The Mermaid Illiara

Log Info

• Title: The Mermaid Illiara
• Emitter: Solar Flare
• Characters: Delilah, Donna, Ashes, Elyanna
• Place: Alexandrian Sewers
• Time: Monday, February 07, 2022, 8:57 PM
• Summary: The Valethor gang battles the Fisherman, with the assistance of the mermaid. Donna uses a large size and the Blood Crow strike to go toe to toe with the Ogre, with Ashes and Elyanna supporting her. The Keeper's strikes miss frequently, Ashes is incapacitated, and the the group would have failed without the mermaid's aid. As the Fisherman moves to kill the mermaid, Donna and Elyanna redouble their efforts and take him down.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Delilah      5'4"     106 Lb     Human             Female    A golden haired human girl in white robes.
Donna        5'4"     106 Lb     Human             Female    A black-haired human girl in black robes.
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face.
Elyanna      5'11"    153 Lb     Half-Orc          Female    A grim, Arvek-blooded woman in raven feathers.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Previously

The Valethor gang is exploring the sewers, and have ventured several levels down after an explosion. They enter a larger space; an atrium, lit with a few oily torches and smelling of fish guts, salt, and smoke. The opposite end of the atrium is wide open, bordering onto a yawning cavern full of salt water; and though there are hooks with all manner of carcasses, it's clear that someone lives here, with pieces of half-rotten furniture and an array of dilapidated fishing tackle.

In fact, someone *is* here; a tall, very fat being, naked but for a hide covered in barnacles and coral growths, stands with his back to the ground, over a wooden table, almost altar-like in is bearing. Upon the table he's holding down some large fish, with its tail squirming urgently.

A few steps closer and it becomes clear that it is not a fish, but a mermaid, making desperate screams muffled by the large hand covering her face. The Fisherman's other hand raises high, holding a large, rusty blade.

About that moment, Sirri can't hold it in any longer; she doubles over and retches, losing breakfast, butter tart, and all.

And then the Fisherman pauses, and his flesh creaks audibly as he turns to look over his shoulder.

"Fish..." he rumbles.

"Oh good," Donna breathes, pausing to try and scrape the smell off her tongue. "An ogre."

As they round the corner, and take in the sight of the Fisherman at work... Donna's shoulders slump. "For fuck's sake," she hisses, as she clocks the being on the table as a mermaid. "Always with the fuckin' distractions."

And then Sirri loses the battle with her stomach, and Donna snaps up straight. "Okay," she says, stepping out into view to capture the whole of the creature's attention. "How 'bout you swing that at somethin' what swings back, shit-for-brains."

A fish... no a mermaid, who is not enjoying her dinner date.

"Blood Crow or Web?" Ashlee asks from the shadows, facing Donna who can't see her at all. She blends in with the whalebones. She always was a little bit of a dork.

"I'll stand back." The Mourner usually does.

Glancing once at Sue She as the Ogre shifts positions, Elyanna lets Maidenhead uncoil to start looping over her head in preparation to start the themesong to this new obstacle's end.

It's to save a presumed innocent as she moves forward to stand alongside Donna and she declares, "You're outnumbered, mongrel." a word she probably doesn't use lightly, as her tone is firm and resolute, "Surrender or die." <Jotun>

The Mourner's question is novel, as she's only ever heard of the one, and so she votes, "Crow."

Now

Sirri basically turns white, and for a moment looks like she's going to faint. But the little gnome *ulps* audibly, and shakes her head. "The big people will protect you, the big people will protect you," she whispers to herself, repeating the mantra over and over as she draws a short sword from over her shoulder, and steps to the side, looking to make her way along the wall. She isn't hiding; there's really nowhere to hide. She's probably just hoping the Fisherman doesn't come for her first.

<OOC> Ashes says, "cast Blood Crow Strike on Donna"
GAME: Ashes casts Blood Crow Strike. Caster Level: 12 DC: 18

"Okay." The Mourner says, taking the Keeper's direction and immediately touches her breastplate while her other hand rests on Donna's shoulder. "Feiu of the Tears, send your corvids to assist Donna."

The simple recitation causes a grave-like chill to surround the Brawler, one that trickles down to her fists. When Ashes removes her hand, there's a grey, ghostly crow perched on Donna's shoulder. A hint of grey feathers coat her arms al the way down to her fists.

"WhooooOoooOoo?" Ash's little screech owl hoots. The grey hobgoblins shakes her head, "They don't know you. They aren't Grandfather's owl's."

Facing Donna, she gives the simple instruction. "Punch. You can hit him from here."

GAME: Delilah rolls 1d6+5: (6)+5: 11
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d6+5: (5)+5: 10

"Fish." The Fisherman starts towards the group, hefting his large, rusted blade. "Gut you. Good fish. *Delicious.*

"Yes, gut them," hisses a voice, with no... immediate source. "Gut them, Fisherman. More fish for your belly. Yes."

The Mermaid sits up on the table, propping herself up on one arm as she reaches out to rab the Fisherman's arm, trying in vain to slow him down. "Run," she gasps, looking at the group, "He's too strong, he'll--"

The mermaid is interrupted as the huge, ogreish greature turns around and brings his free hand down hard against her face, and then a second time into her stomach, leaving her looking beaten and totally insensate, but at least, for the moment, still alive.

"Leave that one," hisses the voice. "Get the other ones."

The Fisherman seems all too inclined to agree, as he turns and advances on teh group; but he moves without hurry, like a mountain that's decided to just walk over and crush a village, and there's really nothing the village can do to stop it.

<OOC> Donna says, "Since I can punch him from here, Rage (Haste, Blur), Full Attack."
GAME: Donna RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 18 temporary HP
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (1)+13+1+2: 17 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (19)+13+1+2: 35
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (17)+13+1+2: 33
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-5: (13)+13+1+2+-5: 24
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-5: (6)+13+1+2+-5: 17
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (2)+6+2: 10
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (1)+6+2: 9
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (3)+6+2: 11
<OOC> Donna says, "30 damage, a respectable opening volley. Also, 5-foot step forward."

"HEY! CHUNGUS!" Donna roars, her annoyed resignation flipping into outright fury as the captive mermaid takes the monster's fist first. "YOU WEREN'T LISTENING."

Glancing at the spectral crow on her shoulder, she nods with a wry smile, then... unleashes. There's no other way to describe it. Pale blue fire explodes from seemingly every pore on her skin, sketching glowing tattoos on her skin, and her outline vibrates and smears into a hard-to-track blur.

The crow gets a head-pat, and then the brawler looses a flurry of punches at the air, each one resolving into a flaming, screaming crow that swoops in an arc toward the Fisherman.

The first and last miss, but the three in between all find their targets, and burst against its chest in a spray of black-limned crimson.

"I SAID PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE."

<OOC> Delilah says, "He's still about... say 15 feet away. As for his coach, roll perception?"
GAME: Elyanna rolls perception: (5)+8: 13
<OOC> Elyanna says, "ok, going to try and pop him with Maidenhead, then disarm him"
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon1: (4)+11: 15
GAME: Elyanna rolls cmb-5: (5)+7+-5: 7 (disarm)

The red woman's ears are prickled by the sound of the other voice, her head shifting slightly as the new words issue forth, trying to get a bearing. Her intentions change, for the nonce not beginning one of her war chants, instead, her footing shifts slightly and she barks, "The Blade!" before she unleashes Maidenhead at the ogre's face.

Alas her popper merely splits the air by his ear as the Elyanna shifts her footing to begin her recovery, twirling the braided tresses in a figure eight over her head, then unleashing it again toward the hilt of the butcher's blade, though, again she fails to make purchase.

This isn't him, why is she failing to land?

The Mermaid lays on the table, coughing the kind of cough one makes when they've been punched so hard in the stomach that it becomes the center of their whole being. She flops onto her side and retches, eyes bulged out. "R-Run," she gasps, gripping the edge of the table with one hand. "Leave... leave me. Save y-yourself."

Sirri, for her part, looks like she's about ready to take the Mermaid's advice; but the big people aren't running so she continues her manouvering, creeping her way in between the mermaid and the Fisherman. She holds her sword with both hands, biting her bottom lip and silently building herself up to actually use the thing.

GAME: Ashes casts Web. Caster Level: 12 DC: 16
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+7: (17)+7: 24 (Fisherman Reflex - Success)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15 (Sirri Reflex - Fail)
<OOC> Ashes says, "It's one of those nights again"
<OOC> Donna says, "Every square he moves requires another check."

"It's not your time." Ashlee says, loudly but still maintaining her monotone. She steps to the side, and back, away from the Fisherman while touching her breastplate. "Feiu of the Tears, show him what being in a net is like."

The area darkens. There is movement in the shadows, and small flashes of light reflecting off nigh-invisible strands. In an instant there are spiders, crawling everywhere, barely glimpsed before they vanish and when the light levels return the area is blanketed in spiderwebs, lying like discarded grey sails of a rotting galley.

An image which blends perfectly with the hanging carcasses enveloped within it.

Unfortunately, Ashes catches a gnome-gar and not an ogre-orca.

GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+20: (7)+20: 27
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+19: (11)+19: 30
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d6+5: (2)+5: 7
<OOC> Elyanna says, "he's moving through the web, is that difficult terrain?"
<OOC> Delilah says, "He *is*, he just has enough movement to make it anyway. Just."
<OOC> Elyanna says, "i have 10' reach, does he provoke?"
<OOC> Delilah says, "He is next to you, yes. And yes Elyanna, we'll say he provokes, but just for a normal attack."
<OOC> Delilah will wait for Elyanna's attack before advancing!
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon1: (12)+11: 23 (AOO)
GAME: Elyanna rolls 1d3+4+4: (1)+4+4: 9

With the sudden change in atmosphere provided by her spiritual guide slowing the ogre's closure, Elyanna takes the opportunity to attack. With a sharp >crack!< and spray of blood, the silvered popper of Maidenhead parts the ogre's hide, nimbly avoiding being entangled in the eldritch webbing itself.

After several spectral blows pound into the Ogre's rubbery flesh, the spiders make their webs, and the Fisherman pauses in his stride for just a moment. He curls his lip and snarls, and then just advances forwards, heavy footfalls carrying him through the webbing as he just... pushes through it, breaking strands as he approaches. "Fish," he snarls, as he closes first with Donna, ignoring the whip-crack and wound it gives him from Elyanna, and brings one meaty hand up wind up and punch the brawler hard, right in the face. It's a blow that's definitely going to be felt in the morning. And, also right now. "Gut you first. Hang you up to bleed. You'll see."

<OOC> Donna says, "Full attack."
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (5)+13+1+2: 21
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (19)+13+1+2: 35
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (9)+13+1+2: 25
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-5: (14)+13+1+2+-5: 25
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-5: (13)+13+1+2+-5: 24
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (4)+6+2: 12
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (3)+6+2: 11
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (4)+6+2: 12
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (3)+6+2: 11
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (3)+6+2: 11
<OOC> Donna says, "57 Fire/Neg (but never healing) damage. :D"
<OOC> Delilah says, "Doesn't feel like they connect *quite* as hard as you might've thought,"
<OOC> Delilah says, "his blubber seems to be absorbing a lot, but it definitely hurts him.

The punch connects solidly, rocking Donna's head back.

But her planted feet *do not move.*

Lowering her head, Donna stares up at the Ogre, making a show of touching her exposed and be-tattooed forearm to the trickle of blood running from her nose, then giving a derisive sniff.

"...You hit like a *bitch.*"

And it turns out, the screaming and black-flame fireworks look just as impressive up close as they do at a distance! Though through the haze of her fury, the brawler does notice that her punches are doing more gelatin-wiggle than actual damage...

<OOC> Elyanna says, "I'll keep trying to disarm him, then, if i get the blade away first, i'll pop him one"
<OOC> Elyanna says, "if he has 10' reach, this will provoke. if he takes the shot i'll use oppurtune parry and riposte"
<OOC> Donna says, "WF says +1 to all attack rolls, and maneuvers can sub in for normal attacks on the fly as part of a Full Attack."
<OOC> Donna says, "So *I* would say that both apply, but, final call goes to Delilah."
<OOC> Delilah says, "If Donna thinks they apply, then we'll let them apply!"
GAME: Elyanna rolls cmb+1+1: (9)+7+1+1: 18
GAME: Elyanna rolls cmb+1+1-5: (14)+7+1+1+-5: 18
<OOC> Elyanna eyes dice.
<OOC> Elyanna says, "oh, those are 20's because the disarm feature"
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+19: (9)+19: 28 (Fisherman AOO)
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon1-2: (6)+11+-2: 15
GAME: Elyanna spends ONE point of PANACHE.
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d10+9: (8)+9: 17

Resolute in her assertion that the blade is of importance in stopping this from getting truly grotesque, Elyanna turns Maidenhead after the ogre's blade twice more, leaving herself open in the doing, and coming up for naught.

The Mermaid shakes her head, sitting up a little more; enough that she can hold up one hand, and gesture towards Elyanna. "Blessings... of the sea," she gasps. "Bless... Bless your strength and honor, *couragous* child. You should run, but if you must fight... then *fight*, and *win*." Her hand glows, and for a brief moment, so does Elyanna; and after receiving a serious wound from the Fisherman's fierce response the Keeper finds herself bolstered by a feeling of warmth and comfort, like putting on armor before a battle.

GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+6: (19)+6: 25 (Sirri Reflex - Success)
<OOC> Delilah says, "Oh she is *out*."
<OOC> Delilah says, "And then she's going to... 
<OOC> Delilah says, "The Ogre waded through enough of the webbing that she can reach him without too much issue,"
<OOC> Delilah says, "the floor is sticky but she can get there."
<OOC> Delilah says, "And then she's gonna stab him in the leg. Yes. STAB."
<OOC> Donna says, "Oh that is a terrible idea. o.o"
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19
<OOC> Delilah says, "She hits him. And it's a backstab."
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d4+3d6: (4)+(14): 18
<OOC> Donna says, "That was an *excellent* idea."

"Help! *HELP!* I'm *stuck!*

Sirri wriggles in the webbing, her eyes gone completely wide. But, as luck would have it, the beastly Fisherman isn't after her, he's after Donna. And, as further luck would have it, having something as huge as him barge through the webbing has... more or less left it open for her to follow. If she can get free, that is.

Which she can. With a little effort, she's out. She hefts her sword, and takes a few quick, deep breaths. "You can do it Sirri, you can *Do it*." She advances carefully, moving up behind the Fisherman and at the last moment, yelling "HYAAAH!!" before driving her blade into his thigh. It's a deep wound, but nothing seems to be slowing him down much yet.

GAME: Ashes casts Enlarge Person. Caster Level: 12 DC: 15 (On Donna)
<OOC> Ashes says, "so it's a full round cast, so after my next turn she's bigger."

"Sirri, don't make so much noise he'll notice you." Ashes advises. She's about to edge around the webbing when Donna's taunt echoes in her memory. "Feiu of the Tears, Donna needs to be his size."

Ashes is surrounded by the sensations of the grave, as the dark energies of her goddess gather. She slowly makes motions, pulling the energy in. She says something encouraging, hopefully, "Mermaid, I'll get to you. Hold on."

<OOC> Delilah says, "The Fisherman RAGES. And then he unloads on Donna."
<OOC> Delilah says, "Which will be an attack with his knife, then a dirty trick (no AOO), and then another knifing."
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+26: (20)+26: 46 (THREAT)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+26: (20)+26: 46 (CONFIRMED)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+17: (4)+17: 21
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+16: (7)+16: 23
<OOC> Donna says, "Donna's Blur effect gives her a 20% miss chance on every attack that hits her."
GAME: Donna rolls 1d100: (37): 37 (vs 20% - Hit)
GAME: Donna rolls 1d100: (10): 10 (vs 20% - miss)
GAME: Donna rolls 1d100: (79): 79 (vs 20% - Hit)
GAME: Delilah rolls 2d10+24: (16)+24: 40
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d10+12: (9)+12: 21
<OOC> Donna says, "1/-"

The Fisherman has been punched, whipped, stabbed, and all in all generally abused. And to top it off, insulted. He throws back his head, flexes his arms, and roars at the top of his lungs; it's a howl that shakes the foundations of stone around the battle, shaking dust and grit loose from the ceiling and setting the dangling carcasses to swaying. When he turns his gaze back to Donna there's a murderous light illuminated in his eyes; a glare of intent, followed by action. He brings his sword down hard on the brawler's shoulder, burrying it deep, before pulling it loose and ramming it hard into her chest. The final blow comes as a punch, delivered straight to her stomach with enough force to make her regret everything she's ever eaten, as if she might have time to think about that just now. "GUT YOU!" he roars. "YOU NEXT!" he adds, pointing a finger at Elyanna.

<OOC> Donna has 10 HP left, can't afford to gamble on tricks. So... Punchupunchupunchu.
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-2: (5)+13+1+2+-2: 19
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-2: (4)+13+1+2+-2: 18
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-2: (17)+13+1+2+-2: 31
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-2-5: (5)+13+1+2+-2+-5: 14
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2-2-5: (2)+13+1+2+-2+-5: 11
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (1)+6+2: 9
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (2)+6+2: 10
GAME: Donna rolls 1d4+6+2: (3)+6+2: 11 "30 total."

Well, she *did* say he hits like a bitch. Sometimes being the punk has its drawbacks. Sometimes it gets you sworded and punched to hell and back.

But Donna isn't dead -- yet -- and thus she has no excuse not to stand tall. ...As tall as she can, at least, until Ashes' spell finishes its work.

And so she punches, and what punches that connect explode terribly. But that assault was *definitely* less wimpy than his initial punch, and the brawler is swaying on her feet, even as she lifts herself up on tiptoes to roar back in the ogre's face. "GONNA PUNCH YOUR FACE OFF, LUMPY! FUCK OFF!!"

<OOC> Elyanna says, "being clever isn't doing it. i'm gonna just go for straight damage"
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon1+2: (10)+11+2: 23
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon1+2-5: (13)+11+2+-5: 21
GAME: Elyanna rolls 1d3+4+4: (2)+4+4: 10
GAME: Elyanna rolls 1d3+4+4: (3)+4+4: 11 "21 magic slashing lethal"

There is a sharp gasp, and a rustling ring of mail links surrendering to the impact of the Ogre's weapon for her presumption.

Bleeding from the savage wound, though suffused momentarily right after in warming light, Elyanna narrows her eyes and brings Maidenhead about once more...

Cutting a half spiral along one arm with the crack of the silver popper...

Then again....

Leaving a diagonal gash along the front of his load bearing thigh, and the Keepers eyes are alight in battle yearning and indignation, "No more lives for you!" <Jotun>

<OOC> Delilah says, "The Mermaid channels."
GAME: Delilah rolls 8d6: (28): 28
<OOC> Elyanna is buying a nice, roomy tub.
<OOC> Elyanna says, "Mermaid is nice, let's keep her :3"

The Mermaid sits up a little straighter, and takes a deep breath; and when the Fisherman lays his savage assault into Donna, her eyes peel wide and she keens loudly. "No! My courageous champion, you must not fall! Fight! Fight, and live! You *must* live!" She raises her hand and emits a burst of light; light that finds the wounded, but misses the Fisherman entirely, as luck (or perhaps good planning) would have it. Wounds heal, and pain is soothed; but the Fisherman yet stands, and seems to be paying little heed to his wounds. "Seek to divide his attention, my heroes," the Mermaid calls out. "You cannot survive him one against one!"

<OOC> Delilah says, "Sirri... stabbity."
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+6: (11)+6: 17
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d4+1+3d6: (3)+1+(14): 18

Sirri's eyes are wide with success. "I stabbed him!!" she declares, "Did you see that?! I stabbed him! I'mma do it *again!*" And so the gnome closes for battle, and aims for a spot just above the Fisherman's knee, which is really about as high as she can reach. And so, what she did a moment ago to one leg, she now does to the other; with both hands she plunges her blade in as deep as she can, drawing blood and slicing off a barnacle.

"I got him!! I got him *Again!!*"

<OOC> Ashes says, "okay so Donna should be enlarged now at start of my turn"
<OOC> Delilah says, "DONNA BIG."
<OOC> Ashes says, "did the mermaid's wounds heal when she channeled?"
<OOC> Delilah says, "They did."
<OOC> Ashes says, "I'll Cure Critical Wounds on Donna"
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Ashes.........|   81     |  81  |
 | Donna.........|   38     |  68  |
 | Elyanna.......|   44     |  44  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<OOC> Ashes says, "I'll do the heal and think about other things I can try."
<OOC> Ashes says, "subbing 'Symbol of Slowness' for Cure Critical Wounds"
GAME: Ashes casts Symbol of Slowing. Caster Level: 12 DC: 18
GAME: Ashes rolls 4d8+12: (23)+12: 35
<OOC> Donna back to full! AND BEEEEG.

The Mourner has been gathering the energy, a cold palour coming over her. She seems faded, more grey, only the stark white of her tattoos standing out in the gloom. She is a thick skeleton, a lively corpse, one full of the energy of her dark mistress. She touches the brawler's back with both hands, and the stillness of a cemetery flows into her.

And she grows larger...

Touching her Holy Symbol, Ashlee adds another prayer. "Feiu of the Tears, let her be whole, to send this other one to you." Donna's wounds are healed. In her simple monotone the ashen arvek has one instruction.

"Get him."

GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+26: (12)+26: 38 (Fisherman on Donna)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+21: (14)+21: 35 (Fisherman on Elyanna)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+16: (2)+16: 18 (Fisherman on Sirri)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d10+12: (3)+12: 15
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d10+12: (9)+12: 21

The Fisherman bellows in pain and rage (mostly rage) as punches and weapons lay into him. He roughly tears off a patch of his own skin left hanging loose from one of Elyanna's whip-strikes, flinging it out of the way. "Kill them," hisses the blade, "*Slaughter them*, Fisherman, they are filth and have to die. They--"

"SLAUGHTER THEM!" screams the Fisherman, as he raises his sword up high and brings it down into Donna once more, even while she's growing in size right in front of him, cutting a deep wound; but thankfully, not so deep as before. "AND YOU!" he snarls, bringing the sword around to smash the rusted blade deep into Elyanna's gut, drawing the Keeper's blood as well. "AND YOU!!!" he finishes, sweeping the weapon low to the ground, almost beheading the gnome behind him.

Almost, but not quite. She ducks, and he misses.

<OOC> Donna says, "I... would like... to... RRRAAAAAAAAAAAGE!"
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (8)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 21
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (4)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 17
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (18)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 31
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2-5: (5)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2+-5: 13
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2-5: (16)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2+-5: 24
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (2)+6+1+1+2: 12
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (5)+6+1+1+2: 15
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (4)+6+1+1+2: 14
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (6)+6+1+1+2: 16, "57 damage is quite respectable!"

The spell is complete, and even a sword in her shoulder can't dampen the rush of power and adrenaline that surges through Donna's veins as, at last, she can stand eye-to-eye with the mad creature.

Donna's eyes narrow briefly, and she holds back just long enough to say "...Sup."

With her mass slowing her down, Donna seems to be trading finesse for sheer, brute power, fists smashing into the Fisherman's face, again and again and again; the brawler is now a *much* purer expression of her magically-boosted anger issues than ever she was before, and she shows the Fisherman just how upset she truly is.

GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon1+2: (16)+11+2: 29
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon1+2-5: (19)+11+2+-5: 27
GAME: Elyanna rolls 1d3+4+4: (1)+4+4: 9
GAME: Elyanna rolls 1d3+4+4: (3)+4+4: 11

There are unsettling reminders from this battle, mingling with half remembered traumas from battles months past, boiling beneath the surface.

An ogre with a twisting face who would be king.

A foolish Keeper who yelped to the song of the Silverlash for a roaring crowd...

Pain.

As wounds are healed, then brutally replaced, the Keeper is finding her fury building upon itself, and she unleashes her enchanted whip upon him again, and again, drawing blood with every crack that splits the air.

Fall, damn you!

<OOC> the Mermaid is going to cast Mass Bull's Strength, giving all of you (and Sirri!) a +4 bonus to strength.

"Fight, heroes! Fight! You must defeat this beast! I cannot harm another, but I can aid you! Feel the strength of the ancient warriors, the *champions of the very gods*, and let this might flow through your veins, let it make you mighty! For you *are* mighty! I was wrong, you *can* fell this beast, you can!" She enacts a series of gestures as she speaks, and when she finishes, several beams of light lance from her hands, out to touch Ashes, Elyanna, Donna, and Sirri, and all will feel themselves walk more powerfully in the world, as though everything has just become that much lighter.

Sirri, meanwhile, is scrabbling back, moving herself out of range of the Fisherman's blade. "Oh gods," she gasps, eyes once more gone wide. "Oh help, he almost killed me, that was CLOSE, that was TOO CLOSE, what am I THINKING I'm just a GNOME we're not meant for this get me OUT OF HERE!" And then she feels herself, too, getting strengthened. She gulps in a breath of air, and instead of making the obvious dash for the exit, she turns and stands her ground once more, visibly working herself up to get back into the fight.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Ashes.........|   81     |  81  |
 | Donna.........|   53     |  68  |
 | Elyanna.......|   23     |  44  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<OOC> Ashes says, "actually, just channel a heal for everyone"
GAME: Ashes rolls 5d6: (16): 16

Ashes feels her strength growing. It's rather invigorating! The Arvek Nar feels like a serious threat. She intones another prayer, "Feiu of the Tears, it is not our time." Wounds knit, aches dull, pain vanishes as does injuries.

<OOC> Delilah says, "Donna is big. The Fisherman will attack her twice, and Ashes once."
<OOC> Delilah says, "The attack against Ashes will be a dirty trick."
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d10+15: (6)+15: 21 (Dirty Trick on Ashes, vs CMB 20)
GAME: Ashes rolls fortitude: (9)+8: 17 (vs DC 18, Fail = sickened and nauseated)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+26: (19)+26: 45 (THREAT)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+26: (18)+26: 44 (Confirmed)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+16: (3)+16: 19
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+24: (4)+24: 28
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d10+12: (9)+12: 21

"GUTS! GUTS FROM ALL OF YOU!!" the Fisherman howls, as his wounds get worse and worse. Or, if not worse, then at least more numerous, and they are definitely starting to add up; blood runs like thickened ichor over his body, dripping onto the floor around him as he raises his sword, bringing it down hard into Donna's body without ceremony or even any great finesse, just brute, terrible strength. The weapon lodges in bone before he yanks it free and savages the brawler with it again, keeping a grip on the weapon but letting it remain in her flesh, as he lays a savage punch into Ashes' stomach, hammering her against the stone of the entranceway in a maneuver that doesn't so much injure, as leave her insides churning and battered.

"You must stop her," hisses the sword, as the Fisherman finally yanks it free. "Stop her. SILENCE THE MERMAID."

GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (18)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 31
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (14)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 27
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (13)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 26
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2-5: (20)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2+-5: 28 (THREAT)
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2-5: (13)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2+-5: 21 (Confirmed)
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2-5: (5)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2+-5: 13
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (4)+6+1+1+2: 14
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (6)+6+1+1+2: 16
GAME: Donna rolls 2d6+12+1+1+2: (11)+12+1+1+2: 27
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (2)+6+1+1+2: 12 "69 damage."
<OOC> Donna says, "Add another 10 for the Bull's Strength."

"NO YOU DON'T," Donna roars into the Fisherman's face. "YOU LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M BEATIN' THE SHIT OUT OF YOU, CHUNGUS! THAT WORTHLESS BAR O' RUST DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT SHIT."

Again and again, her fists rain down on blubbery flesh, the spike on one knuckle catching a series of barnacles and *ripping* the flesh open, exposing the pale ropes of the madman's intestines.

"I SAID LOOK AT ME."

<OOC> Elyanna says, "actually, disarm, then trip, then donna can monkeystomp him"
<OOC> Elyanna says, "ok so bab 6+2 natural str+2 magic strength+2 trip+2 flanking+1 magic weapon+1 weapon focus"
GAME: Elyanna rolls 1d20+6+2+2+2+2+1+1: (10)+6+2+2+2+2+1+1: 26
GAME: Elyanna rolls 1d20+6+2+2+2+2+1+1-5: (4)+6+2+2+2+2+1+1+-5: 15
<OOC> Elyanna says, "and i forgot where he is in relation to me, so he may get an aoo if he wishes"
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+26: (19)+26: 45 (AOO, THREAT)
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+26: (4)+26: 30 (Confirmed)
GAME: Delilah rolls 2d10+24: (10)+24: 34

Elyanna has issues with ogre's it seems.

Namely, they keep beating the everloving hell out of her.

As she tries once more, at the blade's command, to try and separate it from the hand it's wielding, and opens herself up to a viscous counter by the bloated belligerent. She cries out in agony as the rusty blade bites deep, nearly dragging her to the ground as it savages her flesh, and still tries to trip him on her recovery, but it avails her only disappointment, leaving her barely holding to her feet in the aftermath.

<OOC> Delilah says, "Pose it, complete with misfortune. D: The Mermaid is up."
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Ashes.........|   81     |  81  |
 | Donna.........|   21     |  68  |
 | Elyanna.......|    5     |  44  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<OOC> Delilah says, "And she's gonna channel."
GAME: Delilah rolls 8d6: (30): 30
GAME: Delilah damaged you for -30 points. 81 HP remaining.

"No! NOOOO!" the Mermaid wails as Elyanna is so hideously savaged. "No, you cannot have her!" she cries out, with a tear rolling down each cheek. "Come and kill me if you must, but not her! Not so brave a hero, she must live!" She holds her hands up in the air, gathering a golden glow in her palms and releasing it into four beams, that bathe Elyanna and her allies in a soothing light that seals wounds and stops the flow of blood. "Do not let the beast defeat you, my red champion! you are so close. So close! You can best this horror, I know you can. This nightmare must end, and it must end here, tonight! Please, worry not for me, just put an end to this beast!"

<OOC> Delilah says, "Sirri shall STAB."
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+8: (5)+8: 13

Sirri holds one hand over her chest, sucking in breath and letting it out just as quickly. "Okay," she breathes. "Okay. You can do this Sirri. You can *do it*. Make Mama proud of you." She grips her sword tightly and dashes forwards, psyching herself up with a yell as she closes with the Fisherman was more, aiming a singular stab with her blade -- only to catch a barnacle that deflects her sword. "Oh no! It didn't work!"

One solid punch. Ashes is glad she didn't eat before adventuring, the blow would have knocked it out of her. As it is, her stomach wants to empty itself and she has nothing but dry heaves.

Wet heaves. Some blood comes up with the bile. Off balance still from the earlier explosion, nauseated from the impact, she's got a headache that makes it difficult to concentrate on anything beyond how much it hurts. Ringing sounds also.

She stumbles, staggering away with a gasp, "Incapacitated." Under the deepest duress her military training takes over. Make sure the squad knows their healer isn't healing right now.

<OOC> Delilah says, "The Fisherman attacks Donna, then turns to advance on the Mermaid, provoking AOO's"
<OOC> Delilah says, "from people who are close enough -- basically everyone except Ashes, who backed off."
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+26: (18)+26: 44
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d10+12: (9)+12: 21
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon1+2: (9)+11+2: 22 (AOO)
GAME: Elyanna rolls 1d3+4+8: (1)+4+8: 13 
<OOC> Elyanna says, "going to blow my last panache to double my precise strike damage"
GAME: Elyanna spends ONE point of PANACHE.
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10 (Sirri AOO - miss)
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (6)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 19 (AOO)
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (3)+6+1+1+2: 13
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+19: (17)+19: 36
<OOC> Delilah says, "He marches his arse straight through the webbing against, but it slows him down so he doesn't *quite* reach the Mermaid this turn."

The Fisherman roars, insensate to main but aware of his wounds as he lashes out with his massive, rusty knife, slashing it vertically down Donna's front in a blow that would sunder boulders, but which the brawler withstands. And then he turns, weathering blows from those around him and letting his guts continue to leak out of his belly as he walks with terrible purpose towards the Mermaid, where she sits on the killing table. She trembles, watching him bear down upon him; and her tears glisten on her face as she waits for him.

"Yes," she whispers. "Kill me, but not them. The Heroes will end your nightmare."

"Yes," snarls the Fisherman, as he pushes through the webs. "I will."

<OOC> Donna says, "CROOOOW RAAAAAGE."
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (7)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 20
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (6)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 19
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2: (18)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2: 31
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2-5: (6)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2+-5: 14
GAME: Donna rolls melee+1+1+2-1-2-2-5: (6)+14+1+1+2+-1+-2+-2+-5: 14
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (6)+6+1+1+2: 16
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (5)+6+1+1+2: 15
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+6+1+1+2: (6)+6+1+1+2: 16
<OOC> Delilah says, "He is barely upright."

"DO NOT YOU *FUCKING DARE," Donna snarls, reaching out to swipe at the ogre with a magic-infused hand, but between her and the efforts of the others, it's just nor enough. Loosing a furious howl, Donna's fists lash out, and more crows burst against the Fisherman's back. "YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER, YOU HEAR ME?!"

<OOC> Elyanna says, "going to drop maidenhead and move in after him, drawing my falchion"
<OOC> Elyanna says, "ok so +2 for the str damage and +str for the str buff"
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon2+2+2: (1)+7+2+2: 12 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Elyanna says, "..."
<OOC> Donna says, "Can *I* spend RPP for a reroll there?"
<OOC> Donna will drop 3 RPP then, will show you how later.
<OOC> Delilah says, "In fact, honestly, no need to spend the RPP. This is the rare moment where the DM says, Elyanna, you have had lousy luck tonight and thus, the lady of luck is giving you another shot. I do this because I was once having the same evening and Whirpool offered me the same, and I wish to pay it forward."
<OOC> Delilah says, "The Mermaid has INSPIRED YOU. Try again."
GAME: Elyanna rolls weapon2+2+2: (11)+7+2+2: 22
GAME: Elyanna rolls 2d4+6: (6)+6: 12

Maidenhead, her stalwart companion all these years, has, nonetheless, not acquitted herself with aplomb against certain giantkin.

It isn't her fault, likely, as Elyanna since her... revelation, has been punching upward, and even the enchanted tresses can only cut so much of a swath out of so much mass.

Particularly such resilient copiousness as this.

In any case, the Keeper lets the lash slither from her fingers as she starts to move after the determined butcher with, at first, a soft, "No..." <goblin-talk>

Her bootfalls gain in tempo, as her fingers curl about the hilt of her falchion, which emerges from the scabbard with a hissing ring. Her other hand joins the first as her voice, often raised in fervent war song now climbs in furious denial as the less elegant weapon arcs over her head, "I SAID-!"

There is a staccato sound, muffled and subsumed in the wet sound of a stick sliding through mud as the cleaving weapon hews through blubber, hide, muscle and bone just to the right of his spine, "NO MORE LIVES!" <Jotun>

She steps back and turns on her heel to one side as the behemoth falls backward, then flicks the foul blood from the executioner's blade.

Then, a soft, "Are you alright?"

The Mermaid looks up, up at the Fisherman as he raises his rusty blade high above her, her eyes wide as she gazes upon the weapon poised to split her in half from skull to tail; only to see it fall from the hands of the nightmare, and then for the Fisherman himself to fall. The rusty blade wails as it skitters across the floor before falling silent; leaving the Mermaid looking up at Elyanna, instead.

"Yes," she whispers.

"Yes, I am... I am alright. I will be alright. I was to be murdered, but you have saved me. I am called Illiara." She smiles, fresh tears rolling down her face unhindered. "Please... what are your names? I must know the heroes who have saved me from my murderer."

*thud* *thud* *thud*

When one is the size of an ogre, stealth is not precisely on the menu without a great deal more practice. Thus, Donna simply moves toward the gathering around the table, wiping the blood from her gauntlets onto the leather backing of her scaled armor. "Uh, Donna," she says, clearing her throat. "Glad you're okay, mis-- Illiara."

Crouching down behind Elyanna, she leans forward a bit to try and murmur into the Keeper's ear. "That was an *awesome* strike, Elyanna. You're gonna be drinkin' off that story for years."

The Mourner is not feeling all right. She declines to mention this, the others are all worse off and there is more to go through before they're done. Also, Arvek Nar do not show weakness, and while Ashes isn't the greatest embodiment of one the attitude does come through occasionally. Like now.

She forces herself to stand straighter. She walks, a little slower than usual, one arm across her front. As she moves towards the mermaid there is movement in the shadows. Small spiders flicker in and out of visibility, moving along the strands, starting at the far corners and coming towards the Mourner. The webs unravel behind them, and with each of her steps a dark carpet forms around her on the cavern foor as the spiders stream towards her feet and vanish above her ankles, seemingly into her pants. The webs melt away completely.

She steps around the fatberg of ogrish blubber to join Elyanna beside the mermaid. She stares, eyes dark in her skull face, no expression. An unusual sort of gaze, one her hobkin hasn't seen before, and an unexpected comment directed at no one. "She was right. Mermaid scales are beautiful."

The ashen Arvec answers Illiara in her typical monotone, "I'm Mourner Ashlee Ciaradh."

OOC & Combatty

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 6 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     26   Sirri            1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     22   Ashes            1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     21   Fisherman        1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     17   Donna            5  Raging (7 rnds active)                       
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 12   Elyanna          1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     10   Mermaid          1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================

<OOC> Delilah is gonna have to leave it there for the log, and resume next time, since she has to be up for work in just over 5 hours and needs sleep. >.<
<OOC> Ashes nods
<OOC> Delilah says, "But I'm really glad we got to finish that battle all in one go. Also, in case you're wondering, you all just beat a level 14 Ogre Barbarian."
<OOC> Ashes says, "Niiiiice"
<OOC> Delilah says, "176 HP, plus 42 more when he raged, and DR 7/-."
<OOC> Ashes says, "That's pretty frightening, yes"
<OOC> Delilah says, "So please all be proud of yourselves because you *rock*."
<OOC> Elyanna hugs tight
<OOC> Donna n_n
<OOC> Elyanna says, "ty for the scene, and the mercy roll"
<OOC> Elyanna says, "thanks for the awesome rp y'all :)"
<OOC> Delilah says, "My pleasure Elyanna. You had a string of rotten luck and I'm really glad you got to finish him. :3"
<OOC> Delilah must bail here, though. *hugs* Sleep well, all!
<OOC> Elyanna hugs tight, "ninight!
<OOC> Donna says, "Elyanna, that was a *serious* win and I'm beyond happy you got the killshot."
<OOC> Ashes says, "it was really good, yes"
<OOC> Elyanna says, "glad we beat him"
<OOC> Ashes says, "I was expecting another one-shot..."
<OOC> Elyanna says, "i probly should have gone in with the inspiration and then you could have probably dropped him sooner"
<OOC> Elyanna says, "yeah, i thought that crit was gonna do me outright"
<OOC> Donna says, "I'm perfectly happy with the way this turned out. XD"