Ardo, in his confusing, looks to Amylarn, doubt in his eyes.

If you are...I mean if she...

He...

The slender mage points to the body of the killer raising up off the table, now fear in his eyes replacing the doubt.

Look, whoever you are, that...that...THING is not ready yet, its mind not in place, the spells not fully cast...

It was to be under Illithrane's control, but now...

Durken looks to him and spit out Shut up, shut up, shut UP!

His youinger brother near the stairs ignores Drake and the rest near him and makes for the stairs.

Durken, you said we'd be safe, you said she knew what she was doing...

Now she comes down... I mean there are two of her and...

Tymora, help us!

Durken tosses the blood-filled bowl to the floor and rushes ahead toward Amylarn, blade out ready to slash at her face or throat.

The stout man is also un-nerved, and he only gives a half-hearted swing at Drake, as if his attention is not on the moment, his mind 100 miles away as he looks at the body of the killer getting up from the table.

--------------------------

OOC:

The NPCs are at their wits end, so the PCs can act again.

Durken is a threat, to be sure, and the undead creature is of real concern, but he is not able to attack this turn.

Shaeria, shivering, pulls forth her holy symbol from beneath her cloak and holds it out with much determination.  Quietly she utters an ancient elven prayer to the Creator of the Elves, asking him to stop the creature she assumed as undead that was rising from the table.

"Listen to me, fools, and listen good - you either help us stop that abomination that you have unleashed upon the world, or you burn with the imposter, but you choose now!" Elodeir called out, his voice hard and demanding, having nothing but contempt for those who mocked the life of light with such twisted pervesions of undeath.  And, before they could answer him, another ray of flames shot forth from his fingers, the blazing fire streaking towards the creature. . .

The undead thing keeps rising, and Durken Shark keps rushing toward Amylarn.

Ardo nods, though, and grips his hand more tightly, pointing it at the rising thing.  The stout man licks his lips and seems unsteady.

The younger Shark brother is going up the stairs.

=========================

OOC: Drake can stop the younger Shark if he likes.  He can also get an AoO on him.

Drake has no wish, or heart, to strike down the younger Shark, even with the opening he is offered, and sees no interest in attacking the man he just struck.  The charging Durken gets his attention and he steps infront of Amylarn and strike with deadly accuracy, as his adrenaline rushes.


========================================

FROM DM:

his sights only on the fake Constance before him, the onrushing bully is caught by total surprise by Drake's attack.

Drake's blade digs deep into the big blond man's stomach and Shark lurches forward, almost dropping his sword.  He lets out a loud grunt and backs up, blinking hard, as if seeing Drake for the first time.

As his blood pours out onto the floor, Durken Shark bellows out a curse to Drake's mother and makes ready to strike at the handsome fighter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:07, Tue 10 Apr 2007.

Things were quickly falling to pieces in the makeshift unholy necromancer’s lab. But that was to be expected. As far as the Amylarn was concerned the only thing more effective than confusion, was more confusion. Judging from the vicious look on Durken’s face he wasn’t falling for the trick any longer. Seeing that Drake had let Durkin’s brother past and the man was headed up the stairs, Amy turned and chased after him while screaming at Durkin! ”Durken, my love, don’t hurt me! Aaaah!” Illithrane’s imposter would continue up the stairs a few steps behind the younger Shark brother until they were both out of sight.

OOC:

Reply in Drake's post.

Amy tries to get up the stairs, but she finds the younger Shark brother in her way.  He stands on the fifth stair up, right in the middle.

As Amy (looking like Constance Illithane) makes for the stares, he stammers out Look, I...I want no trouble, but Durken, he's the boss, and....

His sentence goes unfinished.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:20, Tue 10 Apr 2007.

OOC:

To bring us up to the present:

Amylarn is tying to get up the stairs, but the youngest of the four Shark brothers has stopped her.  He is not attacking her, but challenging and questioning her.

Meanwhile Durken Shark, the leader of the Shark boys, is attacking Drake, who has served the thug with a nasty wound in his stomach.

Elodeir took out Constance Illithane, and her dying seems to have helped cause the body of the silent killer to rise.  Her dead flesh, or her evil soul's energy, or her own blood, maybe, seem to have somehow energized the corpse.  The blood that Durken spilled accidently onto the corpse upon being surprised by Amylarn's coming down the stairs into the rendng shop's basement no doubt helped, too.

Little Moonshadow tried to turn the walking dead as it rose up off the table it was on, but had no luck.

The stout warrior guarding the stairs is loosing his nerve and sanity.

Bethany stands, eyes wide, and she lets out a gasp, drawing everyone's attention to the undead thing.

Magical energies surge through the thing's pale skin, and it spasms.  Its eyes bulge out and it lets out a yell that is cold like a grave, angry like a thunderclap at midnight.

Its body seems to warp, then grow to twice its normal size.  Skin rips, guts show, and blood drips from it.



It looks about in confusion and anger, as if offending it has been woken from its death-slumber.

Durken is not distracted, his insane focus only on Drake.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:53, Tue 10 Apr 2007.

OOC:  Ya gotta see these rolls!

23:52, Today: Durken Shark (NPC) rolled 20 using 1d20+8. Crit?!.
23:51, Today: Durken Shark (NPC) rolled 28 using 1d20+8. To hit Drake.
23:53, Today: Durken Shark (NPC) rolled 13 using 1d8+5.
23:52, Today: Durken Shark (NPC) rolled 9 using 1d20+8. 1d8+5.


Durken lets out a roar to beat the undead thing's loud voice, cutting Drake deep down this middle, his blade hitting bone several times.

My love may be dead, but your life will be mine in trade!!

--------------------------

DRAKE:  22 points of damage!  I'm rooting for you to kill this guy so you can claim his sword as your own after this!

Ardo stammers out a command and his wand shoots forth three bolts of yellow-green light.  The zombie-thing is hit in its back and the bolts leave small burn marks.  The creature lets out a groan and looks around to see where the bolts came from.  Ardo seems to shrink as the monster catches sight of him.

The stout guard makes for the stairs yelling out Tymora's name, almost bowling over Amy.

Outta the way!!

---------------------------

OOC:

AMYLARN:  I need a Reflex Check, DC 13 to avoid falling as the man rushes past you.

-------------------------

The party can act.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:05, Tue 10 Apr 2007.

OOC: Whoa!  Not cool!  :p

OOC:

The party is up.

The zombie does not have the weapon or shield as depicted in the picture.  It is close to how he looks, though.

Drake questions his bravery feeling Durken's strike. He has never felt pain such as this. His first thoughts are to his potion in his backpack, but there is no way to get to it and survive in this fight with the older Shark brother.  Drake does the only thing he can and returns blows, hoping Durken will fall before he does

Damn! Durken got exactly what he needed to crit me!


==================================

FROM DM:

Durken grunts and squints as Drake's blade severs off a strip of flesh from the big man's forearm.

Drake feels his blood go cold as the Shark brother rises his sword to attack once more.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:04, Thu 12 Apr 2007.

Moving towards the zombie like creature Bethany drops her bow feeling it safer for her friends if she doesnt hurt them.  As she moves closer to the creature she starts to draw her longsword and as it escapes the sheeth she slashes at the creature in a upward swing.  Letting out a yell more for the force of the attack then anything she hopes that what little she can do to help her friends would be enough.


=============================

FROM DM:

A smell like rotted flesh mixed with sharp cheese escapes the zombie's pale flesh and Bethany has to snort loudly to keep the odor from overtaking her.

She feels her sword slice into the dead flesh easily, and then knock up against the thing's right shoulder blade.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:15, Thu 12 Apr 2007.

Having to make a decision, and quickly, Elodeir took his eyes of the undead creature, and instead focused on Durken, not about to let him get in another of those hits on Drake (or anyone else, for that matter).  Speaking words of power, he then pointed his finger at the Shark brother, and set a pair of twin bolts of force flying into him, though with less, well, force than he had intented. . .


11:55, Today: Elodeir Nightjewel rolled 4 using 2d4+2. Magic Missile.

======================================

FROM DM:

The bolts slam into Durken and the big man's attention is take away from Drake for a second, but the blonde man shakes his head as if clearing it, and raises his sword higher over Drake's head.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:21, Thu 12 Apr 2007.

A loud pounding of fast feet tell Amylarn that someone is trying to beat her to the top of the stairs. Before she has a chance to get two words out of her mouth in protest against the youngest of the Shark brothers, Amylarn finds herself jerking to one side and pressing herself against the wall of the rending shop. She easily gets out of the way of the stout bodyguard and wonders if the Shark brother will be as lucky.

OOC: 15:12, Today: Amylarn rolled 21 using 1d20+5. Reflex save.

Combat had never been one of Amy’s strong points. In fact she had spent long hours working out ways to handle herself without getting into a brawl. Unfortunately the undead monstrosity wasn’t likely to listen as she explained all the reasons it should calm down and go back to the afterlife it had been yanked from. It started to look like she’d have to get her hands dirty after all. She carefully back tracked down the stairs and moved out into the room making sure to give plenty of space between herself and Durken.

==========================

FROM DM:

Amylarn avoids contact with the stouit guard, and he makes fast tracks up the stairs and then out of the shop.

The young Shark brother calls out to Durken, but his older bigger brother does not seem to hear him.

Amylarn sets herself up for one of the rogue's trademark attacks, Durken's back revealed in an almost tempting way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:24, Thu 12 Apr 2007.

Shaeria stands in horror before the monstrous undead.  She would have prayed once more to end the perversion of life but is shaken when she sees the deadly battle Drake finds himself in.  At the massive strike he takes, Shaeria knows that there is no way she can offer enough healing to counteract the damage, but perhaps he can gain the upper hand with her assistance.  As Elodeir joins Drake's battle, Shaeria's decision is confirmed.  Running to Drake she utters a healing prayer, placing her hand on his back as the magic flowed through her hand and into his body.

OOC:

Replies in posts above.

-----------------------

Drake feels much-needed diving healing energies flow into and through his body.

Durken yells in pride as his sword digs into Drakes flesh again, and Drake feels precious blood spout out of the wound.  He also knows that Shaeria's healing magic has kept him alive...for now.

Ardo shouts out Durken's name, fear ripping the name out as much as desperation.  Durken glances back just in time to see the yellow bolts of energy from Ardo's wand hit him in his back.

Ardo!  What in the name of...?  WHY?


Because they can help us!  They can fight this...thing...while we get out of here!

The zombie-thing, never taking its eyes off Ardo, slams its thick arms into the thin mage, forcing the man back against the wall, knocking the breath out of him.

Ardo manages to grip his wooden wand tightly, but he will probably not be able to shoot any more missiles from it, unless the zombie moves away from him.

Durken!  Come on!  Get out of here!  It's too late!!

Durken again either does not hear his brother or ignores him.  He turns to the zobmie and raises his sword against the monster.

He looks back to Drake and sneers I can always kill you later, if you don't die first!

-----------------------------------

OOC:

The party is up again!

Drake has no desire to fight along side Durken, but is releaved he choose to change his intentions. Seeing Durken take the magical blows from Ardo and Elodeir, as well as his own solid strikes, and still standing tells Drake Durken is stronger than he.

Drake takes advantage of his break in action, even though he would like to strike Durken down, back turned or not. Quickly sheathing his sword, Drake steps back, pulling a bottle from the folds of his cloak.  He chugs it down and watches to see if Durken survives the next few seconds. If he does, Drake will take pleasure in seeing he doesn't last any longer.



============================

FROM DM:

The sweet liquid runs down Drake's throat and soon he is feeling a bit more whole and hale again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:00, Sat 14 Apr 2007.

Elodeir decided to draw the zombie's attention away from Ardo, wanting to keep the Shark safe enough to help them with that wand of his.  Unleashing his fiery rays upon the creature again, Elodeir hoped that it would prove enough - he had not the energy to draw upon another of those that day, he could tell.

The elven sorcerer's bolt of arcane fire strikes behind the zombie, almost hitting Ardo, and the huge monster's attention is now on Elodeir.

The thing is silent as it lurches ahead unsteadily, taking two big steps toward Elodeir.

This puts him in close proximity to Drake, Bethany, and Durken, and the Shark brother lets out a gasp of fright as he spins and tries to gut the zombie.  He is un-nerved, though, and his blade does not connect.

OOC: I rolled a 1!  Must be revenge for that nasty crit above!!

Bethany and Drake can get an AoO on the zombie, too.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:05, Sat 14 Apr 2007.

Drake rushes to throw his empty bottle down and get his sword back out.  Getting the sword out was not a problem, but the rushing of everything else, as the zombie approaches, makes the fighter not fair much better than Durken.

Stepping to the side just a bit as the large creature moves closer she sees an opening from its wide blow and not one to let an attack go to waste tries to stab at the beast.  Not sure if her hit actually scored or not she wasted no time in going at the creature with a anger to match that of her anger towards humans.  Slashing into the skin and flesh of this beast she growls as she can feel her sword slice into the foul beast.


=================================

FROM DM:

Feeling the magical healing take hold, Drake takes a swipe at the lumbering zombie, but is too far-off to do any harm to the thing's toughened flesh.

Bethany does better, sweeping in low for a fast strike that connects with the zombie's upper right leg as it passes her.

A chunk of flesh bigger than her forearm drops off the zombie's leg and brown blood like syrup drips down onto the dirt floor.

The creature stumbles a bit, but does not slow in his movement toward Elodeir.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:24, Tue 17 Apr 2007.

Knowing that Durken Shark was not the forgiving type and not likely to listen to reason, Amylarn wanted to get him out of the way before the giant undead beast stopped distracting him. She slunk back a bit where she would be less noticed. The young woman focused the magic of her hat and changed her image to that of Marl Shark. The next movement she made would be toward Durken’s back with a dagger in her hand. If he managed to catch sight of his own brother attacking him, Durkin might think twice about retaliating.

OOC: Taking this turn to use the Hat of Disguise. I’ll attack next turn.

OOC: I assume after AoO, we could move on to next round, so Drake will post again

After a horrid attempt to slash the zombie as it passed by, Drake gathers himself and returns to better form. He reverses his missed attempt and bring the blade around to find the zombies flesh.


=================================

FROM DM:

Drake feels his head clear as his blade hits bone.  His sword digs into the zombie's chest and Drake knows he has chipped or broken one of the big creature's rib.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:26, Tue 17 Apr 2007.