Let's Go
Many people pace when they're anxious and waiting. Cryosanthia, does not. She stands with a very erect posture, her hands clasped and held low, her tail tucked in against the back of her legs. She stares at the door. She sings quietly to herself, a wordless hum with deep throat vibrations as well as light, lilting sorts of noises. It evokes the mental image of a butterfly, fluttering over a dark chasm, which is somewhat how she feels.
The guard outside isn't sure what to think, or exactly why he's guarding. A lot of the time the room is empty, and he hasn't had any instructions or been that successful at keeping people in or out. So he's been listening to the white sith sing and not sure what is going on either.
He snaps to attention as Seldan and Acedia approach, and that seems to be what Cryosanthia was waiting to hear, as she has the door open in an instant and her head pops out. She looks at both of them, nods, "Please, inside, quickly."
The Gobbo is silent when the pair arrives at the door, and she eyes Cryosanthia curiously as the door is opened instantly. She'll take Seldan's hand, then, and lead him inside. "I have missed much.", Acedia says, sounding upset, numb. "And I cannot hope to know it all, now, having missed it." She looks to Cryo once more. "How did this happen?" Seldan, for his part, is playing the Paladin. Capital P. Quiet. Slightly distant look in his eye. Letting the Goblin lead. There's a noise... something like a clearing of a throat. "Not NOW.", the Paladin says. Whatever the blade was to say is wisely held in silence.
Cryosanthia sweeps them in. She tells the door-guard, "Watch for Zeke and Faran, and stay over there please, so it's harder hear us. Thank you, you're doing a great job."
She closes the door and moves across the room to her bed, which is neatly made. The sheets very tight. She sits on the corner at the foot, tail laid out across it.
First she looks at Seldan, exhaling a long breath which turns into a hiss. She doesn't sound hostile, more defeated, "I didn't want Zeke discussed in public. Anything. Now a bunch of strangers overheard something is wrong with him. We don't need more curiosity. I thought you'd understand that. This one is sorry she insulted your ancestors enough you want to hurt me. I was trying to have a little distraction from this."
Her head turns to Acedia, she gestures at one a tall chair, "That's Faran's, you can use it if you like. So, a week ago there was a magic experiment in the Fernwood which went badly. I, Merek, we got plague infected. She showed up. The Mistress. I went with her to see if I could understand her, bring back some memories, something that would help. I was away for a very long time that took only about 10 minutes. I couldn't remember much of anything when I returned, but when I met one of Seldan's friends, I tried very hard to kill him. That friend is a human child I adopted in the tower, now grown up. Seldan stopped me."
Cryosanthia leans back, inhales, exhales, the pupils in her eyes grow a little wider, her hands tighten on the bed "trying to kill my youngling was very distressing and driving me crazy. Zeke offered to heal it. He used Acquire Affliction. Whatever I had, he has now. He also tried to kill my nestling. We talked, honestly, he will try again. He IS trying again. He is also distressed emotionally, and the only two things keeping him going is that. Kill the enemy, serve the Dragonfather."
"There is something wrong with him. I don't know how to fix it. If too many people know, and stop trusting him. He will kill himself. I KNOW this."
The Goblin's expression brightens ever so slightly at the mention of Zeke's name. "Zeke's coming here?", she wonders, a small note of hope in her voice. She eyes the chair, and shakes her head, leaning against it instead. Seldan nods to the icy-scale Sith, and settles stiffly into a chair. And immediately finds Acedia settling on his knees. She eyes Cryosanthia as she speaks, the Gobbo's expression going from hopeful to broken in mere sentences. The Paladin lays a hand upon the Goblin's head, and offers in a comforting tone. "We will find a way to make things right. It is what we have been striving for since the beginning." His gaze rests on Cryosanthia, though.
"You can't leave him alone.", Acedia says quietly. "You can't leave him alone. No more. He only just got going again." She shakes her head. "And no, you are wrong. She wins if we keep doing this in secret. She'll eat us up one by one."
"I do not wish to hurt you," Seldan adds to Cryosanthia. He has remained in full armor, a thing none here have ever seen him do, and has remained quiet. Watchful. Focused. Almost stiffly so, although he pats Acedia's head like the two are longtime friends. "I would ask your forgiveness for the upset." A man of few words right now, it seems.
"It's fine Seldan, I'm concerned about Zeke." Cryo makes a brief sweeping wave at the paladin, leaning towards the gobbo on his lap. "He is not alone. Faran is watching him. When Faran isn't, I am. He tries to lose us, there's only so much pull I have in the temple as his worried and sick cihuaa. I am sharing this secret, but everyone doesn't need to know everything. I'm worried to even be outside. She might think I'm still her weapon, not him. I'm not even sure we both aren't. Oh, and I remembered things last night too. It seems I zone out and fall over when that happens. Splash some water on me, I should be fine."
There's a disturbance in the hall, or rather the sound of many voices rising up in worry. The pounding of boots on the floor. Then... a sound you all recognize. The sound of fighting. Here. In the temple. The guard at the door knocks urgently, then opens the door himself, looking in. "Miss. Sir. Um... There seems to be..."
"VAMPIRE!" The yell is loud enough to be heard over the sound of the guard who flinches at it and moves back from the door to look out into the temple.
"Sweet Daeus..." The guard says, running away from your door and toward the commotion.
As the screams of 'Vampire' and appeals to Daeus' sweet mercy ring out, a softer, lighter voice steeped in dismay is intead yelling, "Cryoooo...!" Several seconds and a closer, "Cryooo!" after everal more, the door opens and a punch drunk Faran, right side of her face swollen near to blinding, fair skin already showing the promise of a hideous bruise to come, clings to the doorframe for stability, "Cryo... vamp... vampire temple... Zeke.." Her eyes start to roll but she shakes her, "distracted... H-hit me with..." Thud.
Without preamble, Seldan bolts to his feet, setting Acedia on the floor and kneeling down in front of her. He murmurs in her ear, then pulls a ring from his finger and hands it to her. "Go on, as swiftly as you can! I will see to this!" Without waiting for an answer, he bolts to his feet and begins to make for the door. "Ware his mind control, I can defeat it but stay near!"
Acedia blinks at the sudden commotion, and squeaks at Seldan's quick movements. She looks to him a moment, her ears perking up as he speaks quietly to her. Her little fist closes around the object given, and she follows in his wake. Using him as a distraction from what may follow, she makes for the entrance of the Temple.
Cryosanthia is across the room in a flash as well, staying out of Seldan's way and staring in horror at her friends, and her friend's words. Her mate is in trouble! "I have to get to Zeke, I'll try to be smart Seldan."
Her fingers flick, to summon her icicle dagger as she dashes after Acedia, out in the hall to see what's going on. “Hold on Faran.”
It is pure chaos beyond the door. The entrance to the temple is blocked by people shoving and fighting one another to get out. There's no way to get through the throng of people that block the way. They're too blinded by fear to know any better and the reason why is immediately clear. The clerics are attacking them. Not all of the clerics to be sure, but too many of the clerics have taken up arms against the parishioners. Some of the clerics (too few) are using their magic to cure their comrades, but those clerics are being /slaughtered/ by one man in black vestments, blood running from his fingers as he kills and maims everyone in his way. He creates chaos where he walks, a low grinding noise rising from his throat and a broad smile laced with fangs on his lips.
Faranmidahn dribbles into the carpet. This week has not been the highlight of her life.
Halfway to the door, Seldan stops, taking in Faranmidahn's state, and the chaos outside. He drops to one knee, placing one hand on her shoulder and the other across her eyes, if she will allow it, murmuring rhythmic pleas to Eluna as he does so. A silver light forms under his hands as he does so, leaving the light of Eluna's healing behind. "Stay close," he warns Faranmidahn. "I have had my fill of this." There is a dangerous edge beneath the words. Someone means to stand fast.
Cryosanthia dashes into the temple. She takes in everything, and it's a sight. The warning was enough to make her expect a vampire, but not Kol, and the sheer panic he's causing. Too many clerics are falling, too many seem mind controlled. Hers is as blank as the driven snow. What can I do! She slides to a stop, frozen, one hand out to cast, the other gripping her dagger. The thought, I wonder if I've gotten any better with my blade, crosses her mind. Then, I am the distraction, that vampire needs distracting.
"Oooooooooh Kol! Over heeeeeere. Stop playing with them. Don't we have unfinished businessssss?"
The silvery infusion mends the impact trauma of the lucht's face and, as the swelling fades to nothing, her eyelids flutter open with a , "Huwhaaa.... S-sel" She blinks wide and scrambles to her feet, "Sir Seldan, he's here, the vampire's here!" and she wheels on the ball of her foot to follow him into battle, her longsword hissing from its sheath.
GAME: Acedia rolls escape artist: (17)+9: 26
Acedia looks at Faran with some concern, "Are you okay?" Seldan's healing touch does make the halfling look better at least, and she offers the wee woman a pat on the back before considering the... mad crush at the door. "My gods... I will never make a joke about doorways being too big ever again. Not unless I am joking about this... mess. Wish me luck." With that, the Gobbo pulls a pair of daggers and wades into the throng at the doors, disappearing instantly. At least one 'bad' priest yelps and turns about, holding his behind.
Kol at first, seems too gleefully involved in murder to notice Cryosanthia, but her call does rouse his attention, turning his bloody face toward her as yet another cleric falls from his grasp. "I am not allowed to play with you as you well know." He grins at her and then suddenly tilts his head as if listening to a voice only he can hear. "Oh? Oh!"
Suddenly the vampire is standing much closer to Cryosanthia. His green eyes boring into hers. "I have a mission for you from our Mistress. Beloved pet, you are to kill the one nearest and dearest to your heart. She says this."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls will+3: (3)+4+3: 10 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls intimidate: (4)+7: 11
Cryosanthia rears her head back from Kol, neck curling her away as she bends back to avoid those eyes. Piercing into her. She feels the will of the Mistress, or Kol's, does it really matter at this point, descend upon her. She's been given her instructions!
Still, her mind is a slippery as her body. "I'm allowed to play with you still, right?" Cryo thrusts her icicle dagger into the vampire. Hopefully her muscles remember some soft spots, if she's done this before.
"Kill the one nearest and dearest to my heart? Ok Boss! Oooooh Zeeeeeke! Coooome heeerrre. I have a ssssurrrprrissse for you. Wait! Wassss thissss your plan, so you'd have an excuse to avoid me because I was soo touchy feely! Oh we are going to have words my cihuaa! Wait, double wait, is it my youngling? Is it Menel? My cihuaa or my youngling! How am I supposed to choose? Mistress knows I'm a dumb lizzy. Oh. Oh I know. I'll kill them BOTH!"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (49): 49
Kol pulls himself off of the knife, drawing it out of his own body slowly and laughing. His laughter sounds like the grinding of gears together. "Yes, do that pet. I... will have a snack." He reaches out and grabs the nearest priest, plunging his fangs into their body and making wet, sucking noises as he drinks their blood. He hardly seems to notice their struggling.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls will+3: (20)+4+3: 27 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 12 DC: 18 GAME: Cryosanthia casts Icicle Dagger. Caster Level: 1 DC: 14
Faranmidahn runs after Seldan, "Understood!" her expression grave, but as her pace is not particularly great, she reaches into a pouch on her belt and withdraws an old, battered friend. She hears the words her friend says and her heart rolls over in her chest. If she can't reach Sally, by Gilead maybe she can take her pet leech for this.
GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (2)+5: 7
Drawing Reunion from its sheet, Seldan darts into the crowd towards Kol and Cryosanthia. "Reunion, I need you now. Evil stalks the faithful." He stops behind Cryosanthia and swiftly draws several symbols into the air, slashing all three of them through with the crescent-and-sphere of Eluna, unifying them all under Her holy aegis. All four sigils burst into life, in midnight-blue and silver fire, and he uses the free hand to press it to the floor at his feet, leaving both him and Cryosanthia surrounded by those sigils in a circular shape. He shouts an arcane phrase, and all of the sigils flash silver, then vanish.
"Cryosanthia, he cannot control you if you stay in the sigils!" That quickly rasped off, he turns his attention, and eyes, to Kol for the first time. "I have had enough of your wickedness, Kol Demontry. Stand and fight, in Eluna's holy name!"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (5)+23: 28 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (9)+18: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (16)+13: 29 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (12)+8: 20
"Oh Zeeeeeeeeke! Where..." There's a hiccup as the compulsion slips and Cryo's mind is clear again. What was I doing? Immediately the thought follows, continue the act. "... wheeeere arrre you? I can't sssmell you because of all the ssstinky sssoftssskinsss."
Still, the white-scale sith stays within the symbols, twirling her icicle dagger, "Are you ssssure that worked Seldan, maybe you want to try again."
Where is Zeke? Where is Acedia for that matter. Her mind starts going in paranoid directions.
The vampire grins at Seldan's offer. "It would be my /pleasure/ to play with you. Come, let us dance my friend. The age-old dance that will be a pain, and a pleasure to us both." Kol steps in even as he speaks, his hands weaving a deadly combination of attacks against the paladin that leaves a bevy of scratches on his armor but little more. Kol laughs though, unhurried and uncaring that the attacks have yet to draw blood. "It seems I will have to peel you out of your armor my friend! It keeps such horrid distance between us!"
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls weapon9: (19)+7: 26
Faranmidahn has heard horror stories about this creature amongst the nightmare his kind normally generate. She has few illusions about her close combat prowess, but even at this distance she needs to do something to help! She sidles on light feet, a wary glance to Cryosanthia, to try and get into the abomination's blindspot as she infuses her skipball... affectionately known (according to the letter she'd received) as the "fruit of evil", and so emboldened, she winds up and whips Torthai de Olc at his head with all of her righteous fury and prayers.
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+se: aliased to weapon1+charisma: (18)+18+5: 41 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+7+sedmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+7+6+6: (6)+7+6+6: 25 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (9)+5: 14
From the sword, a querulous old man's voice can be heard. "Is this the vampire who takes orders like a henpecked husband?"
A second voice rings out, "Kanian, -hush- and be useful." The voice is the younger, deeper one.
Seldan's armor flashes moonlight silver for a brief instant, and the man's actions speed up as if time fast-forwarded, just a little. "Reunion, shield Cryosanthia from his evil!" He taps the white sith-makar with the flat of the blade, and a golden flash activates and settles around her. It costs him an attack, but he does not seem to care, laying into Kol with a mighty and well-aimed blow from the blade that definitely draws blood. Even as they watch, though, the wound the paladin made begins to seal up.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls ranged: (15)+8: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (17)+23: 40 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (3)+18: 21 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (4)+13: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (12)+7: 19
The vampire is steaming, a hiss of water rising off of his flesh, but if it hurts... he's only laughing. Grinding and rolling. His movements are horribly discordant, as if he is a puppet drawn on strings rather than a real man. "YES! Come my friends, show me your passion!" It's as if he's... playing with you. As if you're toys to him and he's only /letting/ you do as you will. His green eyes flicker behind Seldan briefly and he flashes his teeth at the paladin. "Since you have some help, I hope you do not mind if /I/ make this dance a little more... entertaining yes?"
Behind Seldan a few of the priests rise up off the ground, grabbing their weapons with them and begin to shamble their way toward the man.
GAME: Seldan casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 12 DC: 19 GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+se: aliased to ranged+charisma: (10)+13+5: 28
The Fruit of Disappointment, more like! There's probably something Faran's overlooking regarding her projectile. Seeing the vampire raising the priests, she shouts, "Poxy leech!" and skirts around the border of Seldan's sigils as she draws her defensive blade to counter the long, taking up a warding posture. "I'll hold them off!" she intends.
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+12+4: (16)+12+4: 32 GAME: Cryosanthia spends ONE point of PANACHE.
"You need no other aid, Kol." Seldan takes that set of claws, blood visible on his skin as one claw finds its way into the chinks in the armor, although it does not seem to affect the armor somehow - it is still pristine. "Stand on your own power, and let us see what you have when you do not suckle from her teat." Raising the sword to a guard position, he steps back and with his free hand chants another spell, this one more complex still than the last. Four wickedly complex sigils appear in deep green fire, balanced energies before him, and he shouts a longer arcane phrase, thrusting his hand through the middle of the pyramid made. All four sigils collapse into the deep green ray that shoots from his hand at the vampire, and while there's a momentary hesitation, a warring of energies, he scowls, and that deep green punches through, surrounding Kol in itself. What that does is unclear - it does not appear to do damage.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (3)+23: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (7)+18: 25
Cryosanthia looks around. There are more of these bowls. She wriggles and darts away from Kol, dodging through the spaces she knows he's less likely to pay attention to and swipe at her in. She rushes over to the font, pulling it up off it's pedestal. The water sloshes, it's heavy in her arms. As she lifts it she calls out to the other priests in the temple. "If you're not healing cast protection from evil, or something on him. Seldan, what attacks work on him?"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (1)+13: 14 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (17)+8: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+3: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (8)+4: 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10
The vampire levels more, and more attacks at Seldan, none of which strike anything but the paladin's armor, still he seems happy, gleeful even. Bleeding his own lips with his too-long teeth and his wicked grin. There's a sharp snap from the vampire's hand on one of the strikes, the sound of bone breaking. One of his fingers comes away horribly twisted but the vampire only lets out what is clearly a pleased exhalation. Seconds later there's another snap as the finger twitches back into its proper form.
Behind Seldan the priests lumber forward, their eyes half-glazed as they swing their weapons half-heartedly at Faranmidahn. They hit nothing, clearly trying to get past her to the man beyond. Their disinterest in her breeds blows that are easily dodged for the small warrior.
Acedia managed to somehow get through the mob at the main entrance, though not without some trauma that will live on in her head for some time. Mobs smell different to short people, after all. But once clear, she runs as fast as she can through the late day streets of the city. At least three faceplants into people later, along with numerous checks over her shoulder, the Gobbo arrives at the Arcanist's Guild.
Where she pauses a good minute or two to breathe.
And then she's banging on the door, yelling for their guards. "Kol's attacking the temple of Daeus. It's a distraction." Pant wheeeeeze. "Zeke may be here already, the man's in danger. The one Seldan put here."
The little sorceress shifts her footing in a random, almost prancy manner and tries to frame a defensive corridor with her paired black blades as Faranmidahn says, "Would the Sunlord's children be pawns to an upjumped peon of the night? Fight his will in Daeus' name!" Then, "Seldan, keep relative to me!"
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+se+haste: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1: (20)+18+5+1: 44 (THREAT) GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+se+haste-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-5: (2)+18+5+1+-5: 21 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+se+haste-5-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-5-5: (2)+18+5+1+-5+-5: 16 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+se+haste: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1: (18)+18+5+1: 42 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+se+haste: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1: (9)+18+5+1: 33 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+2hand: aliased to 1d8+7+6+2: (3)+7+6+2: 18 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+2hand: aliased to 1d8+7+6+2: (3)+7+6+2: 18 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls ranged: (6)+8: 14
Seldan has no interest in going anywhere. "Holy or fire!" he shouts to whoever said that. Although he says nothing directly to Faran, pressed on all sides as he is, he seems uninterested in going anywhere, instead this time shaking his head. "Menel was right. Your sanity is a sieve." This time, he lays fully into the vampire with well-placed blows. Again does he strike hard and fast, again does he bleed, and close too quickly.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (7)+26: 33 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (17)+26: 43 GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (20)+18: 38 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5
Cryosanthia moves swiftly. Nothing flamboyant, no flair, no taunting words. Quietly and quickly she brings the basin over with efficient movements, striving to be useful. She grips it and slings the water. Too soon, too slow, it splashes past the vampire. She hears laughter in her head again. Beloved Pet. Useless Pet. Reunion may have given her protection from evil, but it didn't give her protection from self.
Kol tilts his head at Seldan, like a bird eyeing a tasty worm. "Who is this 'Menel'?" He rolls his shoulders and pauses briefly, again as if listening to something only he can hear; leans back, and is suddenly snapping forward with two quick punches. One that lands solidly on Seldan's face. Blood trickles from the wound caused, and Kol licks it from his fingers delicately. "Mmmmm you taste sweet my dear friend. Sweet and warm, and I would have more of you to taste!"
The priests have no choice but to obey the vampire, so they attack Faranmidahn, lashing out with their weapons against her and finally they too draw blood. It's clear that this is a war of attrition and while you may be winning for now... that might not last.
Acedia is met by the guards at the entrance to the Arcanist's Guild Dungeon. They seem a bit uncertain of granting her entry at first, particularly in light of her initial words, but the sight of Seldan's ring convinces them. They demand that she turn in all her magical equipment however. "Here, since you're going down to see Menel, would you take this basket with you?" One of the guards offers the basket of baked goods to Acedia. "Poor guy deserves something nice after spending so much time down there all by himself."
The Gobbo huffs at her having to leave behind all her magical equipment. "Why? They won't work down there." She squints at the guards. And stares at the basket for a moment. "No, I will leave this here. I have an apple or two for him."
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls weapon4-4: (18)+6+-4: 20 GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d6+1: (1)+1: 2
The lucht's vestments, as fetching and homemade as they are are clearly not proof against blades. a pained gasp comes as the silk of her right thigh parts readily, even eagerly under the touch of the priest's blade. A yelp as the edge of another's skates along her ribs before she does a little juke-juke-shank with her longsword, slashing at the outside of the man's thigh, away from the really juicy parts.
GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Seldan rolls 5d6: (13): 13 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (4)+23: 27 GAME: Seldan casts Flaming Sphere. Caster Level: 12 DC: 17 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+12+4: (17)+12+4: 33 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (8)+23: 31 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (15)+3: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
Truly does Seldan walk in the palm of Eluna's hand, even though the well-placed fist in his face breaks his nose in multiple places with a nasty crunch, leaving his alabaster skin covered in blood. He'll have a mighty pair of shiners in short order. He blinks hard, and doesn't bother to respond, settling into full focus so that he can nimbly dodge the vampire's blows to draw the flaming sigils of a simpler spell. When it bursts into life, he shapes a sphere, and sends it bouncing at him. Kol's clothing goes up like a roman candle, only adding to the frightening effect, but although the smell of burning flesh pervades the mighty, open temple, it seems to do little enough. He even finds a moment for prayer, to aid his wounded comrade.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (7)+23: 30 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (4)+18: 22
"Someone ELSE cast something FIRE or HOLY. Seldan can't do it all!" Cryosanthia yells. The water isn't going to help now, and she doesn't trust herself to throw it anyhow. Seldan is going to have to win this fight on his own. She moves in, behind him, beside Faran, to assist the little lucht. Her movements are swift and efficient. Claws spread, she slaps a dagger out of one of the priest's hands.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (2)+13: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4
The vampire sways under the flames, launching another set of blinding attacks at Seldan that only hit his armor once again. "Leave me be, let me have this beautiful dance. OH MY FRIEND! If you wanted me out of my clothes all you had to do was ask!" He cackles with glee, with /pleasure/. His clothes burning away merrily and creating odd shadows on the wall as he moves.
Meanwhile the priests continue their attacks against Faran though one is lacking his weapon now and his attempts with his hands are even less effective than his efforts before had been.
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls weapon4-4: (9)+6+-4: 11 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma: (8)+18+1+5: 32 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se-5: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma-5: (4)+18+1+5+-5: 23 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se-5-5: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma-5-5: (16)+18+1+5+-5+-5: 30 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma: (3)+18+1+5: 27
Being pressed so is troubling, especially as another blade gets past Faran's guard, biting into her shoulder. The pain misaligns her counterstroke, leaving her longblade to part open air. As heartened as she is to have her friend helping her, she wishes Cryo were absent from this, entirely, that she at least would survive her as her optimism is flagging.
The swelling from Seldan's broken nose, coupled with the odd shadows on the wall, is making it difficult for him to see his opponent, so although he lashes out again with the blade, this time his strikes find only empty air. He doesn't bother to answer Kol's taunting now, his focus laser-locked on his opponent and on the battle ahead.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (14)+23: 37 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (17)+18: 35
"Climb up on me Faran." Cryosanthia says, her voice even and passionless. She's fighting automatically, very efficiently, without flair. It gets the job done but it's a bad sign, she's listening to her inner thoughts too much. As she moves at the second armed priest, she is slashed. It hurt but was enough to let her slap the knife so it spins away on the floor. "I've got this."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (7)+13: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13
Kol is in full swing now, and seems to have found his unnatural rhythm. "Your blood is sweet my friend, spilling out on the floor, a river of crimson! I would see more of it!" He sighs happily, the last of the fire beginning to die out. He doesn't seem to mind the lack of his clothing, and what remains of it is tattered and burned. Blood flows from Seldan's body from the cuts caused by Kol's bruising fists. It's like each attack drives the vampire further into frenzy. "More, more, more. /Thank you/!"
GAME: Faranmidahn casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1: (6)+18+5+1: 30 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-5: (19)+18+5+1+-5: 38 (THREAT) GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-5-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-5-5: (19)+18+5+1+-5+-5: 33 (THREAT) GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1: (17)+18+5+1: 41 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+2hand+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+7+2+6: (5)+7+2+6: 20
'No! We can't let him get swarmed!' Faran replies without a glance to her friend, 'Here's your chance!' and brazenly, the lucht drops her longsword to trace a figure eight in the air as she hastily chants, "By will in strife, I send might's shard, go forth and strike!" unleashing a bolt of force at the vampire, 'The flames make your face bearable, you cankerous leech!'. She can't take unlife, fine, she'll spit in his feels! <halfling>
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls cmb: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16
Three, but only one with a knife. Then, none with a knife. Cryosanthia moves and flicks her claws, catching the blade and twisting it away. She's ready and low. She should say something, but nothing comes to mind.
Suddenly a host of shadows appear from deeper in the sanctuary of the temple. The shadows grab hold of Kol and drag him off, kicking and fighting them with every breath. "Let me fight him! Let me pour his blood out! Sweet red! LET ME TASTE IT!" He doesn't get his wish, he's whisked away by the hands of the shadows.
Now bleeding freely in several places from claws and fists, Seldan ignores the taunts, scowl though he does. Hold. All he has to do is hold. Some got out. They would raise the city. He need only hold until they do. Holy Eluna would see him through that far. This foe is beyond him alone, he knows that now and knew it before. He lays a hand on his own shoulder and murmurs, "Holy Ni'essa, stand by me as I defend Your father's Temple from evil." Silver light ripples beneath his hand, seeming to stem the worst of the bleeding.
In the space of mere seconds, he rejoins the attack with both hands and a mighty cry, blows well placed. Only the last one lands before Kol is whisked away by the shadows, and he stands for a moment, turning to look at the priests, and his companions who had his back, ready to defend them if need be.
"Snap out of it!" Cryosanthia shoves the middle priest, hard, yelling in his face. The push strong enough to take him off his feet and slide him on his cassock. She stands there, facing the other two, ready to slap aside anything with her claws and punch them in the face. She really seems like she wants to punch something.
Instead of turning towards the priests immediately, Seldan holds Reunion by the hilt in both hands, point facing upwards, blood running down over the blade, hint, and hands, but he murmurs another prayer. This time, it is the blade that glows the brightest white-silver of moonlight, and with weary arms, he takes it to the priests, striking swiftly and decisively - and leaving nothing more than bruising behind.
And still, the moonlit armor is perfectly, eerily clean, even as the rest of him is soaked in blood, sweat, and soot.
Faranmidahn ducks into one of the priests trying to punch her, her traveller's blade in an inverted grip and she jams the pommel into the side of his kneecap, spilling him to the ground clutching...
"Stop being a puppet! Stop being a pet!" Cryosanthia yells at the two of them, even as Seldan mercifully takes them down and one of them discovers the lucht are easy to trip over as well. Her breathing is raw, her words have some emotion to them at least. She stares at Seldan, her pupils wide, hands held open to the side. Inviting a blow. "Me. Hit Me. I don't know what will happen when the spell wears off. I can't go near my mate. I can't go near Menel. I want to! I can't! I have no idea what traps are still in my mind. I'm a danger. You heard Kol. I'm Her pet. A sick pet. Put me down."
Seldan, the even features clearly broken and shattered by Kol's mighty fists, still bleeding freely from a half-dozen wounds, lowers his blade, staring at the sith-makar in open disbelief. "I sent Acedia to warn the guards of Zeke," he explains simply, his accent heavy, his voice distinctly off. "Pray that that be enough. I must see to those here, and then I shall take you to Eluna's holy temple, to break Kol's foul tricks. Fear me not. Come, let us see who yet lives. I shall shield you. You will not harm me." He says this with absolute conviction. "Come."
Faranmidahn gathers her weapons and looks despairingly at Cryosanthia before she starts to approach Seldan, her hand going one of her belt pouches, cradling something in her palms for several moments, face downcast and her body rigid before she offers it up to him, "Sir knight. I..." her voice breaks, "I... don't deserve it, anymore." unable to turns her eyes up to him.
Cryosanthia crouches down in front of Faranmidahn. She puts her hands on her shoulders, staring at her, shaking her head. "I can't go to him Faran. I can't. I need you to go, check on Menel and find my mate. If something... Acedia may need help, and you stood today against strong odds. Have torrent spin encase you in webs so you don't come apart. We both can't, not now. I need you, please. Every battle we're bent over backwards and every time I'm on the wrong side. Seldan took so much hurt, look at him, and there's still more to be done and he can't, and I'm pinned here to him. It has to be you. Please. You know. You KNOW."
Seldan drops to one knee to look Faranmidahn in the eyes, wincing openly and leaning on Reunion point-down into the marble to aid him. "Agh." Once down at her level, he looks an absolute fright, but at least he seems to be mostly focusing. "Faranmidahn. You stood nobly by me. You and Cryosanthia both. Zeke is held ... by a force we do not understand. No blame attaches to you for that. I must see to those yet living here, and then see to breaking the enchantment upon Cryosanthia." He reaches out with one bloodied, callused hand, and folds it gently over the Order brooch between her palms. "You do deserve it ... and we need you now. Go and aid Acedia. However you can. I pray ..." He trails off. "I must see to those here, and then I will be along. Do what you can for Acedia. Please."
He struggles to his feet with an open wince and a gasp, but at length stands.
Faranmidahn's hands, her shoulders, are atremble to the touch under the strain of this last failure. Her eyes, wounded, awash in doubt and guilt are elusive at first. The pleas tear at her, pulling at her core, dragging the subsumed will back toward the light. Even as Seldan's praise, his affirmations to her worth slip underneath to shore her up, helping bring her back to something approaching functional, the struggle is plain on her face. She feels the petals of the Rose dig lightly into her fingers and her eyes reopen to regard honored Seldan, and dear Cryosanthia in turns and she nods, "I... I'll try."
-End