Sin's In (Part 4)
GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 11 DC: 18 GAME: Malik rolls Will: (16)+10: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (7)+20: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d8+10: (12)+10: 22
"That may not be so good for you as you believe. Agh, mind your elbows." Hun'rar's sharp and draconic elbow pokes the leathered and black-skinned Seldan firmly in the ribs, and he steps aside, never taking his eyes from the demon creature as he circles around in Malik's direction. "If you are so confident, tell me what Eclavdran knows of this plague, if he can truly cure it." He falls silent then, speaking lapsing into chanting. When he's reached his desired point, he draws three sigils, each touching, and then Eluna's crescent and sphere over all three. He speaks the final word, his gesture forcing the sigils together to the ground so that they form a circle that covers both him and the mind-controlled wizard, and all the sigils burst into life.
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20 + 11 + 4: (17)+11+4: 32 GAME: Malik casts Haste. Caster Level: 11 DC: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4: (1): 1
The demon utters a few guttural words and they slam into Hun'rar like a physical force stunning the man where he stands so that he can not move. Not to attack, nor to defend himself. Likewise the spell that Seldan cast evaporates as quickly as it had come, leaving in its wake a chill feeling of evil that crawls up the spine. His words given the demon laughs a deep sound that feels like an echo of what just crawled up your spine and mocks Seldan. "What do you take me for? Stupid enough to lay out my master's plans? I think not mortal."
Malik seems to shake out of his reverie as Seldan casts his spell. And the wizard wastes no time whatsoever, as if he knew exactly what was going on. One hand reaches for the bow, while the other starts to cast a spell -- giving him just enough time to catch a blow to the face. The words don't stutter, though, the wizard's concentration being up to the challenge, finishing the spell and providing a burst of speed to his allies --
Even as blood black as oil starts to ooze from the new cut on his face, and around the corners of his mouth, the dark liquid spreading under the skin like rot.
Hun'rar raises his shield to take the blow of whatever spell the demon is casting but for the word of power uttered there is no defence as it leaves the Dragon Knight stunned, if only for a moment. All he can do is call on the ferocity within himself to fight off the effect.
GAME: Seldan casts Bull's Strength. Caster Level: 11 DC: 17
"Ah, so he does have plans regarding the plague. I might have guessed." Seldan frowns as the magic circle is dispelled, but it served the needed purpose, so he lets it go, instead chanting a different spell and placing a hand on Hun'rar's shoulder. The spell's magic weaves itself, but seems to have little effect on the already magically-strengthened Warden. He shoots a quick glance at Malik, but says nothing yet.
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (16)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 31 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (10)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 25 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (11)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 26 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+2+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (5)+2+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 15 GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (3)+2+3+4+2: 14 GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (8)+2+3+4+2: 19 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (19)+20: 39 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (15)+20: 35
Malik doesn't have much time to look around and consider. The thing in the room is taking up most of the air, and one of them can't even get in the room in the first place. Malik fires off a volley of shots, but only two manage to find anything more than glancing blows off the thing's hide, a string of curses coming from the wizard as he looks around, trying to think of anything to do. Glancing to Seldan, he shouts, "Wall!"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (7)+20: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d8+10: (8)+10: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d8+10: (16)+10: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d8+15: (6)+15: 21
The demon lets loose on the now-defenseless Hun'rar, tearing into him like he's cotton candy. The deadly claws spray blood in every direction, and Hun'rar can do little more than stand there and take the abuse.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon15+5-3+1: (5)+20+5+-3+1: 28 GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon15+5-3+1: (7)+20+5+-3+1: 30 GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon15+5-3+1-5: (8)+20+5+-3+1+-5: 26 GAME: Hun'rar rolls melee+5-3-5: (13)+19+5+-3+-5: 29 GAME: Hun'rar rolls fort: (15)+19: 34 GAME: Hun'rar rolls 1d10+11+8+6+1d6 fire+5d4+5mm: (2)+11+8+6+(2 fire)+(9)+5mm: 38
Hun'rar shakes off his stunned condition, looking back at Malik and Seldan he shakes his head "Glad to have you with me." saying that he raises his sword and invokes the power of Gilead. "The Lord of Hunters has recognized the reek of your sin and I empowered me to make you pay." He says with a growl as he strikes out with his sword, divine fire mixing with the red flames of his sword he strikes out. One swing draws demonic blood even as he lunged in and takes rends a part of the demonic body in his firey teeth.
GAME: Seldan casts Mirror Image. Caster Level: 11 DC: 17 GAME: Aya spends TWO points of KI POOL. GAME: Aya rolls weapon0: (3)+20: 23 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0: (4)+20: 24 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0: (20)+20: 40 (THREAT) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0: (11)+20: 31
"Malik, get out of there!" Seldan roars, seeing that he's blocked off from entering the room - and that the wizard is within reach of it! Quickly, he takes a moment to invoke another spell, this one a pair of sigils that burst into violet fire, and a third of harvest gold that causes the first two sigils to replicate themselves multiple times. He touches one, they all vanish, and several images of him surround the real him, exact figments of himself.
GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-5: (17)+20+-5: 32 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-10: (20)+20+-10: 30 (THREAT) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-10: (2)+20+-10: 12 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d4+3: (1)+3: 4 GAME: Aya rolls 2d8+5+dark+2dd8+5+dark: aliased to 2d8+5+2+2dd8+5+2: (14)+5+2+2dd8+5+2: 28 GAME: Aya rolls 2d8+5+dark: aliased to 2d8+5+2: (13)+5+2: 20 GAME: Aya rolls 2d8+5+dark: aliased to 2d8+5+2: (13)+5+2: 20
Aya unleashes a series of twisting strikes, from hook to elbow, keeping her momentum to add in a crescent and back leg kick at the fiend before vanishing in a puff of shadow to appear back across the room from the thing before it can attempt to retaliate, whilst also making room for those with metal skins and large blades.
Malik assesses the situation, watching as the other fighters close with the creature -- while Seldan has no room to get in. It only takes him a second to consider what to do. Timing his move, he dives through the monk's flurry, rolling up as he runs past Hun'rar through the door where Seldan stands, freeing up enough room for the man to move in.
The priest turned demon laughs at your attempts to kill it, even bleeding it laughs. "Foolish mortals. You have already failed." Then, in a puff of sulfur and smoke it vanishes without a trace. It's laughter still lingering in the air like the fouls stench of whatever magic's it had cast in its wake.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls spellcraft: (2)+12: 14
Hun'rar spits on the floor where the demon stood just a moment ago, a bit of flaming black phlegm he bit off. "Disgusting and cowardly." Though as soon as he sheaths his sword he reaches to his side and pulls away a blood stained hand. "By Gilead's good name those claws took a good part of me. Anyone have any idea how to find Halani?"
"Coward, indeed," Aya sighs as the thing flees. She looks to Hun'rar. "I don't have the means to track her, but possibly help reach her if we can find her."
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/arcana: (11)+11: 22 GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 11 DC: 18
Seldan does not immediately answer, his eyes still on Malik. He immediately closes the distance to the wizard and re-casts his abjuration spell, waiting until it settles before saying or doing anything else. When it does, he says, "Hun'rar, I will aid you as I can, but the demon's hold over Malik is not broken, nor do I think that of anyone else's is either. We will need a story to get out of this room without being mobbed. For Halani..." He pauses and bows his head. "Scrying, perhaps? I have failed all of you ... and I would ask your forgiveness."
Hun'rar nods to Seldan "When we get back we can get a hold of spells that can find her, I do believe. I think it best to slip out quietly if we can. Though I hope reports of a dragon have sent most into hiding. If not a show of claws and fangs can help."
When he gets back to town the first thing he needs to do is pray, not just for the people who were deceived by the demon but for the strength to hunt him down and recover Halani. The demon wounded him deeply and he won't forget it quickly.
Malik's eyes glaze over briefly, the wizard already starting to raise his bow once again in Aya's direction. But Seldan intervenes, the effect once again dissipating, a horrified look coming over the wizard's face as he realizes what just happened. Again. He lets the others speak, trying to find his bearings, but eventually just quietly adds, "A story. Or a spell." Which, apparently, he may be able to help with.
"We should depart soon than later, then," Aya suggests. "We can search for her, and deal with any lingering effects," she eyes Malik somewhat warily, "from elsewhere."
-End