>SPANGG!<
The bullet from the ornate wheellock glances off the serpent's tail like a skipping stone off a pond; Otto lightning-quick drops the weapon and whips out Donnenschlag, mentally cursing One-Eyed Faruq's excellent salesmanship. Part of him realizes that it's easier to blame the weapons dealer than one's own animalistic adrenaline butting up against his aim, but, given the circumstances, it's a fleeting thought.
"Hoy! Get around behind it--be a distraction!"
The acid is visibly sizzling on parts of him, but he barely seems to notice.
One clear shot...That's all I ask...
OOC: All right, that settles it...from now on I'm not waiting 'til the last minute to post. Anyway, I'm moving 'till I have a clear view of the serpent, shooting, rolling abysmally, dropping the gun, and drawing Donnenschlag.
The Eye of Anubis: Book Five
Khalil curses as the daggers do no damage at all. The thing was an armoured killing machine, with no obvious weak spots....or did it.
Khalils eye's narrow as he stares at the thing for a moment, then muttering in akiri under his breath, he looks up at the ceiling.
<Danger my friend we need your help, the giant snake will kill us all. Please come and attack his eyes, but be most careful!>
As he finsihes speaking a small dark shape swoops out of the darkness, angling straight at the monsters face, its small, wickedly sharp talons glinting in the light as it strikes as the eye.
[OOC: Casting speak with animals, and compelling Karsh to attack the snakey dudes eyes. Unfortunalry he rolls a natural 1, be nice NT....]
Khalils eye's narrow as he stares at the thing for a moment, then muttering in akiri under his breath, he looks up at the ceiling.
<Danger my friend we need your help, the giant snake will kill us all. Please come and attack his eyes, but be most careful!>
As he finsihes speaking a small dark shape swoops out of the darkness, angling straight at the monsters face, its small, wickedly sharp talons glinting in the light as it strikes as the eye.
[OOC: Casting speak with animals, and compelling Karsh to attack the snakey dudes eyes. Unfortunalry he rolls a natural 1, be nice NT....]
"I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
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Rock of the Fraternity
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 6825
- Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:16 pm
When the acid strikes her, Lia utters a bloodcurding shriek and falls to her knees, clawing at her shuddering frame. She does rise again under the influence of Kuzan's supporting magics, but she continues to tremble, her shoulders sloping down -- but oh, how her eyes burn behind her mask and partially dissolved veil!
"Keep me alive," she grates at the others near her before turning her attention to the serpent. Suddenly, arcane energy crackles on the air around the Mordentishwoman as she thrusts her left hand out towards the serpent. Hissing words which seem to float on the waves of power, Lia moves the fingers of her right hand in harsh, aggressive gestures: ' Evigile, anulu ignis contemplativi! Ter verba mea fulce! Ex manu sphaera ignis expandens evolat!'
The incantation ends with Lia opening her left hand. The silver ring on that hand flares blood red -- and a tiny ball of fire surrounded by a scarlet ring streaks away towards the serpent. Howling, the little sphere cuts through the air, then hangs still at a point somewhat behind and to the side of the serpent's head. There, the scarlet ring suddenly expands and starts to whirl around madly, its radius now easily twenty feet -- and the little sphere expands to fill it. Fire roars like thunder ...
(Failed both the Reflex and Fear saves ... sigh ... Really: keep me alive, here. ^^; Spell penetration roll: 23. I hope that's enough ... Firing a fully amped (all three charges) Fireball at S26 (if I'm reading it right ... @_@) to envelop snaky longkins's head for a grand total of 31 damage. I'm going to assume Karsh was attacking it from outside the Fireball's range -- Lia wouldn't intentionally cook Karsh along with snaky.)
"Keep me alive," she grates at the others near her before turning her attention to the serpent. Suddenly, arcane energy crackles on the air around the Mordentishwoman as she thrusts her left hand out towards the serpent. Hissing words which seem to float on the waves of power, Lia moves the fingers of her right hand in harsh, aggressive gestures: ' Evigile, anulu ignis contemplativi! Ter verba mea fulce! Ex manu sphaera ignis expandens evolat!'
The incantation ends with Lia opening her left hand. The silver ring on that hand flares blood red -- and a tiny ball of fire surrounded by a scarlet ring streaks away towards the serpent. Howling, the little sphere cuts through the air, then hangs still at a point somewhat behind and to the side of the serpent's head. There, the scarlet ring suddenly expands and starts to whirl around madly, its radius now easily twenty feet -- and the little sphere expands to fill it. Fire roars like thunder ...
(Failed both the Reflex and Fear saves ... sigh ... Really: keep me alive, here. ^^; Spell penetration roll: 23. I hope that's enough ... Firing a fully amped (all three charges) Fireball at S26 (if I'm reading it right ... @_@) to envelop snaky longkins's head for a grand total of 31 damage. I'm going to assume Karsh was attacking it from outside the Fireball's range -- Lia wouldn't intentionally cook Karsh along with snaky.)
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Nathan of the FoS
- Fiendish Enforcer
- Posts: 5247
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 3:39 pm
- Location: San Francisco CA
He's going to get ripped to pieces Charles thinks distantly as the serpent tears into Tomas.
Somehow, in the part of Charles that is neither diplomat nor mathematician but directly descended from the first Charles Martel, the one known as "Foe-Hammer", this translates into a decision to strike out boldly toward the enemy. Sheathing his dagger (it will be easy enough to draw it again in the right moment) he strikes out strongly--pulling himself along the causeway until he runs out of rock, then gathering himself and pushing with both feet, diving rapier-first toward the foe.
Moving along the causeway to S30 or thereabouts, then over to a point behind the sea-serpent (as much as possible). I think thirty feet of movement can put me in S27, which is a flanking position, for the attack. Swim check 12, attack 17 (with the +2 for flanking), which I doubt hits, but them's the breaks.
Somehow, in the part of Charles that is neither diplomat nor mathematician but directly descended from the first Charles Martel, the one known as "Foe-Hammer", this translates into a decision to strike out boldly toward the enemy. Sheathing his dagger (it will be easy enough to draw it again in the right moment) he strikes out strongly--pulling himself along the causeway until he runs out of rock, then gathering himself and pushing with both feet, diving rapier-first toward the foe.
Moving along the causeway to S30 or thereabouts, then over to a point behind the sea-serpent (as much as possible). I think thirty feet of movement can put me in S27, which is a flanking position, for the attack. Swim check 12, attack 17 (with the +2 for flanking), which I doubt hits, but them's the breaks.
[b]FEAR JUSTICE.[/b] :elena:
Tomas would love to get closer to shore, as his shield saves his life, and the monster's tail blades proceed to rip through him, leaving two bloody slices where Tomas's burgeoning chest hair used to be.
It's almost as if this was designed to challenge eight people, and he's the only one fighting it!, Tomas thinks, and then Charles does his flying leap deal. "Auch!" Tomas tries to swim closer to Charles, only to get tripped up on another piece of seaweed...!
(OOC: Okay, seriously, that's three below ten rolls in a row. 5 on the swim check. At least that fireball hit, Jesus. DM, after this, can I please get a minute to actually upgrade my magic items? If you're playing this hard, I'm suddenly not nearly as cool with the whole 'Oh just wait a book for that belt you seriously need.' noise.)
It's almost as if this was designed to challenge eight people, and he's the only one fighting it!, Tomas thinks, and then Charles does his flying leap deal. "Auch!" Tomas tries to swim closer to Charles, only to get tripped up on another piece of seaweed...!
(OOC: Okay, seriously, that's three below ten rolls in a row. 5 on the swim check. At least that fireball hit, Jesus. DM, after this, can I please get a minute to actually upgrade my magic items? If you're playing this hard, I'm suddenly not nearly as cool with the whole 'Oh just wait a book for that belt you seriously need.' noise.)
OOC: Hope this makes up for last round doing nothing!
Jump 32..... Jumps right at the serpent at square
T-26, which is not at either Charles or Tomas square. B.A.B first attack 26, damage 21, B.A.B second attack 25 for damage 20. Hopefully both hit! Total damage 41!
Ishaq rages yet again. Seeing Charles go in and head for the Serpent was enough for him. Kuzan's comment about damaging the thing egged him on to action. Moving up to the broken part of their passage. Ishaq concentrates. Moving back a little he runs, then jumps across the air right at the Serpent. His greatsword in both hands, he swings it down at the thing, once then twice!
Jump 32..... Jumps right at the serpent at square
T-26, which is not at either Charles or Tomas square. B.A.B first attack 26, damage 21, B.A.B second attack 25 for damage 20. Hopefully both hit! Total damage 41!
Ishaq rages yet again. Seeing Charles go in and head for the Serpent was enough for him. Kuzan's comment about damaging the thing egged him on to action. Moving up to the broken part of their passage. Ishaq concentrates. Moving back a little he runs, then jumps across the air right at the Serpent. His greatsword in both hands, he swings it down at the thing, once then twice!
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NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
The Cistern, Sub-Level One, Dežbār Keep
May 29th, 761, 6:43 AM; Day 73 of the Menetnashte Expedition
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round Four Actions:
Otto moves forward and shoots, missing.
Kuzan casts Spiritual Weapon, pierces SR, misses twice.
Charles flanks the Serpent and attacks once, missing.
Lia casts a Fireball at the Serpent, it saves for half and takes 15 damage.
Andre uses another Sound Lance, pierces SR, Serpent saves, takes 11 damage.
Khalil orders Karsh to do some attacking. Karsh misses. Badly.
Tomas attacks the Serpent, misses both times.
Ishaq attacks twice, hits twice for 41 damage.
The serpent flicked an odd, translucent membrane across its eyes, not concerned but more confused. At least until the bolt of concentrated sound hit. The creature shuddered, and two tiny holes in the sides of its head drew shut to try and block out the sound, but to no avail.
Then the fireball hit.
It didn't do as much damage to the aquatic serpent as you'd expect, the flames failing to catch hold of the serpent's damp, pale scales. But you could see that the fire hurt. The monstrosity of an submerged hell lashed its twin tails angrily, trying vainly to understand the pain caused to it. But instead of realization striking it, a large Pharazian berserker did, cutting two long cuts into its hide. Startlingly red blood dripped out onto the water, which was no longer black but now a faint pink.
That tore it. Sound and flames it didn't understand, but the serpent possessed intelligence enough to realize that Ishaq was hurting it. With a twist, the serpent dropped the barbarian back into the water, lashing him viciously with the two blade-tails, the water turning into a furious froth as the serpent twisted and struck. Sharp fangs pierced Ishaq's armor, and fins like swords threatened to cut it off.
Perhaps if it sliced the irritating flyspeck of a human into component parts, it would stop hurting.
Serpent doesn't quite understand this whole 'magic' business, but it understands enough to dislike Ishaq. Ergo, it unloads a full attack on him. Bite and two Tail-Blades hit, dealing 21-1=20, 12-1=11, and 15-1=14 damage respectively, for a total of 45 damage.
Player Status Report
ALL Bless (+1 to attacks and Fear saves)
Ishaq: -66 HP
Khalil:
Kuzan: Mass Aid (+6 Temp HP)
Charles: Shield (+4 AC), -19 HP
Lia: Extended Mage Armor (+4 AC)
Tomas: Magic Weapon (+1 AB, +1 Dmg), Shaken, -47 HP.
Andre: Mass Aid (+1 HP), Shaken (-2 to Rolls)
Otto: Barkskin (+2 AC), -15 HP
Enemy Status Report:
The Cistern Serpent: -123 HP, Spiritual Weapon, Flanked by Tomas & Charles
May 29th, 761, 6:43 AM; Day 73 of the Menetnashte Expedition
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round Four Actions:
Otto moves forward and shoots, missing.
Kuzan casts Spiritual Weapon, pierces SR, misses twice.
Charles flanks the Serpent and attacks once, missing.
Lia casts a Fireball at the Serpent, it saves for half and takes 15 damage.
Andre uses another Sound Lance, pierces SR, Serpent saves, takes 11 damage.
Khalil orders Karsh to do some attacking. Karsh misses. Badly.
Tomas attacks the Serpent, misses both times.
Ishaq attacks twice, hits twice for 41 damage.
The hawk flared its wings, rushing for the serpent's eyes... and missing by a few inches. With a thud, Karsh rammed into the scales between the serpent's two luminous eyes. Slowly, the bird slid off, down the serpent's nose, and only by small miracle managing to start flying again before the hawk hit the water.Lostboy wrote:As he finsihes speaking a small dark shape swoops out of the darkness, angling straight at the monsters face, its small, wickedly sharp talons glinting in the light as it strikes as the eye.
The serpent flicked an odd, translucent membrane across its eyes, not concerned but more confused. At least until the bolt of concentrated sound hit. The creature shuddered, and two tiny holes in the sides of its head drew shut to try and block out the sound, but to no avail.
Then the fireball hit.
It didn't do as much damage to the aquatic serpent as you'd expect, the flames failing to catch hold of the serpent's damp, pale scales. But you could see that the fire hurt. The monstrosity of an submerged hell lashed its twin tails angrily, trying vainly to understand the pain caused to it. But instead of realization striking it, a large Pharazian berserker did, cutting two long cuts into its hide. Startlingly red blood dripped out onto the water, which was no longer black but now a faint pink.
That tore it. Sound and flames it didn't understand, but the serpent possessed intelligence enough to realize that Ishaq was hurting it. With a twist, the serpent dropped the barbarian back into the water, lashing him viciously with the two blade-tails, the water turning into a furious froth as the serpent twisted and struck. Sharp fangs pierced Ishaq's armor, and fins like swords threatened to cut it off.
Perhaps if it sliced the irritating flyspeck of a human into component parts, it would stop hurting.
Serpent doesn't quite understand this whole 'magic' business, but it understands enough to dislike Ishaq. Ergo, it unloads a full attack on him. Bite and two Tail-Blades hit, dealing 21-1=20, 12-1=11, and 15-1=14 damage respectively, for a total of 45 damage.
Player Status Report
ALL Bless (+1 to attacks and Fear saves)
Ishaq: -66 HP
Khalil:
Kuzan: Mass Aid (+6 Temp HP)
Charles: Shield (+4 AC), -19 HP
Lia: Extended Mage Armor (+4 AC)
Tomas: Magic Weapon (+1 AB, +1 Dmg), Shaken, -47 HP.
Andre: Mass Aid (+1 HP), Shaken (-2 to Rolls)
Otto: Barkskin (+2 AC), -15 HP
Enemy Status Report:
The Cistern Serpent: -123 HP, Spiritual Weapon, Flanked by Tomas & Charles
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
-
The Whistler
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 1454
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:38 pm
- Location: Southshore
Perfect. Just a little closer...and...
>SPANGG<
Closer this time, but no cigar. Even with the serpent harried on all sides--(pincer maneuver; yeah)--the bullet zips straight into the water as the monster turns to attack Ishaq, the ordnance miraculously missing all of the waterborne party members. Otto grimaces, half in frustration and mostly in pain; it's getting harder to ignore the parts of his body that are being eaten away at.
He begins to reload, hand movements a little more jagged than usual--and casts a quick glance at Kuzan. Despite the circumstances, he gunsmith actually looks a little embarrassed.
"Erm...I do not mean to impose..."
OOC: Moving upward two squares and rolling a natural 4 on the sneak attack, which doesn't help anyone...I feel your pain, DocBeard. My HP rolls have been almost as bad as my attack rolls, so a heal would also be helpful whenever a divine caster gets the chance. (though I feel bad for messing with you guys' damage output, considering it's a lot more efficient than mine at this point)
>SPANGG<
Closer this time, but no cigar. Even with the serpent harried on all sides--(pincer maneuver; yeah)--the bullet zips straight into the water as the monster turns to attack Ishaq, the ordnance miraculously missing all of the waterborne party members. Otto grimaces, half in frustration and mostly in pain; it's getting harder to ignore the parts of his body that are being eaten away at.
He begins to reload, hand movements a little more jagged than usual--and casts a quick glance at Kuzan. Despite the circumstances, he gunsmith actually looks a little embarrassed.
"Erm...I do not mean to impose..."
OOC: Moving upward two squares and rolling a natural 4 on the sneak attack, which doesn't help anyone...I feel your pain, DocBeard. My HP rolls have been almost as bad as my attack rolls, so a heal would also be helpful whenever a divine caster gets the chance. (though I feel bad for messing with you guys' damage output, considering it's a lot more efficient than mine at this point)
-
Nathan of the FoS
- Fiendish Enforcer
- Posts: 5247
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 3:39 pm
- Location: San Francisco CA
Charles cheers mentally at the reappearance of Ishaq and his deadly blows rained downed on the cistern-serpent. His previous estimation of Ishaq as something of a raving (raging?) lunatic has been rather altered by the fact that, well, Charles has done almost the same thing in deciding to pursue this creature, but with far less hope of success.
Or maybe not. After all, even a mighty cistern-serpent presumably has a weak spot or two somewhere.
With this in mind, Charles lances his rapier forward, totally misjudges his distance, and manages to get himself momentarily turned around, his back toward the creature. Flailing, he attempts to right himself and get back into position before the creature notices he's put his back to it and bites him in half...
Awwww...no love on the continuing damage for washing off the acid by jumping in?
Swim check is a 9, but the attack roll was only a 4, so whatever! I wasn't gonna hit anyway! 
BTW, apparently the dice just hate Otto, Tomas and me on this go-round. Oh well...
Or maybe not. After all, even a mighty cistern-serpent presumably has a weak spot or two somewhere.
With this in mind, Charles lances his rapier forward, totally misjudges his distance, and manages to get himself momentarily turned around, his back toward the creature. Flailing, he attempts to right himself and get back into position before the creature notices he's put his back to it and bites him in half...
Awwww...no love on the continuing damage for washing off the acid by jumping in?
Swim check is a 9, but the attack roll was only a 4, so whatever! I wasn't gonna hit anyway! BTW, apparently the dice just hate Otto, Tomas and me on this go-round. Oh well...
[b]FEAR JUSTICE.[/b] :elena:
-
Kaitou Kage
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 2115
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:53 am
- Location: Here and there
- Contact:
Kuzan uttered a particularly unpleasant phrase in his native language before diving into the water. He slid through the water with an ichthian grace, as if he'd lived there his whole life -- and who knows, maybe he had. It was almost like watching a merman navigate the waves, though it might be more interesting to behold if not for the imminent danger.
The priest uttered a prayer and slapped Ishaq on the back, mending some of the wounds the creature had done. At best, the barbarian might get to stay alive for another shot or two at the beast.
Spiritual Weapon 1st Attack: 26
Spiritual Weapon 1st Damage: 9
Spiritual Weapon 2nd attack totally whiffs.
4th-level cure (I can never keep the names straight) on Ishaq, but rolled kind of crappy.
13 (dice) + 10 (caster level) + 18 (augment) = 31 hp total.
The priest uttered a prayer and slapped Ishaq on the back, mending some of the wounds the creature had done. At best, the barbarian might get to stay alive for another shot or two at the beast.
Spiritual Weapon 1st Attack: 26
Spiritual Weapon 1st Damage: 9
Spiritual Weapon 2nd attack totally whiffs.
4th-level cure (I can never keep the names straight) on Ishaq, but rolled kind of crappy.
13 (dice) + 10 (caster level) + 18 (augment) = 31 hp total.
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yalenusveler
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 1266
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:44 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania...or Baator
Andre saw what was going on...saw the snake do a number on Ishaq, and took off at as fast a pace as he could without loosing concentration. As he came to a stop, he shouted "Stoirm Naofa!" and let loose. It took a moment for those fighting the serpent to realize that yes, that was NOT water it had disturbed...but rain. Indoors rain.
OOC: Advancing to X34, and then casting a holy storm, a 20 foot radius effect centered on X30...and hoping that it was formed as the guardian for a fiend's soul makes it evil. 2d6 damage, no save, no SR, if it is.
OOC: Advancing to X34, and then casting a holy storm, a 20 foot radius effect centered on X30...and hoping that it was formed as the guardian for a fiend's soul makes it evil. 2d6 damage, no save, no SR, if it is.
Last edited by yalenusveler on Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Sometimes, Mr.Liquor cabinet is my only friend"
Ishaq grunts in pain and nearly drops his greatsword. Then he feels the healing touch of Kuzan. Growling and yelling at the top of his lungs, he swings his massive blade twice at the serpent!
1st attack a natural 20 and confirmed! So its a nasty little 44 on 1st attack! Second attack holy cow another natural 20! I rolled a 23 to confirm so I'll do both damages here, NT can say what the total will be! 23 damage or 46 if I conformed the crit!.....
So we have a total of 67 damage or if I confirm my second hit, a 90 damage.
1st attack a natural 20 and confirmed! So its a nasty little 44 on 1st attack! Second attack holy cow another natural 20! I rolled a 23 to confirm so I'll do both damages here, NT can say what the total will be! 23 damage or 46 if I conformed the crit!.....
So we have a total of 67 damage or if I confirm my second hit, a 90 damage.
Last edited by steveflam on Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Rock of the Fraternity
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 6825
- Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:16 pm
"Just die, you vile creature!" Lia hisses under her breath, and repeats the gestures of her previous spell. 'Ex manu sphaera ignis expandens evolat!'
Again, a tiny spark hurtles towards the serpent. Just like the previous one, it expands into a howling sphere of raging flames, painting the serpent's scales orange before vanishing again.
"That was my last Fireball," Lia announces, suddenly sagging a little more than she already had been doing. "I only have Magic Missiles left now ..."
(Second Fireball, aimed at U25 so as not to envelop anyone but snaky longkins. Spell penetration check: 23. Fireball damage roll: 24.)
Again, a tiny spark hurtles towards the serpent. Just like the previous one, it expands into a howling sphere of raging flames, painting the serpent's scales orange before vanishing again.
"That was my last Fireball," Lia announces, suddenly sagging a little more than she already had been doing. "I only have Magic Missiles left now ..."
(Second Fireball, aimed at U25 so as not to envelop anyone but snaky longkins. Spell penetration check: 23. Fireball damage roll: 24.)
Last edited by Rock of the Fraternity on Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Khalil grimaces as Karsh fails in his attacks, then shields his eyes as the fire erupts around the creatures head. Blinking he spots Karsh circling above, and calls out a warning
<Stay back my friend, this is too dangerous a fight.>
Lookign around the desert guide is suddenly aware that anyone in ownership of a blade is in the water. Weighing the options Khalil casts a dubious look at the water, then sighing softly draws a blade and follows Ishaq's lead.
[OOC: Jumping suicidally at U26, jump check 7 (ah possibly failed miserably then) then attack 13 but guess thats pretty much academic]
<Stay back my friend, this is too dangerous a fight.>
Lookign around the desert guide is suddenly aware that anyone in ownership of a blade is in the water. Weighing the options Khalil casts a dubious look at the water, then sighing softly draws a blade and follows Ishaq's lead.
[OOC: Jumping suicidally at U26, jump check 7 (ah possibly failed miserably then) then attack 13 but guess thats pretty much academic]
"I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
-
NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
The Cistern, Sub-Level One, Dežbār Keep
May 29th, 761, 6:44 AM; Day 73 of the Menetnashte Expedition
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire and magic exploded around the mammoth serpent, but to marginal effect. The serpent opened its jaws, unhinging them in a matter only reptiles can. But before it could swallow Ishaq down whole, the Pharazian swung his blade.
Chop.
The edge bit through the scales, through the hard, dense muscles of the serpent, into the organs below. The screech that came from the guardian was ear-splitting, a hissing scream like a thousand tea kettles overboiling. The massive serpent writhed like a mad thing, but to no avail.
Chop.
Not enough. As the greatsword severed bone and flesh, the upper half of the serpent slowly fell away. Cut in half, the creature fell back into the water, streaming acid from its suddenly defunct venom-glands. But it still moved. Scarlet blood gushed in great bursts from the stump of the body, but still it moved.
The creature writhed and twisted violently in the water, seemingly unaware of its death, or at least unwilling to accept it. Even as Ishaq finished chopping the monstrosity's head off, the serpent's tails churned the water into a bloody froth. One swing of the tail blades came scant feet from taking off Tomas's head completely off the body.
Another maniacal throw tossed a good portion of the slowly-dying serpent's body atop the causeway. Tons of pale flesh rammed into the already unsteady bridge, and there was a great CRACK of stone as more and more of the causeway began to slip below the red-stained waters of the cistern. One of the coils of the great serpent hit Kuzan in the stomach, knocking him back off of the sinking causeway and throwing him on his back in the water. Another slammed down hard next to Otto, enough weight and force to cause a spiderweb of cracks to radiate along the stone.
With its final death throes, the serpent hit the water once more, its mouth still opening and closing futily, the sword-length fangs still deadly in death. The creature's head splashed into the water beside Charles, and before the Dementlieuse mathematician quite realized what had happened, the suction of the water pulled him down.
Struggling against the great flow of the water was an exercise in futility. Water was power, power no weaker than that of the mountains or the hurricanes of the Core. The student went along for the ride to the depths of the pitch black cistern, into the bottomless abyss of black water. It was hellishly dark.
Charles followed the falling serpent for what seemed like a long time, though whether it was simply that the water was so deep, or that he had managed to fall into some underwater chasm below was open for debate. But eventually, the serpent settled into the deepest part of the chasm, and with a small thump, Charles sat down on the floor of the cistern, a wasteland of cold, sharp stones, fine silt, and a bit of leather.
A roughly rectangular patch of leather in the silt where Charles's foot touched, as a matter of fact.
May 29th, 761, 6:44 AM; Day 73 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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Fire and magic exploded around the mammoth serpent, but to marginal effect. The serpent opened its jaws, unhinging them in a matter only reptiles can. But before it could swallow Ishaq down whole, the Pharazian swung his blade.
Chop.
The edge bit through the scales, through the hard, dense muscles of the serpent, into the organs below. The screech that came from the guardian was ear-splitting, a hissing scream like a thousand tea kettles overboiling. The massive serpent writhed like a mad thing, but to no avail.
Chop.
Not enough. As the greatsword severed bone and flesh, the upper half of the serpent slowly fell away. Cut in half, the creature fell back into the water, streaming acid from its suddenly defunct venom-glands. But it still moved. Scarlet blood gushed in great bursts from the stump of the body, but still it moved.
The creature writhed and twisted violently in the water, seemingly unaware of its death, or at least unwilling to accept it. Even as Ishaq finished chopping the monstrosity's head off, the serpent's tails churned the water into a bloody froth. One swing of the tail blades came scant feet from taking off Tomas's head completely off the body.
Another maniacal throw tossed a good portion of the slowly-dying serpent's body atop the causeway. Tons of pale flesh rammed into the already unsteady bridge, and there was a great CRACK of stone as more and more of the causeway began to slip below the red-stained waters of the cistern. One of the coils of the great serpent hit Kuzan in the stomach, knocking him back off of the sinking causeway and throwing him on his back in the water. Another slammed down hard next to Otto, enough weight and force to cause a spiderweb of cracks to radiate along the stone.
With its final death throes, the serpent hit the water once more, its mouth still opening and closing futily, the sword-length fangs still deadly in death. The creature's head splashed into the water beside Charles, and before the Dementlieuse mathematician quite realized what had happened, the suction of the water pulled him down.
Struggling against the great flow of the water was an exercise in futility. Water was power, power no weaker than that of the mountains or the hurricanes of the Core. The student went along for the ride to the depths of the pitch black cistern, into the bottomless abyss of black water. It was hellishly dark.
Charles followed the falling serpent for what seemed like a long time, though whether it was simply that the water was so deep, or that he had managed to fall into some underwater chasm below was open for debate. But eventually, the serpent settled into the deepest part of the chasm, and with a small thump, Charles sat down on the floor of the cistern, a wasteland of cold, sharp stones, fine silt, and a bit of leather.
A roughly rectangular patch of leather in the silt where Charles's foot touched, as a matter of fact.
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing