Mortal Enough

The Temple of Eluna is supposed to be a safe space. The tranquil waters of the main chamber's pool reflect Her noble face, after all, and the serenity that comes with the gentle light of the moon on an evening such as this one should never be spoiled.

But there's something wrong here.

Because there's a woman who's supposed to be getting married at the Temple of Daeus and getting drunk at her party in the room with Seldan. Andelena's red hair and steel-gray eyes are tell-tale signs of the Sunguard, all right, but she's without her armor and without her sword, dressed instead in a tunic and draw-string pants. She looks rather cross about the fact that the man known as Galon Calogref II has slipped out of the room at Seldan's direction.

"Why do you deny me the opportunity to speak to my brother?" she snarls.

Seldan stands between the woman and the door, Reunion in hand, standing straight and tall despite the bone chips that cling to clothing and the edges of impeccably clean, pearlescent armor. He has assumed a defensive stance, and narrows his eyes for a moment at the creature. "First," he begins, "the Sunguard does not reek of evil, as you. Secondly, the Sunguard speaks not so. Were it her, there would be profanity in the demand sufficient to blister a lady's ears." A ghost of a smile touches his lips. "But come, I shall humor you, for a little. Tell me, once did we meet in the realm of dreams, unbidden. For what subject did you desire my counsel?"

The not-Andelena flashes her teeth in something that is decidedly not a smile. "Pah. Mortal toy. What care do I have for your dreams? You may hide--"

And here the woman becomes something that she is not. The fiend--for that is what this entity is--changes shape into its proper form. Something tall and horrible, something with great wide wings and a horrific looking chain in its hands. "And you may cower behind that goddess's domain of dreams. But We are coming. We always do." The smell of brimstone is thick in the room now.

GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/the planes: (2)+12: 14
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/the planes: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL)

Not one iota of fear is visible in Seldan's even, stalwart gaze, only the very smallest of smiles. "Impatient, I see. And foolish." But, the stone in his demeanor cracks like a crust over magma, revealing the fiery glow of righteous fury beneath. Oddly enough, though, it's the sword in his hand that speaks first, a crotchety old man's voice. "Two in one day, boy? I'm a lucky man."

"You aren't a man, Kanian. You're part of a sword." A female voice, younger and deeper, but she, too, sounds more than pleased. "_We're_ lucky."

"Enough. I shall not brook more of your kind in Her holy spaces. Hurry." (sildanyari) His armor flashes silver-blue, and settles into a quiescent, moonlit glow, but he pays it no heed, instead grabbing with the free hand the corner of the cape on his shoulders, and speaking another arcane phrase.

When it is done, he appears to have moved a foot to the side of the door. When he speaks again, though, his voice comes from the same spot where he stood. "You are not welcome here. In the Dreamer's holy name, go back whence you came!"

GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (16)+18: 34
GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21

The fiend growls in response to Seldan's beseechment. It cares not for the Dreamer's holy name nor Her holy space. "No," it responds flatly.

Then it weaves a spell, something that emanates protective energy against the holy magics that Seldan would seek to weave in defense of his goddess's temple and the people here.

Realizing what the fiend is doing, Seldan scowls blackly, and his own free hand moves in response, invoking the symbols before him tied together beneath Eluna's holy aegis. "Not in my goddess' house, bitch."

Wait - did the reserved and ever-polite paladin just-

Swear?

There's no warning really as the door suddenly pops open behind Seldan. In truth Zeke didn't know what to expect beyond the portal he opened, but he is not surprised by what he finds. There's no time really to explain all the details, not with the visage of a fiend before him. He slams the door shut behind him and lifts one crystal claw so that Seldan will know beyond a doubt that it is him and not some copy or other foe. "Thisss one hasss your back Sseldan." He is grateful now more than ever that he wore his armor to the wedding and that he never took it off. "Thisss one knew sssome-thing wasss wrong."

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+26: (7)+26: 33
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+21: (18)+21: 39
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+16: (1)+16: 17 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d100: (64): 64
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+11: (8)+11: 19
GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (18)+28: 46
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (6)+22: 28
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (20)+22: 42
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (12)+22: 34
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+5: (8)+5: 13

The fiend begins its assault as Zeke steps in, lashing out first with its chain. The chain only catches Seldan partially, biting into the paladin's weak points in his armor, and while the fiend misses with its bite attack, it's the tail that snags Seldan, biting into the paladin's skin and drawing a flow of blood.

"See? What holy space do you have if your little goddess does not come to save you? She sends a _mortal_ instead." The voice of the fiend drips with the acrid smell of sulfur.

Zeke says nothing to the fiend, merely laying his flesh-and-blood claw on Seldan's shoulder gently he is indeed after all; mortal. A small nod and telegraphing the movement carefully so that he does not startle the other man. The pulse of power that passes between them further confirms that this is Zeke. Seldan has experienced what the mere presence of Zeke in a fight can mean. His touch clarifies, empowers, and enhances. His hand slides away and touches Seldan's hand a moment, leaving a ring behind. "We ssstand to-gether kin."

It is in a way the explanation for the ring; surely Zeke would not offer the platinum-colored item without purpose. One that Seldan can surely easily divine.

GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+8+pa: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1+8-4: (20)+24+8+1+8+-4: 57 (THREAT)
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+8+pa: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1+8-4: (8)+24+8+1+8+-4: 45
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+8+pa-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1+8-4-5: (5)+24+8+1+8+-4+-5: 37
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+8+pa-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1+8-4-10: (13)+24+8+1+8+-4+-10: 40
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+8+pa: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1+8-4: (13)+24+8+1+8+-4: 50
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+reuniondmg+sedmg+sedmg+sedmg+sedmg+padmg+padmg: aliased to 1d8+9+1d8+9+8+8+8+8+8+8: (6)+9+(3)+9+8+8+8+8+8+8: 75
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+padmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8: (5)+9+8+8: 30
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+padmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8: (7)+9+8+8: 32
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+padmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8: (6)+9+8+8: 31
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6: (12): 12

A moment's glance back, and Seldan's heart lifts as Zeke steps through in all his resplendent glory. _How'd he know?_ There isn't time to answer that question, though, as the fiend's chain and then its tail find their mark, scoring one bloodied line across the calf and side of his knee, and the other finding a chink in the plates protecting the opposite hip. "Agh!" he swears, gritting his teeth.

The touch on his shoulder clarifies, empowers, protects - and he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is, indeed, his kin.

He palms the ring in his free hand - there isn't time to don it now, even if he does know what it does - but instead, Reunion lashes out with unhinged screams of glee, cheers, exhortations and more in a cacophony of delighted voices too jumbled to pick out. The strikes are impossibly fast, surgical, and placed with shoulder, body, and righteous fury behind them. In no time at all, the paladin is drenched in blood, both his and the demon's, as Reunion tears into and through the creature's flesh, leaving behind deep, vital wounds one after another, with seemingly impossible speed.

When all is finished, he is well-coated in it, fair hair drenched in vilest black, but he smiles, the expression holding nothing of kindness. "She need not waste Her energy on the likes of you. The mortal more than suffices the need."

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+26: (20)+26: 46
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+26: (13)+26: 39
GAME: Seldan casts Paladin's Sacrifice. Caster Level: 8 DC: 20
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+11+2d6+11: (6)+11+(7)+11: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d4: (4): 4
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+21: (14)+21: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+16: (11)+16: 27
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+11: (10)+11: 21
GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (13)+28: 41
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (7)+22: 29
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+5: (8)+5: 13
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (4)+22: 26
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+5: (7)+5: 12

The fiend is reeling from Seldan's attacks, but the twitch of the chain in its hand acts as a warning sign that it is not done yet. "Hrmpgh! Then let your goddess see how weak the mortals are!" it snarls as it lashes out with the chain again, right at Zeke--

Which Seldan takes for him.

The blow, however, is a massive one, sending Seldan out for his own reeling, followed by the cruel bite of the rest of the chain on the paladin's skin. The fiend laughs horribly, its voice booming within the cell. "Pitiful!"

It lunges out at Zeke, teeth gnashing out into the Sunguard's scales and drawing blood just as its barbed tail also finds purchase, scoring a wound that flows freely with blood to match Zeke's kin.

GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6: (8): 8
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6: (5): 5
GAME: Zeke casts Heal. Caster Level: 16 DC: 19
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+16+5: (11)+16+5: 32
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+26: (4)+26: 30
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+21: (2)+21: 23
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+16: (3)+16: 19
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+11: (11)+11: 22

Zeke is assaulted by the fiend, flinching a little when Seldan takes the blow for him, and is near-helpless when in the aftermath its teeth and tail find purchase through his armor. His mind falls for a moment, twists into the past to bear the pain. Pain is an old friend of his, but he can not afford to let the past consume him. Grimly he pulls himself body and mind away from the combat, stepping to Seldan's other side and touching the man again. This time to heal him. "We are mortalssss weak, but the Dragonfather and hisss Daughter flow through ussss!"

His words intone and his green eyes light with intent as the warmth passes through him and into Seldan. Healing wounds and recovering senses.

GAME: Zeke rolls Fortitude: (11)+13: 24
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (3)+22: 25
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (14)+22: 36

The sight of Seldan being healed drives the wounded fiend into fury. It growls heavily at Zeke. "Then I will leave behind two corpses so they flow--"

The thrash of the chain comes out for Zeke. It only strikes with one portion, but that portion's enough. It's hard enough to drive the Sunguard to reel against the infernal lash of the horrid weapon.

"NO MORE."

The fiend spins around, continuing to snarl as it lunges for the renewed Seldan. But neither its teeth nor does its tail find the mark.

GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+pa: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-4: (9)+24+8+1+-4: 38
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+pa-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-4-5: (5)+24+8+1+-4+-5: 29
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+pa: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-4: (7)+24+8+1+-4: 36
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste+pa: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-4: (17)+24+8+1+-4: 46
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+padmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8: (6)+9+8+8: 31
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+padmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8: (2)+9+8+8: 27

The force of the chain hits Seldan like a freight train, driving him to one knee as agony lashes through him. He is helpless as Zeke takes a few hits as well -

But Zeke is still there, and the familiar warmth of the Draco Solis' blessing floods through him once more, restoring sense, strength, and easing his pain, sealing his wounds. It's a spell that he's felt many times and never ceases to amaze him.

Before he can move, before he can thank Zeke, though, the fiend has struck again, and this time, it is Zeke who is driven to his knees by the chain. This, this much, galvanizes him as few other things might, and he fairly bolts to his feet, shouting, "No, it is _you_ who shall be no more!" Once again, Reunion's gleeful cacophony of exhortations, cheering, cursing of demonkind, and arguing fills the air as it strikes, less surgical this time but little less effective. More black ichor finds Seldan's hair, armor, and accouterments, but the creature with a final scream of fury vanishes into nothingness.

GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (23): 23
GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (16): 16
GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (22): 22
GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (21): 21

When all is done, Reunion's point does not immediately lower to the ground, although it does erupt into cheers as the creature vanishes from sight. Seldan is warier, and studies the room with narrowed eyes, then nods to himself and casts Reunion to the floor clear of the stunned makari. "Kin," he says at once, and removes his gauntlets, tossing them over towards Reunion. He immediately begins to murmur prayers, laying both bare hands on Zeke's shoulders, over and over again, until silver-white, cool light forms beneath his hands, sinking into and lighting the blue scales, sealing wounds and stopping bleeding.

When it is done, and the silver light fades away, he lets his hands drop, and remains on one knee before his friend and brother, regarding him closely. "Kin. I am here, and it is not. We were enough."

It takes a moment for Zeke to respond to the healing, his gaze comforting, his tail finally swishing along the stone floor supportively. His own claw rises to touch Seldan's shoulder and he nods. "Kin." He rumbles the word with the fondness that comes from long association and knowledge that someone is ever at your back. That no matter what - in dire times - that someone will come to your aid. "You are alwaysss enough. Now come; let thisss one tend you."

"There is no need." Seldan gets to his feet and offers both hands to Zeke to help him to his feet as well. "The Draco Solis' might through you sufficed the need. But come, we had best clean this place up ere our rescuee returns. I fear I had to send him out, swiftly, ere the fiend seized upon him," he explains, moving to gather a still-chattering Reunion and gauntlets.

There is quite the mess to clean up.

-End