Califax attempts to struggle free from the grasping claw that is causing him so much pain.  Twisting and turing in an effort to dislodge the undead thing.

(12:38, Today: Califax rolled 8 using 1d20-6. Brawl, escape grapple.)

Round 5

Aaban moves rapidly in the direction of the chanting ghast, beseeching Almighty Aa for aid. Initially his incantation seems to fail but with a sudden surge he is surrounded by another aura of white light. Burikan steps in to cleave at the gem-studded zombie, striking it squarely while it's return swing goes wide [RSZ 12/30]. Califax is able to struggle and loosens the grip of the remaining claw on him although he still feels some of its strength [Califax 10/20].

Dii is able to shake off the pair of fiendish claws attached to her before they are able to fully apply their strength [Dii 18/28]. She takes two mighty swings with her glowing bastard sword, one swing catching one of the claws with a glancing blow that still separates it into two twitching pieces [CG1 0/4, 4/4, 0/4, 4/4] while the other swing dips too low and clangs off a rock sending the blade a few feet away into the sand. Murron decides to strike and defend himself this time and the thrust of his blade catches the foul creature he faces with a glancing blow [DZ1 9/18], deflecting its crushing blow off his shield. Novo whispers some words while rubbing sand between his palms and moments later a brilliant ball of lightning appears and orbits his body.

Sathras is able to break the foul zombie's crushing grip on him before it can damage him fully [Sathras 26/34] and punches the thing in the face with his silver gauntlet but it doesn't even stagger [DZ3 9/18]. The zombie tries to grab him again but he is able to slip out of its way. Shadow is able to shrug off the remaining claw, still receiving some of its bruising force as she does so [Shadow 7/22]. T'Vala swings his glowing silver longsword in another measured strike and slices the claw that Shadow shrugged off into two pieces that drop to the sands [CG3 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4] then he slides over to Califax where even though his second swing from his longsword is a glancing blow it still has enough power to cleave the hand from Califax [CG1 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 4/4]. The shadowy ghast near the tower hisses in rage at T'Vala slicing its minions into pieces and it hisses out another dark incantation. It finishes the spell by pricking its own flesh with one of its claws and a dark drop of blood drops to the sands. An instant later T'Vala cries out and blood is seen to flow from all his facial orifices. The blood drips to the sand and is seen to flow rapidly to the drop of blood from the ghast as it cackles in unholy glee [T'Vala 20/28].

Everyone's attention is caught at least briefly by a pair of brilliant flashes followed by roaring explosions and two flaming wrecks falling from the skies behind the group, each wreck a distance from the other. It is just barely possible to see small things falling from each flaming wreck and dropping rapidly to the sands, on fire.

OOC:  Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 22 using 1d20+8. DZ1 vs. Murron. (full success, blocked by shield)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 11 using 1d20+8. DZ3 vs. Sathras. (failure, no damage)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Crawling Claw vs. Dii. (failure)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 14 using 1d20+11. RSZ vs. Burikan. (failure, no damage)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 12 using 1d20+8. Ghast spellcasting. (full success, 8 damage <no armor>)

Crawling Claws are AL 6, PR 1
CG1: 0/4, 4/4, 0/4, 4/4
CG2: 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4
CG3: 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4

Dracartan Zombies are AL 8, PR 4
DZ1: 9/18
DZ2: 0/18
DZ3: 9/18

Rajan Special Zombie is AL 11, PR 6
RSZ: 12/30

Ghast Necromancer is AL 16, PR 1 (PR 3 for 6 rounds)
Ghast: 38/42

Aaban: 19/23 (Shield of Faith, 10 hp aura for 10 rounds, made CON roll vs. stench)
Burikan: 24/35 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on tarak for 7 rounds)
Califax: 10/20 (-3 to all rolls from stench, +2 DR on tri-bow for 6 rounds)
Dii Ahnah: 20/28 (grappled x2*, globe of air around head for 49 rounds <made CON roll, safe vs. stench>, +1 DR on bastard sword for 6 rounds)
Murron: 19/23 (+1 DR on shortsword for 6 rounds)
Novoptolomeo: 10/20 (Somu's Electric Thunder Balls, 15 hp aura for 10 rounds, 4 plasma streams for 56 rounds, made CON roll vs. stench)
Sathras: 26/34 (heated by plasma, no cold penalty; made CON roll vs. stench)
Shadow: 7/22 (Calming Winds around her head for 47 rounds <safe vs. stench>)
T'Vala: 20/28 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on longsword for 7 rounds)

(*Those grappled by the crawling claws CAN act other than trying an escape attempt. An escape attempt can be made to try and shake off all the claws at once as an action.)

Don't forget that you have healing potions (10 hp healing) to save having to try and cast healing magic during combat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:25, Mon 03 June 2013.

Gasping, she kneels and fishes out one of the healing elixirs.  Carefully she uncaps it and raises it to her lips and drinks deeply.

Sathras bellows. The roar of the crash and the falling fire behind him is ignored... ignored as much as a gladiator ignores the crowd, focusing on the fight before him, the foe whose fists are trying to take his own. The roar of the crowd is a force, pushing and encouraging, like a hot and fiery prod poking poking poking until rage and fury threaten to overwhelm.

Sathras pushes forward, his gauntlet-ed fist slamming into the crumbling Dracartan once, twice. Though both blows connect, only the first seems to do any sort of harm to the abomination before him.

---

Sathras the Bold rolled 14 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 11. Brawling attack.
vs DZ3 (AL 8, PR 4) - success, DR 9-4= DR 5.
Sathras the Bold rolled 3 using 1d20-2 with rolls of 5. Brawling attack.
vs DZ3 (AL 8, PR 4) - failure

Burikan goes to the well one too many times and fails in his attack as he brings the other end of the tarak down and around.

19:04, Today: Burikan rolled 4 using 1d20+1. attack.

Aaban calls out to Aa, beseeching his aid as he reaches out to the door of the tower where the ghast threatens.

Taking some time to recover from the assault of the grasping hands Califax pulls the vial of healing potion out and swallows it down, still reeling from the stench of the creature.

With the odds looking not so good in their favor, the warrior keeps a tight grip on his short sword. Considering that this may be his last battle, he considers what might happen next if they don't succeed. The source of evil, death is strong, and palpable. Further, there's the crash and more flames behind them. Not sure if the undead will just rise again and again, the Marukan grits his teeth, and throws his weight into his strike, looking to finish off these things for good.

He announces the crash, just in case those around him were distracted from the battle for their lives. "That didn't sound too good. Don't know what was behind that, but stay alert!"

ooc-I believe Murron still has +1 DR magic applied to his strikes.
14:23, Today: Murron rolled 18 using 1d20+5. shield parry.

14:22, Today: Murron rolled 10 using 1d20+7. strike with sword.
DR 6 +1 from magic

It appears that when the skill of DZ1 is factored in, it would be a miss with the short sword however. The Parry should still work though I believe.

The Wrap-Up

The battle by the dark tower rages on for what seems like hours. The group's fortunes wax and wane almost as if the gods are tossing dice to determine their fate. Novo maintains a stream of plasma on Sathras, keeping him warm enough to remain in the battle. Globes of air shelter some from the ongoing stench while others have been able to get used to it enough that they are not retching and gagging. Magics fly back and forth between the group and the ghast, its maniacal laughter sending chills down spines. Dark necromantic spells tear into different members of the group; rotting, wounding, infesting, piercing, and seemingly ripping at the soul itself. No one knows what the flaming wreckage falling from the sky portends and no one has the time to find out, wrapped up in a life or death (and undeath) struggle in the sands.

Slowly the tide starts to swing in the group's favor. The remaining claw is dashed to pieces then the Dracartan zombies are dropped. The ghast and the purple crystal studded Rajan zombie are the last standing. The Rajan zombie is cut down over and over, standing up with its flesh knitting with unnatural speed. It smashes one person than another, standing and re-standing against the tide of metal and magic brought to bear on it. It smashes one person than another, standing and re-standing against the tide of metal and magic brought to bear on it. The ghast girds itself with dark magic and despite its gaunt frame inflicts horrific wounds on those who close with it. With a grace unnatural it avoids most of the blows aimed at it, even from the best warriors in the group. However the blows that strike take a gradual toll despite its counterattacks with claw and black magic.

Moment by moment the ghast loses strength, black ichor from its wounds leaking onto the sands. It snarls in rage, drawing bits of life from its attackers with its magic but only prolonging the inevitable. Sathras is dropped in a heap to the sands by a vicious strike and Murron is gravely wounded while others bear the signs of battle to varying degrees. The Rajan zombie continues to stand and strike, over and over, seemingly unable to be stopped by steel or magic. Dii Ahnah has a flash of inspiration, calling out to the group and asking if anyone has a torch. Stepping away from the ghast Aaban pulls one out and Novo is able to light it with a stream of plasma. The next time the Rajan zombie falls the lit torch is thrust against it, the flesh searing then catching on fire. The abomination ceases to move as the flames eventually consume it. Burikan finally beheads the ghast with a brutal swing of his tarak and the group stands amid the carnage of the battle.

The stillness of the area feels strange and the wind and darkness surround the group. The bodies of the undead lie everywhere, the purple crystal fragments in the Rajan zombie no longer giving off light.

With Sathras unconscious and many others wounded the group moves to occupy the tower the ghast was in. Fortunately it IS completely intact albeit battered and the doors can be closed against the cold and wind outside. Shadow expends all her energy healing the others although Sathras and Murron remain wounded enough to not continue on. She volunteers to stay with them and heal them once her strength returns. Free from threat for now, the others wonder about the two flaming wrecks that fell off in the distance. Their wounds healed those standing turn their attention to looking out into the distance, fires from the two wrecks still burning despite the winds...

OOC: I know it isn't the best wrap-up but I promised to get things rolling so I wanted to get it done. Even though things were wrapped up everyone receives 10 xp from the battle.

Things learned:

1) The Rajan zombie appeared to be exceedingly strong, likely due to the crystals it was studded with. Fortunately fire successfully kept it "dead" when it fell for the last time, preventing its regeneration.

2) The zombies appeared resistant to crushing blows while slashing attacks affected them normally (as normal as anything undead is anyhow...).

3) The ghast appeared to completely ignore blows from weapons without any enchantment.

People can feel free to talk amongst yourselves about the battle and thoughts about the falling wrecks. I will be working on getting the new people over to the tower or to an intercept by anyone who goes out to check the wreckage. There is also the situation with all the mounts that refused to approach the tower.....are they still there or did they scatter when the explosions happened and the flaming wreckage fell?
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:36, Thu 01 Oct 2015.

((ooc: I've been reading the past posts, but I'm not finished yet. Will be faster.))

OOC: OK so the wreckage of the aerial battle is roughly 500 feet or so from the tower, still burning. I have given the 3 new players additional information and let them know they need shelter....the towers being the best bet. What do those of you in the tower do in regards to the flaming wrecks and also to see what happened with your mounts?

We are almost at the end of October so I think it is a good time to kick things into gear. The wrap-up post is done and both groups have some information they can act on post-battle. Shall we begin?

(Again to remind that I am looking for a couple posts per week on average for a bit more of a relaxed game)

Peering out through cracks in the door anyone who is looking suddenly sees a mote of bright light off in the distance, not far from where the flaming wrecks came down. It seems to rise slightly then comes to a rest. Subtle movement can be noticed from this distance due to the light but as to what the movement is from that is unclear due to the distance, intervening darkness, and the wind-blown sands.

Burikan looks through the cracked door trying to locate the whereabouts of his dractyl. He grunts..."There is something else out there my friends. A light that is not from the fires."

In reply to Burikan (msg # 97):

Aaban steps up beside Burikan, "Can you see anything?  If not, perhaps Aa will grant me his all-seeing vision." 

Califax likewise steps forward, looking through one of the cracks in the door. He hears Aaban's idea and chimes in; "I have magics that allow one to see in the dark but it is only for a short distance, not nearly enough to pierce the gloom out there. I guess what I am saying is if you have a way to see what is going on out there without leaving the tower you may as well use it." He grips his tri-bow tightly, hopeful that there is nothing out there looking to burst its way inside.

Califax thinks a bit more, looking around at the group; "Regardless of what is out there I should take some time to inscribe a glyph that enchants the weapon it is on when it strikes. I can do this to anyone that wants their weapon enchanted, it is easy enough especially taking my time." Regardless of what others may answer he brings out his spellbook and starts going through the pages to find the right spell.

Those looking out through the cracks are just barely able to notice some movement in the dark approaching the light in the distance. That movement appears to be coming from the direction where the flaming wrecks came down from the sky.

Burikan nods towards Califax and hands him his red iron tarak..."Not usr eI fully trust enchantments placed upon my weapons but we have fought side by side, I do not doubt trusting you."

He looks outside again after handing the tarak to Califax..."For sure something moves out there. Still cannot make it out though."

He turns and grabs his Kang and loads the brutal crossbow using both his hands.

Aaban opens his book, and sets to praying, calling out an invocation to Aa and reciting the prayer.


OOC:

14:57, Today: Aaban rolled 12 using 1d20+10.  casting Eye, lvl 4, from book.

The battle against the undead creatures had been brutal, and not even Novo had escaped unscathed. He was hardly a frontline combatant anyway.

Then came the flaming wrecks falling from the sky.

They were in no shape to investigate at the moment, not with the howling wind and the bitter cold chilling the bone. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. They needed a minute to recover.

Dashing into the tower was probably a foolish idea, but... 'it seemed like a good idea at the time'. Fortunately, there was no immediate threat.

So as Shadow healed everyone... the others began peeking out at the wreckage.

Oddly, Novo managed to keep his hat throughout the battle. He took it off now and examined it for damage. One side was dented, and it looked like a claw had sliced into the top. Funny, he didn't recall that blow.

He dusted it off and placed it back on his head.

Next, he pulled out his pipe and lit it with his flame ring. As he took a puff, he looked around the tower. He hadn't got a good look at from the outside, but now he wondered how tall it was. Was there another floor? Did he see a way up?

As Burikan loads his kang, Aaban prays and invokes the power of Aa. His prayer is answered and his sight is simultaneously in the tower and above him. He sends out the manifestation of Aa's sight to see what brought forth the strange light off in the distance. Novo pokes about the tower, easily seeing the staircase that leads up to a second floor and another one leading down below the ground level. T'Vala notices his searchings and remembers something; "Yes yes, those stairs go down to a cellar and from there is a tunnel that connects both towers and also leads all the way to Anasa." Novo also finds remnants of the ghast's victims; some whole and dessicated and others a collection of mummified parts. Fortunately due to the drying effects of the desert there is no smell of rot but dried blood and such is spattered over one area.

Cellar and tunnels? That sounded like a good place for more creatures to be lurking. And while T'Vala told them about the tunnel, he didn't say anything about... Upstairs. Perhaps he didn't know.

"So what is outside? Can you see anything?" he asks the others who are peering out. "I have a telescope; might that help?"

"I can see," Aaban responds, "the light is a floating globe of fire, though I don't know where if came from.  Standing near it are a Jaka, a Cymrilian, and one of the Yassan.  Some zombies are coming out of the burning wreckage..." he trails off, still focusing his sight at the scene, trying to get a count of how many zombies there are.

OOC: Aaban is able to count 4 zombies, 3 of which appear to be Dracartan and the other a Rajan. All are burned in places and mangled but move well enough that they are almost upon the trio in the distance.

Aaban relays the count of the zombies to the others, while loading his crossbow.

"Phew... We all knew this wouldn't be easy," says Dii. "Are we ready for a new battle?" Apparently she is looking for some assurance.