Underfed Returns! pt8
When last we left our heroes, time had been spent identifying critical weaknesses in the infrastructure of the Agony Engine as a method of permanently disabling it as it feeds on the suffering of those present.
You've seen the Lucht mummy and his transformation of one of the workers into a wraith and his corpse into a zombie. Doubling up on the undead! How efficient.
You are now ready, with Edinaz creeping forward down towards the rim of the upper level you're on overlooking it, ready to throw.
"Is this where I run down there to distract them all?" Nasrin asks brightly. She seems to be gauging the distance, as if ocnsidering hwo long it might take her to sprint all the way to the machinery below.
Slower than the others, utterly lacking in stealth, Asmli is well aware that both things are true, and is staying down as much as he can, moving as little as he can manage. "You ain't gettin' out if you do," he mutters.
Victor nods in agreement. First at Nasrin and then at Asmli. "I will accompany you. If you'll permit me, I can grant you the ability to levitate. When we are ready we can return to the ring."
"Well, seems like a plan. We only get one shot at taking this thing out." Asmli's comment arns him a nod of acknowledmgne,t but Nasrin's expression is more grim certitude than concern. She continues to squint down the cliff. "They don't seem to be looking this way at least. If we're going we'll need to go now."
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+9: (3)+9: 12
GOod news, everyone!
Edinaz has a powerful arm and he's able to throw from an upper level. The necklace of fireballs orbs fly straight and true, landing at the various points identified along the matrix.
And they explode.
There's a massive FWOOSH!
Some of the Charnese zombies get hit, though the humans supervising them are a little further back because who wants to stand *next* to zombies.
The explosions leave them dazed and confused at the moment.
GAME: Asmli rolls athletics: (9)+5: 14
GAME: Victor rolls athletics: (8)+9: 17
GAME: Nasrin rolls athletics: (4)+-2: 2
GAME: Edinaz rolls athletics: (7)+6: 13
BOOM!
Asmli doesn't need to be told twice, as the *whoosh* of displaced, suddenly-heated air and the explosion itself quickly reach their position. He turns tail and runs for all he is worth, as swiftly as his stubby little legs can carry him.
Nasrin stumbles once in the transition between staring intently and running pell mell back the way the group came. The flash of heat and light sears her eyes and leaves her rubbing crimson guantlets against them as she staggers and trips. But still, she runs. In the right direction, even.
Victor runs along with the others. His cape streams behind him. He also casts glances back but by good fortune is looking away and misses the most intense flames. "Fire...always fire," he murmurs under his breath.
Good news, everyone! For the most part, you're able to make a clean break for it. The complex is big enough that you have plenty of spaces to hide. They can't ALL be guarding it everywhere, especiallyt when the entrance is gaurded.
Bad news: you round a corner, with NAsrin lagging behind, and jumpng up through the floor is a familiar, ghostly shaoe.
It's the wraith that was just made.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Whirlpool has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Whirlpool to instruct you further. You may earn RPP by logging a scene for a GM.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
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GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 21.
It is now Victor's turn! Edinaz is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed ended.
GAME: Victor rolls knowledge/religion: (16)+9: 25
GAME: Victor casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 5 DC: 17
GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
Victor chants Eldritch words. A beam of fire streams from a spot in space just in front of his forehead, but it sizzles harmlessly into the ground the Wraith is rising from. "It can only be hurt by magical weapons," the golem warns.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 16.
It is now Edinaz's turn! Wraith is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 9.
It is now Wraith's turn! Nasrin is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (5): 5
Silently, the wraith lunges out towards Victor after the display of magic. It's hand passes through him leaving frostburn in its wake, or at least what feels and looks like it. It's probably more likely horrible negative energy.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 6.
It is now Nasrin's turn! Asmli is next!
GAME: Nasrin casts Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
"Whoa!" Still stumbling about, Nasrin blinks away the flash blindness just in time to make out eldritch fire lancing toward and ethereal shape. She quickly pulls down her axe and begins a soft chant as she holds the weapon aloft, blue eyes staring down the figure in front of her.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 5.
It is now Asmli's turn! Edinaz is next!
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4+4+1d6: (2)+4+(1): 7
Magical weapons. That leaves out the urgrosh across Asmli's back. Fortunately, the find he'd gotten from a previous Guild job is handy, a mailed and plated fist of fine steel with its edges decorated in a flame motif. He's never used it for its intended purpose, but it's time to start! He aims a punch at the wraith with a meaty, mailed fist, and while the fist itself goes right through it, the trails of fire and magic that follow it seem to get the thing's attention, and it recoils in pain.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 4.
It is now Edinaz's turn! Victor is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+9: (19)+9: 28
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+9: (7)+9: 16
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+5: (2)+5: 7
Edinaz slips closer and slashes at the wraith. His blade cleaves into it, leaving it slightly more damaged, its incorporeal form leaking some kind of... ecoplasmic pus.
It's gross.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 21.
It is now Victor's turn! Wraith is next!
GAME: Victor casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
GAME: Victor rolls 3d4+3: (8)+3: 11
Victor can feel the strength and stamina being drained from his body. He's heard of such an effect when facing undead, but this is his first experience with it. If only there were time to study the sensation further. But clearly there are more important matters at hand. Backpedaling to give himself room, he chants again, this time one of the most ubiquitos spells in any wizard's arsenal.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 9.
It is now Wraith's turn! Nasrin is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (6): 6
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 6.
It is now Nasrin's turn! Asmli is next!
GAME: Nasrin rolls weapon12-1+3: (8)+7+-1+3: 17
GAME: Nasrin rolls 1d12+strength+strength+4+2+1: (9)+3+3+4+2+1: 22
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 5.
It is now Asmli's turn! Edinaz is next!
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+8: (5)+8: 13
And then, the thing strikes Asmli, draining his life force in a way he hadn't thought possible. He staggers, his next swing going wide entirely. "What in the hells -is- this thing?"
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 4.
It is now Edinaz's turn! Victor is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (12)+11: 23
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+5: (4)+5: 9
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 21.
It is now Victor's turn! Wraith is next!
GAME: Victor casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
GAME: Victor rolls 3d4+3: (9)+3: 12
Indeed, it does. It's fingers jabbed into Asmli, passing through the man's armor and ripping into the very essence of his life force before it withdraws. It's red, pinprick eyes burn with the full hatred that the undead frequently have for those that live, it's features barely visible in its shadowy nature.
"It is a wraith," Victor notes. "One of the most difficult undead to deal with. But I am confident our efforts are having an effect." After the last word his speech changes to chanting again, in Eldritch. Soon his pointed finger emits another series of force darts that punch into the wraith's torso one after another.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 9.
It is now Wraith's turn! Nasrin is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (4): 4
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (4): 4
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 6.
It is now Nasrin's turn! Asmli is next!
GAME: Nasrin rolls weapon12-1+3: (14)+7+-1+3: 23
GAME: Nasrin rolls weapon12-1+3: (11)+7+-1+3: 20
GAME: Nasrin rolls 1d12+strength+strength+4+2+1: (7)+3+3+4+2+1: 20
GAME: Nasrin rolls 1d12+strength+strength+4+2+1: (11)+3+3+4+2+1: 24
The wraith tears into Nasrin and she lets out a how of rage, swaying as her life force is being drained. Rather than toppling over she respond by chopping brutally into the ethereal figure again and again, attacking it like one might a particularly objectionable tree. She chops the spirit apart until it dissipates, grunting with the effort like she's actually striking something physical.
GAME: Whirlpool removes the timestop.
Timestop by Whirlpool has left.
...back to running, then.
It's not exactly easy to find your way out. In the dark, in the corridors, the winding mazes. You do begin to hear sounds, though. Guardsmen from above descending into the pit. You can hear their panic, desparation.
They're heading for the engine. This tells you where they are, yes, and gives you a chacne to get closer to your exit, but it also revbeals the other problem: there's only one way out, and it's in use right now.
GAME: Nasrin rolls Bluff: (20)+3: 23
Nasrin clears her throat and then looks back at the tunnel, gauging the approaching force for a second. She pauses, still breathing heavily, axe in hand. Then she takes on a thick, almost unrecognizably Dranei accent.
"The walls are crumbling! Run while you can!" The redhead punctuates her words with a swing of her axe, which does indeed cause some rock to crumble from the surrounding walls and go skittering off behind them.
"They went that way! Ignore them, keep chasing!" One of the sergeants is shouting and pointing, directing the guards after the party.
"No... Really! Don't come this way! It's not safe!" Nasrin strikes the wall again. It creaks. ...Then it begins to crack. It begins to fissure then, and hunks fall from the wlal, then the ceiling. The first guardsman to round the corner is struck in the head with falling mortar.
Turns out the tunnels really *are* unstable along this section of corridor. Who'd've thunk?