, "Will DC15 1/2 and 3d6 damage, standard does not provoke" GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Ashes rolls 3d6: (14): 14 <OOC> Ashes nods, Channel 3 of 5
Ashes is hit by a club, "Ow!"
Perhaps a cloth parasol is not the best defense against attacks to the knees, even if it is stylish and made of living steel. Sunlight and clubs seem to get by.
"Feiu of the Tears," The Mourner says loudly, touching the holy symbol on her breastplate and checking the distance to the enemies surrounding her. "The remains of loyal servants you have accepted into your embrace are used in foul mimicry of life. Take them."
A wave of energy washes out from her, cold, chilling to the bone. The clammy sensation of death, cold flesh turning to cold earth. The stillness of the grave, even the sense of a hammer driving in the last coffin nails.
Or that could be Donna, punching skulls.
Vardama's power strikes at the perverse forces re-animating the dead bones. Stinging, but not destroying.
Except one skeleton, that one is dusted.
<OOC> Aimarra says, "Leave bow at 9,8 and draw longsword as part of a move action to 6,10. One attack on zombeh #1." <OOC> Thurid says, "Provokes as you squeeze past Donna." GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon2: (11)+9: 20 GAME: Aimarra rolls 1d8+3: (4)+3: 7
Skeletons and zombies. The bow will not serve her here, and Aimarra has learned that well in the last few hours. The wood of the bow clatters to the floor inside the room, and instead, steel rasps from the sheath at her hip. A squeeze past Donna takes just a shade too long, though, and she miscalculates, mutters a curse as steel bites into her own leg.
That pain and fury, though, gets channeled into her sword swing, and she slams the blade into meaty flesh, leaving a deep gash.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Zombies" GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (12)+0: 12 (At Ashes) GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL) (At Aimarra) GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (8)+0: 8 (At Donna) <OOC> Thurid says, "Skeletons" GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (2)+6: 8 (At Ashes) GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (15)+6: 21 (At Aimarra) GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (5)+6: 11 (At Donna)
The undead forces cower as the wave of positive energy washes over them, their dead skin peeling and turning to dust, bones creaking and splintering as the unholy forces that animate them wane in the wake of the surge of life energy. But aside from one which crumples into a pile of bonemeal, they remain mostly intact. The archers knock a fresh volley of arrows, each picking an adventurer and losing more shots their way. None land, though, now they are all in the heat of battle.
The zombies swing their clubs around wildly, striking Aimarra across the side of the head more out of luck than skill, while the other two have their attacks fall wide.
GAME: Aimarra rolls perception: (10)+13: 23 GAME: Donna rolls perception: (15)+12: 27 GAME: Ashes rolls perception: (11)+3: 14 GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Thurid says, "He misses his AoO" GAME: Donna rolls cmb+2: (9)+11: 20
"Armor looks like the dead are powerin' it," The brawler snarls, grabbing hold of the zombie by neck and ribcage, and shiving it backwards towards its skeletal cohort. "Might wanna git the spear before it wakes up!"
GAME: Ashes rolls knowledge/religion: (7)+16: 23
Some sort of ritual is causing the animating force controlling the Ashigaru to be drawn into the armor when their bodies are destroyed.
<OOC> Ashes says, "double move to 4,3 and eat a bunch of AOOs and try for the spear next round." GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (1)+3: 4 GAME: Thurid damaged you for 9 points. 29 HP remaining.
"Thanks," Ashlee says, as Aimarra joins her. She remains crouched by the corner of the table, keeping her parasol up and spinning it into blows. She weaves, against the swings coming for her, which are wide enough to miss on their own. As does the arrow, though they fly.
This is followed by, "What?" as Donna calls out her warning, then as realization sinks in, "Feiu of the Tears, couldn't you grasp them a little more firmly?"
The Mourner's voice is monotone, yet still mildly accusatory as she wonders why her Goddess is making it so hard if the undead are such anathema to her. Is it a test of faith, a comment on the fraility of life, and the lack thereof in undeath. An urge for her to try harder. The Mourner doesn't know.
"That was my first suggestion." Ashlee abandons her current fight to run up the middle of the room, past zombies, between the two skeletons to get at the spear.
Catching some solid wacks as she does.
GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon2: (13)+9: 22 GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon2-5: (14)+9+-5: 18 GAME: Aimarra rolls 1d8+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Aimarra rolls 1d8+3: (2)+3: 5
From the worried look Aimarra shoots that armor, she saw whatever it was, too, and she didn't like it one bit. When Ashes abandons the zombies, she steps right in, swinging her sword in a way thata positions it for the next blow. Except that the first blow is solidly placed enough that the hunk of outdated flesh drops with a last groan at her feet into lifeless oblivion, and she takes a step forward with the second strike - and it lands, as well, although not quite as solidly. "Huh. It worked," she murmurs to herself, glancing again at Ashes up by the armor.
<OOC> Thurid says, "The Skeletal Ashigaru drop their bows and draw katanas." GAME: Thurid rolls 2+2: (19)+2+2: 23 (THREAT) GAME: Thurid rolls 2+2: (15)+2+2: 19 (Confirmed) GAME: Thurid rolls 2d8+6: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Thurid damaged you for 18 points. 11 HP remaining. GAME: Thurid rolls 2+2: (17)+2+2: 21 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+3: (8)+3: 11 GAME: Thurid damaged you for 11 points. 0 HP remaining. (DISABLED) <OOC> Thurid says, "Third skeleton will take a shot at Aimarra" GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (9)+0: 9 GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (13)+6: 19 (At Aimarra) GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (19)+6: 25 (At Donna) GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6 <OOC> Thurid says, "(Damaged Donna for 4 since I forgot her DR on the last hit)" <OOC> Thurid says, "Ancestral Armor stands and draws his spear as a move action, then cleaves the Skeleton Ashigaru." GAME: Thurid rolls 15: (18)+15: 33 GAME: Thurid rolls 2d8+13: (11)+13: 24 GAME: Thurid rolls 15: (9)+15: 24 GAME: Thurid rolls 2d8+13: (7)+13: 20
As Ashes approaches the armor, the pair of skeletal guards drop their bows reaching for the curved blades at their hips. Each drawing one, and wielding it in two hands, they swing for AShes. One cuts a vicious slice in her back, from right shoulder to left hip. The other lunnges, and very nearly runs her through, but the tip is deflected and it becomes a slice along her side rather than an impaling strike. Nevertheless, she is bleeding profusely from the wounds. The skeletons prepare to stroke again, as she places her hands upon the spear, but the balefire behind its mask flares, and begins to spill out- pale blue ice cold flames flooding from the empty sockets of the armored face plate. The armor lurches, slowly at first, as it rises up to its full nine feet of height, wrenching the spear from Ashes' weakening grasp. It spins it overhead, and sweeps it through the pair of skeletons with a mighty whoosh. The heavy blade doesn't even slow, shattering them into a thousand fragments as it smashes through the pair of them, and with a flourish slams the haft into the ground. The head of the spear begins to burn with ghostfire as well.
Meanwhile, the zombies remain oblivious- they have warm flesh before them, and that is all they care about. Their clubs are clumsily swung, and once more one of them finds purchase against Donna's brow.
<OOC> Donna says, "5' step back, and cast Blade Lash to trip the skeleton fighting Aimarra." GAME: Donna casts Blade Lash. Caster Level: 8 DC: 13 GAME: Donna rolls cmb+10+1: (11)+11+10+1: 33
Dancing back a step, Donna glances over her shoulder at the skeleton and the zombie threatening her compatriot. Pale-blue runes flare alight down one arm, and she turns, hurling her fist at the zombie... and her arm *stretches,* closing the distance between herself and the zombie int he blink of an eye, coiling around its feet and hauling away. In a trice, the zombie splats upon the floorboards, as Donna's arm retracts back into place.
"Good t'meetcha, my Lord!" she calls, grinning savagely. "Hope y'don't mind the noise, we're here t'clean your home out. Seems you got y'self a necromancy problem!"
<OOC> Channel 4 of 5 GAME: Ashes rolls 3d6: (17): 17 GAME: Thurid damaged you for -16 points. 16 HP remaining.
A katana cuts painfully hard across Ash's back, the second slices up her side. Pain! Lots of Pain! "GNFFFF!" She drops to her knees, barely able to support herself.
As the armour awakens, and smashes the two skeletons on either side of her, her thoughts race. Why? When they aren't occupied by how much blood she's losing, that is. What could be behind this action.
"Feiu of the Tears, keep me in the fight." Ashlee pleads, pushing herself to her feet as the Grey Lady's deathly chill numbs her injuries. The ashen Arvec gasps, "Ancestor of Lord Hiei, your descendant sends his compliments on your victory at Yaesu Pass. We are his hirelings, sent to aid you."
That said, she staggers back out of range, just in case.
<OOC> Aimarra says, "Since Donna so kindly put my friend on the floor, I would like to make with the bug-on-a-pin please." GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon2: (2)+9: 11 GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon2-5: (7)+9+-5: 11
Aimarra nods her thanks to Donna, but most of her attention is on the massive suit of armor over on the other end of the room, and on Ashes' plight. She does turn back and stab downwards once, twice, but both miss. "Hold still," she hisses at the flailing zombie under her breath.
GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (7)+4: 11 (At Donna) <OOC> Thurid says, "Skeletal zombie 2 will 5' towards Donna and attack." <OOC> Thurid says, "#3 will stand from prone, provoking an AoO from Aimarra" GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (6)+6: 12 (At Donna) GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon2: (2)+9: 11 (AOO) GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Thurid rolls 15: (2)+15: 17 GAME: Thurid rolls 2d8+13: (6)+13: 19 GAME: Thurid rolls 15: (19)+15: 34 GAME: Thurid rolls 2d8+13: (14)+13: 27
The mighty suit of armor steps down from its plinth and onto the tatami floor, dust falling from its time-stiffened joints. It brings its massive spear back as though to swing at Ashes as she retreats- but something about her words stays his hand. The blue flames burning inside his helmet flare for a moment, becoming green, and then gold, before fading back to pale blue. He lets her go, but he dashes across the room towards the zombie occupied with fighting Donna. He leaps at the last moment, hefting the spear overhead and bringing it crashing down on Donna and the Zombie both- the zombie is destroyed, utterly, but luckily Donna is made of sterner stuff.
Meanwhile, the other skeleton is still taking pot shots with his bow, and still missing. It seems their orders are particularly strict- it hasn't even moved off the spot. The zombie Donna tripped slowly rises to its feet, Aimarra's sword glancing off its armor as it rises, and then it upswings its club, catching her right on the chin with it.
Aimarra says, "I said, hold still, you little shit."
<OOC> Donna says, "Now it's up again, charge Zombie 3." <OOC> Thurid says, "That'll provoke, Armor attempts a trip." GAME: Thurid rolls 16: (1)+16: 17 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (19)+11+1+2: 33 GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+3: (2)+1+2+3: 8
"Oi!" Donna says, insulted by being collateral damage. "Watch your strikes, Lord!" Crouching, the wounded brawler charges toward the zombie, unconsciously kicking aside a sweeping spear, and turning briefly to look *annoyed.* "OI!"
Snarling, she finishes her approach, and twists her entire body around to put as much emphasis as possible on the fist that lands int he zombie's face.
<OOC> Ashes says, "so go to 2,11, channel heal 5 of 5" GAME: Ashes rolls 3d6: (10): 10 GAME: Thurid damaged you for -10 points. 26 HP remaining.
Ashlee stares at the colours inside the helmet, changing. She doesn't understand, but she has inklings. Hunches that she's about to throw out when the suit strikes at Donna. Perhaps it can't see well past the mask, and while the armour's movements leave it open, she doesn't attack.
Then, it falls prone! The spear is right there to be grabbed. She's not that sort of combattent though. The Mourner prefers to stand at the back, watching, far away from blades and spears that can cut her in half. Continue with the plan, and the appeal then.
Ashlee retreats, down the side of the low table and just out of reach of the zombie. The armour's next likely target. "Feiu of the Tears, we are not ready for your embrace yet." Once more the unsettling stillness of the veil is felt. Wounds knit, death does not hurt should you choose it.
"Oshikage no Kiriyama," Ashlee calls out, "Some of your descendants have become corrupt. A second son, Goebu, slew the elder and ursurped his lands. We are vassals of the true line and work to set it right. Resist the power that tries to harness you."
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 4 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
20 Skeletal Ashiga 1
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14 Zombie Ashigaru 1
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12 Ancestral Armor 1
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7 Donna 1 Raging (5 rnds active)
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5 Ashes 1
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>> 3 Aimarra 1 <<
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| Name | CHP (T) | HP |
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| Aimarra.......| 43 | 55 |
| Ashes.........| 26 | 56 |
| Donna.........| 57 | 61 |
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