Rough for You (Part 2)

Kira has a stuck Boshter in the little doorway. For once, big strong Arveks aren't the best thing. Not for small spaces. She hasn't had luck pulling him out and Serene hasn't, so teamwork! Kira unravels some of her robe (that stays together still) to wrap a length of rope around him so that more can pull if need be.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (8)+19: 27
GAME: Alba rolls sense motive: (8)+2: 10
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (10)+23: 33
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (1)+4: 5

The demon roars across your minds, a fearsome sound that echoes like the call of dragons once past and sinks into Alba's bones. The demon lunges forwards, sinking fangs into her scrunched up body and draws a flash of blood. The other demon laughs mockingly, an evil snicker as it vanishes into the darkness; sinking as only shadows do.

GAME: Serene rolls strength: (20)+5: 25
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+6+2: (2)+6+2: 10

Serene quickly grabs the other end of Kira's rope, pulling just enough so that her griffon, Mighty Silver, can grab it in his beak. Together the two haul on the rope, but Boshter remains stuck fast.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (18)+17: 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (19)+9: 28
GAME: Durrankar casts Sunburst. Caster Level: 18 DC: 25
GAME: Durrankar rolls 6d6: (27): 27

Alba's reaction to the intimidation is.... different... First, as one would expect, she reels away from the snarling otherworldly mass of darkness... Then begins to chuckle. A chuckle which soon blooms into less-than-fully-sane laughter, distorted by unhealthy magics to reinforce the curse on the demon's own feelings of doubt. "This is your answer, tha pustulent wretch? A nibble, and a threat, *this* is how tha redresses thy insult? What fell misbirth bade *thee* to be the best of their guardians?"

Another subtle curse weaves its way through her words... but sadly, it fails to take hold, and what little can be seen of Alba's face twists in frustration.

As the war of words happen in the doorway, those with good hearing my hear a very very rapid set of squeaks in the pathway. That is all the warning Alba gets before the brightness of ten suns suddenly comes into being in the pathway. the shadow creatures are burned by the bright sunlight, but not as brightly as the might mouse would have liked.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (16)+23: 39
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (8)+23: 31
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (3)+4: 7
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (3)+4: 7

The demon returns, and looking at one another the pair attack the little scrunched-up witch of the wilds. More blood spills onto the dirt floor, the pair of shadows acting in wicked concert with one another.

GAME: Serene rolls strength: (19)+5: 24
GAME: Kira rolls strength: (12)+2: 14
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+6+2+2: (1)+6+2+2: 11 (EPIC FAIL)

Kira gets ready to help with the rope tugging, this time. And it doesn't seem to help, even with all three of them??!! She's not impolite enough to ask what (or how many) Boshter had for dinner... but she's beginning to wonder…

GAME: Alba rolls ranged: (17)+10: 27
GAME: Alba rolls 6d8: (20): 20

Serene heaves on the rope, doing her best to add her strength to Kira's and Silver's. Perhaps later, when discussing this particular fight with the others, she might be surprised to find her thoughts mirror Kira's. As for the griffon, he does try.. but his claws and talons seem to have trouble finding purchase on the ground and he stumbles, temporarily losing his bite-grip on the rope as a rock under foot rolls free.

More of that half-sane, half-natural laughter echoes within the chamber, as blood spills down the Witch's neck. "HAH! Your head in my mouth, tha bandy-legged wobbleguts! More terrible bites from the maimed wretches who depend on my kindness, have I!"

And now the purpose of the jagged golden circlet attached to the polished-skull mask becomes clear, as a thin beam of white-hot sunlight flares out to answer the mouse's blinding explosion, biting directly into the demon's face.

GAME: Durrankar rolls 4d6: (13): 13
GAME: Durrankar casts Sunbeam. Caster Level: 18 DC: 24
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Kira rolls perception: (7)+21: 28
GAME: Alba rolls perception: (18)+14: 32

The blast from the crown muffles the sounds of another series of squeaks. Suddenly there is a very bright golden line coming from a point on the wall that the mouse is at. the beam pierces the shadow creatures and burns them!

GAME: Durrankar rolls perception: (4)+28: 32
GAME: Serene rolls perception: (9)+21: 30
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (11)+23: 34
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (12)+23: 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (63): 63
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (27): 27
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (3)+4: 7

The demons lash out in spite of clearly being blind. One of them manages to hit Alba, snapping at her with dripping shadowy teeth while the other snips right beside her but misses by seeming pure chance.

GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (18)+2: 20
GAME: Serene rolls strength+2+2: (20)+5+2+2: 29

Serene does her best not to glare at Silver. It's not his fault. It certainly wouldn't be fair to blame him. And it's not like she's never had to fight frustration before. But this time she takes up another position on the rope, this time with Silver joining Kira in the assist. And THIS time Boshter pops free. One can only wonder at the bruising he's taken with all of this rope pulling... he certainly isn't reacting, him in his dazed state.

GAME: Alba casts Lightning Bolt. Caster Level: 12 DC: 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (12)+9: 21
GAME: Alba rolls 10d6: (35): 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (10)+11: 21
GAME: Durrankar rolls 4d6: (13): 13
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (6)+9: 15

The unnatural laughter slides up to a fresh hell of a pitch as Alba spins away in utter defiance of gravity or solid bone structure, and her bladed glove sweeps out to rend electrical charge from the very air. With a word that twists the mind to hear as much as the tongue to say, she thrusts her hand forward... And the *crack* of thunder is deafening inside the little room, almost drowning out the sound of the door shattering to flinders.

Another series of squeaks, and another beam lances out from the same place in the wall. The shadow monster can't see it cuz THEY'RE STILL BLIND! MWAHAHAHAHA!

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (20)+23: 43
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (1)+23: 24 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (31): 31

The demons snap and snarl at Alba, one of them stumbling over the other in its haste for the taste of her blood. The one that remains upright actually manages to snap its teeth right in front of her nose, but that's as close as it gets with its feet tangled up in its companion.

GAME: Serene rolls knowledge/the planes+2: (14)+24+2: 40
GAME: Serene rolls 12d6: (43): 43
GAME: Serene spends TWO uses of LAY ON HANDS.

"Silver, watch over the Arvek!" Serene directs.. though it comes across as a demand, such is her hurry, and she quickly ducks her head and squeezes through the door, down towards the druid and witch inside. She snarls when she recognizes the creatures they are locked in combat with... one hand grips her holy symbol, and in the same commanding voice she says, "Begone, demon filth!" Holy energy washes over them, their already weakened states preventing them from surviving the attack.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (6)+21: 27

It is beneath Alba to be relieved upon the entrance of backup. That is, after all, the reason why backup *exists,* to pull one's hide out of the unholy fire. So when Alba's mask turns toward Serene, it's doubtful that the Witch is thanking Serene from beneath the shadow of polished, carved bestial bone.

She *is* doing just that, but, it's doubtful all the same.

Turning back to the new guardian, Alba draws in a deep, slow breath, blood-colored light stabbing out from one of the mask's eyeholes. "New meat to be ground into sausage," she breathes, voice slightly raspy. "Perhaps we shall feed you to Svarshan, he would find of you a rare delicacy."

GAME: Serene rolls 4d8+12: (21)+12: 33
GAME: Durrankar rolls 4d6: (12): 12
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (3)+9: 12

The mouse is in an excellent position....and another beam lances out to hit the new shadow demon in the face....and blinds it! SQUEAK!

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (3)+23: 26

The newest demon roars out a guttural challenge of defiance, but its attack goes far awry of its target given that the creature is clearly totally blind!

Also, as Kira enters a room, another demon begins to take form…

GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2: (7)+20+5+1+12+-2: 43
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2: (11)+20+5+1+12+-2: 47
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2-5: (5)+20+5+1+12+-2+-5: 36
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2-5: (17)+20+5+1+12+-2+-5: 48
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2-10: (1)+20+5+1+12+-2+-10: 27 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2-10: (16)+20+5+1+12+-2+-10: 42
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2-15: (10)+20+5+1+12+-2+-15: 31
GAME: Serene rolls 1d4+5+40: (3)+5+40: 48
GAME: Serene rolls 1d4+2+20: (1)+2+20: 23
GAME: Serene rolls 1d4+5+20: (4)+5+20: 29
GAME: Serene rolls 1d4+2+20: (2)+2+20: 24
GAME: Serene rolls 1d4+2+20: (2)+2+20: 24
GAME: Serene rolls 1d4+5+20: (3)+5+20: 28

Serene's hand twitches for the sword at her hip... but with the creature right there, she obviously changes her mind. "You do not belong here," she tells it, coldly. Then she throws herself at the demon, crying, "Eluna grant me strength!" Now, she's no martial artist or pugilist... but as her gauntlets start to shine with silver holy power, instead of grace she displays cold efficiency. Each spiked punch powered by divine might powers into the creature's torso, most of them scoring brutal blows.

GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+25: (10)+25: 35
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+25: (18)+25: 43
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+25: (19)+25: 44
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+19: (10)+19: 29
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+14: (6)+14: 20
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+9: (4)+9: 13
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d2+15: (2)+15: 17
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d2+15: (1)+15: 16
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d2+15: (1)+15: 16
GAME: Serene spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL.
GAME: Alba rolls knowledge/the planes: (14)+13: 27

Finally, Boshter starts to come back around with a hug. He sees Silver standing over him. "Hiyo," he tells t he griffon before turning his gaze upon the shadowy demon that plagued him with such terrible nightmares.

"There was no CAKE on my BIRTHDAY?! YOU *MONSTER*."

Yes, totally the nightmares that plagued him, apparently, were that it was birthday and there was no cake. Either way, throwing stars *blast* through the thing, dissipating into a puff of evil vapor.

With her backup now destroying the demons too quickly for Alba to properly toy with them, the Witch seems to decide on a different course of action. Extracting the finger of an imp from one of her many and horrible pockets, she sticks out her tongue, and uses the severed digit to carve a shallow, bloody rune into her tongue. The imp's finger flares and disappears in a puff of noxious green smoke, and Alba spits...

But instead of an arc of blood, what comes out of her mouth is a long, sinuous tongue of fire that *stops* ten feet away from her, and settles into a hypotonic, weaving motion... as if her tongue had become some hellish serpent, ready to extract its pound of flesh from her enemies.

GAME: Durrankar rolls 4d6: (18): 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (7)+9: 16

Tiny tiny mouse. scurrying around to a new position with new shadow demons. From tiny mouse comes a GIGANTIC BEAM OF DEATH FOR SHADOW DEMON! OH GOD THE PAIN FOR SHADOW DEMON and it's blind. Well then.

GAME: Kira rolls 7d6: (23): 23
GAME: Kira spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.

Shadowy demons are exploding and poofing everywhere. The cake was a lie. Alba has a potty mouth. And. That... tongue. Still! She is a hero, and helping, and injured! Kira beseeches for a touch of The Healer's Grace and imparts it to Alba.

The demons don't stick around any longer than that. They look at one another and take off with a small puff of smoke and leave you all crawling in the dirt.

"Excellent work," Serene offers once she is sure the last of the demons have fled. "Those creatures... when they arrive, they assume strength based on those they face. This could have gone much worse." She draws her sword and readies her shield, then, carefully in the confined quarters. The ultimate statement of better late than never, perhaps. "I apologize for my delay." She absolutely does not look at Boshter when she says that.

The mouse scurries up to Alba's shoulder...and the place is small enough for the mouse to get there. It squeaks at Alba once there.

And now Alba looks.... *annoyed* as their enemies run. As if they always do that right when she decides to bring out one of her favorite toys. Sighing around the fiery tentacle, she clacks her teeth together, dissipating it into nothingness, before turning to look over her shoulder and nod at Kira. "My thanks, healer."

As Serene offers her expert opinion, the Witch bobs her head, carefully picking up the mouse and placing it on her other shoulder... just as a red-banded viper peeks out from under her hair. "So, and just so, warrior. Better it was that there were delays; where two were manageable, I mislike the thought of five against five in such poor quarters."

-TBC