Tanzy followed the others to Raina's location."What's happening to her?"  she resisted the urge to touch the woman.

Wait! Halek cries, trying to stop Raknesh in desperation. It's not the box that did this! It's the powder! Use it on her! The blade, just...be careful. Use it on her arm or something, don't hurt her too much. I think it will work he looks hopeful.

Should Raknesh do so, the light will permeate her body and she'll stiffen, screaming violently before at last turning limp, eyes closed. The bleeding, however, stops and her color is improving. The golden box, still needs tending though.

Raknesh followed Halek's advice.

"Stefan, if you could check on her?" he asked, before checking- without touching it - the cursed item.
"Now, what should we do with that thing? I have not idea on how to destroy that kind of powerful item - if it can be destroyed-" he added.

Byron shrugged, "Take it with us?"

"Burn it, drop it off a cliff, smash it with a rock..." Tanzy offered a few suggestions using her rapier to slide the box further from Raina. "Or is that too easy?""  She also stooped to examine the box, careful not to touch. "Heaven forbid it be that easy." She glanced expectantly at Prizzard and Halek who generally knew more than most about these things.

Stefan moved to Raina, gently picking her up in his draconic arms, his long belly supporting him as he uses his arms to lift her up.  "Raina, are you alright?"

Raina doesn't answer, still unconscious, but her breathing is steady and her color is improving. Halek watches, pale faced. That powder is powerful stuff. I think she overestimated how much she'd need. It enhances darkness. I hope none got on the box... he adds with sudden worry.

Even as he speaks you unfortunately do see a faint dusting of powder as well as her bloody fingerprints on the shiny gold of the thing.

Loden speaks up, liking Tanzy's idea. I say we get rid of it. Quickly. Even if we just get it out of here for now. We aren't equipped to deal with it again

Byron moved to retrieve the mcguffin.

"I don't really like the idea of letting that box on its own, without any way to know when that thing will go back."

said Raknesh.

"I would like to know Raina's suggestion, she is the most knowledgeable in this area.

Prizzard, Byron, don't know you know a spell strong enough to destroy it?"

"I may be able to modify a spell to do massive damage at once, but I do not know if sheer damage will destroy this type of magic.."

Stefan will croon to Raina in draconic, his sibilant noise sounding out a spell of healing, hoping to revive the unconscious woman.

Using cure light woiunds, healing 10 damage to Raina

Eventually Raina's eyelids flutter and she wakes though it takes a long moment before she's able to talk. S-Sorry about that. It's been a long time since I've used the powder. As she talks you see the box is slowly forming a blotch of black, as though someone has spilled a drop of ink on it. Raina sees this and swears. No! I tried to be so careful! she looks almost frantic. If the lich wakes now he'll have been infused with the powder! We need to destroy it now! Meanwhile the inky black spot slowly grows larger. She turns to Halek suddenly. If they can't destroy it...you must. And you know what that means... she trails off quietly. Halek's wide blue eyes somehow grow larger and he shakes his head violently. No! You can't make me! I won't do it!! he looks about to run.

"Halek, can you help control the energy? I have an idea that may work."

Halek turns to Prizzard with almost manic hope. Whatever Raina had been suggesting was apparently horrific to the boy. Y-Yes. I think I can help. It will still take its toll on you though, even if we succeed. There is always a risk though... he warns.

By now the black spots on the box are starting to spread...

Meanwhile you all hear something screaming from down the corridor. An inhuman, otherworldly angry scream. Raina sighs, rubbing her temples. Well, it makes sense he would put safeguards in place. Ready yourselves. I think I can heal you, after a fashion. It might feel...disturbing though. she adds.

Anyone who takes her up on her offer she will heal with her hands to their heads. You feel a surge of pure power and energy but also somewhat sick to your stomach for a moment. Whatever this power is, it is dark. You find yourselves breaking out in a sweat, almost trembling, but the effect is well worth it under the circumstances, especially as something massive starts pounding on the door. It will break soon.

Raina turns to Prizzard and Halek. I suggest you get started. You have minutes at best before he re manifests.

ooc: Everyone please increase your current hit points by 50 percent and make any preparations you can.

Bryon nodded to Althol, "My husband and I are experts at preparations."

Althol opened his pack (a bag of holding) and produced a roll which he unrolled to produce a large quantity of vials of potions, scrolls, and even a few wands.

Bryon went on, "Everyone put your shields and armor in close, he can make them more potent. If they are damaged, he will repair them." Basically for 2 hours everyone gains +5 AC to armor and +3 AC to shields because of an oil he puts on the armor and shields. He can repair even major damage at this point.

Once done Bryon nodded, "Next weapons, everyone put your favored weapon in." again basically everyone gets additional +3 to weapon attacks and damages, the weapon is aligned to good, and gains one additional special ability of your choice. Also repair if needed

Bryon spoke up, "Please take a potion for speed, strength, endurance, wisdom, intellect, and charisma" So for 2 hours everyone's stats are +4. That gives all kinds of nice bonuses.

Lastly he held up two vials and she nodded, "Right. One is a wall of force lasting 6 minutes and the other is a wall of stone lasting 12 minutes. Plane your strategies accordingly."

Yea so we are either at or near the last battle of the chapter and with Artemis baiting me with the whole 5 minutes to prepare thing I figure we pull out all the stops. Have fun with the nice enhancements. ;-)

"To maximize my chances, I'll need to decline. And if this fails, I will not be able to join the fight anyway." As he speaks he removes all of his magic items and even his chain shirt, throwing what he can in his own bag of holding. What is left looks like some scraggly vagrant with hard eyes and many scars under many cuts and tears in his simple, faded clothing. He tosses the bag to Tanzy and nods to Halek.

The first minute is simple concentration, then a laying of many connected arcane marks on the ground, forming a sort of scroll or spell circle, draining the last of his magic. Finally, he practices the hand movements for the spell a few times slowly, far slower than spells should be cast. Finally, the syllables are added, and on the next run through blue sparks begin to collect, the danger begins. After a few more practices the blue glow has gathered and he begins to force it into shape. Hopefully Halek got a good idea of how to help between the spell circle and practices..

"Very impressive, and we certainly could use such a boost." complimented Raknesh.

He got the oils for armor and shield, as well as the potion but, due to the nature of his weapon, he could not use the improvement proposed for the weapons.


"I will stay near Halek and Prizard to use my arrows for cover fire.
Stefan, I fear you will be our main line of defense in close combat.
Loden, be careful, you already did much today."

new hp:143/143 (loss of constitution from 156)
new ac :

Stefan will accept the stat boosting potions but shake his head at the others.  "I have neither weapons nor armor to fix and enhance, I am the weapon and the healing.  But I thank you for your offers."

Knowing she could use all the help she could get Tanzy was happy to accept the offered potions. "Please be careful," she added catching Prizzard's bag her eyes filled with concern. Usually things didn't end well for their friend when he practiced his strange magic.

At Raknesh's words of caution, Loden breaks into a rare grin. Sorry, I'm not about to let you lot have all the fun!

Halek watches Prizzard closely, though by now after such preparations, the box is almost completely black. Raina declares that the lich will reappear any moment. Meanwhile the door has broken and the thing is trying to make it through Bryon's walls. You still can't see what it is, but it sounds big and angry and it doesn't give up, if anything sounding more frantic each passing second.

Halek looks near crazed with worry at the lich's impending appearance, though you have a feeling it's more because of whatever Raina alluded to him having to do than the actual lich itself, though it could be both, he was awfully afraid of him before.

By the time the blue light appears in Prizzard's hands the box has started to shake violently. A black mist starts to form JUST as the blue light hits it. The two war with each other, pushing back and forth in a battle until Halek manages to form his own blue light and add it to Prizzard's. Even combined, the moments are tense. Whatever the black powder was it did much to aid the lich. It's all very stressful, the two warring with the black mist and the never ending pounding on Bryon's walls. Raina does her best to help with her purple blast of magic, but she looks exhausted and it only helps a little. It seems for several long minutes that you are unsure who will succeed. It's like watching an arm wrestling match so evenly waged that neither limb moves, yet they both still quiver with the effort. At last though, the black mist is forced back into the box and as the blue glows immediately wink out, the box crumbles into ash on the spot. Halek and Prizzard, however, both fall in a heap, immediately unconscious. Prizzard is the worse of the two, blood streaming out of his eyes, nose, mouth and nailbeds, just as Raina had been. Should you examine them you'll find Halek breathes strongly but Prizzard is barely alive and could use some stabilizing...

By now, unfortunately, you realize that the pair's efforts against the lich have taken so long that Bryon's walls are no more and you turn to see a massive thing almost as high as the ceiling, comprised of what appears to be a mass of body parts sewn together in a grotesque imitation of some living thing. It is so disturbing it's all you can do not to vomit.

ooc: Everyone make a will save DC 15 or become frightened, with all accompanying penalties. Also feel free to make your rolls for the first 3 rounds.

Searching for signs of life, Tanzy bends over their fallen companions. "Not dead but Prizzard is close," she warns as she wipes away some of the blood in an attempt to stabilize...

She is distracted from her task by the appearance of the moving mass of body parts. "What is that?" she gasps in disgust, "if anyone feels like retreating I won't argue," she adds even as she draws her rapiers...


OOC: Will 17

OOC will 22

"Well done!" complimented Raknesh, ready to  clasp hands with Prizzard, only to see him fall.  Tansy quickly moved to check on him and, at the same time, the abomination made its entrance.
"By the Light!" he said, sounding more astonished than frightened. How could anyone want to create such a thing was well beyond his understanding.

Prizzard being taken care of, at least he hoped, Raknesh focused on the immediate threat

"Fire at will!" and he joined the act to the words as a rain of arrow fell on the easy target.

round 1
5 step to stay our of reach if needed, but not if it leaves a clear path toward the wounded.
full attack, improved rapid shot.
           ATT  (arr  fire  holy)
arrow 1:23    17   3    8
arrow 2:22    18   5    7
arrow 3:28    20   1    6
arrow 4:29    16   2    7


round 2
5 step to stay our of reach if needed, but not if it leaves a clear path toward the wounded.
full attack, improved rapid shot.
           ATT  (arr  fire  holy)
arrow 1:22    19   3    6
arrow 2:30    20   1    5
arrow 3:31    20   3    3
arrow 4:25    14   1    5


round 3
5 step to stay our of reach if needed, but not if it leaves a clear path toward the wounded.
full attack, improved rapid shot.
           ATT  (arr  fire  holy)
arrow 1:38    19   1    8
arrow 2:24    20   5    8
arrow 3:31    19   3    5
arrow 4:40    18   1    7

Stefan put a clawed hand on Prizzard's body and with a guttural sibilant hiss positive energy flowed into the horribly injured man, returning consciousness and some health to him.  "We are in a bad way to handle this now, perhaps we should fall back to a better position." He suggested as he waited to see what the consensus was before acting.

I couldnt fail the frighten test but apparently tested twice.  my turn 3 action depends on what the group does, Artemis feel free to ask me for the rolsl when eeryone has chimed in or roll them yourself =)
turn 1:
Move: move to touch Prizzard if necessary
Standard: cast cure serious wounds on Prizzard healing him for 27 hp and waking him back up

Turn 2:
Move to get a clear line of fire on the lich for a cone attack
standard: fire breath weapon doing 6 damage to the lich, 3 if he passes a dc 16 ref save

Turn 3: either
move to help get people out of the way, or revive someone with another cure serious wounds
Or: casting call lightning storm targeting the lich
12:28, Today: Stefan Aruello rolled 4 using 1d4.  breath weapon recharge.
12:27, Today: Stefan Aruello rolled 6 using 2d10.  cone of fire breath dc 16 save.
12:24, Today: Stefan Aruello rolled 13 using 3d8.  cure serious wounds +14.
12:22, Today: Stefan Aruello rolled 7 using 1d20.  willpower +14.
12:22, Today: Stefan Aruello rolled 15 using 1d20.  willpower +14.elching forth a cone of fire to engulf the lich. 

ooc: I'm in a rush so sorry if I forgot something!

Bryon, seeing the creature, is overwhelmed and flees the scene.

Meanwhile Tanzy stabilizes Prizzard and Stefan is able to heal him but the results are mixed. He wakens, but can barely move, still looking incredibly weak and not at all where he should be strength wise. Hobbling across the room will be an effort let alone fighting for the man. Meanwhile he breathes heavily and his heart is racing, still affected by the mammoth effort of destroying the lich.

The disgusting mass of flesh continues its fight in the meantime, with Raknesh hitting it with several arrows and it also takes damage from Stefan. It is a disgusting, fearsome thing, but it doesn't appear to be fast so dodging is not its strong suit. The attacks rupture the flesh but two things happen. First, a disgusting putrid green liquid sizzles onto the floor, and after several moments the wounds start to knit themselves back together. This is going to be aggravating.

In answer, the beast raises its stumpy, quivering saggy arms and suddenly vomits a mass of fist sized spiders onto the floor. They writhe and squirm in a heap and then scrabble towards you with great speed. There are roughly a hundred or so...

ooc: Ok, decide if you're staying or leaving, either way works for me! Also, every round you'll be bitten by spiders but they are really easy to kill so you'll have to determine if you use an attack on the main guy or a spider or perhaps you might get lucky enough to have a move that can kill more than one of them at a time, etc. Just keep all that in mind. Also, his AC is 23 so you know if you hit. Bryon, when you're doing being frightened feel free to come back and help in case I lose track.

Byron Will flee until she no longer must, then will return to lend aid.