Treachery, lies and secrets

[VAN]

Kimuriel shrugs. He was sure that the veteran would prefer to be able to fly or levitating instead of fighting with a wounded leg. For Kimuriel Heinrich's decision was wrong and a bit egoistic, but he doesn't want to judge his companion's tactic, especially now.

"It's better if you have an extra protection out there Heinrich."

Says Kimuriel and touches Heinrich's chest. The translucent matter appears one more time covering the veteran's body. Then Kimuriel helps him go to the roof, as he has asked him. Then he gets a crossbow and focuses on the two ridders as if calculating the distance between them and the carriage.

[Coan]

As the two riders approach Artemis slows the carriage knowing they cannot escape by speed alone. Soon the two are easily within firing range and Heinrich releases a shot.

The bolt speeds true and buries itself dead centre into the chest of the plague bearing outfit. The two's horses stop and the travellers turn to look at each other, almost as if in silent communication before nodding. They then spur their horses onwards and continue at a leisurley pace focusing ahead with what Heinrich could only believe was intent. The bolt bobbed as the rider's chest rose in time with his horses' movements.

Suddenly Ixevim's mind felt something, a consciousness nearby to the side of the carriage. Not undead and not consisting of hostility.

Fear, whatever was outside was in fear and running. But he couldn't see anything in that direction.

[Wiccy of the Fraternity]

Heinrish muttered an obsenity under his breath and reached down, Kimuriel passed up another crossbow. Heinirch aimed and fired, the bolt hitting its target true but with the same result as before, dropping the weapon he drew his sword, glad to have remembered to keep it strapped to himself throughout the journey. he'd once been caught without it and would never allow that to happen again, even if it sacrificed comfort in favour of a ready weapon. As he tended to remind himself, he preferred to stay alive then live and die in comfort. He called down to those below.

"Be ready, they're coming up fast."

He raised his blade ready to defend himself. When he was younger he was likely to have jumped off, to knock a rider to the ground, but he was much lder now, and not in prime condition with his leg all banged up. He gritted his teeth, ready to fight to the death if necessary. He sent out a thought for Nostalia, that if he lived past this day, he would see to it that his promise to return to her would be fulfilled.

[VAN]

Kimuriel looks again the two horses and spares a moment to calculate the distance one more time. He wants to be sure. Finally the psion closes his eyes and concentrates. Suddenly is heard the sound of a burst and appears a cloud which covers the horses and their riders. At the centre of the cloud appears a scythe which attacks both undead and then disappears.

Kimuriel smiles, against the undead this power is always effective.


OOC> Kimuriel manifested Sever the tie.

[alhoon]

The inner fear for the undead (dead to their abilities, a hole in their psionic senses) of all mind flayers, welled within Ixevim. Subconsiously, his invisible tentacles stiffened ready for a counter-attack, a defensive position like a cornered animal.
Ixevim send out a telepathic message to the party. Emotions of fear and dread leaked in the message. "There is somebody as afraid as me, invisible nearby". He got his crossbow and moved to the other side of the cabin, to get cover behind Heinrich and Kimuriel, activating (but not using yet) levitation.

PS. I decided to become shaken Coan. trash the official save results. Assume that Ixevim missed the save for 1-4 points.
As you probably figured, in the face of fear Ixevim ducked behind his allies in a mind-flayerish way. That doesn't mean that he will manipulate them to their deaths or that he doesn't care. He just do what comes to mind instictually.

[VAN]

Kimuriel understands Ixevim’s fear, he has seen another time the mind flyer react strangely in front of undead, so he doesn’t comment his decision of just getting cover behind them. He just says:

“Maybe the undead came for him and not for us and maybe he is hurt .We should finish with these undead as soon as possible and try to find him".

[Coan]

It is at that point that the wagon draws to a stop. Artemis turns and nods at the undead as the draw closer. It seemed the diplomat thought they would be able to have an easier time defending themselves without movement.

Meanwhile whe psionic scythe appears between the undead and swings. It causes the two to sway in their saddles and black lines appear on their clothes where the blade 'cuts' through.

Suddenly a young man appears beside the carriage as an obvious invisibility potion wears off. He is climbing off the side of the vehicle and once reaching ground makes a run for the trees beside the road. Instantly the undead spring into action and spur their horses into speed -towards the man.

[VAN]

Kimuriel doesn’t spare even a second, bursts out of the carriage in order to see better and concentrates. The cloud reappears and the scythe swings again.

[Wiccy of the Fraternity]

Heinrich braces himself as the carriage draws to a halt and looks on as the man seems to appear from nowhere and run off, the undead giving chase. Damned sorcery, it had to be.

"WHAT IN EZRA'S NAME?!"

He slid himself off the side of the vehicle, landing on his good leg before limping over to the others.

"Does anyone have a clue for that rascal was doing? How the hell did he tag along without us knowing?"

[VAN]

Kimuriel shrugs.

"I have no idea and I do want to find it out. But first we should help him with the undead. Come on we should run or get the horses of the carriage."

[alhoon]

A telepathic emotion of fear and dread hits Heinrich's mind as soon as he leaves Ixevim's immediate presence. There are no words in the message, just a single barb of emotion. Obviously Ixevim is afraid to remain in proximity with the undead without some physically powerful ally close at hand.
Ixevim composes himself somewhat remembering that he is by no means defenceless, gestures with his illusionary hands and chants a spell. A moment later an acid arrow leaves his hands and strikes the undead with the hat.

[Coan]

As the acid arrow moves to the undead its effect seems to physically weaken its target. Both undead do not seem to sit as high in the saddle as they did previously. However their horses carry them to the young man in little time.

Swinging down from their mounts they move hastily to the man who turns and starts running back to the carriage tyring to perhaps reach help and safety than take a chance. However this shortens the distance the dead must walk on foot and in moments they have grabbed him only meters from the carriage. The man does not shout or scream but tears flow through his eyes as he silently pleads for help.

From inside the carriage Rosette aims another crossbow bolt at one of the dead but it once again does little. Moving inside she pulls a pistol out for another try.

"We have to save him!"

[alhoon]

Ixevim sends the man a telepathic message of emotional reassurance. The sensation that someone delves in his mind to send an emotional urging like a wordless "we'll save you, fear not", does very little to make the grappled man feel safer, especially when there is fear painted along with the emotion.
Ixevim vocalizes some arcane phrases again and 2 magic missiles speed of to hit the undead wounded by the arrow.

[VAN]

Kimuriel yells to the man:

“We will help you don’t worry. Heinrich run to him, the inertial barrier will hold the attacks.”

Then, Kimuriel concentrates and for the third time the psionic scythe appears and swings.

[Coan]

As Heinrich makes his way towards the undead and the third scythe takes it toll the undead with the hat collapses and withers away from all the wounds delivered unto it. In seconds the plague uniformed undead grasps the hostage more firmly and then opens its coat.

"Run! Get away!" Artemis yells as Kimuriel too, catches sight of what the undead was hiding.

Instead of a stomach someone had cut out the chest of the undead and replaced it with a barrell. The burning fuse indicated what it's intention was. In seconds the gunpowder placed inside the undead errupted and a huge explosion shook the forest surrounding the area. Flames covered the area. It was a while later before Artemis' voice could be heard.

"By Ezra! Ixevim? Kimuriel?"